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Irene Chen thinks of favor as a language, and equipment are the exclamation level that give each outfit its which means. Because the co-founder of Parker Thatch, Irene has spent a long time crafting timeless but practical luxurious items that seamlessly mix magnificence with ease. Given her roots in vogue product improvement at iconic manufacturers like Donna Karan and Calvin Klein, Chen has an innate understanding of how important equipment can remodel not solely an outfit however the confidence of the individual carrying it. Her philosophy is easy: good type has no age cap, and the proper equipment are key to creating a glance that feels distinctly, authentically you.
Irene’s method to type is uniform but artistic. She believes in constructing a capsule wardrobe of basic, high-quality items and letting equipment take heart stage. Equipment are a “dialog starter that replicate your character,” she says, and her impeccable eye for element proves it. Whether or not it’s an opulent scarf, a press release piece of jewellery, or a wonderfully crafted clutch, Irene’s equipment exhibit that the funding method to dressing doesn’t cease at clothes. As a substitute, it extends to the ending touches which have the ability to raise your wardrobe and set up a way of individuality. And fortunate for us, she’s sharing her greatest insights into selecting equipment under.
Featured picture from our interview with Candace Nelson by Michelle Nash.
Important Equipment: Irene Chen’s 7 Picks to Elevate Your Model
Irene’s prime equipment replicate her perception that they’re a robust approach to inform your story. These are the seven items that remodel a easy outfit into one thing extraordinary, permitting you to step out feeling polished and undeniably stylish. Whether or not you’re new to accessorizing or already a devotee, Irene’s considerate alternatives will encourage you to put money into items that you simply’ll treasure for years to come back.
1. Bandanas and Scarves
In accordance with Chen, a shawl or bandana is rather more than simply a necessary accent, it’s a press release of refined ease. “An expensive scarf or a superbly crafted bandana can elevate your total look,” she shares. “It’s that refined contact of refinement that provides a layer of sophistication and completes your outfit with an air of easy magnificence.”
2. Belts
Chen believes that belts have a transformative energy to stage up on a regular basis seems to be, which is why they rank so extremely on her checklist of necessities. “It could take one thing fundamental, like denims and a t-shirt, and make it look a lot extra completed and put-together,” she says. “It’s actually like a secret weapon in your wardrobe—a type of little particulars that makes a giant distinction.”
3. Assertion Jewellery
Assertion jewellery is a chance to speak who you might be, providing an easy technique of expression. As Chen places it, “It’s a approach to make a long-lasting impression.” Whether or not it’s a putting necklace, a curated stack of rings, or a pair of daring earrings, these important equipment maintain the ability to rework an outfit.
4. Bag Charms
“I add charms to my bag as a result of it’s a cool approach to personalize it and make it really feel prefer it actually belongs to me,” Chen explains. They develop into a necessary accent after they’re handled as a tangible illustration of the recollections that form us. “Every allure holds a particular which means,” she says. “All of them inform a narrative and produce again blissful recollections each time I see them.”
On the subject of styling, she embraces the artistic freedom charms provide. “I like to combine and match completely different charms to create a singular look,” she shares. “I additionally prefer to play with completely different textures and colours so as to add some visible curiosity.” By combining private which means with playful design, bag charms develop into a approach to showcase each type and the tales that make us who we’re.
“Every allure holds a particular reminiscence or which means. All of them inform a narrative and produce again blissful recollections each time I see them.”
5. A Nice Clutch
“A clutch immediately elevates your look, including a contact of sophistication and refinement,” she says. It’s the a necessary accent for an important day or an evening out, including a component of polish. Past its type, Chen notes the sensible facet of a clutch as effectively. “It’s an effective way to arrange your belongings. You should utilize it to maintain your necessities separate from the remainder of your bigger bag.” For these occasions if you’re carrying a bigger tote or purse, a clutch gives a practical and trendy approach to hold your must-haves simply accessible, whereas sustaining a streamlined look.
6. A Mini Purse
Mini luggage usually come off as impractical, however Chen sees this class of baggage as a necessary accent due to its potential. “A novel mini bag is a dialog starter that displays your character,” she explains. With that understanding, it’s slightly piece of artwork you carry with you.
7. A Nice Watch
A basic watch is a necessary accent as a result of it “effortlessly completes your look, whether or not you’re in denims and a tee or dressed up,” Chen shares. It’s the right companion to your bracelet stack, including a refined contact of sparkle and shine that anchors your assortment with a way of magnificence. Past aesthetics, Chen sees this explicit accent as an funding. “It’s a timeless treasure that may be handed down by generations, carrying with it your individual private historical past,” she says.
8. Loafers
And at last, let’s not neglect that your checklist of important equipment want one particular pair of footwear: loafers. “Loafers make any outfit look slightly extra polished,” Chen affirms. Whether or not paired with denims and a button-down or the proper skirt or Bermuda shorts, they’re her go-to shoe for easy type.

Irene Chen
Irene Chen is the co-founder of Parker Thatch, a California-based practical luxurious equipment model. With a background in vogue product improvement, together with roles at Donna Karan and Calvin Klein, Irene brings a long time of business expertise to the model she co-founded along with her companion and husband, Matthew Grenby. Collectively, they’ve grown Parker Thatch from its origins as an e-stationery firm in 2001 to a worthwhile, eight-figure enterprise recognized for its fashionable and practical purses.