I used to think "elevated casual" meant trying harder while pretending not to. Now I think it just means choosing well, and then not thinking about it again.
Here is what that actually looks like for me this autumn.
The Shirt Does Most of the Work
A cotton poplin shirt in a soft grey, not white, not another safe neutral, is the piece I reach for before I decide on anything else. It works under a cardigan, under a vest, tucked or loose, with denim or with a leather skirt. That is the whole idea behind IRMA: one shirt, worn for years, doing the job of five.
Cardigan Instead of a Trench
This autumn I have been reaching for a soft, worn in cardigan instead of my usual trench. It is warmer than it looks, easy to take off the second I do not need it, and it still reads considered, not thrown on. Elevated casual style, to me, is exactly this kind of swap, one familiar piece replaced by something that fits the season better, without losing the shape of how I actually dress.
A Leather Skirt Is an Autumn Staple, Not a Statement
I did not expect to reach for a leather skirt this often. It pairs with kitten heels I still tolerate wearing, and it never feels like I am dressed for an occasion, just dressed for the day I am actually having.
Where the Fabric Comes From
Every IRMA shirt starts with fabric I chose myself, deadstock cotton poplin from Nona Source in Paris, rescued from the ateliers of Louis Vuitton Maisons. I picked colors I knew would sit in a wardrobe for years, not one season, white, soft blue, the softest grey, a hint of pink. Blue is still my favorite.
Once a color sells out, it does not come back. That is not a marketing line. It is simply what happens when the fabric itself no longer exists to buy.
The Point of All of This
Elevated casual style is not a bigger wardrobe. It is a smaller one, worn on repeat, with one or two pieces swapped in each season to keep it feeling current. That is the entire IRMA philosophy, and it is also just how I get dressed on an ordinary Tuesday.
— Yvonne