Your favourite outfits of 2021

You know me, I love a bit of self-reflection. And the start of a new year always presents that opportunity. To look back at the year that was; what you achieved, what goals you realised, what you might do differently. Part of this yearly cycle of reflection for me, is to also do a deep dive into my closet. What did I wear lots, or not at all? Did my style go in a particular direction – unexpected or conceived? Was I utilising the same formulas to build outfits?

Usually I’d talk through my favourite pieces (which I did on my YT channel HERE), but instead, I thought I’d look back on the outfits which you loved the most. Break them down, the proportions, the styling, and touch on any review points for key pieces. 

So… in no particular order…

Wearing Boden cashmere cardigan; H&M trousers; Vaneli two tone pumps; Louis Vuitton neverfull

2021 was the year I really found myself investing in the neutrals trend. If I wasn’t wearing my typical all black looks, I was usually throwing on a mix of warm beiges in varying hues and depths. I especially loved this outfit. For one, the trousers are fantastic. I have them in a few different iterations, and they really are incredible value for money. And I especially liked the way they paired with the cardigan, worn here more like a top. Generally when I’m wearing something in this colour palette, I’ll opt for my two tone pumps. They’re easy, and that black cap toe draws the eye down. It’s also great from a proportion perspective; you expose a bit of skin (something I’m doing here with the V neckline too), and the shoes are a streamlined design which means they balance out a straighter leg trousers really well.

Wearing Ceres Life tee; Everlane skinny jeans; Andersons belt; Arket blazer; Chloe tote

This particular build of outfit is something you’ll see pop up again, and again. A classic combo, that you all loved just as much as I do. While it might have been easy to wear a dark tee and keep this really monochromatic, I wanted to highlight the fact that the blazer was navy. The grey tee really allows me to do that, and reinforces that subtle colour shift between the jeans and the blazer. One thing I want to highlight – excluding the bag, these three core pieces are all excellent. I’d hand on heart recommend them if you’re in the market for a slouchy tee, a relaxed blazer, or a skinny jean. The bag on the other hand, I like, but it has its flaws. The “belt” straps which are a bit of a decorative detail flare out with regular use; something that’s apparent even from this image. And I do wish that it came with some kind of internal pocket or pouch. It’s literally one large open compartment, with a snap closure. The quality of the leather is beautiful, mind you, and has worn well otherwise.

Wearing Uniqlo U tank (old but this is cute); Arket trousers; Charles & Keith sandals; Chanel vintage classic flap

If I had to call out my own favourite, this is up there. I really love this simple outfit. Easily dressed up or down. For one, it’s monochromatic and simple, but then the shoes have a real “pop” to them. They’re a deep red, and have a squared block heel. For me it’s the strap design, which angles around the foot. Tres chic, although I’d recommend sizing down one; the heel is weighty and has a tendency to drag down so you need a secure fit. All these proportions are pretty slim; from the tailored trouser, to the slightly loose tank and the done up hair. Yet nothing about this feels off balance. For me, I think this is down to that slight slouch in the top, and also the way it drapes ever so slightly over the shoulder. The trousers are great by the way, though they will pick up fluff. I recommend sticking to your usual size.

Wearing Celine striped mariniere; Everlane blazer; Reformation skinny jeans; Andersons belt; Quince bag

This is pretty similar to the second outfit, but with a couple minor differences. Again I’m pairing navy and black, but making the knit a standard by opting for a striped piece. This one was a pre loved Celine find – such a score and the quality is beautiful. Belting it at the waist helps to add some definition, and because the knit, blazer and jeans all have reasonably “flat” textures, I added in a mock croc bag. It’s a subtle choice, but I love that it adds shine and a level of depth not otherwise achieved by the other outfit elements. I can’t recall what shoes I wore with this, but probably my flannelette two toned pumps.

