How To Elevate Your Style According to Vogue Editors

0:28This is The Run Through. I'm Chloe Mel. Vogue.com that looks at runway trends, street style, and answers readers' styling questions. Welcome, Laya. Hello. Thank you for having me back on the pod. Okay, guys. Should we get started? Let's go. Let's do it. So, a lot of people are interested in elevating their style. Choma's doing air quotes. A listener wrote this, I'm graduating college this year and want to refine my style. How do I build looks that read cool young adult and not frat basic chic? Any advice given? Frat basement chic? I love that. Frat basement chic. I'm trying to visualize what that actually looks like.

1:12I mean, that sounds like, it sounds like sweatpants. Right. I think that's really, I mean, I'm going to sound very like old man yells at clout, but I think it's really like, you know, don't wear sweatpants. Don't wear leggings at the office. Oh my God. Like do not. Shudder. What about a midriff? Clutching my pearls. No midriffs. Oh, now she's activated. No. Listen, I, okay, I'm 40 years old, so I don't think that I should be so, like, young people these days. But young people these days, the way they dress for the office, it really leaves me shaken sometimes. Like, you can't wear jorts. No, jorts are a no-go.

1:50Jorts are not appropriate. You can't wear, like, sheer tops. Does everyone know what jorts are? Jeans shorts. What if they're knee length? Knee length is fine, but then I think, like, I think the, it's very hard to pull off a jort. How do you style that? I think you can do it, but this is, I think this is the, going back to the question about being elevated, is like, if you're going to do something that's kind of very casual, like a long jort, a nu metal short, as I like to call it, you know, they like end at the knee and they're wide, then you have to wear like, wear like a vintage Manolo mule.

2:22Like something that makes it look, yeah. Like, yeah, midi heel. Or like, you know, wear the jorts and wear with like a little like Chanel or Chanel-esque jacket. Cute. Twin set. Something that makes it look like you didn't just like roll out of bed. This is my spring look. I mean, it's very you. So I think it's like if you're going to do casual, you have to mix it with something that looks nicer so that it doesn't. So it looks like you just want to. I feel like it's just like you want to look like you put in a little bit of effort. Yeah. Like people love effortless, but effortless sometimes is taken to mean like sloppy and that's not the vibe.

2:58Yeah. I mean, my general rule of thumb, because I dress quite casually for the office and I'm always like, am I too casual? When I'm wearing like slacks or a suit, you can wear sneakers. Correct. You know, and then when I'm wearing, you know, jeans and a T-shirt, then I'll make sure that I'm wearing a proper shoe, a heel. I think if you can, you know, it's the opposite theory or whatever they call it. Yeah. What is the opposite theory? I think it's just... It's the opposite shoe theory, but this is the opposite theory in general. Yeah, I think it's just like you wear the opposite of what you're...

3:32So like if you're wearing... Oh, George Costanza does that. He does whatever he thinks he... Yes, it's the opposite of what he thinks he should use. It's a surprise. Yeah, I was thinking of Morning Miss because he dresses according to mood, which, same. But, yeah, it's like if you're wearing, it's like why if you're wearing like a ball skirt, you can wear a tank top and it looks really good because it's unexpected. Like you want, oh, here's a word people love. It's a juxtaposition. Yeah. I will say for the youth, good effortless style has a lot of effort. Never be totally effortless. There should be some effort.

4:11Yes. You can like. That's all I have to say. Work your way up to that. Or wear a red lip. I mean, glam can be included. I do think if you're wearing a white T-shirt, you can wear a red lip. Do your hair self-respect. Wear a beautiful earring. Just something that makes it so that you're a little zhuzh. Zhuzh. The bane of the editor's existence. How do you spell zhuzh? That's true. Z-H-U-J. I do Z-H-O-U-S-H. That's zhuzh. Zhuzh. it's how do the french spell it j-e-u-j-e no clue over here don't ask me Joma's looking with such disdain at all of us right now I don't know I love zhoosh Laya I want to know about your tips for layering and looking chic I know that you answered this in one of your columns but you also I feel like you've been owning the skirt over pant I have really been into it.

5:17Oh, this is another graphic that Parker ate. That was so good. Because the person that submitted this question on the Vogue app, please like and subscribe, they said, how can I dress in layers without looking like that chair that you have in your bedroom? The best. Which is like an iconic question. Immediately I was like, we are answering this because I do have that chair. Everyone has that chair. And it's bad. It's the chair that you like. Do you have that chair? It's the chair that you put the stuff. That all your clothes pile up on. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. You definitely have that chair. Oh, my God, I have the chair.

