10 Style Hacks to Steal from Top Fashion Editors
Sure, we want their job, but we want their killer style chops even more. Who better to take cues from than the fashion industry’s top tastemakers? They’re the ones doing all the major trend forecasting at your fave publications (both online and print) after all. What may seem like the teensiest detail — think: an unassuming half-tuck, an eyebrow-raising color combo, or the revival of a certain comeback trend from the early aughts — could actually result in an epiphany of sorts. Cue the “gee, why didn’t I think of that” breakthroughs with 10 style tricks to steal (err, rather, borrow) from some of the street-chic scene’s biggest power players.
View this post on InstagramRedbone || Alternate caption: Rain drops. Crop Tops 📸 @modehunter
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1. Mix and Match Bright Hues: #PantSuitNation, here we come. Take a vibrant red power suit to new heights, a la Shiona Turini, a contributing editor at The Cut, by incorporating a healthy dose of Barbie pink into the lineup. We love how this Instababe breaks up the traditional boardroom uniform with a youthful crop top that would only fly in the fashion industry.
View this post on InstagramWhat happens at the @frame dinner stays at the Frame dinner...except this jacket ✌🏻️
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2. Souvenir Denim Jackets Reign Supreme: This just in: You’re never too high up in the fashion ranks to show some downtown swagger. Jane Keltner de Valle, the current style director at Architectural Digest, lives up to her fashion groupie status with a souvenir denim jacket that’s as stylish of a topper as any. Pro tip: Toss it over anything/everything for instant FROW style.
3. Daytime Sequins: The unstoppable Anna dello Russo (a force to be reckoned with, if you will) leads the pack when it comes to “make ‘em stop and stare” moments. See exhibit A: The editor-at-large at Vogue Japan brings that badaboom factor with a fuchsia sequined jumpsuit, a mega statement necklace, and a big ol’ red puffer.
View this post on InstagramSo glad I'm home. It has felt like forever since I last wore track pants with a black tie jacket.
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4. Track Pants FTW: Leave it to Leandra Medine, the HBIC and founder over at Man Repeller, to do what she does best. (Churning out man-repelling looks — duh!) Cue the head scratches with her elevated take on sporty track pants. Throw in a white t-shirt, an embroidered black-tie jacket, and noir ballerinas for a getup that’s ready to slay.
5. How to Layer for Spring: Yes, you can layer for warmer weather without adding unwanted bulk. Just look to former Marie Claire editor, Nicolette Mason, for a crash course in extreme layering. Tackle transitional spring weather like a BOSS by wearing a simple strappy dress over a long-sleeved top. To keep it streamlined, pull it all together with a corset belt and a camel coat for good measure.
View this post on Instagram~ I'd rather be in London📍✨😎📸 @meghan_ebe ~
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6. Turtleneck Under a Sweatshirt: ‘Cause a slogan sweater (or sweatshirt) takes on a ceaselessly chic vibe when nonchalantly layered over a turtleneck. Throw in some trend-right mirrored sunnies and raw-hem cropped flares for a high-profile lewk. Caroline Vazzana, a freelance fashion editor, stylist, and consultant, has the right idea with her “I’d rather be in London” getup. Same.
View this post on InstagramMe by @danrobertsstudio as seen on @randomitus 💕
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7. Chuck Taylors With Everything: Jenny Walton, fashion director at The Sartorialist (and true OG street star), is definitely onto something with her retro-cool Chuck Taylors that dial down an otherwise high-fashion look. We’re partial to how she paired her kicks with a deep green accordion pleat skirt, a teddy bear topper, and tights for instant street cred. Just a reminder that you’ve got to know the rules before you can break them.
8. Embrace Scandinavian Simplicity: We look to Alyssa Coscarelli, the fashion market editor at Refinery29, for a few points in embracing Scandinavian simplicity (with a New York city edge). Here she teams a chartreuse coat with faded frayed-hem jeans and a layered corset top for maximum wear-everywhere impact.
9. Deconstructed Bows: It may or may not have been Lauren Santo Domingo, contributing editor at Vogue and co-founder of Moda Operandi, who influenced our current obsession with deconstructed bows. She masterfully mixes business with pleasure a la her hybrid color-block sweater that’s been juxtaposed with a classic pinstripe shirt.
10. Stripes on Stripes: Mykonos, here we come! Not really, but in our dreams this is what we would wear. Sarr Jamois, a London-based stylist and senior fashion editor at i-D, keeps things fresh with her innovative take on print mixing. Flaunting a holiday-ready striped knit sweater on top and zany chevron stripes on bottom, she’s giving the boss babe in all of us a run for our money.
Which of these editor-approved hacks do you swear by? Follow us on Pinterest for more spring accessory trends!
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