The NET-A-PORTER team’s SS20 shopping list
There’s nothing quite like fashion week to get the NET-A-PORTER team itching to update their closets. In the moment, it’s easy to be moved by every look; however, we’ve found it’s the pieces you obsess over in the weeks after the shows that really warrant investment. Curious to know what’s at the top of our wish lists this season? Read on…
ALISON LOEHNIS, President, on the pirate blouse
“A great blouse is almost irresistible to me – add a Victorian or banded-style collar plus a ruffle and I’m sold. I like to wear mine with everything – jeans, skirts, trousers, the lot. It works just as well with a killer boot as it does with sneakers, making it the ultimate wardrobe staple.”
KAY BARRON, Fashion Director, on the shorts
“Shorts have been on my radar for a while now, but this season I think it’s finally time to take the plunge. Saint Laurent likes them short-short, and, if you have the legs, it would be rude not to. Valentino prefers them with a bit of flare, while Bottega Veneta and Givenchy’s are longer and leaner, ideally worn with a matching jacket. Personally, those that hit just below the knee, almost like a narrow culotte, are my favorites. I’ll be wearing mine with heels, to elongate the calves, and a long-line blazer to create a slimline silhouette.”
ELIZABETH VON DER GOLTZ, Global Buying Director, on wide-leg pants
“I have always loved wide-leg pants. They’re super-comfortable, yet the exaggerated proportions lend them just enough drama to make a real fashion statement. I’ll be pairing mine with a form-fitting top to balance the overall look.”
ALICE CASELY-HAYFORD, Content Director, on the men’s shirt
“A sharp shirt is a perennial wardrobe staple – a piece you can wear with a suit for everyday elegance in the office or throw on with jeans and your favorite boots for weekend cool. At the SS20 shows, the ever-chic men’s shirt cropped up everywhere, from The Row and Burberry to Victoria Beckham, Totême and Gucci. A simple white button-down was styled under an exquisitely cut black coat with tailored pants at The Row, while Brandon Maxwell layered a crew neck over an Oxford shirt for a preppy twist. At Versace, the men’s shirt was worn under a black bodycon dress, modeled to perfection by Bella Hadid. Unable to pull off the pinafore with the same aplomb as Hadid, this spring I’ll be wearing my men’s shirt half-unbuttoned, beneath an oversized blazer, with straight-leg jeans, mules and multiple delicate chains to add a subtle flash of gold.”
HELEN BROADFOOT, Senior Fashion Editor, on the ’80s-style leather jacket
“As a bona fide wardrobe staple, a great leather jacket is a piece that really is worth investing in. This season saw the revival of ’80s oversized styles, as seen everywhere from Versace to Balenciaga and Alexander Wang. A timeless piece that works with literally any outfit, you can throw it over a pair of jeans for a cooler, more youthful look, or alternatively get your pins out, layer it over a mini dress, cinch it at the waist and finish with a pair of killer heels.”
SARAH BAILEY, PORTER Editor-in-Chief, on the shirtdress
“A utilitarian shirtdress with a nod to traditional mannish shirting – stripes are a favorite of mine – will be the cornerstone of my spring wardrobe. I’ll be adding a khaki jacket and white slides to stride out by day, then dress it up with an embellished waist belt and my new gladiators for sundowners on the terrace. Back in the office, I’ll slip on a loafer, a logo belt and a slick of poppy-red lipstick to look smart and pulled together.”
GILLIAN BRETT, Senior Fashion Features Editor, on the white dress
“I am pretty predictable when it comes to color: head-to-toe black or white is my happy place, with the odd sprinkling of camel or khaki. So, my heart skipped a beat when Pierpaolo Piccioli opened his SS20 Valentino show with 12 pristine white looks: from floor-skimming dresses with voluminous puffed sleeves to micro-mini shifts and sheer shirtdresses. My dream summer capsule wardrobe materialized before my lovestruck eyes. Of course, if we’re talking dream wardrobes, I’d like to add one of Chloé’s creamy-white billowing prairie dresses and Alexander McQueen’s ethereal, hand-embroidered silk numbers to my repertoire. To subvert their puritanical overtones (and avoid looking like a runaway bride), I’ll wear them with stompy black combat boots and a chunky gold chain.”
LIBBY PAGE, Senior Fashion Market Editor, on the power suit
“For me, a suit is the perfect way to do one-step dressing. Call me lazy, but it requires minimum effort for maximum feel and effect, and I love its timeless appeal. For daytime, I’ll be styling mine with a turtleneck and men’s shirt, or a half-zip knit. After dark, I’d pair the oversized blazer with ’90s-style leggings and high-vamp pumps. Proenza Schouler, Totême and Gabriela Hearst all showed amazing power suits this season; the neutral, rust and sage hues felt really fresh.”
HANNAH COLE, Fashion Editor, on the waistcoat
“Thanks to Kaia Gerber storming the Saint Laurent SS20 runway clad in a black vest and short shorts, the waistcoat is having a moment. Part dandy, part Kate Moss circa Glastonbury 2005, it’s an effortless way to update any look. Layer it under a blazer and pants to create a three-piece, or pair with Levi’s 501s and an oversized leather jacket for the full ’90s effect. I have my eye on a pinstripe Chloé version, but Burberry, Nili Lotan and Rag & Bone all have great options. Time to in-VEST!”
SOPHIE HARDCASTLE, Acting Shopping Editor, on the minidress
“What could be better than wearing a minidress after several cold months spent hiding your legs in jeans and tights? When the sun comes out for spring, getting dressed each morning becomes joyful again. When I show a bit of leg, I like to balance it out with flats and maybe a structured blazer or leather jacket on top. Layers in transitional weather – especially if you’re wearing a girly, flirty frock – are a must!”