So, I’ve been really digging Charli XCX’s whole vibe lately, especially her fashion choices. It’s got this cool, edgy, kinda futuristic but also retro thing going on. Decided I wanted to try and capture some of that energy myself, just for fun, you know? See if I could put together some outfits inspired by her style using stuff I could actually find or already had.
Getting Started: The Hunt for Inspiration
First thing I did was just dive deep into pictures. I scrolled through lots of images online – music videos, performance looks, even some paparazzi shots. Didn’t really have a specific outfit in mind at first, just wanted to get a feel for the common threads. Saved a bunch of pics that caught my eye onto a folder on my desktop. Lots of vinyl, mesh, sporty elements mixed with glam stuff, interesting silhouettes, and bold colors or just straight-up black.
Checking the Wardrobe & Hitting the Shops
Okay, inspiration folder bulging, time to see what I actually owned that could work. I pulled out anything black, anything shiny, anything kinda sporty or maybe a bit revealing. Found an old pleather mini-skirt, a couple of crop tops, some chunky boots that felt right. It wasn’t much, but it was a start.
Then, I dedicated an afternoon to hitting up some second-hand stores. This is usually my go-to. I wasn’t looking for exact replicas, just pieces with the right feel. I kept an eye out for:
- Textures: Anything vinyl, mesh, maybe some metallic fabric.
- Shapes: Crop tops, mini skirts, maybe some baggy track pants or cargo pants.
- Accessories: Chunky sneakers, platform boots, maybe some futuristic-looking sunglasses.
Found a couple of potentials – a bright blue mesh long-sleeve top, some surprisingly decent platform sneakers that needed a good clean, and a simple black bodycon dress that felt like a good base layer.
Putting It All Together: Trial and Error
Back home, I basically dumped everything onto my bed. The new finds, the stuff from my closet. Then I just started mixing and matching. This is always the messy but fun part. Put on some music, stood in front of the mirror.
Attempt 1: Sporty Spice meets Future Club
I tried those track pants I had with the bright blue mesh top I just thrifted. Layered a black bralette underneath the mesh. Put on the chunky platform sneakers. It kinda worked? Felt very Charli during her ‘Crash’ era maybe. Added some small silver hoop earrings.
Attempt 2: The Little Black Dress Base
Took that simple black bodycon dress. Threw the pleather mini-skirt I already owned over it. Sounds weird, but it gave it a different shape. Paired this with the chunky boots I had. Still felt like something was missing. Maybe needs a jacket? Tried a denim one, nah. Tried a bomber jacket, better. Felt a bit more ‘Pop 2’ era maybe?
Attempt 3: Simple but Edgy
Just used my own black jeans, but paired them with a super cropped white tank top. The key here was adding accessories. Found some wrap-around sunglasses I forgot I had, put on the chunky boots again. Sometimes it’s just about how you combine simple pieces with the right attitude and accessories.
Final Thoughts
It was a pretty fun experiment! Didn’t nail every look, obviously. Some combinations just looked weird on me. But playing around with the shapes, textures, and that specific kind of sporty-meets-sexy-meets-edgy vibe was cool. It wasn’t about buying a whole new wardrobe, more about looking at clothes differently and finding pieces that captured a specific energy. Ended up rediscovering some old items in my closet and finding a couple of cheap gems second-hand. Definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone a bit, which is always good. Got a couple of new go-to outfits when I’m feeling a bit bolder.
