OOTM: Outfits of the Month - May

Contrast, contrast, contrast. Honestly, I could leave it at that.

The most compelling outfits rarely rely on perfect harmony. Instead, they thrive on tension. The sharper the juxtaposition, the more interesting the conversation. A beautifully structured corset that looks as though it stepped straight off the runway paired against the baggiest, most distressed jeans imaginable is exactly the kind of styling that deserves a second glance.

It's the fashion equivalent of opposites attracting. The precision and polish of the corset become even more striking when set against something relaxed, worn-in, and a little undone. Neither piece competes for attention; instead, each one strengthens the other. The slouchy denim gives the corset room to command the spotlight, while the corset elevates the jeans beyond their casual roots.

We've spent years chasing perfectly coordinated outfits, but the looks that linger are often the ones that feel slightly unexpected. Luxury paired with ease. Structure paired with volume. The magic isn't in choosing one side or the other, it's in the space between them.

If there's one styling lesson worth taking into summer, it's this: when in doubt, create a little friction. Fashion is almost always more interesting when the pieces shouldn't work together, but somehow do.

Hello, '90s. Or perhaps more accurately, hello to the version of the '90s we've collectively romanticized into existence.

There's something about a vibrant graphic tank paired against a sliky slip skirt that immediately suggests you've watched Sex and the City one too many times and have decided to channel your inner Carrie Bradshaw. Chaotic? Maybe. Fashionable? Undeniably. Whether you loved her or spent six seasons yelling at your television, one thing remains true: Carrie knew the power of a good outfit.

And speaking of wardrobe staples, the humble flip-flop has quietly become the shoe of the summer. The resurgence of Havaianas, and their recent collaboration with Isabel Marant, only confirms what the streets have already decided. If you don't own a pair of simple flip-flops yet, consider this your sign. Fashion's current obsession with effortlessness isn't going anywhere, and nothing says "I just threw this on" quite like a shoe that's essentially a sole and a strap.

The graphic tank deserves its own moment, too. The best ones feel oddly specific; whether it's a slogan, a reference, or an image that only a handful of people will understand. They're less about making a statement and more about creating a conversation. Or at the very least, convincing strangers that you're interesting enough to have one. Performative? Perhaps. Effective? Absolutely.

And finally, a moment of appreciation for the oversized hot-pink hair clip clipped onto the handle of an otherwise perfectly slouchy bag. We've already established that bag accessories are having a major moment, but this feels like the evolution of the trend. It's unexpected, slightly absurd, and impossible to ignore. The kind of styling detail that catches your eye from across the street and makes you wonder why you haven't been decorating your handbag with the contents of your vanity all along.

Sometimes the best outfits aren't the most polished, they're the ones with a little personality disorder. This one has plenty, and that's exactly why it works.

Denim on denim. The formula that has served us faithfully for years on end, never asking for much and always delivering a look.

If you don’t know what to wear, can’t be bothered to coordinate colors, or simply want to look effortlessly cool without overthinking it, the Canadian tuxedo remains undefeated. Think of it as society’s unofficial power suit.

It’s also the perfect blank canvas. Once the denim base is in place, everything else becomes a styling opportunity. A rustic neck scarf casually knotted in like you’ve just stepped out of a European countryside. A sharply pressed button-down peeking through for contrast. Or, my personal favorite, a generous stack of layered necklaces that suggest you’ve been collecting stories (and jewelry) for years.

Call it country core, call it nostalgia, call it whatever you like but it’s essentially everything you want to be this summer: a little undone, a little intentional, and completely unbothered.

Business in the front, party in the back or let’s update the memo: business on top, party on the bottom.

The foundation here is sleek, controlled, almost deceptively simple, until your eye lands on the finish: a statement heel doing exactly what a good heel should do: making everything else look like it was styled on purpose. If there’s one takeaway from this editorial, it’s this: buy the fun shoes. The slightly impractical, slightly loud, slightly “where would I even wear these?” pair. They’ll become the shoe you reach for more than you’d like to admit.

Now, let’s move upward, where things get intentionally nonchalant. The jacket draped over the shoulders remains one of fashion’s most effective illusions—it suggests effort, authority, and a mildly fictional boyfriend who definitely has impeccable taste. It’s a styling trick that says “I didn’t try too hard,” while very clearly having tried just enough.

And that’s really the point of this look. It hits that sweet spot between composed and undone, polished and playful. The kind of outfit that doesn’t ask for attention but absolutely gets it anyway.

At first glance, this reads as a simple porcelain colored summer dress; innocent, almost restrained, the kind of thing you’d expect to behave itself. But a closer look reveals the Vivienne Westwood influence woven through its construction: strategic ruching, unexpected ties, and precisely placed slits that interrupt any sense of predictability. Nothing here is accidental, and nothing is particularly shy.

That’s the magic of referencing a designer like Westwood. It’s never about replication, it’s about attitude translated into silhouette. A reminder that clothing can be soft and subversive at the same time, elegant but never passive.

Rather than defaulting to safe, pared-back shapes, it’s worth seeking out pieces with a bit of chutzpah. Garments that enter the room slightly ahead of you. The kind that don’t just complement your presence, but command attention in their own right.