In my book The Creative Pragmatist: An Intelligent Conversation About Personal Style I illustrate the scale to better drive the point home:

Sarah leans highly creative, you should see her some days in the office - chic but definitely registering a bit lower on pragmatism, I’ve no idea how she navigated the subway sometimes but that’s her feistiness full and present. Traci’s always strolling in like a cucumber, very cool in her eased out put tailored looks that have a twist that dares anyone to be foolish enough to define her in one word. And me, most days I’m skating right in the middle, veering to the left and the right as the day, place or time demands.

The CP Scale becomes most present in our bi-annual Fundamentals collection. Because they are the core ingredients one uses to make great things that reflect their personality. If we were cooking, these would be akin to Olive oil, sugar and salt. On this episode, Sarah, Traci and myself style Sacha our model - so you can see the lens through which we interpret pieces that serve as a basic but refused to be defined as such.

We each had 5 pieces to work with: a tropical wool skirt, pale pink denim, our lantern skirt, the twill trouser, and camouflage. There’s a clear thruline between us all - each look Traci and Sarah put together I hadn’t considered, but absolutely would. I was inspired because it was a convo between people who “get” each other.

The Tropical Wool Skirt

Sarah paired it with the Black Nylon Liam and the Perfect tee in layers. I added my favorite ribbed knit that’s on sale from spring, and wanted the accent of the cardigan in that good ring 3. Traci killed her look with the resort belted tank on sale, so bonus.

The Pink Denim

Sarah paired it with the sheer silk voile top on sale from spring and clean black flip flops. I put it with a bodysuit we did from 2022, and my NEW FAVE Jacket here in the most goodest ever ring 3 color and my brick red toe ring sandals. Traci styled heres with charcoal grey and the pink toe ring with worked SO chic!

The Lantern Skirt

Sarah paired hers with the red twill shirt; I styled mine as I’m packing for summer with the brown tube top and an easy sweater at my waist and olive slides; traci topped hers with the voile top on sale and our favorite sandal.

And then the red pant in the trouser and in the pleated. Sarah put hers with the simple cashmere hoodie and the brick version of best sandal ever. I am headed out west here so wanted it with denim and traci layered it up in a neutral top and tank - both of which are on sale so yay for you.

Let me know in the comments who you think won the challenge. I’m deeply curious.

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IF YOU…..

Are frustrated because your closet has no grounding - either

• Because life hasn’t given you the time yet to build your wardrobe. It’s nothing you’ll do in one swoop, you’re committed to buying thoughtfully - no cheap stuff, no fast fashion. These are investments for you and they need to deliver.

• You’ve invested over time in a wardrobe that seems bursting at the seams with oddly nothing to ground the pieces you’ve accumulated. You feel you’ve nothing to wear when the sheer quantity in your closet suggests differently.

1. The tropical wool Scotty pant. With the matching blazer it says “I take myself seriously”. It’s can chill out with a sandal and be made into a jogger with a scrunchie hack at the ankle. The navy here is SUPER dark and rich. Black is good too Always. It’s year round and meant for forever. And if you’ve got a range of tops, designed out, big in nature - the ultimate balancing act here.

2. The blazer. The material is robust with a twill like texture to it - that means if you pair it with any black tropical wool pant, it will give a suitlike effect with an interesting mix of textures - that’s key, enough differentiation that the mix has intent. This jkt elevates the hell out of casual blue denim, with black denim it’s ready for a super event, with white track pants your just cool AF.

3. This crochet top may surprise you as such a fundamentally perfect investment or item that gives glue to chaos. But these tops that are highly simplistic (but not) in design, and manage to give texture without highjacking the story line, are pieces you will pull out and wear over and over. Shocking, until it isn’t.

IF YOU…..

Need pieces with some ‘tude that EXEMPLIFY CMC in one item, these are your bets.

1. The ribbed stretch knit here epitomizes my frustration with technology. We can put a man on the moon, but I can’t find a way for you to touch the richness of this knit. This filled my gap for a slim tee like item that was ultra luxe - enough to go to the fanciest dinner, the most uptight business meeting, yet also wear with ribbed jeans and sandals on the weekend.

