A perfect four bean salad

Styling sleights of hand for summer

Another calendar year has passed that I’ve not been able to get this Mya Hansel outfit out of my head. It’s no real surprise - I think that Mya is one of the most joyful and self-assured people who put outfits together. Everything she does manages to be both wearable and playful, clearly formed of items she owns and wears (which sounds like a given, but often isn’t).

This outfit in particular is, what fashion commentator and poet Hannah Louise Poston would call a ‘four bean salad’. Four garments only, which combined together create an effect which is more than the sum of its parts.

Obviously, there’s something very interesting going on with textures and tones (butter, periwinkle, aubergine and lime - genius). It’s also so effective because it feels evening-y and formal, while utilising pieces that (I imagine) do some fairly heavy lifting in the wearer’s day to day wardrobe. You wouldn’t find any of these items in the ‘occasion wear’ category on a brand’s website, but the overall look is undeniably fancy.

While the sheer straight skirt had it’s on trend moment a couple of summers ago, I think in this instance it doesn’t read as overtly trendy, instead acting as a subtle counterbalance to the shirt (which is also in a pastel shade, but is doing things differently in terms of weight, texture and volume. The shirt and the skirt together is a whole story in and of itself.

Then you bring in the accessories: sleek, dark red (plum, aubergine, wine - whatever you want to call it) patent slingback kitten heels, and a petite lime green basket bag. As items they couldn’t be more opposed - the shoes reading as sexy and mature, and the bag as outdoorsy, kitsch, almost gnome-like. Hansel is so good at these styling sleights of hand - you’d never catch her doing something as obvious as matching her shoes to her handbag.

As much as I would never endorse trying to replicate an outfit you’ve seen on someone else beat for beat (in short: it just never quite works like you want it to in theory) I have been looking to do a version of this for one or two weddings I’m attending this summer, which means a lot of browsing. I thought’s I’d share the fruits of my labours.

Silk blouses:

This pure silk number from M&S is beautiful. Size up to ensure a relaxed fit.

The more masculine proportions of this hai shirt create the desired effect.

A little on the heavier side, this silk-wool blend number from JAKI comes through when it comes to volume and versatility.

Sheer column skirts:

This sherbet-coloured The Frankie Shop sheer skirt is an ideal articulation of the theme. Pair it with a blue o pink shirt up top for a same-but-different take on Hansel’s look/

This vintage embellished number, on Vinted, is a delight. Pair it with a big, billowy off-white shirt.

Or at the other end of the spectrum, there’s this Topshop number.

Slingback kitten heels:

I have thought for a while now that these Calvin Klein shoes are the platonic ideal of a 90s kitten heel. Perhaps in another lifetime…

But trusty M&S have a very exciting, if not slightly more ‘of the moment’ alternative.

And there are secondhand options abound on Vinted, like these from Stories. Go heavy on ‘90s’ and ‘minimal’ search terms.

Basket bags:

No real surprise that Rouje do a perfect mini-sized bucket bag in a fun colour. I think we can do better on Vinted though.

Exhibit A

Exhibit B

This newsletter could have been titled ‘why buy a posh dress for a summer event when you could challenge yourself to source four inarticulably prefect garments secondhand?’ I’ll share my personal successes and failures in a future edition.