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“I march to the beat of my own drum,” says Emily Sugihara, who, at the age of just 24, founded Baggu after seeing a void in the market for stylish, sustainable totes. Ten years later, it’s not just her entrepreneurial vision that sets her apart, but also her quirky, inventive outfits—think: piled-on prints and ditsy dresses worn atop vintage denim. The mille-feuille look surely satisfies her bold aesthetic itch (“I love volume!” she says), and yet, above all else, is still functional. “Layering is mandatory here,” explains Sugihara, who’s called San Francisco, where the temperature can change drastically throughout the day, home for the past five years. And while getting dressed is a trial-and-error process that can oftentimes be “disorganized,” she admits with a laugh, Sugihara knows a winner when she (finally) sees it: “The end color story and proportion of my outfit are what’s important.”
Below, Emily Sugihara’s top tips for mastering the art of layering.
Let your mood dictate your outfit.
“I rarely plan out my clothes ahead of time. I just like to see how I feel that day and try on a few options. I try not to leave the house until my clothing feels good. I usually start with pants or a skirt and then put one thing on and then try to figure out what’s clean that goes with it and slowly add pieces. . . . It’s hard to know exactly how things will look together without putting it on. The try-on is essential. It’s a very organic trial and error.”
Fill your closet to the brim.
“I have lots and lots of dresses, skirts, and T-shirts, so I can look really different every day. Right now, [my staples are] calf-length silk skirts, this one really dirty pair of army pants with a homemade belt, a good vintage sweatshirt, and B Sides Jeans. [My favorite designers are] Christian Wijnants, Anntian, No.6, Mociun, Ijji, Cecilie Bahnsen, Babaà, Maryam Nassir Zadeh, and Sandy Liang.”
Mix and match.
“I’ve gotten more experimental with clothing. I’m more willing to wear something loud or unconventional. Also, as Baggu has grown, we have more of an office culture and people get dressed for work. It’s a really fun space where I can experiment and people will appreciate it. I can wear a Batsheva dress one day and jeans the next.”
Play with proportion. . .
“Proportion is really important to me; I love volume! This month, what I’m into is a wider-leg pant with a huge top. Sometimes I tie a shirt around my waist, which helps a top and a bottom sit together better. My office is an in-between temperature, so it’s a [good] extra layer. I usually also have a sweater and possibly a jacket [too] at the coldest moment in my day, which is when I leave the house in the morning.”
. . .And go crazy with color.
“My whole world is color. I really love putting together a beautiful palette, so layering is one great way to bring color to your outfit. I also love adding color with socks. I wear Crocs, Nike Air Maxes, Birkenstocks, and No. 6 flat clog sandals with a colored sock that matches or contrasts. [If I’m pressed for time,] I can usually add colorful socks and a wild bag and feel like I look interesting.”