The Art of Layering

A few years back JV complained that one of her black dresses (yes, like any other smart dresser she has multiple black dresses!) has fallen out of rotation. She couldn't figure out how to wear it to make it work and look current. I suggested layering it over a snug white T. The dress went back in.

Layering, ladies, is a great thing. It is not only functional (as in making you warmer); economical (as in you can wear a summer top over a long sleeve shirt to maximize its utility); but also super stylish - it can transform an item, making a stale outfit look completely new. It is almost Shklovskian.

The most recent issue of Vogue has a fantastic editorial  - "Day Tripping". Its premise is artful layering of somewhat unexpected combination, and the best are not just sudden but even clashing, and wildly so (BTW Vogue did not invent this styling priciple - Jenna Lyons at JCrew has been an avid and fantastic layerer).

My favorite? What else if not the striped T under anything. HOT.

Check it out:

This image: Louis Vuitton sweater and dress paired with a Proenza Schouler striped top, my newest lust object:

Above: a sweater worn over a dress and then belted. The clash of flowery and geometric patterns while remaining true to one color scheme works beautifully.

In this case a plain long sleeve T is worn under an embellished top and then paired with an embellished skirt. I'm not saying that we all should go bravely into the day bedazzled like bullfighters but the principle stands - plain objects when paired with heavily embellished ones can take the dressiness factor down by a few nothches.  Same goes for the addition of the belt, although I tend to find it fussy. 

Here a McQueen dress is worn with a Stella striped sweater and a fab necklace. Should be on overload but it works. 

My favorite image of the editorial - and I'm sure you all can guess why (clue: it is not the dog!).  This is just so bloody perfect I'm inspired to try it at home. Same Proenza top from above (panting with lust here) worn under a Peter Pilotto dress. Flowers and stripes ladies, it is a match born in heaven. 

Same principle is at work here as well- a striped button down by Givenchy under a very feminine Vera Wang dress for a perfect injection of masculinity. 

Ah, multiple stripes. And a crisp white collar. And a beret (which I could never make work in reality). 

A fantastic Peter Pilotto skirt. Shirt from Guess (imagine that!). And a striped sweater from APC:

This outfit is impossible to pull off in real life without the layers bunching like crazy. But on the page the attempt is valiant. What this is is a Valentino butterfly dress (short) worn over a longer Carolina Herrera skirt and a Marc Jacobs striped shirt, plus a Marni necklace and a belt. A gorgeous overload.