The power of basics: this week on Smart Casual

Smart Casual is IMAGE’s first fashion podcast, in collaboration with Kildare Village. In our bi-weekly chats, we examine why we wear the clothes we do and deal with personal style in a way that speaks to you.

White shirt, blue jeans, black boots, and plenty of beige — fashion basics are anything but boring. Often the glue that holds an outfit together, wardrobe basics can be anything that you always reach for to complete an ensemble — good quality, timeless pieces that never go out of style.

But for our hosts, who’s to say what is and isn’t a ‘basic’? While we may picture a muted palette of cashmere and silk, wardrobe basics change and evolve completely depending on the wearer. For Marie, it’s all about block colours and lasting quality — for Edaein, she reaches for frills, prints and cropped waist accoutrements. Sarah’s still at the stage of searching for the perfect wardrobe glue.

Our guest this week is a woman who utilises the power of basics in her signature style — Alex Calder, digital strategist and content creator with a history of working at the heart of Irish design. Marie chats to Alex about how she approaches social media (both at work and at home), how family history has influenced her personal style, and why longevity is the key to her great style.

Episode 22 of Smart Casual, in collaboration with Kildare Village, is available now on SoundCloud and iTunes – make sure to like, subscribe and rate us wherever you enjoy your podcasts. Smart Casual is hosted by Marie Kelly, Édaein O’Connell and Sarah Rickard and produced by Erin Lindsay. If you can’t wait to download, have a listen to the new episode below: