jennifer atilemile This is the definition of a woman who has it all. A true multi-hyphenate, she is a model, writer, creative, activist and intellectual. As an editor in residence, she gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the fashion industry.
I’m going to live in my new house for a month, a house I just bought with my fiancé. Growing up, I moved around a lot, never really finding any kind of stability. That’s why, I guess, I surround myself with things. It was a comfort, a security blanket. Even if I have to go again, at least I’ll still have my favorite sweater.
My job now allows me to travel for work, and I love it. If it’s not a 24-hour job — flying out the night before, working all day, and then getting on a plane to go home in the evening — I like to plan a little date with myself so I can go for a walk around my hotel, sssss out. Some vintage boutiques, and then treat yourself to a lovely lunch or dinner. It’s my way of romanticizing my brutal schedule and perpetual state of jet lag. I also love checking out vintage boutiques in Europe because European styles and tastes are so different from America.
Due to my obsession with fashion and my inability to say no to something old, my apartment was literally filled to the brim with clothes before we moved in. I remember when my fiancé and I first started talking about moving in together. He literally said, “You’ve got to do something about your clothes because there’s no room for mine.”
Packing to move to a new place was both liberating and emotional. I was making space for my new life while also bidding love and farewell to the clothes that supported me through some of the most transformative years of my life. I was able to get rid of so many pieces, and I did a closet sale a few days before the move. It was great to see people liking my clothes in a way I hadn’t in years, and I was happy to give them a go.
The thing about me is that I’m an emotional buyer. It’s not that I’m impulsive, but I buy things to celebrate milestones in my life or what I perceive as tragedies. Now that I’ve bought a house (which is the last purchase, by the way), my impulse purchases have decreased. I’m still shopping, but everything is more intentional. I want to buy things that will last, not things that I’ll have to replace next season. So here are some things I brought with me and some things on my wish list. It’s my birthday soon, so I’m allowing myself to treat myself.
jeans that are worth it
Levi’s
501 ’90s Straight Leg Jeans
good american
Soft-Tech Nice Classic Bootcut Jeans
Improvement
Carry Slouchy High Rise Wide Leg Jeans
funny shoes
If I’m going to have multiple pairs of the same style of shoes, the second pair needs to have the wow factor. I always get compliments on this pair from Lily Curia.
Lily Kuria
Beau Lace-Up Loafers
I also bought a pair of these shoes before we moved, and because we now have a mortgage to pay off, I’ve put a purchase on hold. I can still buy things, but they have to sit in my cart for a while, and I’m enforcing a very strict “one in, one out” policy. This pair from Nou stole my heart and will always be in my wardrobe.
a cute dress
Because I moved during that in-between season (LA has been extremely temperamental, 95° one weekend and 65° the next weekend), I really struggled to get rid of My summer dresses. I love this one from Realization. This is one of the best prints from the brand.
feeling
Cora in Mirage
This exact matching set
I’m also a big fan of the Honor 11 Revival. I’m always looking for dresses to wear for the occasion, and I was lucky enough to shoot with them recently, and I was able to take this outfit home with me. I also love this two-piece set. When you have matching tops and bottoms it can be really hard to guess what to wear.
A raw image from my recent Honor 11 shoot
Paris Inspired Pencil Skirt
To be honest, I don’t have that many miniskirts. I’m a midi-skirt lover, but there’s one trend I remember from when I was there The pencil skirt was introduced at Paris Fashion Week. My mission when buying things this year is to only add something to my wardrobe if it’s something unique. This one from Dries Van Noten is a standout.
Dries Van Noten
Ruffled Midi Skirt
really good swimming
I have more swimwear than I need, so I did a huge amount of swimming. I kept ones that fit, felt comfortable and were a little sexy, which is essentially the go-to piece of swimwear I have every Monday. I still have a leopard-print one-piece from about six years (if not more), and it still looks like I bought it yesterday. I’m loving the Palma top and bottom in champagne denim right now.
monday swimwear
palma top
If I had to add one more set to my wardrobe, it would be the Burberry x Hunza G collaboration. Hunza Ji is one of those brands whose quality remains intact over time.
Burberry x Hunza G
tyler burberry check bikini
best pants
I realized I liked suits. It’s always such a charming throw-on piece. Good black pants are hard to find, but these are my favorites that came with me.
Misha
Mezzaluna Pleated Barrel Leg Trouser
Victoria and the Woods
Adarsh Pant
luxury earrings
I realized that I don’t have any good diamond earrings. I have to constantly take my stuff in and out for photo shoots and I often forget to put them back in.
I’m buying seconds from Aureate.
I picked up some of my favorite unique earrings from Karo Koru. Like I said, everything I keep has to be either basic that will be worn a lot or a unique, one-of-a-kind piece.
underwear
I used this opportunity to get rid of a ton of old underwear. I don’t know how long you’re supposed to hold on to underwear, but it’s safe to say I needed a refresh. I’m a big fan of Negative Underwear and Cupp. They last, and they are It is most comfortable for a person with larger breasts.
negative underwear
whipped boy short
good basics
Finally, the basics I’m bringing in, especially white and black Short tops. I packed my favorite pieces from Anywhere Binge and Closed, but I’m also loving these items from Icon Denim.
