How to Keep Personal Style Personal
Taking safe style back from the brink of bland
*This post includes a paid partnership with Etsy
I feel like it’s hard these days to maintain a sense of personal style that’s actually personal. We have more access than ever before to other people’s wardrobes for inspiration, both figuratively and literally, but resisting the cult of ‘it’ things and falling back on ‘safe style’ can be like navigating stepping stones sometimes. It’s not new, it’s not interesting but it looks good; it’s safe. And I’m not dissing that necessarily; I love nothing more than a white tee and a great pair of jeans and sometimes I genuinely just want to wear black leggings and a black hoodie and that’s that. But blame the Aquarius in me, I can’t help but get a kick out of something a little bit less ‘safe’ sometimes, something that feels collected, sourced and unique for me, or at least it is until I share it with you guys of course. I get a real kick out of finding those vintage gems or that small little store in a teeny town somewhere to unearth something special, and if I can do that on my sofa even better…
I’ve long admired Etsy as a platform for enabling independent makers to have a global platform, but it’s only recently I’ve started to really dig down into Etsy’s vintage offerings too. And amidst both the old and the new, I found some serious gems. A leather jacket, blue denim and white basics served as the clean canvas to play pick ’n’ mix with the fruits of my borderline-obsessive Etsy tabs. These are just a few of the best bits I snaffled up but I’ve got a whole edit of favourite Etsy fashion finds here.
This handmade denim corsage. I like it on a tank top a la Tory Burch or on a pouch-style bag. Very Carrie Bradshaw circa season 4 which is always a win.
This vintage trucker jacket. I like that this is blue but not denim, does that make sense? I can’t wear white jeans or a white dress with a denim jacket without feeling a little bland but this one feels fresher and less expected somehow.
This little beaded leather belt from small Etsy seller Judey Studio. It’s great slung over just about anything from trousers to low-slung midi skirts. Instantly makes everything a bit less clean and minimal and more eccentric.
This vintage leather and metal belt. I bought this with a very simple black mini dress in mind but actually kind of loved it on white too.
This ruffle Plein Sud top. Plein Sud is a favourite brand for seeking out when searching for vintage. It has a bit of a vintage Roberto Cavalli vibe and always feels textured and a bit frivolous.
These vintage white trousers. When you find a pair of vintage pants that fit like a glove you really do feel like the universe is on your side. Always a risk but sometimes it really pays off. Really enjoying the slimmer, more tailored feel of these cotton trousers compared to the baggier white jeans and trousers I’ve been wearing all summer. The fact they’re slightly sheer saves them from being too preppy.
White trousers throughout // White vest top // Leather jacket // Black tote bag // Flip Flops // Clear sunglasses // Tortoiseshell sunglasses // Denim Shorts
A big thank you to Etsy for supporting this post!