Monthly Good Things // 04
Welcome back to Good Things - a monthly series with a focus on taking a more thoughtful, sustainable approach to style.
I genuinely love writing these editions! I hope you can feel that same thrum of excitement as you read.
Good Things come in threes, so in each edition, we enjoy:
3 Good Outfits - the focus here is on building outfits with what we already own. Great style isn’t about having more — it’s about seeing more in what’s already there. Think on the Scandinavian approach to style, written about so eloquently by Antonia: simple, timeless dressing built on long-lasting, well-loved pieces, free from the endless pull of consumption and yet consistently among the most stylish in the world. I find this approach so refreshing, enlightening and inspiring. But more on this later.
Last month, I leaned into silhouette to create some Good Outfits, and was thrilled to be joined by a creator who is a true creative and lover of vintage, Katie Casper. This month, we’re welcoming another very special guest, who is hugely inspiring in how she uses colour to create outfits with contrast, depth and interest. Can you guess who it is?
2 Good Finds - With sustainable style and slowing our consumption always at the forefront of minds here at My Style Rush, Good Finds is our dopamine hit of pieces that stand out because they have the potential to stand the test of time, to expand how we use what we already own (read more about wardrobe expanders here from Angie Uh), and to speak of our commitment to style and to the planet. Sometimes they’re new, sometimes preloved but they’re always chosen with care.
1 Good Read - Always seeking to expand my reading list, each month I share a Good Read or new-to-me publication and that’s simply too good not to share.
This month’s Good Outfits focuses on using colour to create interest and balance. Inspired by her mastery in this space, I reached out to Ritika to see if she’d like to contribute. And I’m so honored that she agreed! Her outfits are built on thoughtful colour combinations that shift from high contrast or softened tones, to the ‘something in between’ - all while feeling intuitive and easy.
See below for two must-reads on Ritika’s approach to colour.
Outfit // 01
Between a manic work week, a bout of illness, travel for my 30-year school reunion (showing my age 🤫), and not one but three birthdays, this is the only outfit photo I’ve managed to take in the past couple of weeks. Luckily it’s relevant to the topic at hand!
Using Ritika’s sage advice - when you’re ready to play with colour, start by pairing something bright with something that’s more muted, more accommodating - I set about exploring my new found love for lavender and it for me. Cooler than lilac, this tone brings a freshness without the high contrast of white and plays particularly well with darker muted tones, such as this grounding olive green and rich plummy brown.
Outfit // 02
Outfit 2 leans into Ritika’s notion of a ‘safe silhouette’ but expanding the look by increasing the ‘novelty factor’.
This pair of denim board shorts (yes, jorts) from Alémais feel next-level fun with colourful appliqué patches and low slung ‘hang’. While the bermuda silhouette feels familar, it’s the Y2K-inspired denim and travel-luggage-sticker style patches that up the novelty factor. Get ready to see these on repeat all summer.
I’ve styled these two ways, anchoring both looks with my orange-red leather mules and a mix of balancing tones.
Without Ritika’s influence and a little help from my Japanese Dictionary of Color Combinations, I’d never have thought to combine these shades! Consider my existing wardrobe officially expanded.
Outfit // 03
Outfit 3 is brought to us by Ritika herself. I’ve long admired Ritika’s aesthetic and attitude to getting dressed. Her outfits feel fresh, intentional and perfectly balanced - driven largely by her instinctive and clever use of colour.
The brief: an outfit in which she feels good, for whatever reason. The result: using what she already owns, Ritika has created a seemingly simple but incredibly sumptuous outfit, using colour, shape and texture - this outfit has literally got everything going for it!
In Ritika’s words:
Jenny kindly asked me to contribute to her letter during a week when I’ve really needed *the good things*. I’ve been recovering from an annoying cold and needed comfy clothes, that are not sweats.
So here’s what I picked - satin pants that I bought on sale from Leset last Fall, Muji denim shirt that I’ve had for over 10 years (it’s the softest), and this technical jacket from Uniqlo that I bought last January, and have gotten a lot of use out of since. Clothes I can lounge all day in, and run errands in.
This month’s Good Finds come as a pair - something old and something new.
If you’re a regular reader, you’ll know I have a penchant for vintage Jaeger - having found my dream blazer second-hand last year. This preloved safari-style jacket caught my eye for its modern feel, soft tone, good material credentials and excellent buttons. Available on Vinted.
As far as newness goes, this ‘jacquard fireman clasp’ blazer from Zara is likely coming soon to a wishlist near you! And yes it’s Zara, but it’s a cotton-linen-viscose mix so at the better end of the spectrum in terms of composition. The styling here👌🏻.
My heart skipped a beat when I read Camilla’s recent post on Buy Less, Buy Better. As much as I’m drawn to Scandinavian style, I’m equally inspired by the Scandinavian approach to consumption.
With more limited disposable income than other parts of the world, the idea of buying less but buying better has never felt more convincing and grounded in reality.
I would thoroughly recommend reading Camilla’s posts for a refreshing, sustainable lens on style and getting dressed.
Previous editions
If you’re ready for more, here’s a look back at the previous monthly editions of Good Things.
See you next week for more style inspiration and sustainable style, and wishing you a very restful weekend, Jenny x
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These color combos are so good! I love how versatile olive green is.
Great one, Jenny!