The non-fashion girlie's guide to dressing
Six ways I swindle people into thinking I can competently style myself
The lights are on in my house and that, friends, is because of YOU.
Just a quick note upfront to say a HUGE and HEARTY thank you to any new subscribers (welcome, welcome) and to subscribers who have been here for a while, I appreciate the vote of Substackonfidence. To anyone who has joined me here AND upgraded to a paid subscription…
ON THAT NOTE… If you upgrade to a paid subscription, you will get:
FULL access to every single solitary piece I write
Access to the comment section (it’s troll free!)
Access to the entire back catalogue of content, now and until the end of your subscription
I cannot tell you how grateful I am for every single subscription. It makes those imposter syndrome ‘maybe I’ll just give up!’ days much easier to get through. THANK YOU, once again.
I’m not a fashion girlie. I’m just not. If you’re looking for fashion girlie advice, turn back now. No through road.
Look, sure. I have SOME fashion knowledge based on my women’s magazine background. I know what style looks like. I’ve seen effortless French fashion editors swan around Paris Fashion Week, beneath understated The Row coats and cashmere jumpers, carrying high end but logoless bags. However. Moi?
Nah. Not a whiff of it. I dress myself, and I make sure I’m reaching the bare minimum of any formal or informal dress code, but that’s where it ends for me. And in terms of interest? Again, quite minimal. I don’t spend hours browsing, I don’t make style moodboards for myself and I couldn’t tell you what’s going to be ‘in’ in a few months time.
I have some nice bags, yes, but a fashion girlie’s selection would be much more sophisticated. I own Sambas, but got them waaaaay after they were cool (someone I know actually said recently that seeing everyone wearing them made her want to throw hers in the bin). The cool girls have long since moved on. Anine Bing features in my wardrobe, yeah. But the jumpers and t-shirts, not the really good stuff she only makes for straight sizes.
What I’m saying is, I simply haven’t got the knack for it, nor have I got the will, nor the skill, nor the will to upskill. I’m found lacking, but I’ve gotten over caring too much about it.
However, I *AM* fashion girlie adjacent, and have been throughout my working life. I have some incredibly stylish friends and currently work with an exceptionally stylish team of women, all of whom turn the workplace into the most laid back, effortless catwalk I’ve ever attended.
Over time, I’ve had to work out ways to adapt. And they have worked, to a degree. I’ve tricked some people into thinking I might just be part of the fashion girlie crew! Big lol. And those are the things I’m going to share with you below, in case you find yourself in need of some ways to ingratiate yourself with the style set.