Soft Grunge

Mixing bold prints with feminine details

September 25, 2019

Devon Miner,

Photos by Payton Walters Photography

The Outfit

From trench coats and darker-hued prints to chunky boots and layered ensembles, fall is my favorite season for fashion. Although we Coloradans aren’t quite into cool autumn weather yet, I’m starting to gradually incorporate thicker materials and layers before jumping into sweaters and scarves.

On a Saturday afternoon for brunch, I paired this Scottish-plaid smocked dress with some gold accessories, sneakers, a belt and all-black aviators.

The Thinking

The 90’s style revival is still in full force this upcoming season, which inspired this uniform-esque printed outfit.

I’m constantly experimenting with the fusion of masculine and feminine details in my wardrobe– whether it’s oversized blazers with dainty dresses or, in this instance, a rugged plaid in an effeminate nightgown-like style. I added a belt to this look to cinch my waist for a more flattering silhouette.

A trend I’ve really been drawn to is the athleisure-sneaker look. Not one to compromise my comfort, tennis shoes are the perfect addition to tone down an outfit while still remaining playful. These shoes have velcro straps and a black-colored heel, making it more interesting than a plain white sneaker.

To splurge or not to splurge– let’s chat about designer handbags. Definitely an upfront investment, when searching for a high-brand purse I suggest taking all factors into account. Meaning, how versatile is the bag in my current wardrobe? Can the colors go with my day to day outfits? Do I wear more silver or gold jewelry? How much space do I need in a bag?

I use this Gucci quilted purse every day because of the lined credit cardholders that duals as a wallet and it matches almost everything I wear– so, it’s put to good use. Some of these purses can cost thousands of dollars (a typical Chanel flap bag can range between $3000 to $4000). My Gucci cost around $1200 at the time and felt like a more reasonable indulgence than some of the other designer bags.

Don’t want to finance a handbag? I don’t blame you. One of my favorite ways around this expensive barrier is through Bag, Borrow or Steal, where you can rent or buy pre-loved Chanel, Balenciaga, Fendi and more for only a few hundred dollars a month.

Clare V. in Denver’s Free Market has chic, on-trend accessories for the everyday shopper. See more on Clare V. in the Nov.Dec issue of CH&L or check out my review of Free Market.