IT’S TREAT-YOURSELF SEASON
Some garments are so bold, so gratuitously exuberant, that they’re hard to justify. Tip: It’s treat-yourself season, and if you take care of them, who says they won’t last a lifetime?
- Photography: Nick Barr
While some garments are wholly necessary—a functional winter coat, or waterproof shoes—others take a little more brainwork to justify. A sequined Dries Van Noten shirt won’t keep you warm or dry, and it’s certainly not versatile. It is, however, a treat. It’s the kind of clothing that brings a smile to your face every time you see it and in that way, it embodies a core purpose of luxury fashion: to delight.
Building an entire wardrobe on impractical but beautiful clothing is not to be advised, but sprinkling a number of said items into a wardrobe that has already been justified on account of its practicality and wearability? Big-brain move. Either side of the utility-beauty equation feels lacking without some of the other, so treating oneself to beautiful extravagance once in a while is—when you look at it this way—actually very sensible.
Featured In This Image: Dries Van Noten shirt.
Whether it’s a subtle, neutral iteration or something as striking as this sequin shirt, Dries Van Noten approaches design with elegance and grace. There are many worlds in which a fully sequined shirt would be overkill, but under the direction of Dries Van Noten, it’s a peaceful, ethereal thing that shimmers as it moves.
Featured In This Image: Gucci blazer.
Everything about this Gucci blazer screams “treat.” For starters, it’s bright purple. Beyond that, the wide, velvet-trimmed lapels and tailored waist offer a healthy dose of ’70s drama.
Featured In This Image: Jane Paul Gaultier jeans.
Trompe l’oeil denim has been gaining momentum in recent seasons, and Jean Paul Gaultier’s mind-bending designs have led the charge. This pair of jeans, complete with a print of a smaller pair of jeans, exemplifies the sense of humor and creativity that all treat-yourself clothing should have.
Featured In This Image: Stanley Raffington vest.
Puffer vests are an everyday staple in winter, but this version from Stanley Raffington pumps up the proportions to breathe new life into the style. Featuring a merino wool rib-knit shell, it’s a statement of luxury, too.
Featured In This Image: Jil Sander sweater.
The time to invest in a mohair sweater is upon us, and this wisteria-hued number from Jil Sander is more than enough proof. A tour de force in texture, color, and quality, this is the kind of garment that will brighten even the darkest winter day.
Featured In This Image: KNWLS jacket.
Few labels are as buzzy as KNWLS right now. Masterfully riding the Y2K wave, the British brand is at an all-time high, and pieces like this real shearling jacket embody the unbridled vivacity of Charlotte Knowles’s designs.
Featured In This Image: Yuhan Wang dress.
Dresses are often saved for special occasions, making them a great place to treat yourself. Yuhan Wang’s netted Midi Dress shows that beauty and chaos are only a step away from each other, and this floral piece lands on the right side of the line.
Featured In This Image: KHAITE jacket.
Not all leather jackets are made equal. KHAITE’s ‘The Shallin’ Jacket exists in rarified air amongst some of the most luxurious leather jackets of the season. Buttery lambskin with pitch-perfect detailing is always a treat, plain and simple.
- Photography: Nick Barr
- Date: November 24, 2023