5:46Yeah. And you're like, oh, I'm going to put this away. And then you're like, oh, I'm just going to put this back on because Friday. It's like a mountain. It's horrible. Sunday. It's like one thing. Yeah. So I think the important thing about this is you if you want to do like real, real head layering, you got to embrace being the chair. Like, I think I feel like all of these sort of like experimenting with things like this, like you have to commit fully. But I feel it's really about like proportion. Like I like to wear I have been wearing a lot of long dresses that are like in the sort of no man's land below your knee and the calf.

6:25Like a trouser, I think kind of looks cool because I don't like wearing tights, I realized. So when it was winter, I hated it. So in the winter, I was just like, I'm just going to wear a pant. yeah i love a pant under a dress yeah and then if you're like layering on top it's like is a jacket hit at your waist or the skirt hits like like it's just like how many times you're chopping up your body um but you do have to like embrace it a little bit i always think of um this person that wrote this question also said that they are five three and i always think obviously of the olsons who are famously short.

7:01Famously swaddled. Yeah, and they love to just, like, pile it on. And it looks good because they don't care. They dress like Fagan from Oliver Twist, and it somehow works. It always works. It always works. Because I think you just have to be unafraid. You just got to go for it. Those Olsens, no fear. No fear. God bless them. Love them. Well, I guess I have a question for you, Laya and Nicole. as we head into summer what are some staple clothing items that you gravitate towards to keep you cool but still look chic this is a tricky one in New York I don't know it's impossible I don't envy you I never had to break out sandals once last summer and I was quite happy wow do you remember fashion week two September's ago oh god I've never felt so disgusting in my entire life I sweat through my shirt on the way to the Michael Kors show it was it's horrible those street style photos I don't even look at them I really should have been like She runs hot guys I really I'm like I think a shoe like today I'm wearing my Kalina Strata Ugg platform crazy sandals and I feel like if you have a really good shoe then you can wear like a bare you know a simple cotton dress and then it looks like It's a love from the ground up Breezy Breezy Something away from the body is really important Yeah and then it's hard on the terrain because if you wear something too short and you sit down and your butt is on the seat.

8:23Oh, no. Sticking to the train seat. It's disgusting. And then you carry layers with you. What about the A's going from A-C to... I keep like a sweater here in the summer or a blanket and just put it around my shoulders. I always have a thin button-down cardigan that I have on my person at all times. Or a really thin, like, pashmina. Back in the day, I had a space heater at Style.com. What? Yes. That's really crazy. It's also a fire hazard. It's a fire hazard they wouldn't allow in this building, but in the old building we were in. Different times. My mom fell asleep in front of a spacey and caught on fire.

9:01No. I know. So scared of them. Long time ago. Yeah. But still, not a style tip. Not a style tip. Not with like a long caftan. Do not do this at home, guys. We should also interject and say our colleague, Jose Criales Anzueta, carries around one of those little fans. Oh, yeah. They're excellent. That is the key. They're excellent. That's hilarious. I like an old timey, you know, you can't see me, but I'm shaking a fan with my invisible fan in my wrist. Yes, I have one of those in my purse in the summer, too. But then sometimes the subway gets so hot and you're just blowing hot air at yourself. And that's anyway, we love New York.

9:37New York summers. But they're the most fun. It's like it's so disgusting. I love it. The vibe in New York in the summer is so good when it's like still daylight at eight. you go out with friends and then you're like it's a good vibe let's go out somewhere else and then it's like you end up in someone's rooftop and you're like wow amazing you just never know where you'll end up free and easy the run through will be back in just a moment

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10:51someone else asked i feel like i'm always defaulting to black or neutral colors because i'm too afraid to try anything bolder what are some tips for actually putting colors together for your wardrobe what's your color theory is there something about that um i don't have like i have two black items in my closet so i'm the opposite of this right anytime that there's a dress code that's like all black i'm struggling who does an all black dress code you know well okay here's one one time i'm like here's one i have an exp i have a i have a receipt before i started working here yeah i'm naming names and it's us before i started working here i was covering the cfda awards and for some reason the dress code was for the press outside you had to wear a black and i had to like borrow a dress because i don't say i don't have the same problem Yeah.

