STYLE NOTES ON: EMILY URBAN0

Welcome to a special edition of my Style Notes newsletter! Join me for a conversation on personal style, hand bags and the influence of Victoria Beckham with minimalist fashion lover Emily Urbano.

Oct 19, 2024

I love to follow people with a real life on Instagram. Emily Urbano is one of my favorites in this category because her minimal style is the perfect balance of laid-back and refined.

She is one of the women whose wardrobes I’d love to see in person, so when she said yes to answering a few questions on her personal style for my Substack, I was so excited.
I loved her answers and I hope you like this different Style Notes format.

So, grab a cup of a beverage of your choice and enjoy our style conversation.

*all pictures by Emily Urbano

You can find Emily and her amazing wardrobe here:

Instagram: thru_ems_lens
Substack: The Look Buffet
Indyx open closet (you need to check out her open wardrobe on Indyx, it is such a good mix of affordable and high quality pieces!)
LTK-profile with links

Hi Emily, thanks for joining me for this Style Notes Newsletter!
Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

Hey Anika, thank you so much for having me! I’m originally from the UK, but for the past almost 10 years (wow, time flies!) I have been living abroad. Currently I live in Berlin with my husband and my cat, but before this I lived in Milan and Switzerland. My full time job is in tech as a product manager. Not many people on my socials know that, so it's quite cool to live this ‘double life’ if you will! I guess I blew my cover here though!

How would you describe your personal style?

I think Allison Bornstein’s “three words” method is a brilliant way to really nail down how you see your style and where you want it to go. I’d describe my personal style as timeless and relaxed, with an aspiration to include more refined pieces too. For me, that effortless look people like the Moosgaard twins pull off is just spot on—they really embody the words timeless and refined. I love taking a classic outfit and making it feel more current by toning things down and keeping it less formal. Think flip-flops with a crisp white button-down and a smart pair of jeans—simple but so chic * chef’s kiss *.

That’s where my style is right now, but I know it's a journey and will certainly keep evolving, especially as I head into a new decade (I’m turning 30 next month, eek!). As my body and lifestyle will continue to change, I’m sure how I get dressed will too! But I think that evolution will always be grounded in comfort, with a touch of polish to keep things feeling put together.

Why do you think - on a deeper level - this way of dressing has become your personal style?

This might sound strange, but I feel like my style is finally starting to reflect who I am on and how I want to live my life. Right now, I feel like I have my sh*t together—I know where I’m going and I’m more confident in my choices. That’s where my love for classic, refined pieces comes in. It feels like ‘grown-up’ dressing, but in a way that still lets me feel like myself.

At the same time, I never take life too seriously. There’s so much fun to be had, and I channel that energy through the more relaxed, effortless pieces I wear. So, on a deeper level, I want my outfit to reflect more than just what I’m wearing—it’s about looking in the mirror and seeing an outward reflection of who I am inside. It’s not just about wearing clothes, but about seeing myself in outfits that truly feel like an expression of who I am.

What is your first fashion memory?

My mum and Victoria Beckham! I remember my mum working a corporate job when I was really young. She always looked sooo chic. She got a lot of her inspiration from VB (we both still do today), and I remember thinking ooooh I want to be that chic when I grow up! I also remember my mum really putting so much effort and consideration into adding pieces into my wardrobe when I was little, and putting my outfits together. Looking back, I can totally see how this shaped my love of getting dressed since ?

What are non-fashion related circumstances or factors that have shaped your style?

Living abroad for almost a decade has definitely shaped my style. Moving from the UK to places like Milan, Switzerland, and now Berlin has really influenced the way I approach getting dressed. Milan gave me a love for refined, classic pieces, while Berlin has inspired a more relaxed, effortless vibe. Each city I’ve lived in has left its mark on my wardrobe.

Also, I work from home, so comfort has become a bigger priority, but I still want to feel put together. I’m always looking for that balance between feeling good in what I’m wearing and still looking polished. And as I’m approaching 30, I can feel my style evolving with the changes in my life—it’s all about finding that sweet spot where practicality meets timelessness.

I love that you are regularly posting on Instagram with a day job!
In what - positive and negative - ways has social media influenced your style?

I think social media, like any space where you’ve got loads of people from different backgrounds and walks of life, really opens up the creative possibilities. When I look at how my style has evolved, there’s no doubt that being able to consume so much great content has played a huge role in helping me figure out what I love most. It’s amazing how much inspiration is out there, right at your fingertips.

At the same time, I think it’s just as important to see things you don’t like or that don’t feel like “you.” I’m a very visual person, so seeing pieces styled in a way that isn’t quite me has actually helped me get a clearer sense of what I do love in my own wardrobe, if that makes sense.

