The Working Wardrobe: Kay Barron
Do you stand in front of your closet each morning, wondering what to wear? Whether you’d appreciate some expert hand-holding to help you find the perfect pair of jeans or nailing your signature color, NET-A-PORTER’s fashion director KAY BARRON is the straight-talking, sartorial best friend we all need… Here, she shares her style wisdom
In the introduction to her book, How To Wear Everything (out now), a no-nonsense guide to dressing, Kay Barron “invites you to learn the rules so you can break them”. As NET-A-PORTER’s fashion director, it’s fair to say she is an undeniable authority when it comes to all things style-related. Fans of our livestream and Style SOS video series are sure to be familiar with Barron’s impeccably put-together outfits and her dulcet Scottish lilt.
“I’ve always wanted to write a book, and I came up with the idea for this one about six years ago,” she says. The premise was simple – “It just literally tells you how to get dressed for every occasion” – and yet, deciding what to wear can be an anxiety-inducing, frustrating and often regrettable experience. But no more. Calling on some fellow fashion experts, including Zendaya’s stylist Law Roach, designer Nicky Zimmermann and the iconic Sarah Jessica Parker, Barron’s debut is the straight-talking, best-friend-in-book-form we need each morning.
“We all have such an intimate and personal relationship with our clothing. When I think about my life, I remember what I was wearing and what other people around me were wearing, and what that represents. So, for me, clothing is always wrapped up in the storytelling of our lives,” says Barron, who spends “80%” of her time in denim, is very loyal to her handbags and has a fondness for shoes that would put Carrie Bradshaw to shame. This affinity was fostered as she pored over the women’s shoes in her late father’s shoe shops as a child in her native Nairn, in the Scottish Highlands. Barron’s dad taught her the importance of caring for her shoes, and it’s a philosophy she upholds for her entire closet. Filled with pieces by Sacai, Saint Laurent and Loewe – both recent and long-serving – everything is as neatly organized as you’d expect in the home of an industry powerhouse.
Here, Barron shares the style rules she lives by – and those she loves to break…
“We all have such an intimate and personal relationship with our clothing. When I think about my life, I remember what I was wearing and what other people around me were wearing, and what that represents
”
Step out of your comfort zone
“I will often incorporate some color through my shoes. If you’re more of a ‘quiet’ dresser, you can wear some brilliant shoes and that will be the first thing people notice. It’s easier to do this with footwear because they’re not next to your face, so you can experiment with different colors without worrying what they might do to your skin tone.”
Know how to find your perfect denim fit
“I had to buy these Khaite jeans straight after the shoot because they’re cropped – so on me they’re the perfect length and I don’t have to get them altered. Plus they’re really high-waisted; anything that makes my legs look longer and my bum look good is what I’m looking for. I often get jeans altered, but a lot of the time, I’ll just cut the bottoms off myself. Or, if I find a pair of jeans I love and think I’ll wear in the evening, I’ll try them on with the highest pair of shoes I’d wear them with instead. I think it’s always a good idea to wear jeans around the house a little before deciding whether or not to alter the length. I don’t encourage people to buy loads and return loads, but I think it’s helpful to buy jeans online, so you can try them on with your own shoes and tops, looking in your own mirror.”
“I will often incorporate some color through my shoes. If you’re more of a ‘quiet’ dresser, you can wear some brilliant shoes and that will be the first thing people notice
”
Rules are made to be broken (within reason)
“When people talk about clashing colors and ‘blue and green shouldn’t be seen’ and all that – total nonsense! Even though I don’t necessarily do it myself – I don’t wear a lot of color – when I see people wearing colors that should be a bit ‘off’’, I have such respect for that. I ignore any rules around denim, though I do think denim is right for certain occasions and not for others. And no one is too old to wear anything. As long as you feel confident wearing it, then do it. I don’t believe in anything being age-inappropriate; I believe in things being occasion-inappropriate. For instance, even if the bride and groom say their wedding is casual, it’s still a wedding; dress up for it! You owe it to the person who’s invited you to make an effort, and it makes you feel better as well.”
Curate your jewelry box like a capsule closet
“When it comes to jewelry, if there’s any doubt, I wear gold hoops. Otherwise, I sometimes like one single earring. With any piece of jewelry, I look for something that’s going to work with everything in my wardrobe, and I like pieces I can mix and match.”
“With any piece of jewelry, I look for something that’s going to work with everything in my wardrobe, and I like pieces I can mix and match
”
Find your go-to color
“After I spoke to Jodie Turner-Smith [for the book], I put on a red top because the way she talked about color was so inspiring, I wanted to experience that feeling immediately. And, for me, red is the color that empowers me. I also like it head-to-toe; after all, one column of color is just as flattering as black.”
Cherish the pieces that hold special memories
“There are pieces in my wardrobe that I’ll never part with, including a Pepto-Bismol-pink dress by Acne Studios. I have some amazing dresses, and while I don’t go out as often as I used to – not to black-tie events anyway – they are pieces that are just really special. When you’ve had a memorable time in something – whether it’s a wedding, a friend’s birthday, a great date, or something like that – I would never get rid of that piece, even if it’s falling apart.”