Fashion

Party season is upon us—and so too is the influx of outfit conundrums it brings. Allow Dress Code to demystify and debunk what to wear when and where, and how to wear it, as advised by those whose innate style never fails to inspire and influence. 

Kaia Gerber is not immune to the sinking feeling of pulling up to a party and second guessing your look. The supermodel and actress—who’s back in the spotlight as the face of Mango’s Craft Your Own Story concept and party collection—might be a regular on the world’s most prominent red carpets, but her approach to putting an outfit together is as relatable as it gets. A fan of an easily-replicated formula as much as she is loyal to failsafe closet staples and time-honored silhouettes, here’s her sage advice for getting party-ready in a pinch.

Vogue: When you want to feel confident, what boxes does your outfit need to tick?

I feel the most confident when I go back to the safe bets, and for me, that is always wearing black. If all else fails, I’ll just put a black suit on.

What dress code fills you with dread, and what’s your workaround for that?

I typically hate black tie, it stresses me out. My workaround is having brands or designers who have impeccable taste that I can lean on to help. In a fitting before an event, I typically go towards the classic silhouettes: anything from the ‘90s or ‘60s.

What about a themed dress code? Are you creative when it comes to costumes?

I grew up in a family that went all out for Halloween and I usually didn’t get to choose my own Halloween costume because it was always a family costume. So now I love costume parties, dressing up, and being creative—but I don’t go quite as hard as I used to. I try to figure out a costume that I can make with what I already have and one that doesn’t require hair and makeup.

What’s a dinner party outfit you like to rinse and repeat?

Apart from a black suit, I’ve been gravitating towards black mini dresses with tights and a pump lately. You can’t go wrong with that. I also love dressing in dichotomies, so I will pair a black tuxedo with hoop earrings and a more feminine shoe, or something lacy underneath.