New York City-based Elle (57) documents her outfits on My Daily Costume, a blog “dedicated to the wisdom and the whimsy of why we dress as we do.” She is a creative and eclectic dresser who likes to mix things up. Our blogger enjoys playing around with various silhouettes and trends. She is a bag and jewellery gal who has a knack for finding good deals.
“At 57 I make bolder choices. I find that as I age I feel freer to be myself. Conformity means less to me now, and I relish creating an unique outfit, often times fully impossible to replicate, since I buy vintage and quality brands that are not well known. I also wear upscale children’s clothing. My style is eclectic, and tends towards enthusiastic pattern mixing. I am also very versatile in my style, wearing Gap one day with a plaid cap, and a Valentino dress with velvet gloves the next. I do not like one dimensional style. I appreciate style that reflects personality and mood. I love texture and color. Great fabric is what compels me to buy most of my clothing items. I adore brocade, tweed, and plaids. I love fluid silks and silk velvet. Soft cotton denim is well loved, too. I really enjoy mixing pattern, textures, and colors, and then I love to punch things up with jewelry and nail color. I would say my style is both creative and exuberant.”
An easy casual Summer look for a day with lots of walking. Elle is sporting relaxed skinny jeans with a patterned tunic top. The smocked detailing and puff sleeves give the tunic a romantic vibe. When picking out a scarf for the day, our blogger was inspired by the bright colours of Summer blooms. The orange paired with the purple is a happy combination for sure. Rolling the skinnies feels breezy on a warm day, and it showcases Elle’s blue suede ballet flats with reptile embossed toe. The blue is picked up again in her icy blue oversized sunnies. A padlock pendant echoes the gold hardware on her strict black satchel, which makes for a fun juxtaposition against the soft integrity of the tunic.
A super fun interpretation of the Sporty Luxe trend. Elle has a knack for putting together interesting and unique outfits with sneakers. Here, the dressy coat and bright green kicks are such a charming pair. The elegant coat with three-quarter-length sleeves and sassy stripes in rich shades of white, cognac and brown is the star of the show. The knee-length topper works great with the light-wash bootcut jeans that casualize the look. A red blouse peeking out of the sleeves adds extra colour and pattern. The fluffy brown scarf brings texture into the mix. A fun boho touch that ties in with the colours of the outfit. Our blogger’s pulled back ‘do and striking blond hair finish off the look to perfection..
This unstructed outfit consists of an oversized poncho and distressed boyfriends jeans that are rolled to streamline the silhouette. Showcasing a bit of ankle skin helps to structure the look. The asymmetrical hemline on the poncho creates a visually interesting and flattering effect. The herringbone pattern in neutral browns is elegant and soothing. The long fringe on the topper and the lace detailing on Elle’s black pumps create textural interest. Elle is a bag gal and a jewellery maximalist. Here she’s sporting three statement rings, a silk flower necklace and long chain link necklaces that create vertical integrity. A cork and wool fedora and cute little round bag are the final finishing touches.
Elle is sporting not one but three bags for a little trip to East Hampton: her everyday bag, the larger one for clothes and shoes and the small one for easy access to lipstick and credit card. Told you she is a bag lady at heart. A white sleeveless top with navy trim and white just-below-the-knee culottes create a column of colour, which has a lengthening effect when sporting culottes with flats. The mesh tee and self-colour striped bottoms are semi-transparent. This creates subtle allure and adds structure to the two voluminous pieces. The cherry red pointy toe Mary Janes are a gorgeous colour that looks stunning with the crisp white. They also echo Elle’s bracelet and the red trim on her cream bag, which ties the outfit together beautifully. Elle throws on the denim trench when it gets chilly. An intricate silver ring and big sunnies are the other accessories of choice.
Elle has a fab collection of new and vintage bags. Here’s her tip on where to find interesting ones:
“I buy many bags second-hand from the Madison Avenue Resale shops, and STA. I am rarely tempted by an “IT” bag. My Hermès Collection came from the flagship store in Manhattan, and also from eBay France and eBay US. I also have some great bags from tag sales in the Hamptons. One of my favorite bags cost me three dollars! There is no place I won’t shop. I look for quality, craftsmanship, and unique design when I buy handbags. My favorite bags are ladylike. I keep investment value in mind when I buy more expensive bags. Some advice for buying on eBay: The usual intuitive first rule. if it looks too good to be true, then step away from the keyboard! This is especially true when buying Hermès. It is easier to find vintage Hermès bags, in lesser known styles, like the Plume or the Bolide. If buying vintage be sure to ask about odor! When considering an expensive item, make sure it is fully refundable if found to be inauthentic. I have not had that problem on eBay, but also have never been baited by the $200 Birkin bag… If it looks like a duck…”
For this playfully elegant outfit Elle has paired a short flouncy skirt with a cropped cream top that showcases the textured basque of the skirt. The skirt has a subtle glen plaid pattern and a leopard print silk chiffon underlayer for some fun pattern mixing. Dark brown opaque tights and knee-high suede boots with patent leather capped square toe — that is making a comeback — elongate the leg line. The structured, dressy black coat features a leopard print lining that mixes well with Elle’s skirt when she strides. A Burberry-esque haute baseball cap adds cheeky fun, while the simple, architectural lines of the boxy bag contrast nicely with the soft shape of her skirt. An oversized locket on a big chain necklace is the creative finishing touch.
The sharp lines of the menswear-inspired woven gilet paired with the crisp white shirt stole my heart. Sporting the hip-length ink blue gilet with relaxed skinnies in a faded wash creates a flattering silhouette. The denim dresses down the white button-down and gilet. The big cuff on the jeans feels fresh and fun. Elle’s black doctor’s bag with gold hardware adds a strict touch. Her two-toned slingback pumps with little bows and the orange scarf knotted around her wrist provide ladylike flair. A gold brooch, glamorous butterfly sunnies and Elle’s blonde locks waving in the breeze are all that’s needed to finish of the look.
Let us know what you think of Elle’s creative style, and then hop on over to My Daily Costume to browse the rest of her fun outfits.
