August.16,2011

Five Days, Five Looks, One Girl: Chioma Nnadi

Photographed by Marko MacPherson

DAY ONE

If I’m feeling low-energy on a Monday morning, I’ll reach into my closet and pick out the brightest thing I own. It’s a real pick-me-up (and orange is the new red!). The combination of colors is inspired by a book on Yves Saint Laurent that I picked up at an exhibit in Paris last February.

I spotted these orange pants at J.Crew’s fall presentation earlier this year on women’s designer Marissa Webb. They hadn’t made it to the store yet, so I literally had to stalk the Web site every day until they went up last month. The sweater is by Alice Ritter; it’s my go-to knit for the summer: superlight with just the right amount of slouch. The sandals are Robert Clergerie. I could probably run a mile in these quite comfortably.

I’m having a rose gold moment recently, and it all started with this chunky Mulberry cuff. The ring is by an Australian label called ManiaMania, and it always feels like I’m wearing a mini Mayan temple.

DAY TWO

Here I am in Bryant Park—I like to pick up a coffee on the way in to work—wearing camouflage, one of my all-time favorite prints. I have enough military surplus in my closet to outfit a small army. Years ago, I went to a friend’s wedding in Barbados and was horrified to find out that wearing fatigues is banned for civilians there! Needless to say, I had to do a major edit of my suitcase to get through customs.

I like to think of the print on this Diane von Furstenberg skirt as a more delicate version of camouflage, since it’s foliage-inspired. When you wear something tough, it’s nice to counterbalance with something sweet. I’ve been looking for the right white butterfly-collar button-up for a while, and this one by Honor is really great.

When I saw this cat pin, it made me think of Grace Coddington’s book of illustrations, The Catwalk Cats. I found it in a vintage store called Daha on the Lower East Side. They always have great accessories.

I don’t like my wrists to feel too weighed down, so lately I’ve been wearing leather and rope bracelets instead of tons of metal bangles. My mother lives in the Gambia, and she bought me these beaded pieces in a nearby village. The black-and-white bracelet is by Lauren Manoogian, and the bungee-rope one is Miansai. When I carry this tiny Gucci purse, I have just enough room for my MILK (a.k.a. my money, I.D., lipstick, keys).

This aquamarine ring was handed down to me from my grandaunt. She used to spoil us rotten when me and my brothers were kids, and wearing this always reminds me of her. I should really get it altered, though, because it’s actually a little big, but I’m afraid to part with it even for a minute. The other ring is copper and only cost five dollars. I picked it up at a street fair in my neighborhood.

DAY THREE

Designers are showing their resort collections at the moment, so a large part of my days is spent going to appointments and presentations. Here I am at the Shipley & Halmos studio in SoHo getting a preview.

When it comes to workwear, I often prefer men’s clothes and have inherited some great castoffs. One of my closest friends gave me this Comme des Garçons shirt straight out of his closet when he got tired of it. And the width of the stripes just so happened to match the ones on my vintage Norma Kamali skirt perfectly.

Photographed by Marko MacPherson

DAY THREE

I got this Vena Cava necklace at a sample sale. The tiny beads are all strung together on safety pins, so it’s part tribal, part punk.

I’m retiring most of my platforms to the back of the closet for the time being, in favor of shoes that are single-sole only. And—these Chrissie Morris shoes are perfect because the cutouts and loops make me think of polka dots—which always pair really well with stripes.

My Pierre Hardy purse adds a geometric pop to everything I pair it with. And for some reason, looking at it makes me think of that French New Wave movie Last Year at Marienbad. This chunky Alexis Bittar ring is one of my favorites (it doubles as a weapon), and the bracelet is Venessa Arizaga.

DAY FOUR

One of the best things about living in Brooklyn is the brownstones. A few of my friends live in this building, and I sometimes take the scenic route from the subway home and stop by. I found this polkadot dress in a vintage store in Park Slope, and I have a feeling I’ll wear it all summer; it’s just the right length. The jacket is vintage Wrangler—I never get tired of their seventies denim, although it’s harder to find these days.

These necklaces are Nigerian trading beads, a gift from my mother. My friend David went to see the World Cup in South Africa, and I gave him a shopping list of things to bring back for me, including this bracelet, which is made from telephone wires. After seeing Prada’s fall collection, I’ve been in the mood for more snakeskin accessories, starting with this vintage leather belt.

I love wearing hats in the winter and have been looking for the right summer hat forever. This one is vintage Adolfo. He was a milliner in the 1960s who started out working with Balenciaga. He also made women’s clothes in the 1970s, I have one of his coats. I found it in a thrift store for $30, total bargain

I stick to purses that are unfussy—I can’t do anything with too many bells and whistles. This Bally bag is easy—it’s cross-body, so I can just throw it over my shoulder. I also like to have a good nude sandal for the summer. I wear so much color I need something neutral. This pair is by Dolce Vita.

DAY FIVE

When I’m interviewing a designer for the magazine, I prefer a social environment over a conference room. It makes for a better story, and Roman’s in Brooklyn is a nice backdrop. My friend Christian Joy told me about the vintage store Fluke in Williamsburg, where I found this Italian silk dress. I like that it’s all buttoned-up because I can’t wear anything too girly.

I got these YSL shoes on sale at Barneys years ago, when Tom Ford was designing for the brand. They have a subversive ladylike vibe that feels very current—I just try not to wear them too much because I don’t want to ruin them!

I haven’t been able to find the perfect pair of red shoes, but I do have a red Prada bag I really like. It slips right under my arm but still has enough space in it for a good read.

I hope this post will have inspired you…. Chioma Nnadi is Vogue’s Fashion Writer, she wore these 5 looks to the office last week.