As a young girl, I would stand in front of my grandmother’s French styled-vanity, fascinated by her vintage hand-mirrors, preferred jewelry, and bottle of signature perfume, all of which laid on the white embroidered cloth lining the dresser. Her closet nearby, my eyes poured over her dresses that were thoughtfully chosen and worn with a frequency to reflect their curation. Those were the days when wearing an ensemble on repeat was admired, rather than frowned upon. The occasional purchase of a new garment that was well-tailored and made of beautiful material, elicited joy in her. These moments helped spark my love for fashion and an appreciation for the beauty in presenting oneself with an approachable elegance, something my grandmother was known for.

She took care of herself from the inside, out and as a result, her palate knew when to indulge, but valued the significance of a colorful and nutritious diet. Her hair was always styled, nails simply manicured, and all was done as a sign of respect for herself and others. No matter the occasion, her outfit reflected her signature style; a dress in a royal blue or plum color, often topped with a blazer. It was never about the price tag or label, but rather made of quality that was appropriate to their pocketbook. Quality over quantity was of essence and each item was worn with confidence.

While I grew up with this, the power of fast fashion and social media got the best of me for more years than I care to admit. In an effort to pull myself away from the excess as a result of endless shopping, I reverted to the unspoken lessons my grandmother taught me about fashion and caring for oneself. So now, if I bring an item into my wardrobe, it needs to show its value by way of being worn a variety of ways, as well as my acquiescence in the nature of finding a piece worthy of taking space in my closet. After all, for something to hold its luster, if can’t be overshadowed by too many things.

As I fine tune pieces for spring and summer, I was excited to welcome this skirt into my wardrobe and thrilled it paired well with many items I already owned. Sézane is a French brand where I love to shop for both their quality and bien sûr, effortless French chic style. I look forward to wearing this skirt on repeat and the many, many options for how it can be styled, for a variety of events and occasions.