Robyn Davies is an NYC-based stylist helping you wear the clothes in your closet. She also writes the newsletter DRESSED by Robyn, where she explores style through the lens of sustainability. Robyn is available for wardrobe styling in NYC and beyond.

As a sustainable stylist, my speciality lies in helping clients reimagine their existing wardrobes, creating new outfits primarily using the pieces they already own. This means I’m very selective when I do recommend new items to my clients. I need to see longevity in each piece and can only get behind brands that are really walking the talk when it comes to thoughtful design.

M.M.LaFleur is one brand that really stands apart for me, not only because they develop silhouettes that stand the test time, but also because their whole ethos attracts smart, multifaceted individuals—from the stylists I’ve met at their stores to the handful of customers I’ve had the privilege of meeting. Just a few weeks ago, they introduced me to one of their longtime fans, Mahoko H. (who you might recognize from their July customer photoshoot!). I was thrilled at the chance to apply my work to the wardrobe of someone who shares my appreciation for M.M. pieces.

Mahoko’s ask was to breathe new life into six of her favorite pieces: a blazer, a pair of jeans, a turtleneck, a sweater, a pair of trousers, and a trench coat. After chatting via Zoom to learn about her personal style and other preferences, we met up at M.M.’s Upper West Side store, where we got to play around with a bunch of different looks.

Below, see us in action, and read about how you can apply my styling tips in your own wardrobe. I hope you enjoy!

1. Wear Your Blazer as a Top

Mahoko wanted a fresh way to wear this blazer (similar), which she originally bought as part of a set. The jacket has such a gorgeous shape, and the tailoring makes it easy to wear as a top—one of my favorite styling tricks. I really love the gray sharkskin fabric, too. While your default for a suit might be black, marled materials like this are very versatile because they contain multiple shades you can work with.

Here, I paired the blazer (similar) with Mahoko’s dark-wash jeans for a sharp-casual outfit. The barrel shape is “in” right now, but when it comes to denim, I say forget what’s trendy. I say wear whatever silhouette makes you feel good, focusing on high-quality fabric. I recommend dark washes for dressier moments and medium washes for everything else.

For shoes, I went with Mahoko’s pointy-toe boots, because the shape elongates the leg and makes the jean look fancier. I also like rectangular-toe shoes for the same reason, and they tend to be a bit more comfortable.

The blazer looked great as is, but if you want to dress it down a bit, roll your sleeves. I learned this trick when I got my start assisting the editors of Vogue Paris. They elevated these simple garments by sculpting the clothes into more lived-in silhouettes. Now, I roll the sleeves on everything.

For the final touch, I cinched the waist with this suede belt (similar) for some extra definition.

2. Style a Button-Down Over a Turtleneck

Sometimes, I forget about the humble turtleneck, but I was reminded of how chic they are when I saw Mahoko wearing this super-lightweight one. A turtleneck, some nice jeans, a sleek boot, and you’re good to go, but what we’re doing here is Advanced Calc styling. It’s taking a basic formula and amping it up a notch to make your staples feel special.

I chose this button-down as a new addition to Mahoko’s wardrobe. She had others, but I loved the thicker fabric of this one. I then layered on a longer necklace (similar) because I like how it visually lengthens the neck. Mahoko has a really beautiful collection of jewelry that she’s had reworked or handmade by a goldsmith. Her relationship with her goldsmith reminds me of one you might have with a fantastic tailor or cobbler. Once you find one, they’ll extend the longevity of your wardrobe.

Next, I got to styling the button-down. I started by rolling up the sleeves, then switched to scrunching—which is a different technique from rolling! I unbuttoned one of the buttons on the wrist and then pushed the fabric up the arm, kind of like an accordion. I like a scrunch when I’m wanting a more polished look.

Finally, I buttoned the middle two buttons, leaving the bottom ones undone to make it easier to tuck the tails into her pants. I left the tails unbuttoned because it makes it easier to “sculpt” the top. I then tucked in the back part. The result is a more relaxed tuck compared to if you just tucked in the whole shirt. Try it both ways; you’ll see the difference.

The outfit was almost there, but it was missing something. So, I added the belt (similar), creating some visual grounding on top. I also like how the hardware adds a pop of metal.

3. Pair Your Jeans with Similar Shades in Different Textures

If you’re ever struggling to put together an outfit, lean into monochromatic dressing. Pick a piece you want to wear, then use its color as the foundation for the rest of the look. The key is to pull in a bunch of different textures—extra credit if they’re cool shapes. Here, I started with Mahoko’s barrel jeans, then pulled in this oversized brushed cashmere sweater that she got at J.Crew last year (here it is on Poshmark) and added her pointy-toe boots to give the look dimension. Last, I added her classic trench coat, styling it over her shoulders, which has a chic visual effect and works when you only need a touch of warmth.

4. Casual-ify Your Trousers

Oh, I just love the color of these pants. When you’re building out your wardrobe, your first instinct might be to invest in black and other neutrals—and yes, you can do that! But I encourage you to try incorporating a piece in a shade that delights you and then build from there. Mahoko was inspired to buy this shade of red because of a dance piece called “Grace” by Ronald K. Brown. “After I saw the Alvin Ailey dancers move in bright red costumes, I had to get my own red pants,” she told me.

Here, I wanted to play into the trousers’ slouchiness with Mahoko’s cashmere sweater. I love a red, white, and navy moment, and Mahoko really likes a sneaker, so I went with these Converse. Styling-wise, I did a simple tuck in the front. Don’t be too precious with it—tucks look best when you don’t try too hard.

To complete the look, I styled one option with this perfectly oversized denim jacket by Japanese denim brand NEEDBY Heritage and the other with Mahoko’s trusty trench coat. Sometimes, I tie a trench’s belt in the back to give it a little more structure; other times, I knot it in the front and adjust the fabric to give it a little flare shape. One reads a little sleeker, the other more visually interesting. Of course, I rolled up the sleeves :)

5. Play with Color

Remember what I said about building on a color? After seeing this cherry red sweater, I got it in my head that I’d style Mahoko in a red-on-red look. These reds happened to match perfectly, but they don’t have to. The name of the game is tonal rather than matching. I usually like to tuck in a fitted top, but I was curious what it’d look like gliding over her pants. Wanting a bit more definition, I layered on the trench coat. So very sleek.

I wanted to make the red-on-red feel more casual, so I swapped the boots for the Converse and layered on the denim jacket. Similar to how I cinched the blazer, I belted it, then flared out the bottom and gave the collar a little pop. I also played into the illusion of the V-neck by bringing back the long necklace from earlier (similar). In many ways, I was recreating the first outfit formula, but it reads totally differently because of the fabrics and colors.

Lastly, I wanted to do a button-down-focused look. A button-down, trousers, and a trench coat are such a classic combo, but with the red pant, the pairing feels extra fresh. I rolled and tucked the shirt like I did previously then added the belt (similar) to create more definition. These pants didn’t have a belt loop, but that’s okay! Just place it where you’d like the belt to be. For the final touch, I layered on the trench coat, unrolling the sleeves and sculpting them so they peeked out of the coat for a little contrast.

I hope this inspires you to play around with your own repeat pieces! If you’re interested in learning how to reimagine your existing wardrobes into new outfits, schedule a consultation, or shoot me an email at hello@rdaviesstyling.com. You can also keep in touch by subscribing to my newsletter DRESSED by Robyn.