PARIS OUTFIT DIARY

Short skirts, Peter Pan collars, professionalism.

Of all the new roles that I’ve taken on in the process of opening a store (shopgirl, window display designer, contractor), my favourite is easily that of buyer. I travel to fashion and market weeks several times a year to meet with designers in their showrooms and select which of their new pieces will be stocked in our shop. For our core designers, we also work together on creating styles and colourways that will be exclusive to Mess. It is, quite literally, my dream job, and I spend most of these weeks in a state of joyous disbelief that I get to do this for my own store! Of course, it’s also a sh*t ton of work and involves a lot of tough conversations about numbers, but such is the nature of all jobs. I’ve spent so much time on the cerebral side of fashion, and it is so refreshing to be back in the physical business of it all, actually spending time with the people who make our clothing and soaking up all the advice I can from buyers much more experienced than myself—how lucky I am to know some really good ones!

So what does one wear for such a daunting new role? Something stylish, naturally, but serious too—we’re talking business, baby! I documented all of my outfits on my most recent 72 hour trip to Paris market week, and I hope that the following ideas prove useful for anyone who needs to dress professionally but also loves a micro mini.

1: Sandy Liang dress (love this one too), Miu Miu F/W 2018 coat (found on Grailed for $100…!), vintage Chanel Mary Janes (these feel very new Chanel), Loewe sunglasses.

Day one, daytime: picking up new products for the shop, visiting a few stores to scope out the exciting retail landscape in Paris right now, using a free moment to buy souvenirs for my children.

I kept missing this dress as it was intermittently bought and returned to The RealReal, but I managed to finally snag it just before heading to Paris. She was meant to be mine! It’s one of those items that just ticks all my boxes: Peter Pan collar, pleated skirt, long sleeves. Anytime I need to dress professionally, I find myself turning to all the trappings of a school uniform (and the labels who do twists on it so well: Comme des Garçons Girl, Miu Miu, Thom Browne, and, of course, Sandy Liang). It always feels polished and sophisticated but still a touch cheeky.