TFRL Uniform: (Better Than Ballets) Jenni Kayne’s D’Orsay Flat

Every now and then, a new basic arrives on the scene that makes you say “of course.” Well-cut, fit to your body, 2% lycra jeans; button-front shirts with a flattering, made for the female body cut; ballet flats — they’re all such an obvious part of our wardrobes, it’s hard to imagine a time when they didn’t exist. Well I can imagine it. I was there. And I can tell you that dressing quickly and stylishly has gotten so much easier since these stylish wardrobe basics arrived on the scene.

Add California-based designer and blogger Jenni Kayne’s D’Orsay Flat to the mix. The D’Orsay Flat is an investment. Price range from $425 for denim to $450 for suede and go up from there to $495 for leather and crock, and $610 for lizard, with a couple of stops in between. My shopping philosophy, though, is “better to have a handful of higher-end things than a wardrobe of second-rate schlock.” I’ll admit this is a hard principle to live by — especially if your budget is such that you have to save up — but I promise it’s worth it in the end. Through trial and error, I’ve learned that I have a happier and better-functioning wardrobe when I focus on buying even just a few better quality things. My few high-end basics help me feel like a million bucks — and they aren’t more expensive than a boat-load of cheap in the end.The D’Orsay is a new favorite (and it’s on my save up for it wish list). In my mind, it’s better than a ballet, and I’m saying that as someone who loves ballets (I’ve been rocking my Tory Burch leopard ballet all season long). The pointed toe means you can rock them with skinnies, a wide-leg or boot-cut trousers, or a dress — and the silhouette will always be right. It’s perfect for everything from doing the school or market run, to taking a casual meeting (which we’re big on in creative circles here in L.A.). If you work in a field where over-dressing is a no-no (screenwriting, modeling, acting, tech), the D’Orsay ensures that you’ll be career-appropriate without feeling (or looking) like a slob. Not to mention, they’re just so darn hip, with an open side that adds just enough punch to an otherwise classic design.

The D’Orsay is available at Kayne’s online store and at her West Hollywood and Brentwood shops which are located at 614 N. Almont Drive (310.860.0123), and 225 26th Street, Suite 30b at The Brentwood Country Mart (424.268.4765), respectively.

PHOTOGRAPHY via Jenni Kayne

PAULA PURYEAR is a Lawyer, Film & Television writer, HuffPoster and Founder of Revel In It Mag.