Versatile dressing can be summed up in one fantastic word from the ultra-cool blogger Lizzy Hadfield of Shot From The Street: "smasual." She coined the term recently when exploring the concept of buying, styling and re-wearing the kind of pieces that every wardrobe should rely upon.
"It's smart/casual—minimal and classic," she says, offering some further insight into why she always looks so effortlessly polished. "It means being able to get up in the morning and throw an outfit together that you feel great in with little effort. Having the right pieces in your wardrobe makes this so easy to do, and you quickly find combinations you can always fall back on. These can also work as a foundation for creating new looks too."
The influencer, who has recently moved from Manchester to London, has long been on our list of go-to girls when we're seeking out the kind of combinations one can easily copy IRL. She's the one who makes jeans and a tee look oh so tempting and acts as the source we tap when deciding which sneakers to pair with that new floral dress. Basically, if anyone knows basics and the art of a truly versatile wardrobe, she does.
So we enlisted Lizzy to road-test the latest high-street offering that nails the capsule wardrobe like no other: Meet AND/OR, the laid-back, super-versatile collection from John Lewis that acts as your 24/7 closet rolled into one. See how Lizzy creates four fail-safe, flexible looks you can replicate depending on your diary.
1. The Going-Out Look
When it comes to looking sleek for evening, Lizzy agrees with the entire fashion industry that a posh blouse is the way forward. Make like Lizzy and style it with black skinnies to prove just how easily you can dress up your favourite jeans (and FYI, the AND/OR jeans are designed and made in Los Angeles, California, so they're pretty incredible). But remember it's the statement sleeves and pussy-bow detailing that sealed the deal for this one item to be Lizzy's favourite of the bunch.
2. Working From Home
"This knit just speaks for itself, really! I love it—so cosy and soft. Because it's so oversize, I went with some skinny jeans to counteract that a little bit," says Lizzy of this perfect downtime ensemble. "And then to really commit to comfort, these amazing trainers. They could easily be styled for something a little bit more fancy, though." Take the sneaks on a party night with a dress that has a short hemline and be seriously smug that you're the last person on the dance floor.
3. Brunching in Style
What's better than a pair of jeans with a white tee? Well, a pair of carefully designer jeans with a white slogan tee, of course. The combination is one that Lizzy says she "always feels great in," but the devil is in the details for her. This slogan T-shirt is just subtle enough to feel chic, the frayed edging on the jeans elevates a relaxed cut, and the simple act of tucking a tee into the waistband adds a certain smartness to proceedings.
4. From Exec Meetings to Meeting Friends
"I love pairing something floaty and feminine with my favourite old trainers that counteract the femininity of the piece," says Lizzy. Which is why this dress is primed to nail that day-to-night conundrum we often find ourselves in. During her working hours, Lizzy's chosen shoes to hit the streets in are Vans sneakers, but for a quick switch-up, she'd pair this frock with simple court shoes and a leather jacket to toughen the overall vibe.
Shop the rest of the AND/OR collection, and let us know what versatile pieces you always fall back on in the comments below.
