The distinct buzz of an alarm clock jolts you awake on a crisp autumn morning. Silencing the clock and groaning your tired self out of bed, you get ready to dress for the day. A glance at your dainty gold watch informs you that you only have 15 minutes to get ready for a long day of sipping lattes and exploring cobblestone city streets.
Thus, you slip on a brown skirt, knit sweater and slouchy brown boots. You snag the embroidered trench coat hanging on the post of your wooden desk chair and throw it on. To complete the ensemble, you twirl a colorful, thin scarf around your neck.
Looking in the mirror, you throw your unbrushed, curly hair into a half-up half-down style. As you swipe a rich-hued lipstick across your lips, you wink at yourself in the mirror. Perfectly frazzled.
We at VALLEY like to think that frazzled = frizz + dazzle. Encompassing this aesthetic for yourself requires the confidence to sport a little bit of fun and messy energy. English women are the perfect model, as they tend to choose a quirky academic look.
Think about the woman you would find smoking a cigarette at an outdoor café or enjoying a hot soymilk latte at the local newspaper stand. This woman embraces her unique nature and looks great doing it.
Hairdo
One of the telltale signs of a perfectly frazzled English woman is her effortlessly messy yet put-together hair. To master the look yourself, remember that a little frizz and flyaway is a good thing. We at VALLEY love a clipped-up look, half-up half-down or simply wearing your hair down with all of its frizzy glory!
Makeup
The frazzled English woman loves to focus on her eyes and lips with her makeup. She might use a little eyeliner and smudge it along her lash line or use a little eyeshadow. Her lips are never without a nice lipstick. The rest of the look is kept neutral to broadcast her best features.
Trench Coats and Sweaters
A nice pea coat or trench coat tells the world that you are not just frazzled but also intelligent and mature. Nothing dazzles like an elegant, interesting coat. Sweaters are a great choice for layering underneath outerwear. Choose a sweater that gives the outfit interesting textural or color elements.
Scarves
A signature accessory of the frazzled woman, scarves add an enticingly fun layer to your outfit. We love thin, long scarves with interesting patterns or colors. Let the ends of the scarf hang down on your coat to add dimension to the outfit.
Hands Never Empty
A frazzled woman has much to do, thus, she always has something in her hands. This might include a book – preferably a classic or a real thinker, a hot coffee or chai in hand, a maroon lipstick or a leash connected to a fuzzy little dog.
Combining all of these essential elements creates the niche aesthetic of fall 2024 –– the frazzled English woman. Go try it for yourself, and don’t forget to share your ensembles with us on Instagram @VALLEYmag!