11:39I don't have a lot of black. Now I have like two black dresses and a skirt. Just so you have covered. So I'm getting better at it. I have one of your skirts. Oh, yeah. Zara sent two mistakenly. It's a good skirt. Isn't it? Yeah. So I think it's probably more. Let's see. What is an easy way to dip your toe? Like maybe buy one thing that like a shirt that you like in a color and then you can mix that in easy or even a cardigan. I feel like a cardigan, like J.Crew makes really bright cashmere cardigans like all the time. Like that seems like an easy way to just like throw it on. And then start with like solids.

12:19Don't try patterns and prints. Just go with solids first. And I think it's like it always looks good with like, you know, something black and a bright, really bright color. I also feel like you don't have to go full Crayola if you're dipping your toe. So, like, I wear – I rarely wear black, but I wear a lot of dark brown and navy. And that's sort of my neutrals. And I feel like I can mix, like, pink with brown or, you know, red with a navy. And so you can sort of start by wearing some neutral adjacent colors and then start your popping. Add your pops. Yeah, I find after I go to an exhibit – imagine I go to a Matisse exhibit.

13:00I always come away with, oh, I should pair this color with this color and this color with this color. How often are you going to Matisse exhibits? I don't know. No, I'm just kidding. Not enough. But like a David Hockney, whatever. Like I think often going to. Did you go to the new Hockney? No, I'm dying to go. Nicole just went. I'm not so good. I'm dying to go. No, it was incredible. Because the way you're shaking your head, I was like, I was so good. I love. So for me, if I'm, there are certain really iconic painters and artists, I think just have such an amazing color sense. And David Hockney and Matisse happen to be favorites of mine.

13:31So maybe start, like, yeah, just Google some. I mean, I think that's what butter yellow is having such a big moment. Because butter yellow is the color, but it's also so easy to be like, if you're going to wear beige or khaki, wear a butter yellow thing instead. I wore butter yellow to the Met last year. There you go. I'm on that trend. That was a great look. Thanks. It's like a quick switch. Also, I agree with Chloe that, like, brown is a really good thing to just, like, neutral. Because brown and pink look so good and so editorial. And it's like easy. Go look at some early 90s like Prada. Yeah, Prada, Marnie.

14:05It's really great combinations with brown. Some of those like more 70s combos. I think everything goes with brown personally. Yeah, same. It's your version of black. Yeah. Yeah. What I don't love so much, but this is just personal, I just can't do all the like 50 shades of beige. Like I can't. It's not for me. And that neutral like kind of like nude I love it for them yeah except okay but remember that Phoebe Celine collection that was all like oh yeah nude and brown and yellow and it was amazing not my favorite Phoebe what's your favorite Phoebe not my favorite Phoebe is a great your favorite Phoebe was the I've listened to that podcast you know which one the paintbrush yeah brush strokes yeah the brush strokes I was very inspired by that yes I have been many designers over the years what is it the it was the they're 80s and Italian and that was what?

14:55Oh, Memphis. The Memphis collection. It was the Memphis collection. Yeah, it was so good. I mean, I love how Phoebe did florals too because I think florals can get very kind of staid, but she makes them cool. That rose print, another iconic. So once you've mastered solids, then you can go on to like crazy florals. Agreed. Okay. Choma, this one might be perfect for you. Okay. What is the best way to style a ballet flat and what are your favorite ways to wear them? I feel like you're very strong. strong flat wearer oh i am a flat wearer yeah i think it all depends i mean i've seen it i love it with a white sock i love it so many different ways i think it really depends i don't think proportionally that works for me to do that because i can't really wear flats with skirts just doesn't work for me on my body but i mean i like it with a like a wide pan a wider pan i don't love like a flat with a skinny pant i think a wider pant looks better but i love it with i like it girly with like yeah like a knee-length skirt with some socks but i actually think you're probably better at this i love a belay flat yeah i love i think the the secret to having a belay flat wardrobe is to have like different toe shapes like i love a belay flat with a white like pant but it always needs to be like a pointy toe or like an almond toe which is the best kind of toe because I feel like the round toe and a wide leg can sometimes like cut the line and you want the line to flow I mean I think I have mostly I just wear ballet flats.

