Marie Shortt: A week in my wardrobe

MONDAY

Today I am writing the content for my autumn masterclass at home, so I just want to be comfortable but still feel a little stylish. My favourite fashion era is the 70s, I must have been the only person who was wearing flares in 2015. I am so happy they have made a real comeback. I found a dreamy pair of Levi’s flares, they’re called the true 70s High Flares and they are brilliant. I like wearing this cowboy inspired belt from Bash with it. I think a belt always adds something special to a simple pair of jeans and Bash has some really good options. The top is Sézane. I like the embellishments on Sezane blouses, and you really get better quality and details with their products. The jumper is an old long crochet cardigan from Banana Republic, it has definitely passed the 30 wears test. I’m also a big fan of Birkenstock Boston clogs. These ones are the shearling lined version – they are such a dream to wear at home but I also wear them out a lot too. The mink colour is great because it goes with everything. If I could raid one person’s closet it would definitely be that of Emmanuelle Alt. She was the editor-in-chief for Vogue France for years and her style is so simple but still cool and a bit rock’n’roll. She really has a great, relaxed style that works well for everyday life on the go.

TUESDAY

Today I am meeting a client for personal shopping. I like to be a little dressed up for the occasion but I still need to be comfortable enough to be on my feet all day. My relationship with fashion is very much one of love. I remember admiring my peer’s clothes at school from a young age and looking at my stylish mum’s outfits and getting inspired. I was leafing through my mum and my grandmother’s magazines from a very young age. I was brought up to think fashion is a fun thing that can be very empowering and an expression of your personality and that is how I use clothes. I try to pass this on to my customers and ensure their wardrobes bring them joy and confidence. I am a big fan of this blazer as it immediately makes everything chicer. I also find that a good blazer makes me feel more confident… people seem to look at you in a different way if you have a good blazer on. This one is from Portobello market in London, I paid £15 for it. It’s from the 80s, from a Saville Row brand that no longer seems to cater for women. It’s really well cut at the waist and its velvet collar makes it extra special. It’s 100% wool which means it’s quite warm too, so it’s a very versatile piece – in winter, I often layer it over a cashmere jumper. It was made in England and you can really see the craftsmanship that went into it. I don’t think you would find that kind of piece made in England nowadays, at least not without paying a huge amount of money for it. The gold leopard print jacquard trousers are Sézane. They’re probably a little busy for some people’s taste but I adore them. Here I’ve paired them with a classic Breton t-shirt. I am a big believer in mixing and matching prints, though there is a right (and a wrong) way to do it. The shoes are from an old Steve Madden collection and were a gift. The snakeskin-like leather makes them look so much dressier than normal slip ons so they are brilliant if you need to be comfortable. I love elegant flats, I have my eyes on a pair of Nicki Hoyne’s for Christmas.  My bag is a Speedy from Louis Vuitton, and was another gift. I love that it has my initials engraved on it and the medium size is perfect for a full day out. I would say this is one of the most used pieces in my wardrobe.

WEDNESDAY

I have a networking event today so I am getting a little dressed up for it as it’s at The Westbury. It usually doesn’t take me that long to get ready in the morning – around 15 minutes or so. My makeup is very minimal and I just straighten my hair. I come from a long line of fashion lovers; this dress was my grandmother’s and she gave it to me because she thought it would be a fun dress to wear in Ireland because of the green. She bought it in the ’70s and the cut and quality is incredible, you can see it really was made to last… about 45 years later and I am still wearing it! I paired the dress with my Gaspard Yurkievich sandals which were a Vestiaire Collective find. They were never worn, still in the box and the previous owner even sent me the loveliest handwritten note. The contrast between the suede and the patent leather makes them a very special piece. They also have a golden heel… dreamy! I am normally more of a flats girl but shoes are my weakness, I love wearing heels to an event but I don’t last long in them. I have never understood how Irish women do so well in them, they are braver than me! In case the evening gets chilly, I am bringing this ecru jacket from & Other Stories, I bought it in London when I lived there a couple of years ago, so it dates back to 2014 but has kept very well. My bag is the Petit Violette from Leo & Violette. It’s beautiful in black and the leather just stays so shiny and buttery and smooth, no matter how many times you use it.

