052: CHANTAL HUGHES
lives in leather blazers and Alaïa flats.
By the time this newsletter arrives in your inbox, it will be Valentine’s Day. This means it’s been oh… a few months since my last dispatch on Habiter. Did you miss me? I missed you all too. For those who are new here - welcome! Habiter is a newsletter that explores the clothes and accessories that we wear again and again.
This topic of wearability and functionality - essentially finding wardrobe staples that work hard for me specifically is always churning in my mind. Even if, at times, I find myself confronted by a closet full of clothes I don’t really want to wear. That’s how I’m feeling right now - possibly due to the intense dullness of February and that early-year itch for a big change.
I’m trying not to fill any apparent holes too quickly. Recently, I loved listening to Jenna Lyons on this podcast, where she dove into the rigorous specificity of her closet and personal style. Jenna wears all custom shirts and pays a professional to buy her vintage jeans. A dream (!) that is completely out of my budget. But, in my own way, I’d like to replicate her commitment to the hunt and a well-researched wardrobe.
And so, as a part of my studies, I’ll continue to explore the wardrobe habits of those who I find habitually chic. This week I spoke to my friend, Chantal Hughes.
Chantal is a Brooklyn-based fashion consultant and mother of two. She’s spent the past 15 years working with some of the industry’s most influential brands on everything from marketing and sales to creative direction. I am completely fascinated by her previous life spent working as a trend forecaster for cotton (literally, the fabric) - a job that asked her to travel the world identifying cultural, economic, and societal trends and their relationship to what we wear. Chantal has one of the best wardrobes in the business, and she always looks chic in spite of her hectic life. So, I asked her to tell me how she does it. Read on!
Describe your personal style. What are you living in right now and why?
I’m with my 2 and a half year old and 5 year old daughters for 99% of my waking hours, so I try to dress in fabrics that I can clean easily, but still feel like me. I’ve given up a lot of tailored pants and blazers (which used to be my go-to uniform) for jeans and sweaters with a cool jacket, typically leather. I used to wear a lot of boots, but find myself reaching for sneakers and slip-on shoes, like Birkenstocks, more and more because my dress code needs to be child friendly.
How often do you shop?
It depends, is my husband reading this? Just kidding. I shop online quite regularly. For me, it’s always interesting to see what’s new. I have a wishlist in my notes section and also save favorites on certain sites, so I can mull over whether or not I “need” that piece, or receive an alert when the item is re-stocked or goes on sale.
Where do you shop the most?
This feels like a question that will end in despair, because so many of my favorite places have folded - RIP Barneys and Matches.com.
These days I’m shopping Vestiaire, The RealReal, Net-a-Porter, and SSENSE online and if I’m physically going to a store it’s most often La Garçonne in Tribeca or Bergdorf Goodman uptown.
Best buy of 2024?
It’s a toss up between The Row Fabian leather blazer, which I bought this fall, or my Alaïa studded ballet flats, which I bought back in January of 2024. Both were big ticket items I considered for quite awhile before purchasing.
Chantal’s Most Worn
Slvrlake jeans, Everybody.World tee and Khaite belt
What’s your go-to grocery-run outfit?
Either a head-to-toe Marissa Webb sweatsuit with my Alaïa studded flats or something like jeans, a tee, or sweater with my leather blazer and sneakers or Birkenstocks.
Does your style change when you go to work?
If it’s a day on set during a photoshoot where I need lots of pockets and will be on my feet all day, it’s quite similar to what I wear on the playground, maybe with a nicer top or sweater since no one I’ve worked with has ever wiped their snot, tears or other bodily fluids on me. If it’s a day of meetings, I’ll likely throw on a blazer or silk button down shirt - both items I’d rarely wear at home with my two young daughters.
The Row accessories, Maria McManus cashmere, and Rebecca Pinto jewelry
What’s do you wear on a night out?
A night out is usually doing something casual, like hitting a dive bar or a nice restaurant — so just jeans, maybe a low heeled boot like the Old Celine Madame boots I just found, maybe swap out my jeans for my leather Veronica de Piante pants. I’m rarely doing anything super dressy anymore. I do like wearing more precious fabrics when I go out and recently started wearing these older Khaite pants that are a satin-like fabric (probably viscose) with a velvet slipper or low slide and a sweater or top.
Tell me about the glasses.
My glasses are Gucci. I bought them online, on sale, about 5 years ago. Because I’ve been wearing glasses since the fourth grade, I’m pretty good about knowing which styles will work with my face. This pair kind of became my signature, but by accident! Sometimes I’m not sure my kids can even recognize me without them on! My first pair became bent and distorted, and I was in a panic because I didn’t have a back up. I searched and searched and finally found a pair that I thought were the same, but it turns out they’re even larger and more obnoxious than the first pair… I’m still wearing them, but I miss the originals.
Shearling jacket
Old concert tees and military surplus jackets
Do you change your accessories daily or wear the same ones?
For me, day or night, the key is LOTS of jewelry. If I had unlimited funds I would just buy more and more jewelry, but never actually swap it out. I’d just continue piling it on! Occasionally I’ll add a necklace to my jumble of necklaces, something that is longer with a bigger charm, like this Sophie Buhai silver shell on a silk cord that I have, or take out my smaller earrings and replace them with some antique ones from my grandmother.
What are you currently searching for?
I was searching for the Old Celine Madame boots in khaki and burgundy, and recently found them for a steal in my size on Vestiaire.
What do you always travel with?
I’m always with my Rebecca Pinto rings and earrings, a ring from my husband, a ring passed down from my mother, and my Arielle Ratner tennis necklace. I’m almost always traveling with an LL Bean Boat and Tote.
My two favorites
Love love love the signature frames 😍