Raise your hand if you have a closetful of clothes, a mailbox stuffed with holiday-party invitations, but still “nothing to wear.” Yes, I thought so: Apparently that describes all of us. Admittedly, it is rather difficult (and expensive!) to keep up with a relentless social calendar this season when you feel your closet is simply exhausted. How exactly do you repurpose those Ellery wide-leg pants you twirled about on the dance floor in all fall? Or the staple LBD that has been featured so often on the ’gram it most likely has its own hashtag? Her own enviable wardrobe notwithstanding, Vogue.com Market Editor Kelly Connor knows the feeling all too well. “My Instagram last year looked like I went to the same party over and over because I kept wearing the same stupid thing,” she says. So what’s the solution apart from buying more things we’ll tire of? Well, perhaps we’re looking at this all wrong . . . perhaps we need to turn a new eye on old favorites that appear “done.” Perhaps they simply need to be given new life. As Connor suggests, we should be amping up the things we already love to wear, enhancing the look, and creating a different style story for each piece.
How, exactly, to pull this off? We turned to Denmark’s mix master, Pernille Teisbaek, for her expert advice. Here, the style star shares her easy three-pronged strategy on just how to revive the most unexpected beloved and well-worn items in your closet and take them to the next level with just a few simple tweaks. See you over by the punch bowl!
The Tights
I have a very schizophrenic relationship with tights: I usually prefer not using them under a dress or skirt because those just look better with bare legs. However, that said, I love when a pair of tights actually upgrades a simple LBD. It can be anything from lace, stripes, or fishnet tights that can do the trick, which is a very easy way to bring new life to an old, dusty dress. But be sure to style it with either a closed-toe pump or boots like these from Gianvito Rossi, as it’s not very elegant to see the tip of the tights on the foot!
The Trousers
Are you a pant kind of girl, too? Many of us struggle when we have to “dress” up and would rather stay in our favorite jeans. Flared pants are a great and elegant alternative to a dress if you match them with an elegant silk shirt or lace top. You can also do as I did and style them with a slip dress on top. It’s a brilliant way to repurpose some of your summer dresses that you often only wear once—and at the same time work that minimalist layering. Add a silk scarf around the neck to cover up, and have fun with your accessories if you want a very clean color combination.
The T-Shirt
How did the T-shirt get a spot in the “party wardrobe”? Well, it’s about combining it with many of the feminine styles that we see this season, either under the slip dress or together with a high-slit skirt like this one from Altuzarra. The T-shirt adds a casual and personal contrast to an otherwise elegant look, whether it’s brand-new or 10 years old, like the one I’m wearing. I paired the look with silver sneakers (any flats work) to make it even more comfortable and understated.
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