Even Jackie O Had a Uniform
Wednesday, 01/05/2011 at 11:41 AM Comments (10)
Photography: WireImage.com
I love Jackie O, and I’ll say for a different reason from a lot of other people, I think. I think that she was actually quite simplistic in her wardrobe. This is an epiphany I had with my president, Mario, in London. I realized that everybody in the end comes down to a uniform. In the end—even as a fashion professional, or fashion insider, someone who’s looked at fashion for so long, and from so many different angles—there is a uniform that works for you. And that uniform can be modified, and it can be changed, and it can be dressed up, dressed down, explored, taken more street, taken more couture, but in the end, it’s an editing process. And as you become more certain of your own vision, and your own taste and your own style, as you evolve, as a person, not just as a woman, you do end up in a uniform.
I decided that, in a way, Jackie O, for example, her REAL uniform was pants. I believe they were Jack’s at the time. And a t-shirt. A round neck, crew neck t-shirt. Forget all the nice dresses in the White House, the little suits and few evening gowns she wore. Her real uniform in her life was a pair of trousers and a t-shirt.
That’s very much what my uniform is. Mine is a legging—it used to be a jean when I was younger—but a legging and a t-shirt. A different t-shirt, a boy’s tank, but nonetheless, there’s a uniform. And then what I do on top becomes the fashion part, whether I wear knee-highs or hosiery. Or it could be a crazy belt. I also have an incredible collection of jackets and outerwear and tunics. These are the things that bring the fashion part to my uniform. But there is a uniform nonetheless.
Miuccia Prada’s uniform is a white shirt and a skirt. In the end, people come down to uniforms and what they do with that uniform.
Mario and I were talking, and he said, ‘That’s what men do.’ And it’s similar to what Jackie did. Men wear either a jean or a pant — in Mario’s case, low crotch – and with it he wears a t-shirt. And then it’s the most incredible jackets in the world. I mean it could be Dries Van Noten, Comme de Garcons, Junya Watanabe. That is his uniform. Where his expression comes through is in that outer piece.
I agree! It’s funny how i do call most of my clothes in my closet my uniform, it works for me for years now….
I LOOOOOVE Jackie O’s style and “uniform” selection…as a jeans and tee kinda gal, I would assume that’s my uniform although I’m an absolute believer in accessories…Would accessories be considered apart of a uniform?
agreed. oh how i wished i could wear an actual uniform to work every day. or how i envied english kids to be able to wear the most amazing uniforms to school every day!
i prefer putting lots of thought in my wardrobe only in my private life. i also work in fashion, i am surrounded by it 24/7, changing shapes, colours, patterns, a whirlwind of everything and anything year after year after year. i prefer sticking to the classics now. i also worked in trend research once and read that the best trend researchers in the world almost always wear black head to toe.
mine is a silk shirt, a blazer and jeans or wool or cargo trousers btw
londonviennacologne.blogspot.com
It is the truth that every real woman of fashion has a uniform, whether it be the staples of Jackie O, or the eccentricity of Daphne Guiness, every woman has her zone of comfort. Mine would also be pants. And leggings are a must for a woman who works! Rock on Vera! You should check out these vintage Claude Montana leggings we have at FROCK. They are amazing, a little dressy for everyday, but fancy leggings can be fun!
I like your metaphor. I wear a uniform to work and I dress it up accordingly. Sometimes I make cool or casual and always, I try to keep it professional.
Don’t forget the sunglasses!! JKO wore those wonderful big lenses as her uniform accessory! Mine is The Scarf!
This is a great discovery! I actually joke, that I have a uniform. My uniform is a white shirt and dark jeans. However it was always confusing for me to say this because I love fashion and being dressed up. Ahhh, I feel a bit more normal…
[...] E eu cheguei a uma conclusão: meu uniforme são calças. Eu amo, adoro: calças militares, skinnies, leggings, calças de paetês, de couro… e eu adoro combiná-las com tops simples, descomplicados. Camisetas e cashmeres são os meus preferidos. Fez muito sentido para mim o que ela escreveu.
What a joy to find someone else who thnkis this way.
Uniform, signature style or personal style, it does come down to you expressing who you are. I find that creative souls are apt to manifest this in their choices of what they wear. I am a jewelry designer and I find that when I have my work area set up and ready to go, and I am in my comfortable “get up” my creative process flows and the finished work reflects that. Your look is sexy, eclectic, comfortable with ease. Leggings can make one look professional or funky. You carry that look well and it is YOU.
Do you design leggings? Since you are known for wearing them…