This outfit was created with fall in mind. To me, Fall has everything to do with layers and comfort. I won’t sacrifice my comfort. As someone who continually commutes in New York City, I need to be comfortable at all times. The foundation of any comfortable outfit is comfortable shoes, so I normally style outfits from bottom to top because I firmly believe the type of shoes I wear is not only the baseline for wearability, but they also set the tone for the day I’m trying to have. Whether it’s a day of walking around the city commuting, or a drive around the city type of day, the shoes really define the look. But, plot twist! Fall is an excellent time to switch things up so this time around I actually styled this outfit from top to bottom. 

For this look,  this amazing ivory HM X Giuliva Heritage suit jacket was the first thing I put on and became the cornerstone of the fit It’s a limited edition piece that can be found via HM.com. The collaboration in my opinion was perfect!  It brought out the amazing Italian materials and cuts that we love from Giuliva to our U.S HM stores, at an affordable price. From the minute I saw this collaboration go live via H&M, I knew that I needed this  ivory statement set. The big question  after settling on  this  affordable and luxurious ivory jacket (two big wins in one piece) was….should I do a color block theme or simply go monochrome? 

After much serious deliberation, monochrome won this time around. Once I decided that ivory was definitely the vibe,  I centered my entire outfit around this color palette and decided to wear a matching ivory turtleneck with my suit.

The look doesn’t last forever (too much commitment), but it’s the biggest statement you can make without saying or doing much . 

With the all ivory everything look in full swing, I needed to find the perfect shoes that would pop on their own, without taking anything away from this bossy suit. I thought to myself, boots would be amazing, especially if they had a heel to it. Preferably a thick heel, because, as I said, comfort is key. I found the creamy leather Tory Burch boots that complimented my ivory suit without stealing the show. These boots have gold buckles so I knew that gold jewelry was the necessary next step to achieve total ivory power suiting transcendence. 

But oh, the journey to P. Diddy white party suiting perfection was not over yet. The all-important bag selection was the final step. I didn’t want an ivory bag because I didn’t want the bag to blend in to the look, but at the same time, I also didn’t want it to be the loudest guest at the party. When wearing a monochrome outfit,  your accessories need to have their own  stand out moment too and a  dash of a different color will make a huge difference. When it comes to handbags, the best advice I can give is to look for bags that have big personalities. Like so much personality that if that bag could speak it would say “ I’m a snack”….better yet…I’m a whole snack. Like this furry Marc Jacobs bag is for sure saying that she is a whole snack and she deserves to be a part of my outfit. 

I wanted to look super chic and elegant and this outfit gave me that. From the oversized jacket to the matching colored trouser, this outfit knows its worth. This outfit is going places. This outfit’s dream day is brunch at a California beach on a beautiful Fall morning followed by a relaxed day alone at a cafe reading an inspirational book, something like “Becoming” by Michelle Obama. 

I remember watching this video as a kid, attempting to be half as confident as Jlo in my small bedroom in Massachusetts. I have a vivid memory of her wearing an amazing ivory outfit at a beach house in this video and she wore the monochrome so confidently as she strutted through the frames. That’s exactly when I knew a full ivory moment communicates heavy Queen vibes. 

This is the beauty of styling a powerful look during such uncertain times. Honestly, I have loved getting dressed during the pandemic. For some reason, I actually feel like I have been much more creative and aware of my outfits choices, now more than ever. It has affected my style in a positive, affirming way. 

Nowadays, I will get dressed to the nines with nowhere to go. Getting dressed helps me emotionally feel good, and who doesn’t need that right now? The me prior to the pandemic would not get dressed to go to the grocery store but the me now has allowed the grocery store to become the equivalent of the red carpet at the grammys. Well, not that extreme, but you get the picture. 

And you might think that an all white outfit is too accident-prone to wear for a normal day in the life. You might ask, do I only eat clear foods? Do I ride around in town in a bubble? Am I laminated? Nope. I’m actually very clumsy, but I’m a risk taker by birth so I live on the edge. Life’s too short to not wear a dangerously pristine ivory suit set. The only real advice I could give if you want to emulate this high stakes styling is don’t order spaghetti and meatballs for dinner, and just keep dressing like we live in a world without mustard.

Creative Direction: Micaéla Verrelien
Photographer: Jeremy Mitchell

The post “Life’s Too Short to Not Wear a Dangerously Pristine Ivory Suit Set”: The Outfit Anatomy of Micaéla Verrelien appeared first on Repeller.

My joy. The joy of my beautiful Black friends who light up any room they enter. The joy of Black designers who deserve just as much attention as their non-Black counterparts.

I’ll be honest: I’ve read some of the criticism of Man Repeller over the last month. It’s obvious to me that the community of readers cares deeply about equality and injustice, and the importance of highlighting new stories and perspectives. That’s why I wanted to share a slice of what Black joy means to me here, with a week’s worth of summer style inspiration featuring all Black designers and produced with a team of Black women. Below, my visual diary of things I’m doing, wearing, and loving right now.

