I meant to publish this on Sunday morning, but I’d gotten a late start on taking photos and pushed it to Sunday afternoon, and now here we are on Tuesday morning. As I mentioned in the notes, I summered to hard last week, with three friend dates (am I doing this right Elin Strong?), a last minute double date, two parties, one of which I catered, a swim carnival, and client appointments. It’s the most socializing I’ve done all summer, on top of my regular obligations, packed into one week. A few months ago, I would have been mad at myself for not being organized enough to get my newsletter out on time, worried about performance, stressed about the algorithm, losing subscribers, or missing out on potential clients. I’m still thinking about those things, but I’m not beating myself up over any of it this time.
We’re in the last weeks of summer, somehow my kids still want to hang out with me, and we have friends who feel like family who we’ll see a lot less of once school, fall sports, and real life starts up again. I want to prioritize these people and experiences while giving this newsletter the attention and time it deserves. Sometimes that means a delay or a skipped post here and there, and I’m learning to be okay with that.
If you’ve been here long enough, you know I love a set. I love to buy them, wear them, style them, pack them, and hang on them (some of my faves are many years old). Maybe it’s my affinity for matching pajamas, or the many years I played tennis in coordinating outfits as a tween and teen, or maybe it’s the ease and simplicity they can provide when getting dressed or traveling. A set adds more bang for your buck to your closet, giving you countless looks from two pieces when you mix and match them with other items.
Long story short, if you’re only wearing your sets as a set, you’re not getting enough out of those pieces. Before we get into the styling of it all, I want to share a few tips for getting the most out of the sets in your closet.
Consider your set as separates that match and hang them as such in your closet. Storing the pieces together on the same hanger makes them a unit, and will naturally limit the way you wear and style them. Hanging them separately allows you to see them and wear them with the rest of the pieces in your closet.
I’m actually wary of a set that’s sold as a set rather than individual pieces, similar to a swimsuit, it’s helpful to be able to customize sizes and pick the silhouette that suits you best. I’ve said this before, but if you don’t have one in your closet already, there’s a set out there for everyone. I’ll always encourage you to consider buying both pieces - only if they work for wardrobe and lifestyle - because they’re actually very versatile.
If you can’t make at least three outfits out of the pieces in the set, it’s not the set for you.
Today I’ve broken down some of my favorite sets into three distinct looks, styling them as a set, and then again as individual pieces. I made 15 outfits from 5 sets, but could have easily made 15 outfits from each set alone. Needless to say, this is sort of a long one, so you might want to hope over to the app or your web browser if you’re not already there.
Okay, let’s get dressed!
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The best thing about this set is that it functions just as well for pool time as it does for any other time. I played with the brown, blue, and white stripes by adding my leopard bikini, a brown beaded bag, glossy tortoiseshell sunnies, and a delicate pearl necklace, although a chunky one would work just as well. Button two buttons and sub in leather sandals, and you’re good to go for a relaxed dinner out.
You’ve seen this shirt a lot recently, because I really have been wearing it that much. I balanced the untucked, oversized styling and loose long jeans by pushing the sleeves up and adding a barely there shoe to show some more skin. I’m loving the contrast that silver jewelry adds this summer, it really pops against tanned skin and pairs beautifully with brown.
Friendly reminder to mix your stripes, because it’s a more the merrier situation, especially when they’re color coordinated. When wearing multiple stripes (or patterns) pick a color or two to focus on so they “go” without actually matching, this will allow you to layer the stripes intentinonally. Again, I went all in with the brown, blue, and white stripes and added brown sandals, a blue and white necklace, and a basket bag with blue and brown accents. My shirt is a Tall Large, so it’s extra oversized and balances the tiny proportion of the shorts.
This set can lean a little 70’s for my style with the wide sleeves and oversized polo collar, so I like to add a bit of modernity through my choice of accessories. Black studded sandals and sleek yet feminine sunglasses give a bit of edge, and a slouchy raffia bag keeps it all feeling relaxed. I kept the jewelry simple with my everyday pieces, but I could have easily gone for a bigger, bolder earring or added my silver cuff.
You know what pairs well with a set? Pieces from another set, that’s why I often pack more than one when I’m traveling. The bright red top was just asking to be worn with the burnt red, orange, and burgundy patterned shorts. Despite the weight of the cotton knit, it tucked easily into the shorts and created a substantial drape and some drama to the sporty style of the drawstring shorts and polo shirt. I normally don’t match my shoes to my bag, it feels fussy, but the contrasting textures of the woven suede and super soft leather kept it feeling relaxed without being overly matchy-matchy.
This felt like a great mom-ing around town outfit. My kids have outgrown outings to the zoo, but I this would totally function well for a day like that. Lots of easy layers to fight the changing temps, comfortable shoes in a fun print, and soft pants. The basket bag is unexpected with the sporty shoes, while adding texture, lots of space for snacks, and complimenting the brown striped tee and leopard shoes.
This set is not for the minimalist. It has stripes, volume, pleats, and puff sleeves! You could easily tone it down with super simple accessories, but that’s really no fun. I added some shine with flat, silver sandals, texture and subtle color with my nylon bag, edge with studded earrings and mixed metal bangles, and finished it off with a modern twist on lady-like sunnies. It’s a statement when it’s worn together, especially with bold accessories, but the pieces stand on their own easily.
