Fear Of Missing Out
Maybe mustard yellow is Pantone’s colour of the year and you forget it washes you out. Maybe ruffles are on every runway and now you’re uncomfortable because none of the coats you own will fit properly over your new top’s voluminous sleeves. Maybe all the cool girls at Aritzia are wearing oversized denim jackets, and you and your petite frame hop on the trend train just to feel swallowed whole. Or maybe, like the client we made this trench coat for, you see all the printed linings, colourful piping, and embroidered facings on my Instagram feed and begin to waver on your well defined and understated style.
This client has done the work to get to know herself. Her wardrobe and outfit choices reflect that. But indecision struck when it came time to determine the coat’s interior details. My response was “don’t let FOMO get in the way of your personal style”. Custom doesn’t mean all the fancy details all the time. It means creating something personal that reflects who you truly are and what you really need.
Other people’s preferences should be very low on the list when making shopping, outfit, or in our case, selection and design decisions. Lifestyle, personal style, body shape, contrast, skin undertone, current wardrobe, values, sensitivities, and past experiences all contribute to our attraction or aversion to certain garment styles. We should wear what we feel our best in. You define how you want to look and I’m here to make sure the jacket we design together reflects that.
This client has been watching me make jackets since 2015. She’s seen the bright red coat lined with bold zebra print, she’s seen the royal purple suede moto, and she’s watched me make jacket after jacket with colourful, exotic printed silks since they became an option. And she loves them! But in the end the subtle choice was the best choice because it is a piece in her wardrobe that will mix and match well, has longevity, and exudes a quiet elegance that perfectly aligns with her personal style.
Jacket: Box Pleat Trench, customized with olive rayon, matching lining, custom colour label, and bound hem
Makers: Anneke Forbes + Tunde Kolebaba
Photos: Emma Palm