2. The trouser skirt delivers so much style but plays nice just out for lunch with flip flops and a tee. It fits like all our trouser skirts - lower on the waist - check your hip measurements here on this one for fit. I wear the size 4- I have 27” waist and 38” hips. I can not wear a 2- this lays on the body - neither fitted nor loose.

3. The racerback tank. My tees have to have a point of view. You see, tee material is already CHILL and CLASSIC by nature - if the neckline is “meh” then you miss the MODERN. This one is CMC all the way and why it’s my dinner tee, my tee under a sheer top tee, my tee under a blazer when I want a bare look tee.

IF YOU…….

These are the SPONTAINERS - they are items in your closet that are perfect for when an event suddenly comes up and you absolutely don’t have time or desire to wig out on what to wear. All three of these items fit a range of events….

1. This is the dress that morphs with a shoe. A brogue makes it Paris Fashion week “I’ve got walking to do and look accidentally chic”; a flat sandal makes it dinner in the South of France; a sharp pointy toe slingback is dressy dinner in NYC, a bright pink sandal is perfect for that wedding where everyone’s wearing fluffy prints and you just simply can’t go there.

2. The skirt that took me just last week to “brunch” on the upper east side of NYC where I wasn’t sure what people would wear and needed to be refined but very much myself. With a sleek black tank it’s dinner in Milan. With tall boots and a grey sweater it’s October in Vienna.

3. The denim printed short here - are you in marketing and have a business pitch? I’d buy what ever creative you’re selling me. Dinner with friends in San Fran? With flat sandals for lunch in Florence? With big black sweater tall boots in Nov? Done.

IF YOU…..

Are like a cat waiting to pounce on the “IT” item that you have been wanting to pull the trigger on…..

1. You can not FULLY appreciate this jacket until you try it on. The rich material that is rude to call sweatshirting; the fleece, the sculpted shape. This is not athleisure wear, this is what you wear with a skirt in Paris to give serious chill Modernity.

2. The soft drapey leather moto jacket. I’ll say no more.

3. The Liam blazer in the wool angora. Double faced and super rich. It’s a suit, it’s an outerwear piece, it’s the coziest refined piece for an airplane.

IF YOU…….

Know the value of a “VALVE” item - they either turn up an item and give It punch, or they take it down a notch. Here are two to consider:

1. The shoulder hinged tee. This is a ponte-like weight material - that means it has serious guts. This elevates a pair of denim into “I’m going somewhere very chic” mode; yet paired with a big black wideleg chic trouser it says “all this chicness is accidental, I don’t take myself that seriously.”

2. The reverse sleeve top - I always look for high impact that requires someone to give a second look to register. It adds so much modernity to a slouchy pair of denim, but it plays exactly right with a highly sculpted pair of pants that needs an equal pairing but not a direct competitor.

IF YOU…..

Need pieces that can go to extremes - with a shift of attitude and locale.

1. The white dress here - I may go to a beach dinner in this, but I could see a friend getting married in it. It’s that substantial.

2. The chassis hoop skirt - it’s modern casual for day - and at the same time this hit numerous red carpets for movie premiers where individuals dialed it up but still were able to play it cool.

3. The skirt that manages to be so effortless for a stroll, yet….can do this below:

   

   IF YOU…..

   Need some serious glue in your closet to bring everything together. The “RING 3” tops are your everything.

1. The Luxe ribbed tank. You may have noticed we are very judicious with that word. When we use it means it is indeed a super rich fabrication that is robust and refined simultaneously. Wear this with any of the bright colors in your closet for a calming effect; or pair with your neutrals to expand your range and outfitting options.

2. The tank with all the sexiness implied with this neckline and all the pragmatism that a ring 3 delivers is holy-grail-ish.

3. The bodysuit - I live in them - pair this with black pants and a white jacket - you give depth to ring 2 neutrals; wear it with a hot pink slip skirt and you’ve totally given that guy some much needed chill. Can you see it????

NOTE: Keturah hosted a STYLE CLASS SALE marathon on Friday - reviewing fits, questions, all the good deets. You can FIND IT HERE.

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