Party season is upon us—and so too is the influx of outfit conundrums it brings. Allow Dress Code to demystify and debunk what to wear when and where, and how to wear it, as advised by those whose innate style never fails to inspire and influence.
Kaia Gerber is not immune to the sinking feeling of pulling up to a party and second guessing your look. The supermodel and actress—who s back in the spotlight as the face of Mango s Craft Your Own Story concept and party collection—might be a regular on the world s most prominent red carpets, but her approach to putting an outfit together is as relatable as it gets. A fan of an easily-replicated formula as much as she is loyal to failsafe closet staples and time-honored silhouettes, here s her sage advice for getting party-ready in a pinch.
Vogue: When you want to feel confident, what boxes does your outfit need to tick?
I feel the most confident when I go back to the safe bets, and for me, that is always wearing black. If all else fails, I ll just put a black suit on.
What dress code fills you with dread, and what’s your workaround for that?
I typically hate black tie, it stresses me out. My workaround is having brands or designers who have impeccable taste that I can lean on to help. In a fitting before an event, I typically go towards the classic silhouettes: anything from the ‘90s or ‘60s.
What about a themed dress code? Are you creative when it comes to costumes?
I grew up in a family that went all out for Halloween and I usually didn t get to choose my own Halloween costume because it was always a family costume. So now I love costume parties, dressing up, and being creative—but I don t go quite as hard as I used to. I try to figure out a costume that I can make with what I already have and one that doesn t require hair and makeup.
What’s a dinner party outfit you like to rinse and repeat?
Apart from a black suit, I’ve been gravitating towards black mini dresses with tights and a pump lately. You can’t go wrong with that. I also love dressing in dichotomies, so I will pair a black tuxedo with hoop earrings and a more feminine shoe, or something lacy underneath.
Does the runway influence your party season style, or do you stay true to what you know?
I think I have been more consistent over the past few years as I ve sort of figured out my style. If anything, I look towards what was trending in the ‘60s or ‘90s. Sometimes the early 2000s too, but after the early 2000s or even with trends of today, I don’t always relate as much. I have wonderful coffee table books with photography by Arthur Elgort and Helmut Newton that I find great for inspiration. I’ve been a chronic Pinterest girl since my pre-teens too so I’m always on there. It’s usually Audrey Hepburn or Jane Birkin. Actually, Kate Moss in New York in the early ‘90s…if you don t know what to wear to a party, she always does chic, simple, and sexy really well. If I want to try something new with my hair and makeup, I will look up my mom [laughs] because she has probably done it already. There’s a lot of really fun pictures of her in the ‘90s that I love.
Do you dress differently for a party in New York versus LA?
Yeah I think it does mix up. I grew up in LA, or in Malibu rather, so to me there s something a little more laid-back even if you are going out here. In New York, I feel inspired to dress up—I’m still always thinking of the Sex in the City [nightlife] references. Because you’re walking around so much more in New York, the fashion is in front of you in such an obvious way. I love seeing how so many people are dressed for their various adventures at night.
What’s your happy place when it comes to getting dressed up?
I love when an invite says “dress to impress.” That’s a little more abstract and you can play with it, rather than having to subscribe to something really specific.
If that invite lands in your inbox, what’s the first thing you pull out?
A little black dress. I love the one in this Mango collection with cut-outs at the side because it can be styled in so many different ways. I d pair the cropped faux fur coat with it as well.
What’s always in your evening bag?
My wired headphones, always. I’m addicted to lip balm, so there’ll be some form of balm, lip liner, and powder. I also always have gum. And perfume; that’s a big one. I always carry perfume.
What’s your parting tip to always channel confidence in your party outfit?
I like to pick one outfit formula that I think looks good and do different takes on it. I’m very into lacy tops right now so I’ll play around with that. It saves me trying on a hundred different outfits before a party. The worst feeling is when you re in the car on the way somewhere and you decide that you hate your outfit—which happens to me all the time. It helps with packing too. I’ve gotten so used to it. Even when I have access to all of my clothes, I tend to stay in one section of my closet. We all need a little uniform every once in a while!
