The further we progress into the second millennium, the more we begin to question what matches and what does not. Designers like Rag & Bone, Todd Snyder and John Elliot have all pushed the Pantone palette into an earth tone direction, allowing for taupes, beiges, grays and browns to work in harmony.
I find this shift towards a more monochromatic color scheme to be very purposeful and conscious. It is as if fashion is taking a step back from all of the chaos and keeping something in our lives simple, while also challenging the stigma that wearing all of the same color would get you pulled over by the fashion police. If anyone embraces purpose, consciousness, simplicity and challenging societal norms, it is my featured Fashionisto.
As a jazz drummer and producer in the duo houseparty, this Fashionisto’s creative musical style has a noticeable influence on his personal style. He opts for clean articles in neutral colors that leave room for him to add that one statement piece that makes you look twice; in this case, it’s a floppy-eared dog hat. When I first saw the dog hat I must admit that I was a little confused, perplexed even. I had only ever seen a hat like this around Halloween, and Halloween was weeks away. But that is the thing about him, (whether musically, stylistically or otherwise) he tests the limits of what is considered to be ‘normal,’ all the while making people feel like they can do the same. It’s quite wonderful, really. Why shouldn’t your Halloween costume be considered street style?
Aside from the glory that is the floppy-eared dog hat, the rest of his ensemble is so nuanced that it is easy to overlook. The way the shoelaces and stitching on the boots match the color of the self-cropped H&M T-shirt give the look a well-rounded feel that you didn’t know you needed. Meanwhile, the khaki green jeans offer your eyes a bridge between the light taupe and rusty brown. To me, this is the glory of neutrals. They have the ability to blend so effortlessly that even the simplest of garments look high fashion. Just take a glance at Yeezy Season 1-4.
So what is my style advice? Think under, above, around and far away from the boxes that are so clearly labeled. Monochrome earth tones should be your best friend this fall. Wear your confidence better than you wear that statement piece that turns heads. Always bring your dog hat to the neutral party.
