The Sezane January collection launched today, and if you’re anything like me, then you probably couldn’t resist taking a proper peek at the lookbook. You know, just in case. Despite finding the brand relatively hit or miss (you can read about my first order here and subsequent purchase here), I can’t help but get drawn into their clever marketing and beautiful imagery.
Maybe I’ve spent too much time on Instagram over the weekend, but it didn’t take much to instil that sense of desire in me. The constant teasing of the new collection – and knowing how quickly they sell out – created a sense of urgency which I felt compelled to put into action. But, I’ve been personally inspired by all the women undertaking a low buy or no buy in 2020. This might not be guiding my own approach to my wardrobe, but it’s helped me reframe how I consider new purchases.
I’m still sticking to my 30 day shopping rule, and additionally, trying to think about whether each purchase will get #30wears over its lifespan in my closet. The latter isn’t so much a hard and fast rule. I’m conscious it’s no easy feat given I have a generous amount of clothing as it is. So I thought instead of sharing my top picks from the new Sezane January collection, I’d talk about the two items I wanted to buy, but didn’t.
THE BOBY SHIRT
The piece that really inspired me to even consider making a purchase was the Boby shirt. One of the pre-cursors to setting my style resolutions for 2020 was to make a list of the style notes I wanted to focus on this year. Minimal statement blouses were one of the things that kept popping up. Given my style is pretty basic, this is the type of thing that adds drama, and excitement to an otherwise simple outfit.
I find that collars can sometimes look a little too fussy on me, so the fact that this was collarless was an immediate win. The frills on the shoulder felt very reminiscent of something from Isabel Marant, another French brand which I absolutely adore. Then there was the pattern. I don’t tend to add many prints to my closet. Block colours tend to be the obvious choice, being as timeless as they are. But this blouse feels understated and minimal; like you could wear it for years and it would never feel dated.
With a 33 week baby bump, it’s a little difficult to try on things like blouses. Especially when you’re unsure if you need to go up a size or not. As much as I adore the look of the ruffles on the shoulders on the model, I’ve tried this style in the past, and can sometimes find it a little overwhelming on my frame. I’m narrow shouldered, so in my experience, more isn’t always more, if you know what I mean. It also occurred to me that I’d probably exclusively wear a top like this with jeans. Given versatility is key, this didn’t feel like it’d be the best purchase that I’d make this year. Regardless of how much I love it on the model.
THE AUGUSTINO JUMPER
Browsing through the Sezane January collection lookbook, this was one of the other pieces that immediately caught my eye. The first image you see of the Augustino jumper is in a coral hue. Pretty, but not my colour palette, so I originally wrote it off. When I spotted that it also came in an ivory/ecru colour, that those feelings of desire hit me hard. Baby’s impending arrival isn’t too far off now; one thing I’ve had on my mind a lot is practical clothing that I can nurse in. More specifically, knitwear that’ll keep me cosy, but also prove functional too.
This ticked both those boxes for me. It doesn’t look too heavy (perfect for Aussie autumns), the v-neckline is not only chic, but would prove practical too. I also thought the enamel covered buttons with gold rim were a pretty detail. They make the cardigan look more luxurious and expensive than it actually is. It’s hard to tell from the images, but the hemline looks perfect to me too. It’s not a thick ribbed hemline, just straight down, which would be perfect worn loose as well as tucked in.
What stopped me from making the purchase? Firstly, the whole impulse of wanting to buy it. I had to remind myself that while I’ve been looking for a cardigan of this ilk for some time, I prefer to take the opportunity to mull something over rather than pull the trigger and have regrets later. Secondly, I’ve found that Sezane knitwear can be very hit or miss. Their 100% natural fibres pieces that I’ve tried feel lovely, but the cut isn’t always right. The blended knit pieces can be itchy against the skin, despite hanging and sitting beautifully. This is a consideration that always makes me second guess a purchase I can’t touch in real life. It makes me wish that they had a video showcasing each piece to give a better sense of fit.
The other thing that occurred to me, was that I’d probably need to wear some kind of slip underneath. It has pointelle stitching which gives it a feminine and delicate look, but those pinprick ‘holes’ mean you have to think cleverly about your undergarments.
Ultimately of the two pieces, the Augustino jumper is the one I’d seriously consider, if it’s still available in my size in a couple months’ time.
It’s been an interesting exercise breaking down the emotions and desires for these items. Instead, I’ve tried to look at them for what they are. As an emotional shopper who buys more on impulse during January and February than any other month, taking this step back has been huge progress for me. Safe to say, I’m hoping that I can keep this dialogue with myself up.
Despite not buying anything, I’d love to know if you decided to buy anything from the new Sezane January collection. And if so, what made it into your basket?
Honestly, the one thing that is keeping from buying from Sezane are the photos of the clothes. Though the photos are beautiful, they do a horrible job of showing the overall fit of the clothing. I wish they would cut out some of the editorial photos and just show a model standing up straight. Both your picks are gorgeous.
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Amen to that! I actually might send their customer service an email and ask for it – I assume if they get enough requests from potential customers, eventually they would start including this, right?