Sometimes less is more. Even in fashion, where many can be easily drawn to ruffles, feathers, sequins and excess in general, at Who What Wear we always seem to go back to the same pared-back staples. It’s the true secret to a capsule wardrobe, I think, to have malleable elevated essentials that an be worn countless ways, to numerous occasions that look universally good when paired with pieces of all different proportions, fabrics and colours.
If there’s one brand I always go back to for this, it’s The Frankie Shop. You’ll see from my instalment of our most recent Great Try-On that this isn’t a line, I love everything The Frankie Shop presents–from its cargo pants to its iconic quilted ripstop jacket. But the item I treasure most in my wardrobe? The much-loved oversized blazer. This is a fine example of what the brand does so well–basics, but erm, better? Everything they design has at least one point of difference that gives it an edge. For example, the aforementioned ripstop jacket jets out at the back, giving a sort of avant-garde silhouette, as does the exposed label sewn on to the back exterior, instead of inside the collar. Despite all the replicas spawned as a result of its instant popularity, there was no way to mistake it, anyone with a knowing fashion eye can spot the real deal.
But let’s go back to the blazer. You may be thinking “A blazer? That’s not exactly new?” And you’d be right! It’s not, and we’ve loved tailoring since the dawn of, well, our time. But there’s something about Frankie Shop’s–is it the XXL size that drapes over the shoulders as if you’ve borrowed Vince Vaughn’s dinner jacket? Perhaps. Maybe it’s the colours. The beige isn’t a boring beige, but a warm, oatmeal hue that looks textured. The grey is slate–it’s cool, with a blue undertone. And the pink isn’t saccharine, but dusty, and therefore appropriate throughout the year and not just spring. Ultimately, they just look expensive, you know?
So scroll ahead to shop my most-loved Frankie Shop blazers.
Up next: The SS23 trends to invest in.
