020: DIONE DAVIS

lives in pencil skirts, mini dresses, and summer boots.

First things first - this is my 20th(!) newsletter. I can’t believe it! Thank you all for being here. I guess time does fly when you’re having fun - I’m really having a lot of it.

This week I spoke to Dione Davis, an NYC-based stylist and creative director. Stylists do a lot more than just dress people - when it comes to making spectacular images they are integral, often developing concepts and overseeing all creative on a shoot. But it’s true that stylists also spend a lot of time thinking about clothes. Dione has been thinking about clothes and how to wear them (professionally, at least) for the last decade, first as the styling director of Tibi, where she helped define their look during her 8-year tenure, and now as a free agent, collaborating with all of the coolest brands and magazines. 

Dione’s approach to getting dressed involves a substantial dose of ingenuity. She doesn’t wear anything quite the way you would expect - always putting her own twist on a look with a creative accessory, layer, or proportion. She has a natural ability to make clothes more interesting - her bikini top under a low-back tank top hack kind of blew my mind (so simple!). And Dione is rich with knowledge of emerging brands. I love that so many of her picks come from indie designers - some of which she has helped develop creatively as a stylist. 

I asked Dione about the pieces she’s living in right now. I hope you find her answers as inspiring as I did.

Dione wears her Emily Dawn Long tank top and an old MNZ bikini.

DIONE’S MOST WORN:

1. Emily Dawn Long Kipling Tank in Black. It's so hot outside and this slinky tank has been saving my life. I love the look of side boob on everyone but myself, so I opt to wear chic swimwear with interesting backs as a bra, like this old MNZ body floss bra I have in the photo (above). In high summer, I'll wear a pencil skirt to get a bit more structure involved, and in the fall I plan on layering this with a thin, sheer turtleneck to keep the draped back as the focal point.

   

   Maryam Nassir Zadeh ($275), Baserange ($100), Emily Dawn Long ($210), Toteme ($95), Paloma Wool ($155), Esse Studios ($195 $86)

   

   Maryam Nassir Zadeh ($190 $70), Matteau ($145), Christopher Esber ($200 $76)

2. Eli Pencil Skirt. This skirt makes all of my summer fits instantly work appropriate. I wear this often with my Haus Label Tube Top which I have in multiple colors because it's like swimwear and is sweat proof. When I was in Paris sweating in the day and shivering at night, I threw a vintage Comme Des Garçons cardigan on top that I purchased at Ending Soon.

   

   Vintage Comme cardigan, Haus Label tube top, Frankie Shop skirt

   

   Frankie Shop ($138), Nili Lotan ($210 $168), Reformation ($198), Raey ($420)

   

   Comme des Garcons from left to right: Etsy ($101), TRR ($115 $92), Ebay ($149) , TRR ($87)

3. Ponte Tank Dress and Bellevue Mini Dress. I love wearing big blouses and oversized belts with the tank dress. This mini dress is such a chameleon and I love pairing it with bold accessories. It looks great with a flat summer boot like this one and a low slung belt. A summer boot is great for not getting eaten alive by mosquitoes when enjoying a glass of pet nat al fresco.

   

   

   Eterne ($165), Leset ($88), Gil Rodriguez ($75), Gil Rodriguez ($62), Theory ($68)

   

   Boots from left: Maryam Nassir Zadeh ($896 $448), Hopp Studios ($440), Frye ($458); Belts: Brooke Callahan ($130), Maryam Nassir Zadeh ($355)

4. Gemsun Blanca Dress. I love layering this with a poplin blouse and flats or sandals. The blouse in the photo is vintage, but I would also do it with these blouses.

   

   Gemsun dress, vintage poplin button down

   

   Esse Studios ($685 $342), Citizens of Humanity ($378), Gemsun ($250), Merlette ($580), Free People ($128)

   

   Asket ($170), Loulou Studio ($275), Gap ($60)

5. Mesh Long Sleeve. I love layering this with sheer dresses, and my grey pencil skirt. I am looking forward to trying it with my yellow skirt from Coming of Age.

   

   Priscavera ($85 $43), Gemsun ($80), Paloma Wool ($175), Charlotte Knowles ($225 $135), Paloma Wool ($120)

Thank you for reading this week! Here’s hoping you’re somewhere warm and exotic. xxx

P.S. This post includes affiliate links, which means if you buy something, I may make a small commission (at no cost to you). Thank you for supporting Habiter!