Of the two pieces in my Maria de la Orden set, these pants really are the most, you know? They have a super high waist that hits just below my bra line (I have a high waist/short torso), which makes them a bit difficult to style on their own. But don’t worry, I did it. I paired the pants with my grandmother’s blouse that I’m normally too nervous to take off the hanger, my Flabelus Mary Janes (the shoe of choice for the MDLO shop girls in Madrid), an extra long necklace worn as a belt, and a basket bag. If I can’t have a Euro Summer, I can at least dress like it.
You could sub the vintage blouse for a graphic tee, the chain for a studded belt, and the final result would work just as well.
I’m partial to a Lady Jacket and vintage denim and it’s directly linked to Sofia Coppola and the many times I watched the short film Life Without Zoe as a child. The worn and repaired denim contrasts the feminine jacket (and accessories), adding tension and a sense of ease. This is exactly how I imagined styling the jacket when I bought it in Spain last March, and I’d happily sub in a ballet flat or a venetian slipper for the espadrilles as we move into fall.
Alex Mill kindly sent me this set (top and pants) to celebrate the launch of their August Collection. It’s already been worn so many times that I had to toss it in the wash, so needless to say I really do love it. It’s the perfect combo of comfy, relaxed, and polished that I’ve worn it to both WFH and host friends (hi Katelyn Cnossen, hi Evonne Sturm!) for Negronis and snacks. I styled it with mixed metal jewelry, simple flip flops for a pop of color, and a tiny bag that would likely get thrown into a tote for a regular day of errands. As temps cool, I’ll pair it with flats or loafers, a wool coat, and a sweater thrown over my shoulders.
Speaking of WFH looks, this combo hits all the marks for a day spent on the computer in my home office. A simple top, comfortable jeans, good jewelry, a hair claw handy, and shoes that slip on and off easily when I inevitably sit criss-cross-applesauce in my desk chair. Further proof that you don’t have to overthink it and to K.I.S.S. (keep it simple, Sister).
I legit just told a friend that I’ll never be the girl that wears a scarf around her waist. I tried it once last year and felt like I was trying too hard, a feeling I’m really not fond of. But here we are, with a bandana around my waist, and I really like it this time. I should know better than to say never about anything really, but especially when it comes to clothes. The bandana around my waist, combined with the basket bag, ballet flats, and oversized sunnies take the sweater and pants from super basic and sort of boring to interesting. The outfit has texture, diagonal lines, tension, while feeling comfortable and relaxed.
Few things scream late summer more than an all white outfit. Ideally worn with bare feet, a cream cable knit sweater over your shoulders, drinking a crispy Sancerre on a beach somewhere. Well, this outfit is not that. This is for drinking spritzes outside somewhere with girlfriends and plenty of gossip to share. Big, bold jewelry, red slides with a low chunky heel, and a tiny vintage woven bag keep the cotton poplin look from feeling one note.
Jean shorts make everything feel instantly cooler and more relaxed. Just like vintage denim pairs beautifully with a white lace top, jean shorts give this white lace tank some edge. The espadrilles and leopard tote complete the outfit just fine, but the linen blazer and black sunnies gives the look a little extra polish.
It’s almost sweater season, and even though I love summer, I’m looking forward to wearing some wool again. A sweater tied around your waist dresses down an otherwise serious outfit, the same way tying your button up around your waist does. I chose pink, yellow, and red accessories that call back to the colors of the button up, picking pieces in wool and leather that can take the very summer-y pants into early fall.
Know that you can apply many of these ideas as we move into the In Between Time and then early fall. Add layers and texture with sweaters, socks, and outerwear, and sub your linen sets for cotton, silk, and cashmere. When you’re treating the pieces like individuals rather than a pair, you’ll get more use out of them, especially during the transitional seasons.
I know I have an abundance of sets, but if I were to add one or two more, I’d get a shirt and pajama pants in a colorful stripe, or this structured top and matching pants to play around with, or a cashmere set that can be thrown in the wash.
Are you pro sets? Do you style them as separates? Let me know your thoughts or questions in the comments. I love chatting with you.
I’m so pleased with the response to last week’s post, it was niche for sure, but I think we’re all a little fascinated with the Youths, whether or not we have kids of our own. Thank you for all the support and kind words towards Peter; I was so excited to collaborate with him and still can’t believe how willing he was to participate. I wasn’t sure if I’d receive judgement for sharing my kid on the internet, even with his consent, and it felt a little scary to press publish. As heartily requested, I’m starting to work on tween girls edition, and hope to have it ready to share in the coming weeks.
ICYMI, Louisa Hatt kindly shared what’s in her bag(s) on Thursday. Spoiler, the inside of her bags, and the bags themselves, are just as cool and chic as she is.
Lastly, I was reminded of the joy of IRL shopping this week. I’m always popping into stores on my own, but when it comes to clients, more often than not I’m shopping online. It’s time that’s built into almost all my sessions, allows my clients to purchase at their own pace, and it’s convenient. But there’s something pretty magical about taking a client out shopping, making an itinerary, scheduling studio visits, connecting them with store owners, and seeing my client’s eyes light up when we find that exact thing we were looking for. All this to say, if you’re based in Portland or traveling here soon, let’s go shopping. Send me a quick note or we can chat.
I’ll be back Thursday for the July edition of OIW (catch up on May and June if you haven’t already), my new-ish series for paid subs that digs into nearly every outfit I’ve worn over the last month, plus the details behind them, and where I wore them. Hope to see you there.
Talk soon,
xx FANNY
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