Easy Pieces

Lately, I’ve been obsessing over Kate Bosworth’s easy-looking minimalist dressing style.  There’s something refreshing about her “spare” vibe — how does such constraint make such a loud statement?

{images from vogue diaries}

{And have I gone off the deep end, or does this light-wash denim jumper seem super chic on her diminutive frame?  I mean, it’s almost offensively early 90s, but she rocks it.}  Don’t worry, readers.  This little Magpie is not going to suggest that we all abandon our polished-little-lady shtick and head for acid wash and Canadian tuxedos (i.e. head to toe denim).  But I am leaning towards a similarly pared-down aesthetic now and again.  A simple blazer.  A slouchy tee and skinny jeans.  An artfully-placed scarf.  This look leans heavily on expertly tailored separates, so if you don’t have a tailor on retainer yet, you might want to start asking around.  For casual-wear, I’m thinking a loose-fitting gray raglan tee ($125, Atrizia) and some lighter-wash (or white, if weather/season/geography permits) denim skinnies:

I’d finish with some devil-may-care cool boots (Joie, on sale for $170, Bergdorf’s) — something mid-calf or shorter is de rigueur.  (Anything higher reads too calculated.)  Biker/moto boots are the go-to (and these Madewells aren’t toooo bad), but I just don’t think I’m ready to commit to that level of unbuttoned-ness:

Just.right.  Then all you need is a Celine classic flap bag (drool, drool, drool)…or something comparable — I’m also loving the YSL Chyc bag ($1,650, Saks):

But if YSL isn’t in the budget, I find these Kate Spade cross-body bags darling…especially in quirky “Hermes” orange ($295, Kate Spade):

Despite my intense desire to soup things up with loadsa jewelry, I’d stay true to the minimalista vibe with just a pair of long earrings.  I’m ob.sessed with these Janna Conners ($69, Janna Conner), which would mesh well with my more classic/refined-leaning day-to-day aesthetic as well as this more minimalista vibe:

But Kate Bosworth would probably add some House of Harlow hippie-chic danglers ($75, ShopSheBoutique):

Alternately, any of the above earrings would look perfect paired with a simple Equipment-style blouse in an unexpected, fresh color, like this inky indigo by Isabel Marant (contact Stuart & Wright to order) and some worn-in jeans (Current/Elliott has some excellently distressed styles, like this one):

Then all you need are some slouchy boots (this Chinese Laundry pair is bomb — I’m ob.sessed. — on sale for $99, Chinese Laundry):

Round it out with a pair of aviators and the It bag du jour, Alexander Wang’s Rocco duffle ($1,195, MyTheresa) — P.S. my sister owns this bag in black and I die over it every time I see it.  She received it after interning with them this past fall…seriously unfair.  {Check out the serious studs on the bottom — seriously edgy-chic.}

Alternately, layer some featherweight, longer-length tees (I adore the softness of Velvet’s line of tees) with some leggings:

Finish with some OTK boots (I’ve been drooling over the Loeffler Randall Riley all season — $825, Loeffler Randall, but ever since I spotted my Magpie Maven Kourtney Kardashian in the Chinese Laundry suede Nitro boots, I’m thinking that I might be a convert — on sale for $89, Chinese Laundry):

I’d finish it up with my blush/peach-toned blazer (mine was from from H&M  — score of the season — but the real.deal. by Stella McCartney can be found at Neiman’s for a cool $1,545) and a gray-scale leopard scarf ($68, Atrizia):

And even though restraint is the name of the game with this sort of aesthetic, a slightly edgy necklace is acceptable — I’m dying over this Kenneth Jay Lane plated piece ($300, Net-A-Porter):

Alternately, consider pairing a fishersman style sweater ($119, Jack Wills) with some army green pants, rolled up nonchalantly at the ankle (Current/Elliott, $162, Shopbop):

A pair of nude/camel colored flats (bonus points if they come in a fetching material, like these Lanvin snakeskins — on sale for $380, ShopZoe) would be the perfect add-on:

At the risk of seeming a tad matchy-matchy, I’d reach for this Marc by Marc Jacobs clutch ($328, Marc Jacobs):

…although the purist in me thinks that the J.W. Hulme mini crossbody would be the best fit ($370, J.W. Hulme):

The above bag would also look perfect paired with a slouchy nautical stripe top ($83, Net-A-Porter) and some stone/gray skinnies:

I’d finish with a gauzey scarf in an unexpected blush tone ($195, Chan Luu) and  some brown stacked-heel boots — don’t you love the tassel/roping effect on these Janet and Janets ($335, Shoes)?

Anyone else on board?!  P.S. If you’re not sure about the vibe, just remember that Jackie O. switched things up now and again, and was often seen in comparable “minimalista-chic” getups in her own time:

{Love you, Jackie.}