Wearing Venroy sweater; Everlane 90s cheeky jeans; Andersons belt; Vaneli two tone pumps; Acne Studios mini musubi bag

One tool I’ve mentioned using a few times when building outfits is to draw on a colour palette. This means, utilising the same handful of colours for a harmonious look. You can see this evident in my choice of shoes – those beloved two tone pumps of mine. Which, side note, are my preferred over the Chanel two tone pumps. The colour is nicer, they’re better suited for wide feet, and I appreciate the low block heel. The technique for this outfit is called bookending – where your top and shoes effectively are the same colour. But you’ll also notice that the black toe cap draws from the colour of my jeans. Then, I opted for a bag in caramel, for extra warmth and to add a tonal element.

Wearing H&M striped knit (it’s an old style but this is VERY similar); Commando leggings; Tods loafers; Polene numero onze bag

Proportion play really drove a large number of my outfits in 2021. And this is a pretty good example of a classic fitted vs oversized look. The knit is hugely oversized; lots of room through the body, and the visual size is amplified by the horizontal stripe. Then I’m wearing leggings, which are ultra fitted by their very nature. Perhaps less obvious here is how chunky the shoes are. They give a lot of heft to the foot, and I find work best with exposed ankles or a slimmer silhouette on the lower half. And then the bag; I opted for something dainty and elevated as a way to add friction. The rest of this outfit is reasonably relaxed, whereas the bag feels a lot more dressed up, especially with that chain strap. To me, this is a nice way to add in a touch of embellishment or adornment without reaching for jewellery; something you’ll see mimicked in the shoes, too.

Wearing Ceres Life striped sweater; Everlane 90s cheeky jeans; Vaneli two tone pumps; Linjer Lana bag

See what I meant by variations on a theme? The stripes, the oversized sweater, the straight leg jeans, the two tone pumps. All pieces which you’ll see repeated again and again throughout my outfits over the last year. Something I found myself doing more and more as the year went on, was leaving tops and knits untucked. Personally, I like it. Not every outfit needs to have a defined waist, and there’s other ways to create balance. Tie up your hair in a bun. Wear something cropped on the ankle to expose a little skin. Push up the sleeves. A favourite look also of mine, and one that was really comfortable to wear.

Wearing The Curated cashmere knit; Everlane blazer; Toteme jeans; von Holzhausen bag

Clearly I reached for this easy combo a lot last year. Especially when you’re time poor, having staple style uniforms you can swiftly fall back on is a huge boon. Just use variations on the uniform to keep it feeling fresh. If you didn’t catch my cashmere review, then you might not know that this cashmere knit from The Curated was my personal favourite. I love the quality, the cut, and it’s so snuggly and soft. Tossing up whether I buy it in another colour for this A/W season. 

Wearing The Curated cashmere knit; COS navy trousers; Gucci loafers; Chloe tote

I wasn’t kidding when I said I loved that cashmere knit. Worn here again, but this time with brown and navy tones. Again, this is more of that proportion play. The sweater is boxy and loose, with balloon sleeves. It’s a lot of volume up top, yet I still opted for a straight leg trouser. And it works – again, reinforcing that the key here is that I opted for a sleek shoe, while also exposing some skin. If it was ultra cold, I’d wear these with a glove boot; perhaps these ones I have from Dear Frances. By the way, COS is low key becoming a go-to for me when it comes to trousers. I love their tailored styles, and the quality is always really nice. On the loafers… I’ve mentioned this before, but I’m still so-so about them. I love the cut, the style, the details. They’re undeniably comfortable. But they’ve gotten small bleach marks on them with very little wear, which makes little sense given I also used a protectant on them. Let me know if I’m alone in this.

Wearing Everlane pima tank; Boden cashmere cardigan; Bec & Bridge slip skirt; Vaneli two tone pumps; Acne Studios mini musubi bag

Final outfit, once again incorporating those neutrals I adore so much. My biggest tip for going tonal is to opt for the same undertone. All warm, or all cool. If one item happens to lean more to the centre of the spectrum, it usually won’t throw the look off balance. Here, we see a few of those favourites popping up again; the cashmere cardigan, the two tone pumps, the Acne bag. A reminder that when we love certain pieces, to wear them on rotation, and imagine new ways to wear them to keep it feeling fresh. Personally, I can’t wait until it cools down to get that cardigan back out – right now, it’s a little too warm. 

So there you have it. Ten of your favourite outfits that I shared in 2021 (by the numbers).