THURSDAY

Today I am checking out pieces in town and meeting a friend for lunch. I’m going to cycle in because it’s good for the auld’ figure and it’s faster. I love my Bobbin Brownie bike. I’m wearing Mint Velvet Ponte trousers with a cool Mint Velvet shirt and tabard one piece. I love a sweater vest look, they are really coming in strong this autumn. I haven’t bought new skinny trousers in a while but I like having a black pair because they can elevate just about any outfit and they always look a little rock’n’roll. My Ugg boots have a black leather/black suede contrast which is very cool and they are cut around the ankle which makes them ideal to wear year round as they don’t look too wintery. This pair are a few years old and have been worn a lot. Today there is some rain on the forecast so I have also brought my Rains raincoat. I bought it new with tags on on Vestiaire Collective. I love the chic taupe colour, it’s light and I can wear it over any outfit – I haven’t worn anything else in the rain since I got it. If you are carrying a big bag, it will easily fit inside too. I’m also wearing the Polo Ralph Lauren Mini Sloane my husband gave me for my birthday. It’s the perfect size for most days, and fits all the essentials – my wallet, phone, keys and sunglasses.

FRIDAY

Today I am pre-shopping for a client, I am checking out Dundrum for her. It’s pretty warm so I am wearing a Valerie Khalfon dress I bought at a village fair on holidays in France (it was very heavily discounted). It’s quite a simple dress but it’s got gold thread in it so it can easily be dressed up or down. I have worn it to the beach with my kids and to a birthday party with boots and a jacket. I love finding those unique pieces that are versatile and really stand out. Today, I paired it with a pair of Birkenstock Gizeh, I have been wearing Birkenstocks since I was 15 and this is only my second pair of Gizeh, the first pair lasted me 15 years.  My “Allez L’Amour” basket is such a special piece. It’s a collab between basket specialist Maud Fourier and Amelie Challeat, whose daughter was born premature and is a huge activisty in raising awareness about premature births in France – 10% of the profits went to a charity to support families going with premature babies and it was a preorder item, made sustainably by a women’s only co-op in Morocco. What’s not to love? For me the key to a cool outfit is mixing and matching. I personally don’t like looks that are too done up, I find them really ageing and a bit old school. I like throwing on a boot or runner with a dress or dressy shoes with jeans. Mixing and matching eras and styles helps you hone your personal style. 

SATURDAY

This evening I’m going out for dinner with friends. I am wearing a Sézane dress, it has long sleeves but it’s short – a total 70ss dress, I love it! The boho chic look has always been something I enjoy. I remember finishing school when the Olsen twins and Sienna Miller were considered the ultimate in cool girl style. I think Sienna Miller’s style has evolved so well over the years, you can see she has retained her own identity, but still grown with it. She is someone whose style I really admire. I’m very influenced by the movies and TV shows I watch too. Her style in Anatomy of a Scandal was such a win for anyone looking for an elegant work outfit – great winter inspiration! I paired the dress with black satin mules from Betsey Johnson that have the biggest diamanté bow on the front. They are definitely my party shoes as they’re really comfortable so you can dance the whole night in them. I finished this outfit with a light denim jacket that I wore to dinner. Funnily enough, my friends were both wearing the same – denim jackets are clearly in right now! This one is from Gap and it has a detachable fur piece for winter making it a year-round piece. I have brought my Mini Sloane by Ralph Lauren handbag as the long strap makes it so easy for an evening out.

SUNDAY

Today the plan is to relax and go to the park with the kids. I’m wearing my Paname Claudie Pierlot sweatshirt that was a second hand buy from Vinted – I was on several second hand platforms looking for something similar before I found it.  I really like the coral colour and Paname is a nickname for Paris, which is the main reason I wanted this particular jumper. People say Parisians think they are better than the rest of the world and… they are dead right!  This skirt came from Vestiaire Collective – another find with tags still on. I just love how bright it is and the fabric is incredible – it feels very luxurious. I love wearing it with more casual pieces and incorporating it into my everyday wardrobe. It feels very Milanese to me, which makes sense as it is from MSGM. My shoes are Converse. They’re such great shoes! I have had many colours over the years but the best ones for me are the cream, especially after they are a little worn. I’m going to use my Allez L’Amour basket for the snacks and nappies, it fits everything we need. On Sunday evenings, I usually look at my diary for the week ahead (as well as the weather forecast) and then I plan my outfits on a list on my phone. If I have no inspiration I look at my Pinterest boards and that generally helps. If in doubt, I like jeans, a shirt, converse and a blazer; the ultimate Parisian uniform. 

Photography by @mariestylestudio. We may earn a commission if you buy something from any affiliate links on our site.