Sunday

Sundays are my favorite time to dive into a good book, because it’s pretty much the only day of the week that I get to relax solo without work responsibilities creeping up. I recently joined two book clubs, which have introduced me to books I might not have discovered otherwise. I’m currently reading The Heart of a Woman by Dr. Maya Angelou. I am in awe of how she changed the world with her words, and ignited the hearts of Black women everywhere with her poetry.

I collaborated with stylist Kia Davidson for this editorial, and given the current constraints on travel, we wanted to tell a visual story of what it looks like to use clothes as a vehicle for escape. Andrea Iyamah’s designs were the ideal inspiration–we gravitated toward this monochrome orange look because it exudes joy, sunshine, and tropical vibes. (I’m a Caribbean woman, so I love anything tropical-looking.)

Monday

I usually get all my grocery shopping done on Mondays, because the stores aren’t as packed and the produce is fresh. When planning this shoot, I knew I wanted to do a look with rollers in my hair. Running errands with rollers in is a style statement for so many Black women. Of course, usually it’s paired with a stained shirt and sweatpants, but Kia masterfully executed a hyper-stylized version of that. In her words, “rich auntie vibes!”

The photographer, Camille, and I both wore masks to head to the grocery store, and I briefly took off my mask while we were shooting in a secluded area. Doing a photoshoot in a public area right now was not without its challenges, but it was important to me and the team I was collaborating with to be mindful of safety protocols currently in place.

Tuesday

I recently moved into my first solo apartment, which is a big deal for me. I love the experience of living alone, but obviously the last few months have felt more isolating than usual due to the pandemic. Sometimes, if I’m bored or lonely, I’ll turn to my closet for distraction. I love to dress up, even if it’s just to sit on my couch. This turquoise dress is the ideal fancy-for-no-reason outfit base, especially when accented with a few pieces of simple gold jewelry.

Wednesday

I’ve been cooking at home for about four months straight without ordering any takeout, but now that we are in Phase 2, I’ve started ordering once a week from my favorite place–Grandchamps. It’s a Haitian restaurant and serves delicious, authentic food from the islands. As a first-generation Haitian-American, I have fond memories of waking up to the smell of amazing Haitian cuisine during my childhood. Now that I live alone, I either cook it myself or head over to Grandchamps for diri kole, a.k.a. black rice and beans.

Kia and I wanted my outfit to capture the spirit of Haiti, so we included not only a Haitian designer, but also elements like a fan and headscarf that are often worn by women in the islands.

Thursday

Other than the shower, my bedroom is where I do all my deep thinking. It’s also a safe haven for some of my most treasured belongings, like my favorite candle from Alexandra Winbush and an amazing painting by Haitian-American artist, Madjeen Isaac (if you are in need of art and want to support more Black artists, she’s your girl!).

Kia and I wanted to showcase a comfortable but fashionable “home” look as inspiration for days when you still want your outfit to say something intentional even if you’re not seeing anyone. This glorified hoodie dress was just the thing–I also like this less expensive option with a similar silhouette.

Friday

Typically, my favorite summer Friday activity is hanging out with friends while sunbathing, eating fresh fruit, catching up and listening to Beyoncé. But since this summer is far from typical, my friends and I all took precautions to make sure we were tested before gathering, and wore masks prior to and after taking these photos. There is a special kind of energy I get from being surrounded by a group of inspiring women, and I was grateful for the opportunity to tap into it after months of spending time mostly alone.

The styling in this shot is an ode to two of favorite Black-owned swimwear brands, Castamira and Riot Swim. I love how we used all one-piece swimsuits, but each of them is so unique–just like each of us.

Saturday

My personal version of summer joy would be incomplete without a Brooklyn stoop celebration, surrounded by some of my favorite Black creatives. The support of other Black female creators is the foundation of how I stay inspired and uplifted in an industry that is not set up for me to win. I appreciate each of these women for who they are, and I respect them for refusing to fit themselves into boxes in order to find success. We each stand beautifully on our own, but together we are truly Black girl magic.

I hope you enjoyed this little bit of joy to keep in your back pocket. An amazing crew of artists helped me put my visual diary together–I encourage you to give them all a follow below–not because it’s trendy to follow BIPOC on social media right now, but because their stories and their joy have always been worthy of taking up space.

Producer, Writer, and Talent: Micaéla Verrelien
Creative Director: Alexandra Berrocal
Photographer: Camille Shaw
Stylist: Kia Davidson
Makeup Artist: Latisha Rankin
Hair Stylist: Nie Alston
Nail Artist: Kia Stewart

The post 7 Days of Summer Outfits (Or, A Week of My Black Girl Joy) appeared first on Repeller.