12. The Jalen Sandal

There are times I am hit by how great simplicity can be when it comes to outfits.

Hello,

The last few days I found myself basically wearing the same thing in Portugal.

The weather let’s just say has not been hot.

I was not prepared for this.

I’ve been repeatedly slipping on my silky Massimo Dutti trousers (similar here) combined with the most beautiful (and comfortable) sandals I have invested in for a long time.

A Emery’s Jalen sandal in Black Leather.

I packed two light jumpers which have been interchanged. A men’s grey v neck cashmere knit from Marks & Spencers and a cropped cream knit from Benneton (it’s old). Here is one I have my eye on from Calvin Klein & I do think Zara is good for cropped knits especially if you are trying out the idea of this length with high-waisted trousers for the first time and want to see how it goes.

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I’ve been thinking how I’ve felt good all week with this outfit worn on repeat. Not annoying or lazy or any of the others things.

I’ve been thinking about how there are outfits that just feel good for both simple and complex reasons (more effort, planning, off-piste buying).

This week it’s been so simple.

I literally have nothing else to put on to be warm enough. But I’ve felt good because I have pieces I feel good in and love.

That’s the thing with a great outfit, it usually doesn’t require too much thinking but is made up of good, well-chosen items.

Good pieces. Worn on repeat. Loved. Felt good in.

This way of repeating outfits feels joyful, and confident, not lazy or unsure.

But I guess The Jalen Sandal is the piece that feels like the biggest styling block in this outfit.

I watched them go in and out of stock for ages early in the summer and eventually got them on sale for €140 on Net-A-Porter in their mid-season sale. Clearly when someone returned a pair - one person’s loss, another’s gain.

They are stocked on a number of websites in different colourways - Farfetch, Harvey Nichols, The Frankie Shop, Net-a-Porter & their own website (check the shipping).

Lovely outfits take pieces that are lovely to you. (and they don’t have to be lovely to everyone else). Just you.

And this is how outfits are built. They don’t magic their way onto our Instagram feeds, it takes focus and research to find unique brands you love, keeping an eye on items they bring out, creating your outfit catalogue (think through how many outfits you can create if you buy the item), invest and feel the simple confidence in wearing these items more and needing less.

Now, to find some sunshine and create some sunny outfits with the sandals….

Julie x