Ralph Lauren Would Approve of My Fall Wardrobe

I'll start with a confession: a good chunk of what I'm wearing this fall came from Walmart. 

No one is more surprised than I am at this turn of events. If you caught my haul videos on Instagram, you saw how giddy I was showing these pieces I found. The knits are soft and substantial, while the jackets are tailored and structured. In fact, they rival any of the items I regularly buy from the likes of Boden, J.Crew, Banana Republic, and more. The colors are rich and playful, similar to contemporary designer brands I shop in some of my favorite boutiques with much higher price tags.

Ralph Lauren on CBS Sunday Morning

The King of American Style Shops Wherever He Pleases

I have never forgotten Ralph Lauren's sit-down with Jane Pauley  (skip to 3:23 for the good stuff) on CBS Sunday Morning. Pauley assumed he'd be dressed head to toe in his own label, and he cheerfully told her the shirt he had on came from K-Mart. He loved how it had worn in over the years. The man who built an empire on American heritage style felt zero pressure to prove anything with a tag, because he trusts his gut and his eye. If that's good enough for Ralph, it's good enough for me!

Aesthetics First, Quality a Close Second

I know interior designers have a reputation for being snobs. (Maybe another Journal entry is in order on why the snobby ones are the ones who are faking it, but I digress….) I am not, and have never been a label snob. I am, however, deeply concerned with how something looks and how it's made, although the name on the label barely registers. 

Every piece I choose for my closet or for a client's living room has to pass three tests in this order: First, it has to be beautiful, with the right color, proportion, and texture. Second, it has to be made to last. Third, the price needs to reflect the first two. It’s the third component that gets a lot of designers and decorators into trouble, because it’s easy to lose sight of the price of something when you’re using someone else’s money! It might come as a surprise to know that internally, at RCL, when we (who have become somewhat numb to the price of furnishings) have a visceral reaction to the price of a fabric, chair, etc., we immediately find a reselection to show the client.

Why? At the end of the day, we’re taking the risk on selling the product, and if we know of an equally well-made brand that will work, we aren’t snobs about it.

Price alone never makes that call. A lower number means very little if the piece wobbles, fades, or needs replacing in three years, because then you've paid for it twice. The quality has to hold up.

This is also why our vendor list looks the way it does. We've kept certain vendors for years because their craftsmanship is consistent and their pieces age beautifully. We've closed accounts with others when their quality stopped matching the standard we hold for our clients' homes. Our loyalty belongs to our clients, and a brand name will never outrank that.

Being a good steward of our clients’ money means every dollar is earned. Occasionally that looks like an heirloom sofa worth every penny, and other times it's a lamp at a fraction of the price of a high-end lamp because the more economically priced version looks as good, and won’t be subjected to a lot of wear and tear. Knowing the difference is a big part of what you hire us for.

Now for the Fun Part

Using these same principles, I styled ten outfits around my W Boutique finds from Walmart, mixed with pieces from brands I've loved for years. High and low have always played nicely together in my closet, and I’m showing you how my designer’s eye goes to work for me in my own wardrobe!

Brunch Bunch: A navy sweater with cherry-red stripes layered over a chartreuse satin slip skirt, with a blue gingham shirt peeking out underneath. Red caged flats, an orange crossbody, and a red lip finish it off.

Power Suit: The W Boutique houndstooth jacket in bright red, burgundy, navy, and periwinkle (with fringe trim, swoon) over tomato-red wide-leg trousers. Oxblood slingbacks, a fringed bag, and burgundy sunnies keep the reds tonal and polished.

Off Duty: A W Boutique suede jacket and a navy-and-white striped sweater with a built-in scarf over relaxed jeans and suede tassel mules. Red aviators add a little Saturday energy.

Business Class: Two W Boutique pieces working together: a plum knit tee scattered with jeweled bugs over a pink striped bow blouse. Plaid trousers and W Boutique studded suede clogs make it ready for the office or a long lunch.

Gallery Girl: A W Boutique floral jacquard sweater in cornflower, rust, and leaf green over a crisp blue stripe shirt, with an olive tweed mini and studded suede Mary Janes. Stacked cabochon rings pick up every color in the sweater.

Smarty Pants: The W Boutique navy sweater jacket with striped shirt cuffs over a kelly green crewneck and striped trousers. Deep red kitten heel sandals and a burgundy-trimmed Strathberry tote bring in the warmth.

City Stroll: A lilac W Boutique sweater with a buttery striped shirt and a studded suede skirt. Shearling-trimmed flats and orange hexagon sunnies are a combination I'll be wearing on repeat. (Or for Game Day if it ever gets chilly enough!)

Maximalist: The hot pink W Boutique scarf-neck sweater under a tapestry floral coat, with chartreuse shantung silk trousers and a leopard shoulder bag. More is more, and I'm here for all of it. If you’re interested in my theory on how Decadence is about to take over the design and fashion worlds in next few years, read this Journal entry.

True Prep: A W Boutique navy blazer, argyle skirt in orange, olive, and navy, and two-tone loafers very similar to a pair I had in 1997. A striped shirt with a grosgrain bow and a charm pin on the lapel keep it playful.

Green Goddess: A deep hunter green knit set with W Boutique croc-embossed loafers, a printed bow blouse, and marbled green earrings. A spritz of Chanel Chance Eau Fraîche completes the tonal moment.

After putting these looks together, the prices were the last thing on my mind. What stayed with me was how much fun it was to build outfits around great color and good construction, and to see a $30 sweater hold its own next to pieces I've splurged on. That's the same thrill I get when we find the perfect side table for a client at half the cost of the original selection, allowing us to put more towards a stunning fabric that will anchor the room. A beautiful room and a beautiful closet come from the same place: a trained eye, a high bar for quality, and a healthy disregard for what the tag says.

Shop my entire W Boutique haul HERE, and happy hunting!