2021 Gamine Winter Style Inspiration
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Winter is the opposite of Flamboyant Gamine style to me, as many functional/practical winter lines can overwhelm petite styles. The key is to play with color and textures to break the lines and keep a rather fitted silhouette. I cover some Flamboyant Gamine Style Foundations in this blog post.
As long as you keep your under layer fitted and the lines short and broken, you can probably get away with a longish line from a coat so long as it’s a 3/4 length, because FG is long-ish/not tall/not short. There are also ways to break the line in a ‘long’ coat using contrasting buttons and belts or patterns and color, or stitching and fabric layering.
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WINTER STYLE ICON: Audrey Hepburn | sleek, elegant, feminine, warm, charming
You’ll find photos of Audrey all over this blogpost because she’s the master of coats and turtlenecks, two necessities of Flamboyant Gamine winter fashion. I find her to remain all that she is, even while donning a larger, heavier coat.
What I want you to know is that you can still honor your lines in winter and stay warm, and here’s how I plan to do that.
TOPS
Turtlenecks (My favorite is the fitted turtleneck from Kotn)
Dad sweaters (Thrift them, swipe them from your own dad, grandpa, uncle, whoever has one)
Button-Up Cardigans (Fitted and cropped are going to be your favorite words this winter)
Crewneck Sweaters (like the one on Audrey down there. How cozy does that look? And they’re perfect for layering.)
BOTTOMS
Proper Trousers (I think trousers show up in ever seasonal style edit I write, because they’re SO flattering on the gamine frame, especially when they’re cropped and in the proper rise for your unique expression of flamboyant gamine.)
Skirts with Tights (This is something I want to try out. Mini skirts are a beautiful, cropped line, and tights are a way to show of your personality while still staying warm-ish.)
High-Waisted Denim with a Belt (The key here is the belt. I love those examples of the belt that matches the color of the pant, creating a sleek, monochrome look for the yang, but a chunky, shiny texture with the belt buckle and waist emphasis for the yin. I love the Kate Jean from OZMA.)
SHOES
Leather Boots (I have an ongoing partnership with Nisolo, so definitely check out them out for a beautiful, quality pair of ethically and sustainably made boots!)
Heels with socks/tights (Okay, this one feels risky to me. Probably because if this trend is done improperly, you can either look like a little girl or a streetwalker, neither of which are bad, just not quite the vibe. I’ll have to try this out in an upcoming YouTube video, so be sure to subscribe if you want to see how to pull this off.)
Oxfords/Loafers (Nisolo also has lovely options for oxfords and loafers for a timeless element for your outfits. I recently added the James Oxfords in Black to my wardrobe after pining over them for a couple years now, thanks to my partnership with the brand.)
ACCESSORIES + OUTERWEAR
Scarves (A no brainer. Raises the neckline adds literal warmth and texture, and if you’re going for three points, go for a scarf with a small, geometric pattern like a fine plaid.)
Chunky Jewelry (I wear gold jewelry, personally. GLDN is a brand I started working with recently after loving their pieces and brand philosophy for a year or so now. I recommend their pieces if you want to start your gold jewelry collection! Shop GLDN here. Use code FRANIMATTHEWS5 for $5 off your purchase.)
Long Wool Coats (Here’s where you can add a long, structured line to your outfit, especially as a Flamboyant Gamine, play with different patterns and really express parts of your personal style with fabric choices.)
Oversized Blazers (Similar to the wool coat, here’s another yang leaning element to add to a more fitted silhouette as a finishing piece, pulling the whole outfit together.)
HAIR:
Low bun (tuck away those ends to keep them strong and healthy come springtime)
Protective styles (like braids and twists)
Hair is an incredibly subjective and personal recommendation, and I know that full well as a half-black woman. I prefer to have my hair pulled back and out of the way to reduce manipulation of my curls and keep the hair moisturized and protected from the cold, dry winter, hence my recommendations above. I have a video on my youtube channel about this topic of Natural Hairstyles for the Body Types, if you’re in a hairstyle rut.
Thanks for taking this trip into my brain,
FRANI <3
A VIDEO VERSION OF THIS BLOG POST:
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Building a Flamboyant Gamine Capsule Wardrobe
I’ve been studying David Kibbe’s Image ID system for a few years now. It’s helped me learn to love and accept my body and see beauty where there was once embarrassment and shame. Discovering that I was a Flamboyant Gamine gave me inspiration to experiment with my personal style and learn what lines and silhouettes were the most harmonious for my body. And you know what they say, learn the rules so you know how to break them.
From what I’ve read, Kibbe doesn’t advocate for capsule wardrobes, because he encourages women to consider the whole of the outfit when shopping for clothes, not just the individual pieces. I agree with that.
