The Gabriela Hearst investment pieces to buy now and wear forever
A true sartorial alchemist, designer Gabriela Hearst has a gift for putting a contemporary twist on closet classics and, in the process, turning them into something totally fresh and utterly covetable
Despite launching her eponymous label just five years ago, Gabriela Hearst has quickly risen to the top of the fashion industry. Thanks to her unwavering attention to detail, second-to-none quality and commitment to craft, she counts some of the world’s most discerning dressers as fans, including Hollywood heavyweights Laura Dern, Glenn Close and Zoë Kravitz.
Hearst’s diverse fan base is testament to the universality of her work: she’s a modern woman designing for women. Having lived in New York and worked in the fashion industry for almost 20 years, Hearst understands what women need from their clothes – namely, that elusive mix of comfort, excitement, durability and elegance. Although her designs might appear precious – thanks to their exquisite construction – the designer maintains they are anything but. Hearst’s perception of luxury and focus on sustainability was informed by her childhood, which was spent on her family’s ranch in rural Uruguay. “There’s this idea that nothing can go to waste when you’re in a remote area. You’re always thinking twice and repurposing everything.” It’s by, quite literally, bringing these two disparate worlds together (Hearst’s studio is based in New York, but her collections are produced back home on the farm) that she has managed to strike the balance between beauty and utility and, ultimately, create an aesthetic all her own.
“Hearst understands what women need from their clothes – namely that elusive mix of comfort, excitement, durability and elegance
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Hearst’s suiting – which has become something of a signature for the label – is the perfect example of this duality. Deftly fusing form and function, a louche two-piece, constructed from a sumptuous silk-wool blend, promises to work for all manner of occasions. Plus, in a design masterstroke, Hearst has made the waist belt part of the blazer itself, which creates a subtle hourglass silhouette and gives a traditionally masculine ensemble a feminine feel. The ultimate 24-hour outfit, finish with square-toed shoes and an oversized tote for a directional take on office-appropriate style. When the time comes to clock off, slip on barely-there sandals and pop a butter-soft leather grab-bag under your arm for an insouciant evening look. Similarly timely and timeless is Hearst’s plush outerwear. Take this season’s two-toned cashmere coat. Tasteful yet head-turning, this long-line piece, finished with playful red whip stitching, is the ideal accompaniment to everything from slip dresses and all-black ensembles to blue denim and box-fresh sneakers. Thanks to Hearst’s faultless design, this coat is one of those special pieces that will always have a place in your closet.
There’s a conceptual element to Hearst’s design process that is integral to her finished pieces. Her resort collection, for example, was inspired by singular figures such as Patti Smith, Bo Derek and French philosopher Simone Weil; strong women whose spirit she has managed to capture in clothes that she envisages as sartorial armor. Her clothes are truly for living in and, ever the conscientious creator, Hearst designs pieces to grow, evolve and live alongside the women she outfits. Which is why an exquisite creation by Gabriela Hearst is always a true investment piece.