16:32Really? I don't have a single pair of ballet flats in my wardrobe which is crazy because you're so like comfort first like when you're walking with Nicole to go somewhere She's a sturdy shoe What did you call them? A working woman's shoe. Oh, yeah. Liah TM'd the WWS, the working woman's shoe. It's a flat, but it has a sole. It's a sensible flat. Yeah, Nicole doesn't like to have no support. Yeah, I know. Is what it comes down to. My boyfriend always looks at me like, are you comfortable in those? Yeah, like the Romech flats. I am aware that it's like walking barefoot, but I love them. but the working woman's shoe is it's flat but then it has like a sturdy leather sole and like a little bit of a chunky heel and then that's how you do it got it got it and they're a little bit more i feel like they're more versatile in a way yeah you have a really good wardrobe of ballet flats thank you i have been working on it it's a collection it's an archive because i still i actually really like i mean i like the full gamut i like the chanel ones too i love love One day I will have a pair.

17:37They're so good. They're not almond though, are they? They're more rounded. Yeah, but sometimes seasonally you can find something kooky. Yeah, I love those. Can't wait to see what the first Mathieu flag. Oh, seriously? That would be so good. His interpretation of the ballet. The Blase Ballet. The Blase Ballet. Nice one, Chloe. Copyright it. You heard it here first.

18:02The run-through will be back in a moment.

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18:51Someone asked, is there any such thing as too many accessories? I think so. There's always such thing as too many everything. I mean, must we remind everyone of the Coco Chanel? No. Oh, take one thing off. Yeah, I mean, I think it really depends. Like, I think you just have to know how to do it. And some people break the rules and then I'm like, oh, there are no rules. Yeah, I think it's that. Because it's like when you see somebody that's wearing like a bunch of bracelets and rings all stacked. And I'm like, oh, I love that. Like, I can't do it. Yeah. But I love it. Like Erykah Badu who has like accessories dripping from every place, part of her body.

19:28And she never looks bad. No. Never. Not a day in her life. vaguely don't try this at home vibes for me with Erykah Badu but I respect but do you remember how good she looked at the mat when she had that like it was a face thing she's always looking great do not try it at home no no no correct yeah but it's very that I feel it's like but then you know take something off like Coco said and then if you're like oh no I want it back put it back on there you go usually I struggle if it's like a necklace and big earrings and you know So I'll either do big earrings or the necklace. But that is a good tip where it's like if you think you might have to take something off, try it.

20:07And if you really miss it, then that was the thing to keep on. I feel like that's when I ask my husband which shoe and he picks the wrong one. Then I realize that I always knew the right one. All right, Chum, we have one more. What is your approach to shopping and bringing new clothes into your closet but making sure you still make use of the old clothes in your closet as well? because personally I find that it's like, how do I keep everything in rotation? And sometimes, as we always say at the Hogue, you need to shop your own closet. But how does one actually practice this? And as soon as something goes into storage, is it dead?

20:42Sort of. Yes, I don't have storage. Me neither. Yeah, me neither. I think I've made sort of rules for myself that aren't rules, like that are based on things that I know. Like I know that I love a stripe more than I love a polka dot. So if I see something that I like that it's a polka dot i'm like it's not a very specific exactly like i know that i like like i said before like a skirt that is nowhere so like if i see a skirt i know that like if i buy it it's gonna get a lot of use so i think like it's not even like rules it's more like observing my own patterns and being like you know if you get that like you're not gonna wear it so don't so i've just gotten very strict about i mean i also don't shop that much anymore but i think how often is not what's shopping not that much like monthly uh no i don't i don't i don't think i buy things every month right i buy things for my kids now every month and that like satisfies the itch itch for me i'm about i did buy fete some swimsuits a swimsuit last night i think that There's nothing more satisfying than sort of rediscovering something in your closet.

21:56So the trouble with living in New York and having small closets is you have to sort of keep shedding stuff when you get new stuff. I always regret – I mean I often find I regret selling something or giving something away. But it's such a thrill when you pull something out that you haven't worn in three years or even longer. And it really – it's like meeting an old friend. It is. I mean, some people say, some people like Liana, our former colleague, she says if you haven't worn it for a year, then you should get rid of it. No, no, no, no, that's not true. You guys, this was so much fun. I'm very excited to invest in an almond toe flat.

22:40And thank you, ladies, for a fantastic chat from flat to chat. Thank you so much. Thank you for having me. That's it for our show. We will see you later.

22:59The Run-Through is produced by Chelsea Daniel, Alex DePalma, and Joanna Solitaroff. It's engineered by Jake Loomis and James Yost. It is mixed by Mike Kutchman. Stephanie Karaoke is our executive producer, and Chris Bannon is Condé Nast's head of Global Audio.

23:24From PRX.