“It’s not the dress itself, but the life you have in the dress.”

Founder of French clothing brand Rouje and the 21st century style doppelgänger of Jane Birkin, Jeanne Damas talks about quintessential French style in a recent profile piece in The New York Times.

The article goes on to include Camille Charrière, who is a contributing editor at Elle UK speaking about what exactly constitutes the formula for a style people continue to throng after yet find hard to grasp, “The French love their basics. The whole point of French style is that it’s something slow that you build over time” which made me think that such an exploration and consideration of this approach, especially at this time of year when the sales associated with Black Friday and Cyber Monday, is the perfect time to be reminded of what to shop for and what to invest in. The unspoken understanding is the opportunity to invest. And while the sales may still take the prices down on well-made items, only a few things may be able to be purchased as we are likely also shopping for others at this time as well; however, we need not short-change the quality of purchases for our wardrobe. No, no, no, no, no.

So, November’s Outfit of the Month post is to provide inspiration for brands and styles that would be worth investing in for quality items that you will be wearing and mixing and matching with ease for years to come. Let’s get started.

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~Khaite Helen paneled ribbed stretch-cotton top, cream (black also available), shop the medium size here at Matches (and save 15%)~

~Rouje oversized Jacques Jacket (many different colors, solids as well as plaid)~

~Frame Le Mec in Malibu jeans~

~Chia Mihara 40mm pointed -toe leather boots (more colors)~

~Burberry’s leather shoulder bag, neutral (black also available) (35% +22% off for Singles Day)~

~Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin~

SHOP THE OUTFIT:

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~Cos oversized long-sleeved shirt (many colors), I LIVE in this shirt in blue during the spring and early fall. LOVE it and highly recommend it (you can see me wearing it here in this style post).

~Toteme classic cut straight-leg jeans~

~Polo Ralph Lauren tied-waist cotton shirt~

~Loewe Flow Color Block sneakers~

~Hogan sneakers (many colors and combinations)~

~Hereu Tan Calella leather tote bag~

~Paris: The Biography of a City by Colin Jones~

SHOP THE OUTFIT:

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~Shushu/Tong high-waisted pencil skirt~

~Staud Cami Boot, black (many more colors, suede as well, and lower heel heights)~

~Eric Bombard classic roll-neck (turtleneck), 100% cashmere (many colors)~

~Low Classic beige trench coat, 25% off OR Harris Wharf London, wool coat (many colors)~

~Poléne Umi bag, camel (more colors)~

~Oscar de la Renta gold-tone crystal earrings~

~Your Brain on Art: How Art Transforms Us by Susan Magsamen~

SHOP THE OUTFIT:

Outfits of the Month, from the Archives

~Shop more Outfits of the Month here.