April Outfits, featuring Sam Weir

Sam's Paris outfit diary and on thoughtfully rewearing your clothes.

This month, Outfit Notes welcomes its first guest contributor, Sam Weir. Sam is the founder and head stylist of Lotte, a one-on-one online styling service. She recently traveled to Paris and documented her outfits for us, which you can dive into below.

Sam is an NYC-based stylist with vast industry experience in celebrity, editorial, personal, and commercial styling—she’s trained with renowned stylists such as Kate Young, Alex White, and Sarah Richardson and held a position as junior fashion editor at Document Journal. In 2022, dreaming of a creative and climate-conscious solution for the fashion industry, Sam launched Lotte. One of the core principles of Lotte is that of “thoughtful rewear.” All of the outfits Sam wore in Paris have been worn before and remain in heavy rotation for her all season long.

Sam’s (and Lotte’s) styling ethos relies on the premise that you don’t need new things to style the pieces in your closet, so I am omitting links in this month’s newsletter and hope Sam’s looks will inspire you to play with what you have or hunt for some really good vintage pieces that you’ll wear again and again. I so admire Sam’s refreshing approach to styling and encourage you to check out Lotte if you want a stylist’s input on how to maximize your own closet.

Here’s what Sam is wearing this month…

OUTFIT 1

• Guess Fitted Off-the-shoulder Black Top: It’s my mother’s, probably worn out dancing in the 80s. Now worn out dancing in Paris a few decades later. 

• The Wave Straight Pencil Skirt: I bought this six years ago, no idea where. It’s a fantastic pencil skirt that makes more sense in Paris than NY. I will always be a Carine Roitfeld fan.

• Wolford Black Sheer Tights: They must be the right amount of sheer, or the entire look is thrown off. 

• Thick Black Leather Belt: Can be purchased anywhere, I recommend vintage leather. I love the thickness and how aggressive it feels against a dainty pencil skirt.

• Neous Black Pointed-toe Kitten Heels: The kitten heel adds a special feel to this look. In NY, I would probably wear this with boots but we’re on vacation so it gets bumped up with a heel.  

• Black Sunglasses: I have sensitive eyes and also love to stare at people’s outfits so the glasses stay on.

• Tiffany & Co Bone Bracelet: I’ve always admired Elsa Perretti for both her personal style and designs. This bracelet is everything I want in a piece of jewelry and feel lucky to own it. 

Where I’d wear it: I wore it in Paris for a day of meetings and dinner with a friend. Add a long black wool coat on top. I’d also wear this anywhere. This year it’s all about being overdressed. 

OUTFIT 2

• Fitted Black Turtleneck: A simple black turtleneck for warmth!

• Louis Vuitton Shearling Jacket: An old secondhand find. A statement jacket makes anything interesting. A lazy dresser hack I use often. 

• Black Trouser: I like a wool trouser that sits at my waist and hangs the rest of the way. Ideally hitting the floor for some dramatics. Buy vintage; they are made better. 

• Prada Black Leather Oxford: I bought this shoe 10 years ago on sale and they are my most worn, most beloved shoe since. Take time to buy pieces that are timeless in your wardrobe. 

• Black leather glove: It’s cold and we’re smoking cigarettes in Paris. Necessity. 

Where I’d wear it: Worn around Paris, going to the Musée National Picasso, Musée des Arts Décoratifs, and Bourse de Commerce - Pinault Collection. 

OUTFIT 3

• Black Turtleneck: Same one, for warmth!

• Structured Army Green Jacket w/ Belt: From a sustainable company I work with, I enjoy the shape it creates.

• Black Trouser: Same ones! 

• Black Kitten Heel: The kitten heel looks much better than let’s say a rounded toe heel as it adds a new, sharp shape to the look. Dressing is very much about creating interesting shapes. 

Where I’d wear it: To dinner! It’s quite comfortable but still looks chic. 

OUTFIT 4

• Acne Studios Black Sculptural Blazer: Purchased six years ago at a sample sale in Copenhagen. It was the only one there and it was truly a magical moment when I found it. Haven’t stopped wearing it since and never will.

• Rick Owens Green Cotton Maxi Skirt: A different silhouette for me but when done in this aggressive style Rick is known for, it makes sense to me. I love how dramatic it is. 

• Black Belt: You will see this in almost all of my looks.

• Black Kitten Heel: See above.

• Black Sunglasses: More so than any piece, an every-look staple. Just get one bag, belt, sunglasses that you love! I have no idea why people have more than three bags. 

Where I’d wear it: Less walking and more sitting, eating, and staring at people walking by.

OUTFIT 5

• Skall Studio Crewneck White T-shirt: Always a crewneck and always a white tee.

• Calvin Klein Light Blue Structured Button-up: Bought at Marshalls for a photoshoot three years ago and somehow I’ve worn it almost every week since. 

• Levi’s White Straight Leg Denim: White denim is more fun than blue on vacation. It adds the contrast this look needs. Medium blue wash would have muddled it. 

• Céline Navy Blue Brocade Coat: One of the best vintage finds of my lifetime. The structured shoulders, the rich blue—add over jeans and t-shirt and immediately you are dressed up. 

• Black belt, kitten heels, sunglasses: The same!

• Black Sheer Tights: I do not enjoy the skin that is shown between a pant and heel, especially in the winter. The solution? Keep your tights on! It adds a new texture too.

Where I’d wear it: Anywhere. Preferably outside so I can keep this coat on. 

OUTFIT 6

• Black Turtleneck: You see a trend now.

• Black Trouser: See above.

• Céline Navy Blue Brocade Coat: You can really see the detail on the shoulders now in this picture. Don’t forget about your coats in the winter. Buy two fantastic ones and wear them forever. That’s all you need! 

• Black Kitten Heels, Black Leather Gloves: The same!

• Toteme Black Beanie: Mostly to keep my ears warm but I also like how it brings a casual feel to the look. I don’t like my looks to feel too precious or clean. 

Where I’d wear it: This makes sense in Paris but also back in NY on my morning commute. 

If you’d like to learn more about Lotte, I’ve included more info below. This is not sponsored; I just truly love what they are doing. I’ll see you soon with a mid-month outfit diary… Thank you for being here, and thank you to Sam for thoughtfully documenting her looks for us! 💌

Lotte is a one-on-one online styling service that reveals the power of your style and wardrobe. Over zoom or FaceTime, you work privately with our professional stylists to understand your style, explore the potential of your wardrobe, and leave with four looks. Lotte is a new way to explore your style, with no consumption necessary. To purchase a styling session, click here.