031: IMANI RANDOLPH
lives in Khaite ballerinas and a corset hoodie.
I never plan my wardrobe very far in advance. My purchases happen when I’m ready for them, not in anticipation of a need or change of season. I become aware of this when the weather changes because I don’t always feel prepared, but it’s how I operate. I’m not an experimental dresser, but I prefer to shop and pick outfits relatively in the moment. This allows me to be sensitive to little shifts in how my clothes make me feel. A cut of denim that I relied on last winter might feel off now, or a once-loved jacket silhouette no longer feels quite right.
These little shifts in feeling also bring pieces back into rotation in a satisfying way. Recently, I pulled a Carhartt jacket and plaid scarf, both a few years old, out of my closet and I’ve been wearing the combination on repeat. I’m still feeling brown with red at the moment, and I like that the scarf looks like something Rory Gilmore (a worthy Fall style icon) might wear with her school uniform. I have to play around a little but once I finally get into a groove with outfits, I tend to stay there for a while.
For this week’s letter, I spoke to Imani Randolph, a model and one of the coolest dressers I know. She seems to be in a perpetual outfit groove. Imani described her own personal style perfectly, as “thoughtful but uncomplicated.” She loves fashion, and knows her way around a reference, but she also knows when to pull back - hitting just the right note of current and cool. I was excited to take a peek at Imani’s wardrobe staples, and I think you will be too. Read on!
I think my style is thoughtful but uncomplicated. I’m typically guided by two things when getting dressed. The first thing is proportion. I’m very particular about where a sleeve hits, the break in my pants, etc. I think this stems from a style rule that my mom passed down to me when I was young: tighter tops pair best with looser bottoms, and looser tops pair best with tighter/shorter bottoms. Of course there are exceptions to all rules, but I will admit my most satisfying outfits tend to operate in this framework.
The second thing is texture. I don’t wear a lot of color these days, but playing with texture is a great way to keep outfits interesting. I love the silky and slinky, but also the sturdy and functional. I love the sound of crisp cotton poplin, as well as the swish of nylon.
Loving a bit of everything is a blessing and a curse. It’s taken time for me to learn that I can admire something without needing to possess it. For that reason, I try not to bring anything into my wardrobe without picturing three ways I could wear it.
IMANI’S MOST WORN:
Chimi nylon jacket. I love this jacket because it's inconspicuous. But it's also cut so nicely that it polishes up whatever it’s paired with. It feels very Prada Linea Rossa, but for less - who doesn't love a deal? This jacket and a simple pair of black trousers make me feel "smart" and give me the freedom to have a little fun with my shoes and accessories without feeling like I'm attempting to pull a look.
Chimi jacket $480$288Timothy Gibbons corset hoodie. The one that I have is navy with yellow appliqués and is one of the few things, beyond a black t-shirt/top/sweater that, I think looks nice with light wash denim. I love that it's comfortable, but still gives me some shape.
Timothy Gibbons corset hoodie £225.00 A.P.C. x JW Anderson tote. My friends Filip and Ira over at APC hooked me up with this and thank god they did because, to be 100% truthful, it's something I never would've looked twice at. I hate the color orange. I also feel plagued by the number of tote bags I have in my possession (when did every brand start including these with every purchase?). However, this bag is delightful to use; the jumbo zipper pull elevates the mundane act of opening a bag. Also in terms of size, it can do a lot. I brought it with me to a beach vacation, to the office on a day when I needed to drop off several pairs of pants to the tailor, a weekend away, etc.
Tom Ford Cassius sunglasses. These sunglasses take up my entire face and that's what makes them so major. They can handle all the heavy-lifting in an outfit, so when I wear them I let them be the star by keeping everything else very minimal. I typically wear them with my hair slicked back and I avoid low-cut tops or necklaces.
These are sold out on the Tom Ford site but I found them here for $264 and here for $262. I also found them here and here in black. Glazed Studio bubble miniskirt. The geniuses over at Glazed transformed a pair of swishy cargo pants that I never wore, because they were kinda high-waters, into a perfect little miniskirt that I can't stop wearing. The volume it has is so satisfying. In the colder months I pair her with a sweater tights and knee high boots, in the warmer months she's perfect with a plain t-shirt and a pair of ballet flats.
custom skirt from Glazed Studio, similar styles below 
Dion Lee $875, NSF $220, Frankie Shop $175 Khaite scrunchie ballet flats. These are probably in the top 3 ranking of my most-worn shoes of all time. With them being white, you can certainly tell they've had their fair share of use, but every time I think I'm overdue in retiring these, I remember Amy Winehouse and her trusty satin ballet flats and say "fuck it."
Khaite no longer makes these but I found them on TRR in size 8 ($375), size 7.5 ($356) and size 7 ($310). I also found a tan pair in size 9 ( $249$213). More similar styles below.Maison Margiela medium glam slam. The best everyday bag to ever do it! The strap is the perfect length to fit over any outerwear and the bag itself nestles perfectly under your arm. Not to mention, it can fit my laptop, makeup bag, and Airpods max simultaneously. It goes without saying that it pretty much goes with everything.
This is the current version of the bag for $2180. A style closer to Imani’s (with a chain strap) is here for $1636.
Thanks for reading this week! Until next Thursday. xx