But the way I capsule wardrobe is different than the typical "I-have-10-basic-black-and-grey-and-white-garments”. (Nothing wrong with that, it’s just not for me.) The capsule wardrobe I’m building functions as a climate appropriate, year-round, versatile, self-expressive outfit capsule. I’m not completely there. I still have a few missing pieces/outfits, but I’m starting with what I have.
Moving slowly with this process has helped me see clearly what I need and what I don’t. In doing so, I realize that I gravitate toward a similar silhouette time and time again. Every time I rush into a purchase, I don’t seem to wear it as much as my tried and true mock-neck sweaters and high waisted trousers.
Since I know my shape is based on the Flamboyant Gamine archetype presented by Kibbe’s Image ID system, I have guidelines to follow when considering how I want to dress. While I don’t follow his recommendations religiously, I still value his perspective and insight. Here are five of his recommendations I take to heart:
Wear separates
The purpose of wearing separates as a gamine is to mimic and honor the lines in your body that are mixed and broken up. Gamines have a mixture of Yin (soft, small, round, delicate) and Yang (sharp, large, long, strong) extremes within their own frame, and these lines are described as staccato or juxtaposed (or as I like to call it, frankensteined). Wearing separates, as opposed to long, monochrome lines, is a simple, no-brainer way to dress for gamines. I’ve definitely experienced the ease of following this recommendation, so I keep it in my back pocket.
Wear short, angular garments
Gamines are typically short— no taller than 5’5” (165cm). There are certainly some exceptions to this rule, but we won’t get into it here. The gamine bone structure begs for cropped lines, so I tend to create short, boxy silhouettes whenever I can. This can show up as a cropping a tee, tucking and blousing a shirt, cutting or rolling the hem of my pants to expose ankles, or rolling my sleeves to expose my wrists.
Wear Fitted (not skin-tight) silhouettes
The yin of the gamine is found in their frame and stature as well as their faces. My bones are small, narrow, and sharp. I have a mixture of tiny, short bones (in my face and torso) and tiny, long bones (in my arms and legs). To honor these bodily patterns, I wear closely fitted garments as a base layer, making dressing my body more seamless. I tend to avoid skin tight garments, primarily because of the yang undercurrent of my body. Skin-tight clothing ironically feels separate from me because I lose the angularity my long limbs and sharp shoulders crave.
Wear animated patterns and chunky textures
Small, interesting patterns tend to pull the bold, youthful energy of the gamine to the surface. I’ve noticed I’m naturally drawn to small, dainty patterns, especially if they’re geometric or floral. One of my favorite jumpsuits is bright red with a delicate, irregular, floral pattern on it. Whenever I wear it I feel very much like myself, and that’s always the goal. Chunky textures can also create a plethora of small geometric shapes, so when I don’t want to wear a more attention grabbing piece, a chunky knit or textured garment honors my lines in a subtle, chic way.
Add sleek and modern lines to honor a yang undercurrent
This step is more of a finishing touch in my mind— adding a blazer, painting on a crisp, red lip, throwing on a small, angular bag, or adorning yourself with pair of shiny, gold statement earrings. These finishing touches are a great way to express your personal style as well.
MY [IDEAL] FLAMBOYANT GAMINE WARDROBE
Striped Shirt
Camisole
Mock-neck Sweater
Fitted Turtleneck
Band Tee
A Short Dress
A Jumpsuit
Oversized, Quirky Sweater (think 90’s Dad)
Cropped Cardigan
Trousers
Cropped, Straight-leg Denim
Blazer
Combat Boots
Chelsea boots
Sneakers
Trench Coat
Wool Coat
I don’t have all of these pieces, but I have most of them! Depending on your personal style, these pieces can be mixed and matched into numerous outfits for many occasions, and with a bit of layering, can be worn year round in milder climates like the American Southeast. I have many YouTube videos where I style the pieces I own, so definitely check that out (and subscribe!) if you want to see my thought-process when creating outfits.
Colors are also quite important in this process. I know I look best in warmer and muted colors, and my hope is to reduce the amount of black clothing in my wardrobe for colors that melt into my skin and give it a milky, radiant glow. As always, I’ll share more as I learn more.
Hope you enjoyed this little trip into my brain.
Talk to you soon,
Frani <3
Follow along on Instagram for outfit inspiration, life updates, and more!
RECENT THOUGHTS:
2020 Gamine Fall Style Inspiration
Early fall weather is my favorite: cool mornings and evenings, but still summer during the day. I experience seasonal depression, so once the cold, dry winter weather hits, the quality of my mood disintegrates. Late fall/almost winter is NOT my jam. I need those warm afternoons for my sanity, okay? But when the weather changes, I adapt with my clothes with warm textures and layers and lots of hot tea.
I’ll be updating my Fall Inspo Board on Pinterest all season, so definitely follow me there to see where my head’s at.
TOPS:
High neck sweaters (I’m realizing I prefer a mock neck over a turtleneck.)
