The Dressing Edit (An Ode to Bode, Part II)

If you’ve clicked over from the Bode Part I post - welcome!

As I mentioned there, walking out of the Bode Paris store, I felt incredibly inspired by the brand’s singular vision, rooted in vintage and antique clothing and textiles. With pieces firmly and undeniably in the luxury price bracket (and for once, I actually think that’s justified), I started wondering, is there a way I can pull together Bode-inspired looks using my own wardrobe?

Could I combine vintage and antique pieces I already own into outfits that are not just beautiful, but actually wearable - the kind of thing I’d actually leaving the house in (not just staging a high-fashion photoshoot in my sewing room!)
That pondering evolved into hanging garments together on wardrobe doors, somewhat absentmindedly experimenting and analysing what gave something that distinct Bode feel. What was the formula of the brand, and how could I emulate it?

It reminded me of the Alessandro Michele era at Gucci - when his ‘high-end thrift store chic’ looks became something you could dissect, emulate, and reinterpret at home. It wasn’t just about specific pieces, but a mood, a silhouette, a layered sense of storytelling through clothes.

Below are my attempts at trying to find the eureka moment - whilst featuring only a market bag from the brand itself, I relied heavily on my yesteryear pieces and more than a few from my boyfriends wardrobe too!

I started with an antique cotton nightdress from the Paris flea market ‘Marché aux Puces de la Porte de Vanves’, tucked away in the 14th arrondissement on the Left Bank. It was a €10 bargain and came up a pristine white with a little help from bicarbonate of soda once I got it home! I love the weight of the antique cotton, the quality is so evident, and the embroidery details are all handsewn.

I’ve styled it with a vintage nautical scarf (as a belt) a mini basket bag, and mannish burgundy loafers with horseshoe charms. I’d have loved to pair it with opera shoes (as mentioned in the accompanying newsletter) but these captured the look I was going for.

A vintage 1970s track tee, amusingly printed with ‘Bob’ on the front and a number on the back in the softest marl grey jersey - this is one of my raids from the boyfriends wardrobe!
My running shorts are 1980s vintage, and while I’ve never actually run in them, they’re my go-to every summer - make more sportswear cotton if you ask me!
The look gets a touch of Bode with a vintage 1930s jet-black beaded collar (worn backwards so ‘Bob’ isn’t hidden!) blending varsity with a bit of glitz. The trainers are Adidas SL-72s, inspired by the style created for the 1972 Munich Olympics.

Black velvet features heavily in the Bode universe - especially when embroidered or beaded. I found these vintage Marks and Spencer kickflares with beaded hems and instantly started to formulate this look with pieces in my existing wardrobe…