For 21-year-old London-based Tori van Breugel, fashion has always been a big part of her life, allowing her to express herself truthfully, and in turn, immediately feel more confident. “I’ve always tried to stay true to myself and dress the way I wanted to, not how I thought I should dress in comparison to the norms,” she says. Over the past year or so of going in and out of lockdown, Tori’s love for fashion and styling increased, allowing her to grow and develop her style. “Naturally, I’ve had so much more time on my hands, which has allowed me to really concentrate on my passion for styling, without the pressure from my social life or a university essay deadline looming over my head.” Combining bold colours and prints with timeless classics and iconic statement pieces, Tori’s outfits showcase her individuality and creativity. “It’s crazy how far I have come, particularly in the last few months,” she says.
Sheesh Magazine sat down with Tori as she talked us through a week of outfits, her favourite pieces, wardrobe staples and styling secrets…
Monday:
TORI VAN BREUGEL: This outfit was the perfect combination of fashion and comfort. Over the last year I’ve massively leaned towards baggier fits, what with the endless hours of lounging around the house. I love this particular loungewear outfit, because of the different shades of blues that work so well together, and if I’m honest, it’s so comfy I have found myself wearing it more out of the house than in.
How would you sum up your style?
TORI VAN BREUGEL: Honestly, my style changes every single day! I could never and would never narrow myself down to one particular type of style, as I think this would limit the amount of creativity that one can have with their styling. It all really depends on my mood. If I’m feeling tired and want a more relaxed fit, I would lean towards throwing on baggier clothes, such as baggy jeans, a tee and a large leather jacket, a fit that I can never go wrong with.
Tuesday:
TORI VAN BREUGEL: This look is definitely more sophisticated than the previous fit. I try to colour coordinate all of my outfits, this time matching the glasses and dress. This outfit was the perfect combination of classy with a hint of rockstar vibes, which I like to think of as my alter ego. I am also a sucker for slicking my hair back in a little tight bun. It really gives you the best of both worlds: not only does it look cool but it also means you don’t have to touch your hair all day! And coming from someone who has struggled her whole life with how to manage her curly hair, this is the perfect remedy when I do not want to wash it!
What are some of your favourite places to shop?
TORI VAN BREUGEL: My favourite places to shop are Weekday for jeans, Daily Paper for dresses and two pieces, Butler and Wilson for jewelry and Lexxola for sunnies. I also love smaller brands for one-of-one items made to order, as each piece is unique! I also love to go vintage shopping, especially in Brick Lane, as you can find some really cool pieces there!
Wednesday:
TORI VAN BREUGEL: This casual look is inspired by mid-week blues. A tracksuit is the ultimate Wednesday outfit, especially this one, with a tone of baby blue making this outfit super cute! It is perfect for chilling around the house, or if you wanted to pop out to see the girls, I would chuck on a baggy black leather jacket. This would leave you looking super stylish, yet comfortable all at the same time. If you ask me, fashion doesn’t get much better than this.
Thursday:
TORI VAN BREUGEL: For Thursday’s look we are edging towards the more raunchy side of fashion styling, showing a hint of leg under those jeans. These outfit made me feel like a badass b****, as you can probably tell in the photos. These jeans are perfect for summer, as they have detachable legs, so if you get too hot, you can take them off and voila! You got yourself a pair of shorts. Alternatively, if you did feel like covering up even on a hot summer’s day, they add a little more coverage than your average pair of shorts. I paired them with a very cute print vest with matching gloves. I have been really into this combo recently, as it adds so much more to an outfit and you can also wear both pieces separately. Lastly, my tip to improving any outfit is to add a pair of glasses. It just elevates any look to a whole new level.
What are some staple pieces in your wardrobe?
TORI VAN BREUGEL: This is so difficult for me, as I love almost every piece in my wardrobe! But if I had to choose some staple pieces, I would say that a suit, and a black one in particular, is the key to anyone’s wardrobe. A suit gives you the opportunity to dress up or dress down. If I were to dress down, I would pair it with a baggy tee, some bold gold chains, and trainers; or alternatively dressing up, adding a cute kitten heel, a lacy bra with an unbuttoned blazer and your favourite shoulder bag.
Another staple item in my wardrobe are my baggy jeans. I buy almost all of my jeans from Weekday, and you can never go wrong. Again, you can style baggy jeans however you like, that’s why it is my favourite piece to style, as I’m able to create so many different outfits from just one item of clothing.
Friday:
TORI VAN BREUGEL: This fit is one of my all time favourites. My go to fit when I’m having drinks with the girls! A suit and trainers is simply a classic. I have paired my adidas suit with some brighter trainers to add a pop of colour, a tie, and nothing else. It is so easy to slip on and I always feel my best when I’m wearing it. The slicked back hair has been featured yet again, to create a smart-casual, business woman look.
Fashion is definitely a form of artistic expression; what does fashion mean to you personally?
TORI VAN BREUGEL: Fashion has always had an extremely large impact on my life. I think it’s important that everyone feels comfortable to wear whatever they want – whether this sticks to a trend or not, I promise you, it doesn’t matter. Fashion allows people to express their personalities in so many different ways, which is why I find it so fascinating. A piece of advice that I wish I heard when I was younger is to not care or listen to anyone else’s opinion but your own on how you dress: your body, your rules! As soon as I stopped following the status quo, it really reflected on my mental health as I stopped caring as much what people thought of me and how I dressed.
