Feel-Good Foundations
With
Jennifer Matias
Kick-start the new year with a fresh wardrobe of fuss-free style staples, from perfect denim and elevated layers to cocooning knits and more. Here, CHLOE STREET and model-of-the-moment JENNIFER MATIAS discover the closet heroes to cherish in 2024 and beyond…
Whether you see the new year as a fresh start or a moment for reflection, now’s the time to focus on clothes that make you feel both assured and reassured – cocooning, quality pieces that ooze comfort in the coldest months and empower you to tackle the seasons ahead.
“If you’re anything like me, January is the month where you socially commit to nothing, and instead dedicate time pretending you are going to get organized,” says NET-A-PORTER fashion director Kay Barron. “This starts (and admittedly ends) with a wardrobe edit, so I can figure out what I don’t need and what needs replacing. It’s the perfect opportunity to concentrate on wardrobe essentials, which are the pieces that form the backbone of your looks throughout the year.”
From the perfect gray knit and a versatile white tank to great denim and menswear-inspired penny loafers and shirts, now’s the time to recalibrate and hone in on the building blocks of our wardrobes – the staples that make getting dressed on cold, dark mornings that little bit easier. After all, these are the investment pieces that will become future assets; loved, cared-for garments that can be passed down through generations.
For NET-A-PORTER fashion editor Charlotte Blazeby, who styled Brazilian model Jennifer Matias for our PORTER cover shoot, the mood of January is “fuss-free, everyday fashion – a representation of how we truly want to dress”. Whether it’s a shirt and crew-neck sweater paired with boxer shorts and sneakers, everyday loose-fit tailoring, or a shell coat thrown over wide-leg jeans, it’s all about making your wardrobe work for you. “January isn’t about big and elaborate looks,” adds Barron. “It’s about nailing the everyday pieces that you will rely on throughout 2024.”
Read on to find the elevated essentials you need to kick-start your new year in style.
“It’s all about creating BALANCE in your looks and incorporating COMFORTABLE, wearable pieces into EVERYDAY outfits”
Track stars
Whether you adhere to sporty resolutions or your gym membership tends to gather dust, it never hurts to attack January’s cold, dark days in some stellar sportswear. And this season’s best iterations are ’70s-inspired, with varsity bombers, track jackets and rich jewel tones key. Make your workout-wear office-appropriate with some artful layering, too – a polo shirt with crisp denim here, an Adidas Originals’ ‘Samba’ sneaker with tailoring there. “It’s all about creating balance in your looks and incorporating comfortable, wearable pieces into everyday outfits,” says Blazeby. Also take note of 2024’s new player on the pitch: the rugby shirt, which first debuted on the runway at Dries Van Noten. “Before we know it, we will all be desperate for one. So, get ahead and get one now,” says Barron. The trick to styling the rugby shirt is in embracing hi-lo contrasts, says NET-A-PORTER’s global head of styling Harriet Haskell-Thomas: “Elevate it with tailoring, tuck it in to a midi skirt, or wear one oversized as a dress and luxe it up with a pair of heels for an unexpected party look.”
Beautiful base layers
If January is the month for going back to basics, it makes sense to focus on the cut, quality and feel of your closet staples. Whether you opt for a soft yet sturdy cotton and Lyocell-blend top from Citizens of Humanity, the flattering stretch-modal and cotton blend used in Skims’ boxer shorts, or a chic brushed-wool sweater from Toteme, layering well-crafted pieces will boost your mood on a cold winter’s day. “Luxe layering is an easy way to elevate your everyday look,” says Marianne McDonald, creative director of Citizens of Humanity. From the perfect white tank to a game-changing black legging, be sure to invest in beautiful base layers this season. “You can never have too many tank tops, polo necks (sleeveless and long-sleeved), white or black T-shirts, and white shirts for layering,” says Barron. “And as the year warms up, they become the understated heroes of your look as you strip heavier pieces away.”
“Yes, ’90s grunge is enjoying a REVIVAL, but SS24’s take feels more GROWN-UP, so there is scope to approach it in a more ELEVATED way this time around”
Teen spirit
From the moment Kate Moss hit Bottega Veneta’s SS23 runway in a lumberjack shirt and baggy jeans, a gentle grunge revival has rippled through our casual wardrobes – and the vibe was further cemented by Daniel Lee’s check-heavy debut for Burberry back in February. However, just as Moss’s plaid shirt was made from the softest lamb’s leather cleverly printed with a trompe l’oeil, the trick to nailing Nirvana 2.0 is to keep things super-premium – we recommend pairing your plaid with pressed, dark-indigo denim, or investing in luxe, minimal cargo pants, such as those on offer from Loewe and Lemaire. “Yes, ’90s grunge is enjoying a revival, but SS24’s take feels more grown-up, so there is scope to approach it in a more elevated way this time around,” adds Haskell-Thomas, who says a distressed, oversized biker jacket and a Burberry check shirt are top of her list for the new season. “I’m also loving the sheer trend, so I’m looking for a lace-trimmed sheer dress that I’ll wear with the leather jacket or plaid shirt and biker boots for now, then bare skin come summer.”
“Jeans are DEFINITELY being WORN more oversized, SLOUCHY and baggy”
True blues
No capsule closet is complete without a hard-working pair of jeans, and this season’s denim is all about “nostalgic shades and loose, oversized styles,” says Blazeby, who styled an oversized pale-wash denim shirt from Petar Petrov with a white tee and Adidas Originals’ ‘Sambas’ sneakers, plus Stella McCartney’s embellished cutout-hip jeans with a slouchy tank top. “I have found my denim getting looser and looser,” says Barron. “I have my eye on Khaite’s very wide jeans, which remind me of my teens, and Agolde’s oversized denim shirting. Basically, the bigger the better for 2024.” Haikure founder Federico Corneli agrees, adding: “Jeans are definitely being worn more oversized, slouchy and baggy.” The Italian denim brand’s wide-leg ‘Bethany’ jeans are meant to be worn low on the hips for a slouchy look. “We were inspired by the wider styles of the 2000s, and the relaxed, effortless look this style gives the wearer.”
Modern minimalism
As we shed the sparkle and frills of the festive season, we crave a cleaner aesthetic – and modern, minimal jewelry offers a perfect palate-cleanse to prep for the year ahead. “Whether you are a solid-gold or silver person, or love that added bit of sparkle with diamonds, keeping it simple and pared-back is key for 2024,” says Emily Johnston, jewelry buyer at NET-A-PORTER. From Spinelli Kilcollin’s cult stacking rings to a silver necklace from Copenhagen label Lié Studio, or a single diamond earring from Rainbow K, this season is all about gems you can wear day in, day out. “Everyday jewelry is a huge trend,” continues Johnston, “whether that be at the higher end, with a tennis necklace or diamond huggies, or on the more fashion end, with layered chains, chunky plain hoops or rings that can be stacked.” Silver’s ascent to cool-girl stardom also shows no signs of slowing, with brands such as Bleue Burnham, Sophie Buhai and Lié Studio making waves in the space. “A fresher, minimal, pared-back aesthetic will continue to define the mood in 2024,” say Amalie and Cecilie Moosgaard, sisters and co-founders of Lié Studio. “We will persist in gravitating towards more effortless styles that can be worn repeatedly and will serve as classic staples in any wardrobe.”
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