Big shirts/graphic tees (Thrift them, or steal them from your dad)
Oxford button down (I love this one from KOTN)
BOTTOMS:
Straight-leg denim (I like these from Sezane)
Wide leg denim (I just purchased a pair! These ones from Madewell are basically the same cut, just a different wash)
Trousers (These are my dream pair from kotn )
Bike shorts
OUTERWEAR:
Trench coat
Wool coat
Blazer
SHOES:
Black Leather Mules (Like the Nisolo Open-toe Paloma Mules)
Sneakers (The more dad-like the better!)
Black Chelsea Boots (like the new Nisolo Carmen Chelsea Boots )
HAIR AND MAKEUP:
Protective styles + beanies
Sleek hairstyles + large earrings
Terracotta lips and eyes
Monochrome makeup looks
MORE IDEAS ON YOUTUBE:
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2020 Gamine Summer Style Inspiration
Here’s the thing about summer of 2020: I feel like there’s a leaning toward very frilly, girly, flowery dresses and blouses starting to emerge on my feed. I’ve found that these sorts of lines rarely look good on me because they’re too soft and not structured enough for my yang-leaning figure.
All images in this grid from pinterest.
Now, I don’t see this as a problem or a disappointment, as there is a season for everything in life and fashion. But I’m going to choose to be the walking juxtaposition I am and wear whatever makes me feel beautiful, feminine, powerful, etc., which usually means wearing more structured, masculine lines. (I even made a Pinterest board about it. I update the board when the inspiration hits, so definitely follow me over there!)
All that said, here’s what I’m drawn to for the summer of 2020:
GENERAL VIBE: playing with short vs. long opposites, cropped, boxy styles, open backs, care-free, cropped linen, going bra-less, tailored short-suits, golden/bronzy makeup & skin
Some of these pieces pictured/mentioned are the actual item I’m hoping to pick up, some are just a vibe I’ll be thrifting around for. Actual items I’m hoping to purchase are linked! Affiliate links are denoted with an asterisk (*).
TOPS:
Breton Striped, boat neck long sleeve top. (cropped)
Square neck crop top
HUGE shirt that I steal from my Dad (or maybe thrift for)
Chunky, beige cropped cardigan w/ contrasting buttions (not sure if I want an oversized cropped one, or something more fitted)
All images in this grid from pinterest.
BOTTOMS:
Cut off shorts (high waist)
Black denim mini skirt (like this one from Everlane)
linen "trouser” shorts (Like these from Frank and Oak)
DRESSES:
Backless, linen, mini dress or romper
Ribbed, bodycon dress (I love how Zoe and Lisa look in theirs, so I want to give it a try.)
All images in this grid from pinterest.
SHOES/ACCESSORIES:
Heeled Sandals (Like the Nisolo Paloma Mules in Black*)
Flat Sandals (Like the Isla Slides in Black*)
Hoop earrings (I’m looking to get my cartilage pierced this summer, and I want to get a little bb hoop for that.)
Red Swimsuit (I LOVE this one from Hackwith Design House. I’ve had my eye on it for a couple summers now.)
Image 1, 3, and 4 from pinterest. Image 2 from Hackwithdesignhouse.com.
MAKEUP/HAIR
sultry, grungy eyes
freckles (natural)
‘bare’ skin/ BB creams
messy brows
bronze goddess
braids and twists
care-free curly afro
HERE’S A VIDEO WHERE I SPEAK IN DEPTH ABOUT THIS LIST:
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Can you have long hair if you're short?
Yes. Obviously the answer is yes.
You can do anything you want. But, the real question is: can a person 5’5’’ (165cm) or shorter look good with hair down to their hips? I’m testing it out in this video so you can understand visually what makes this certain hairstyle look flattering.
If you’ve followed me for any amount of time, you’d know I’m currently studying the David Kibbe Image ID system. This method of perception in fashion is the most fascinating to me because it views women as a whole beings, not just shapes, or fruits, or measurements.
It takes into account the balance of yin (rounded, soft, lush, small, short, wide, ‘feminine’) and yang (long, narrow, lithe, sharp, ‘masculine’) within a single woman’s frame, and accentuates those lines. Rather than traditional systems that try to correct “less desirable” bodies to make everyone fit into the same box, Kibbe’s system celebrates the unique body- the individual essence, shape, and coloring- focusing on self-love and self-acceptance.
Within Kibbe’s system, I most connect with the Flamboyant Gamine. She’s described as Gamine (a combination of opposite yin/yang extremes) with Dramatic (yang) undercurrents. So she tends to look small, angular, narrow, compact, boyish, and youthful, with a larger than life spirit. She can use yang lines in “smaller doses” but it shouldn’t dominate the entirety of her look. Broken, sharp and body skimming lines suit her best. (This is just a brief description, a compilation of things I’ve learned from dressing my own body and finding what look the best.)
(All above images from Pinterest)