The most important aspect of any piece of clothing to me has and always will be its silhouette. The way a garment hangs or fits onto your body can directly affect not only your comfort, but also your mood. Lately I have been obsessed with a vintage shirt dress I got from Feathers that fits like a loose smock and has POCKETS (you can see it hanging on the wall in the dressing room in THIS PHOTO where I was trying on a harem pants onesie). I’ve been living in it lately and will probably continue to do so throughout the summer because of all the advantages: no need a for a bra, pockets to put stuff in, light cotton fabric that’s breezey. And, most importantly of course, I will have all the boys swooning over my bikini body that will be comfortably hidden by the straight baggy form of the dress. Apparently once you start to reach your late twenties you become comfortable enough with yourself to repel men even more with how you dress (or maybe this is just me.)
When describing my joy of this dress to one of my best male friends, he called me out for sounding like a 90 year old lady describing her “no muss, no fuss” clothing. Mock me all you want, but sometimes simple clothing on the outside can actually give you the freedom to feel much more multifaceted on the inside. While I obviously am someone who is concerned with how I dress, I despise feeling like getting dressed is complicated. I confess that I am always more comfortable in the outfits that take me less time to put together. But this definitely does not mean I like to dress like a slob. So when I find a piece of clothing that is both comfortable and easy but still has a sense of sophistication, that is the jackpot.
I was recently introduced to “Apiece Apart” and was immediately captivated by its simplicity. Much like my recent favorite smock, the clothing all have basic elements to them, but at the same time feel uniquely chic. Apiece Apart was born about 4 years ago when Texas based designer Laura Cramer and designer Starr Hout took a trip to West Texas for their 30th birthdays. When traveling, the girls realized that the ability to pack one single bag with items that can be mixed and matched to create various looks, is the goal of any stylish traveler. Thus, it was from this trip that the designers decided to create their own brand of simple yet sophisticated basics that would satisfy the needs of someone like themselves, a stylish woman in need of easy chic basics.
Apiece Apart took a hiatus for awhile but has relaunched with their Spring 2013 collection which is inspired by a combination of Scandinavia and Japan by mixing Danish modernism with the imperfect, raw edges of Wabi Sabi. Many of the pieces from this collection to me feel perfect for Springtime in Austin by giving off that casually chic vibe that Austin is all about, plus most of their pieces have POCKETS. Admittedly, the price point for this brand is pretty high, however the pieces in my opinion are ones that while look modern, are classic enough to never go out of style. You can check out their online store here.
Apiece Apart is having a few trunk shows in Texas this weekend, including 2 stops in Austin, so you can go check them out here:
05/03: Leap in Houston (1 – 6 p.m.)
05/04: Kick Pleat in Austin (1 – 6 p.m.)
05/05: Private Event in Austin (4 – 7 p.m.) RSVP here for details
Here are some of my favorite looks from the collection:
Joanna Wilkinson
keep austin stylish