On the downside, having constant content and ‘inspo’ thrown at you can definitely be overwhelming. Over the last couple of years, there were times when I felt a bit lost. I found myself buying pieces I saw on Instagram, thinking, “Oh, the cool girls are wearing that, so I should too,” without considering whether it actually fit into my own style or lifestyle. So yeah, I’ve been guilty of over-consuming, feeling that pressure to have the latest or trendiest thing.

But over the past nine months or so, I’ve managed to step back from that. Digitalising my wardrobe has helped a lot—it lets me see everything I own, and sometimes I realise I can create the same vibe with pieces I already have. I can also use my phone to put outfits together and see if a new item will really add value to my wardrobe before I buy it. It’s been a game changer in helping me stay focused on what truly works for me.

These are actually two questions:
How do you put an outfit together?
Are you an intuitive dresser or do you plan ahead?

I definitely tend to plan more than improvise. That said, I’ve built up a wardrobe over time that covers most of my needs, so I don’t have to overthink things.

I love the concept of uniforms. The idea is that you look at the activities you do regularly—like work, social events, or just running errands—and create outfit formulas that work for each. These can change with the seasons, so you’re always keeping it fresh. It doesn’t mean you have to wear the exact same thing every time, but it’s a way to give yourself a starting point and some direction, which makes getting dressed so much easier.

What are personal style tips that you love that aren’t talked about enough?

I don’t think there is any better tip than ‘wear what makes you feel great’. In the end it really only matters that you look in the mirror and love what you see. Everything else is a bonus. Aside from this, I definitely think one of the best things you can do for your wardrobe is to tailor and make alterations to your clothes. If you’re struggling to get wear out of certain pieces in your wardrobe, it may well be that those pieces just don’t fit in a way that makes you feel your best. Altering denim for example can be a great idea, especially if you struggle with the ‘gapy’ bit on the waist, or maybe the length, or you might be like me and be lacking in the backside department so having them taken in here can actually make you feel like you have a bit more in the trunk if you know what I mean *haha. So when you do your wardrobe clearouts, or season switch overs, I definitely encourage you to make a pile of clothes that don’t necessarily need to be donated or sold, but could be tweaked and then loved! (And when you make that pile, don’t leave it in a corner for weeks like I often do! Take it down to your local seamstress or tailor right away!)

What are your biggest challenges with your personal style?

I think holding true to the importance of dressing for my lifestyle. I truly love seeing so many different styles especially on social media, and with that come so many opportunities to explore what fits into my personal style. Sometimes I can find myself drawn to pieces that really are gorgeous and would definitely fit stylistically into my wardrobe, BUT they just don’t match my lifestyle. Case in point would be heels. I love a strappy sandal heel, and have some in off white and black. I would LOVE them in every colour under the rainbow but it just isn’t realistic considering I put heels on max. 4 times a year. My life just isn't full of heel worthy occasions! This wouldn’t be a smart investment for me.

I think you have the best mix of high street and high quality pieces in your wardrobe!
If you won the lottery, in what ways do you think your style would change?

My wardrobe would be FLOODED with handbags. I’m joking (but kind of not haha!). I love bags, they’re my weakness, and that comes from my mother. In terms of my style, I wouldn’t expect much of a change in the types of pieces I would pick out to add into my wardrobe, just the quality I guess! Beyond the bags, I would definitely invest in better quality denim. I have some great high street jeans but you never know if they will last the test of time, and more often than not they do not… So I would definitely do a denim refresh and invest in better quality jeans since I wear them most days except in the summer. I’m thinking of the likes of Agolde, Still Here, Citizens of Humanity etc.

What is your favorite item in your wardrobe and why?

My favourite item is my Gucci Horsebit 1955 shoulder bag. I have it in the brown GG supreme colourway, and it is just divine. I bought this for myself as a (big) treat when we lived in Milan and everytime I open my wardrobe and see it, I think of how much I loved our time there. It’s a really sentimental piece to me. It’s so classic, but due to the print it is also a kind of statement. I can see myself wearing this my whole life long, even when I’m an old lady, it will be the perfect bag.

What is on your wishlist for fall and winter?

Honestly, not as much as in recent years. My colder months uniform definitely consists of jeans, knitwear, boots and a great coat. I feel like I have invested well in these areas in the past couple of years and I am looking forward to getting more wear out of those pieces.

I am in the market for some gold statement earrings. I bought a pair of Mango ones during the summer that are a great dupe for the Lie studio vera earrings. I have literally worn them everyday for 2 months now, and so I think they passed the test and I can invest in something that will be longer lasting.

Aside from this, I would love a soft leather bucket bag, ideally that would fit a laptop. Either in black or dark brown, I would love this to be a work bag option for when I go into the office or head out with my laptop to work in a cafe. I have my eye on the Berkley from J.Crew. Its got one side suede, which feels on trend while being timeless, and one side calf leather. It’s gorgeous.

Of late my wishlist has been made up of accessories that can just add that refined touch to my outfits.