April 2026
Outfits inspired by the Chanel runway, vintage Prada suiting, and a big weird brooch.
Welcome back.
If your social feeds are anything like mine, you’ve probably seen dozens of images from Matthieu Blazy’s Chanel debut. The collection itself is beautiful, but it’s been even more exciting to see how many people are buying it (long lines, pieces selling out) and styling outfits inspired by it. There’s a real energy around the brand and it’s fun to see this level of enthusiasm for fashion.
That said, runway shows can feel unapproachable—even if you don’t follow fashion closely, it can feel like you’re looking at something from a different world. But runway shows are still just outfits, and you don’t have to care about designers or trends to get something useful out of them.
What is useful—and what I find the most interesting—is the process behind them. How pieces are put together. How proportions change the feel of an outfit. How small styling choices can completely shift something you already own.
That’s the part that is for you.
If you’ve ever stood in front of your closet and felt like you had nothing to wear, this is the same muscle. It’s not about buying new or different pieces. It’s about seeing what’s already in front of you a little differently—trying a new combination, adding something unexpected, paying attention to how it all comes together.
Fashion, at any level, is really just reinterpretation. Designers do it with archives and references; the rest of us can do it with what’s in our closets. So this month I’m using the Chanel spring 2026 runway as a starting point—not because I expect anyone to go out and buy those looks (although if you are, please message me. I want to know everything), but because it’s a great example of how you can translate those ideas into outfits that actually make sense for your life.
This isn’t about copying anything exactly. It’s about learning how to see an outfit, break it down, and rebuild it in a way that feels like you. So let’s get into it.
Shirting
The Chanel x Charvet shirts sold out immediately, but quality shirting is surprisingly easy to come by. I already own and wear many button-downs, and can easily change the silhouette just by unbuttoning some buttons, tucking and rolling sleeves, or even popping a collar. Blazy takes this very utilitarian piece and add softness, movement, and a large pearl button at the top. Do not be deterred, any button-down shirt will do.
My version is less glamour and more comfort—flats or sandals and a flowy cotton skirt. If you’re feeling fancy, you can roll the sleeves, pop your collar, and add a brooch. The Chanel version of this shirt has a giant pearl button at the top and red embroidery but you don’t have to be so literal, you can add a vintage pearl necklace or a red accessory to channel the same energy. I have crystal and pearl drop earrings from my wedding that I plan to wear more this spring.
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Suiting
I never considered myself a suit person, but between this show and the Tory Burch spring runway (specifically Look 34), something clicked for me. This season’s suiting is softer and more playful, and you don’t even need a full suit to recreate the look. You can build a suit by matching similar fabrics, colors or just pieces that feel like they belong together. The theme is coordinating separates but there are no firm rules here.
The brooch really keeps the suiting from feeling too formal. I was so pleased with this beige Toteme blazer and vintage nylon Prada skirt (both secondhand) combination paired with a t-shirt. Incredibly comfortable and will pair perfectly with sandals this summer. Can you image it with a colorful scarf around the waist? I am a big fan of the scarf as a belt trend, but this black suit works perfectly well without the belt and you could add in an accent color to closer replicate the runway version.
Softness in black + white
I keep thinking about Look 12 (far left above). I already wear a lot of black and white, so for me this isn’t about changing color—it’s about playing with texture and silhouette.
The all silk look with the Kallmeyer belt really won my heart, it’s comfortable and felt like me as soon as I put it on. I’ve worn this satin Toteme (secondhand) dress to many weddings, but I really love wearing it more casually with a brooch or layered under a t-shirt. The plissé skirt under the linen dress is so great when I’m walking around and add new volume to the skirt shape but it’s too much layering for everyday wear. Maybe with a fun shoe for an event.
And with that, let’s take a look back at March.
The Addition
I have wanted a brooch but I didn’t want to break the bank or risk having something metal snag my knitwear so this one is perfect for me. It also doubles as a fidget toy because it’s impossible not to keep squishing it all day.
The Edit
Can you believe this gem of a find from TheRealReal?! It’s early 2000s prada and fits almost perfectly. Next stop is the tailor (I’ve written extensively about this here). The skirt needs taken-in at the waist, and I’m going to ask for a stitch without cutting the fabric so I can let it back out in the future. The jacket is missing the lower button but the extra button is sewn into the pocket. Normally I would buy new buttons and replace them all but I got lucky this time. I’m really looking forward to wear these pieces together as a full suit, but I can get more wears out of them as separates as well.
The Favorite
I hurt my foot early last month and barely got to wear any shoes that were not sneakers in March. Indoors I have a pair of Hokas for maximum arch support while working from home, but these New Balance sneakers were my most-worn outside shoe while I was on the mend. I’ve bought this same sneaker before—back in 2022—and I wore them 144 times before they were truly ruined. Like, the rubber was sole was peeling away from the upper kind of ruin. I sent them in to be recycled with SuperCircle in 2025 and finally got around to buying a new pair.
See you next month!
Lauryn
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