The Essay
Tara Lamont-Djite is decoding Gwyneth Paltrow's '90s style formula
There are a few things to know about Gwyneth Paltrow and I. Firstly, I’m basically her opposite when it comes to looks. I have a short, choppy brunette bob, am much curvier than her, and (because I looked this up) am five inches shorter. Suffice to say, when it comes to body types, we land on opposite ends of the spectrum. It’s funny then, that ever since I first saw her in the iconic (at least for her outfits) films Great Expectations, the Talented Mr. Ripley, and The Royal Tenenbaums…and stalked her '90s paparazzi shots, she’s become somewhat of a style icon to me. Although I wouldn’t look anything like her if I wore the same tank tops and Converse, I want nothing more.
What I can emulate though, is her preference for simply cut, chic staples in beautiful fabrics. I just have to style them a little differently. During the '90s, Gwyneth wore multiple iterations of silk skirts, slip dresses, lots of cropped leather trench jackets, more slip dresses, a fantastic long white slinky shirt dress thing, tank tops, and more silk skirts. Her uniform was all the things I like to emulate now—classic, simple, chic, timeless. Then there’s the fact that she was just, cool. She dated Brad Pitt! She smoked! She had the perfect shade of blonde! She seemed like one of those girls who never had to work hard to look good. It seems the universal formula for style icon equals: Consistently wearing the same types of items (see Jackie O plus round sunglasses, headscarves, and Capri pants), and remembering that while what you wear is important, it’s that inevitable ‘how you wear it’ that makes it special. Until I nail that, I’m opting to perfect the formula. Step 1: Invest in classic, simple pieces made from good quality fabrications. Buy multiples in different colors! The key here is consistency. Paltrow frequently wore white slip dresses styled in different ways, the same with black leather trench jackets. It’s not a uniform per se, but collection of similar items that always work well together. Step 2: Create looks that could all be a part of the same family, utilizing previously mentioned classic simple pieces. Use your Paltrow moodboard to help you do this. I have a few friends who have managed this step exceptionally well. I’ve noticed that they also stick to the same color ways. The idea is that by settling on these key pieces and wearing them in rotation, you not only create a trusted set of clothing options that you know look good and make you feel confident, but that also become your calling card. I’m sure Gwyneth would approve.
Tara Lamont-Djite is a former fashion writer for Harper’s Bazaar and WSJ Magazine and lives and works in New York City. Together with her husband Paul she founded the sample trafficking system, lihte. The pieces she wears on repeat are the REFINE Lydia skirt, a white button down shirt, and a Merlette dress.
