001: MELISSA VENTOSA MARTIN
lives in Wolford turtlenecks, men's shirts, and perfectly worn trousers.
Welcome to Habiter. I’m so excited that you’re here.
If you’ve subscribed, you already know what you’re in for. Every week, I’ll ask someone with great style to tell me about the outfits they’re wearing on repeat - the clothes and accessories they live in.
In my decade as fashion editor, I’ve observed many of my peers and colleagues stick to a formula when getting dressed. They don’t wear the same outfit every day, but repeat pieces and combinations, only making small changes based on the season or what’s currently in fashion.
Some of the most memorable dressers of all time are prolific outfit-repeaters - Miuccia Prada in sweaters and knee-length skirts, Georgia O’Keefe in austere basics, Grace Coddington in black with a shock of orange hair, Fran Lebowitz in a blazer and jeans, André Leon Talley in a bold caftan, Steve Jobs in a turtleneck, I could go on…
Not only is this a more streamlined and sustainable way of dressing, but repetition is visually impactful.
Whether you’re looking to refine your own formula, or you just want to take a peek into someone else’s closet, I hope you’ll find this newsletter informative and fun.
Now, let’s meet Melissa Ventosa Martin.
Melissa has been a personal style icon of mine from the moment I met her in 2012, when she was a fashion director and I was just starting my career as an assistant. I have always paid attention to the way she puts herself together, and I’ve been lucky to work for her on-and-off over the years as she climbed the ranks in magazines. Simply put, Melissa has incredible taste in just about everything.
In 2021, Melissa and her family left New York City for Saratoga Springs, N.Y., (you can read about their idyllic property here) and Melissa founded Old Stone Trade, a beautifully-curated online marketplace that offers future heirlooms, handmade-to-order by artisans around the world. I asked Melissa to tell me about what she’s living in now.
“I’ve been wearing a button-down shirt with a turtleneck under or a sweater vest over, with trousers or jeans, and loafers or flat boots every day. I think in part it’s a bit Tár inspired, combined with the cold weather, or I’m using Tár as an excuse to wear the turtleneck. In any case, it’s really just a cold weather update on my typical mens button down and jeans.”
MELISSA’S MOST WORN:
Button-down shirts from Old Stone Trade
Wolford black turtleneck body suit - “This is my go-to turtleneck to wear under everything. I also really like a thin merino wool in grey.”
Sweater Vests
White crewneck t-shirt - “I wear a white crewneck almost everyday - under a sweater, under a button down or on its own. My favorites are from the Row, RE/DONE, ATM, Agolde, and Toteme.”
Vintage high-waisted, pleated chinos from The Gap -“BSides also makes a great one that we’re working on for OST (I’m wearing in the picture)” *ed note: I found a lot of vintage Gap styles on ebay just by googling, I’ve also included some comparable styles below. In Dickies, size up for the desired fit.
From left to right: vintage Gap found on ebay, Dickies, BSides, Noah The Row garden boots - “I love the rubber toe on these and they're nice to dress up with a long knit skirt. Blundstone also makes a great, original Chelsea boot thats a bit more rugged.”
*ed note: the Row boots are no longer on their website but I found them in a few different places, linked below
the Row: options 1, 2, 3, 4, Blundstone Wolford sheer black tights - “I’ve been really into wearing sheer tights lately whether with a long skirt or under jeans with my loafers.”
