Mass-market, middle luxury and luxury: choosing a basic capsule for every budget
In the whirlwind of flashy trends and rampant consumption, true elegance and good taste are often overshadowed. However, fashion is bringing back the relevance of timeless pieces of the highest quality and simple but noble design. To create a perfect capsule closet of such basic elements is the key to timeless chic and style for all times. Let's consider the recommendations of fashion professionals for different price segments.
Mass market with a touch of luxury
Arket brand (H&M group) offers inexpensive but high-quality basic items of the premium segment: perfectly cut shirts, dresses, and coats. COS (also from H&M group) is one of the leaders of the concept of democratic minimalism and restrained luxury. Here you can find luxurious monochrome turtlenecks, silk scarves, cashmere coats. Zara's Zara Affordable Luxury line presents elegant women's and men's clothing made of luxury materials at attractive prices.
Middle Luxury
The key to an impeccable mid-luxury closet is to invest in quality pieces at discounted prices, so we recommend periodically keeping an eye out for major sales. And also check out the luxury second-hand segment from Vestiare Collective, for example. Brands like Theory, Vince, J.Crew are known for their attention to details, noble fabrics and perfect cut of basic things: pants, jackets, shirts. Cult Gaia offers minimalistic dresses, tops and accessories handmade with luxurious texture.
Another modern brand known for its elegance is Toteme. The Swedish brand is loved by fashionistas all over the world. The Scandinavian brand Baum und Pferdgarten, hugely popular with fashion journalists and editors, is known for its bright prints, unexpected silhouettes and relaxed attitude to style.
Premium Luxury
True luxury connoisseurs choose only the finest quality, authentic materials and stunning dressmaking. The Row creates incredibly expensive but perfect basic pieces in the style of modern elegance. Laconic absolutely perfect shapes, the highest quality materials. The iconic French brand Celine demonstrates the epitome of luxury in its clothing and accessories lines: simple cuts, luxurious fabrics and an impeccable aura of pearly elegance.
German designer Jil Sander is one of the most famous when it comes to timeless style. Established fashion houses like MaxMara, Brioni, and Loro Piana specialize specifically in creating timeless pieces of true luxury from unmatched materials. Another brand that favors masterfully crafted, timeless pieces is Tove, a British brand that debuted on the London Fashion Week calendar just a few seasons ago to great critical acclaim. The brand's models are characterized by sophistication and elegance, as well as a subtle approach to style.
Learn from stylists
Grace Coddington became famous for her career in the fashion world. She was not only a model, but also held the post of creative director in the prestigious American edition of Vogue. Her talent was especially evident in the creation of impressive and emotionally intense photo shoots. Her list of collaborations includes such big names as Calvin Klein, as well as famous actresses and models such as Jessica Chastain and Natalia Vodianova. Anna Wintour herself noted Grace's exceptional fashion sense. Coddington's creative handwriting is characterized by inspiration drawn from classical art and fairytale motifs. She favors holistic images and clean silhouettes in her designs.
Erin Walsh never planned to connect her life with the world of fashion. She came to New York City dreaming of becoming an actress, but fate led her to Vogue. Working with stars such as Eva Mendes, Adriana Lima, Kerry Washington and Sarah Jessica Parker, she has styled shows and shoots for Hugo Boss, Avon and NY & CO. The main guidelines of her professionalism are elegance and timeless beauty. In Erin's opinion, a woman's clothes should be her armor that helps her win and remain invincible, especially on red carpets. As Erin herself says, “When you take the time to think about how you want to feel every day, your closet will become a tool to achieve the best version of yourself. Start small - choose accessories that lift your spirits or a few basic pieces that you feel confident in. Build your looks with intention, and see where it takes you.”
Petra Flannery is deservedly recognized as one of the top stylists in the world of fashion and show business. Inspired by her roots in stylish San Francisco and the bohemian atmosphere of Mill Valley in the 1970s, Petra still draws ideas from these unique places. What sets her apart is the sophisticated and fresh take on fashion that has become the hallmark of her work. A natural sense of style led Petra to a career in design and styling. After graduating from the University of Southern California, she began her career in the fashion industry by working at Elite Model Management. The supermodel era of the 1990's inspired her creative vision and it was then that she found her true calling in styling. Petra has been responsible for creating many red carpet looks, working with stars such as Emma Stone, Reese Witherspoon, Zoe Saldana, Amy Adams, Claire Danes, Emilia Clarke, Carey Mulligan, Faith Hill and Renee Zellweger.
