In the words of Oscar de la Renta, “Fashion is about dressing according to what’s fashionable. Style is more about being yourself.” Despite being at the forefront of clothing trends, some of fashion’s greats recognized that style was something different. Karl Lagerfeld, Anna Wintour, Vera Wang, and André Leon Talley all established an individual “fashion uniform” for themselves. When we think of these figures, we imagine them in their signature looks. A uniform, however, is by no means reserved for fashion royalty. There is much to be gained from this way of dressing. Think less time spent planning outfits and less money on trendy pieces, more time focused on what’s flattering; eventually, the same way a signature perfume will precede you into a room, so too will your clothes. After all, according to model Lauren Hutton: “When something is good, why change it? What happened to classics?” Herewith, Hutton, Sally Singer, Tonne Goodman, and Lucinda Chambers disclose the pieces that they put on every day.
Lauren Hutton
Has anyone had as successful a six-decade modeling career as Lauren Hutton? From posing for Richard Avedon in the 1960s to Mary-Kate and Ashley’s The Row in the aughts, Hutton has range; some days she wears her Fabletics leggings or J. Crew long sleeves, while on others she opts for Armani sports jackets or white wool cashmere cricket pants custom-made by Huntsman Savile Rowe. Hutton keeps her hands free courtesy of a vintage rattan backpack. And when it comes to shoes, she has options—bespoke John Lobb 2 Hole laces, simple black Ankle Boots from Prada (“It was my perfect winter everyday boot, and then they stopped making them?!” she protests), or Sperry’s, which Hutton single-handedly made cool after she wore them to a Vogue photo shoot. “Avedon saw me walking into the studio and put me directly in front of the camera dressed just as I came in,” Hutton recalls. “Within seven months, Ralph and Calvin copied the shoes exactly, but made them three times more expensive (and not as slip-proof).”
