If breaking out of your monotonous wardrobe has been on your list of to-dos, you’re not the only one. Kelsey Lu, the incredible cellist and singer whose name is adoringly uttered by New Yorkers in the know, is one of those rare talents who would be plenty noteworthy simply as a brilliant musician, but also brings with her a curiosity and eyes-wide openness that, coupled with a legit sense of style, makes us want to climb inside her world and just hang out. And like so many of us, Lu is making a conscious effort to brighten up her world by way of her wardrobe. “When I moved [to L.A.] from NYC, I noticed my palette had become more about the darker tones,” Lu shares. “I’m happy to be bringing the florals of the earth back into my go-to look for everyday life.”
Lu tells us her Coltrane-loving father deserves a solid mention when it comes to her own personal style: “I’d say it really stems from my dad. He has always had his own style, always a flair of something. He never blended into what everyone around him was wearing.” While raising her in Charlotte, North Carolina, Lu’s parents—both devout Jehovah’s Witnesses with great taste in music—gave her the space to find her own sartorial vibe. “Going to the thrift stores with him and my mom, I got to pull the things that swayed my way and make them my own,” she tells us.
As she sits dressed in head-to-toe Gucci, clearly fulfilling her determination to embrace some serious color, it’s obvious that there’s a meeting of the minds between Lu and Gucci’s own vintage lover, Creative Director Alessandro Michele. “I personally love all the different expressions of someone’s mind clearly portrayed throughout these Gucci pieces: a mind that is very colorful and outspoken. It can be very moving as the person wearing them,” Lu explains.
We weren’t kidding when said this was about taking color to the next level. Below, Lu shows us three tricks to embracing color by way of Gucci’s latest offerings, and we dare even those most devoted to their monochrome wardrobes not to go weak at the knees.
Opt For Bold Prints
We’re just going to get to the point here: If you truly want to be a Gucci girl, you have to give it your all. Find three bold hues you want to focus on, and expand your outfit from there. Into purple? Search for jewel tones that complement the royal hue.
Here, Lu opted for Gucci’s patchwork dress and dragon-emblazoned satin boots from the brand’s pre-fall collection. The look might seem overwhelming at first, but notice her lack of accessories? These bold prints do all the talking.
Mix and Match
What happens when you wear tweed, argyle, and stripes together? The result is a look only the most fashionable among us would put together—which is to say it’s pure Gucci. And take note if you’re feeling sartorially shy: The red-and-pink color scheme grounds the look, allowing mixed prints to feel (relatively) tame.
As every true fashion girl knows, mixing fabrics is the easiest and subtlest way to make a sartorial statement. Consider the juxtaposition between Lu’s tweed coat and argyle sweater. They’re pieces you’d expect to be worn together come the cooler months, but the bright primary hues on the sweater and the coat’s bold embroidered collar add an extra touch of flair.
Always Go For Red
In case you didn’t notice, red is the color in all of these looks that elevates the outfits and ties them together. Don’t be afraid of this bold primary hue: It’s actually one of the easier colors to pull off, especially if you wear it as an accent within your overall ensemble.
Take a look at the way the red stripes make Lu’s green tracksuit pop—without them, the look wouldn’t make quite the same statement. The red stripes also pair nicely with the brown and blue tones of her shoes and socks. The result? A look that’s optimal for when you’re really looking to stand out. Consider this your first foray into wearing color the cool-girl way.
In love? Discover the full Gucci Pre-Fall 2017 collection here.