Bettina Looney is one Editor in Residence Who Wears WhatStylists, tastemakers, entrepreneurs and creative consultants recognized for their curated eye and cross-industry influence. Spanning fashion, interior design and beauty, she distills style into essence through personal styling Bettina Looney Editing.
Moving between continents, putting most of my wardrobe in storage, and adjusting to life in Miami (where it feels like permanent summer), the wardrobe refresh was not the plan I had planned. But it proved effective.
For most of the last year, I’ve been wearing A rotating lineup of similar pieces tackling a home renovation, an entirely new routine, and life’s general arrangements. When half your wardrobe seems like a distant memory packed away in a warehouse, you become a lot more honest about what you really like to wear and a little more strategic about what you buy.
Here are the things I’ve stopped buying and what I keep adding to my cart instead.
Outside: blister-prone shoes // inside: comfortable, cute shoes
I used to tolerate shoes that were pretty but impractical. Now I just run from the thought. If I can’t walk several blocks without thinking about my feet and survive an entire day chasing two little lives. They’re not worth the investment or the space in my wardrobe. Miami has inspired me to find sleek flats, minimalist sandals, and easy low heels that I can wear. It’s actually quite liberating.
These Alaia heels are the most comfortable heels I have ever worn.
Shop My Go-To Miami Shoes
net a porter
90 leather pumps
Improvement
Eden Platform Thongs
Out: Rely on outerwear // In: Standalone pieces and easy basics
Miami weather has completely changed the way I think about dressing. When it’s hot most of the time there is no outer layer that can be relied on to keep the look together. The pieces should stand on their own, which has made me focus more on clean silhouettes and outfits that work without too much style.
One of my biggest “ins” has been good everyday basics. I went through a phase of only buying one-of-a-kind items, and then I realized I had nothing to wear when I just wanted to feel comfortable. Lately, I’ve been buying simple tops Aritzia, almost like I’m collecting them. They’re well cut, reasonably priced, and I wear them constantly. In a climate where there’s essentially permanent heat, a reliable basic starts to seem more useful than a statement piece you can’t find every day.
A charming Aritzia Basic.
Shop my picks of Aritzia and Zara basics
just a little
Fine Knit V-Neck Jumper
In: Efficient Coordination
The two-piece set has become my go-to solution for mornings when time isn’t exactly on my side. They make it look as if you planned an outfit, even though you definitely didn’t. The skirt and top combinations from Pose, Aligne, Le Set and Eves have been working mostly for me lately. It has become a very effective way of getting dressed, especially when life seems busy.
White co-ords always feel very crisp and clean, and I love the look and feel of this Eve’s set.
SHOP MY CO-ORD FAVORITE
Wool Twill Pleated Top in Black, Size 14
In: Activewear
Miami has turned me into someone who wears workout trousers more often than I expected. Oversized anorak and styled appropriately Trainers, it sounds simple but is still pulled together. I’m living in my Salomons and New Balance. They’re comfortable, practical, and still feel fresh enough to wear all day long.
Shop Some of My Favorite Activewear
helsa
cotton twill anorak
splits59
Mia Rigor Sports Bra
beyond yoga
on your holiday leggings
In: An Insider-Obsessed Phase
At the moment I spend more time browsing things for the home than anything else. Renovating while in it means I’m constantly sourcing something or the other to fill the spaces and make the rooms feel more streamlined – lighting, tableware and sculptural objects.
I’ve found myself drawn to alabaster details, travertine pieces, and dark wood or metal accents that feel beautifully sculptural. Zara Home and Crate & Barrel have become my virtual best friends. It’s very satisfying to see the place you’ve worked so hard on slowly coming together.
I packed twenty of these alabaster lights into a suitcase from an Egyptian market, but Zara Home also has great options.
Pottery Barn pots we have in our home are linked below.
Shop my favorite things to decorate my home
zara home
Alabaster Semi-Oval Table Lamp
zara home
papier-mâché vase
Pottery Barn
Sienna Fiber Stone Outdoor Planters
Crate and Barrel
Thick Dark Burl Wood Floor Mirror
Crate and Barrel
travertine beige round plate
In: Skin-First Beauty
Permanent sunlight has made skin care less optional. Broad-spectrum SPF is now essential, and I’ve found myself leaning toward formulas that focus more on repair and hydration. Purcell Peptide products, Dr. Jart Ceramidin Cream, Nambuzin NAD+, and Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Cream have all become part of my routine.
Buy New Staples in My Skincare Routine
become numb
No.9 NAD+ Peptide Lifting Serum
Purcell
82% High Dose Peptide Formula
Haruharu Surprise
Unscented Black Rice 10 Hyaluronic Cream
Dr. Jart+
Ceramidin Skin Barrier Moisturizing Cream
In: Cute Miami Cafe
Exploring Miami café-by-café has also been one of the easiest ways to feel settled after so many activities. Frankie and Wally for a proper latte, The Grove Grocer in Coconut Grove on Sundays, and Big Face Coffee in the Design District have been some of my favorites.
Grove Grocer in the coconut grove
frankie and wally in coral gables
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