Learning from the Best: Yumi Shin

I Have a New Style Crush

I opened Substack the other day, ready to write my next post, and saw this note from

Lauren Z

about Yumi Shin at the top of my feed.

It immediately caught my attention, and as I went down the Yumi Shin rabbit hole, I became so inspired. The way she always looks relaxed yet uses so much tailoring - it’s never stiff, but it still makes her look perfectly put together. The way she plays with accessories and belts. The way she mixes structured and soft materials to create balance. The genius of her layering. I instantly thought, I need to try recreating some of these looks from my own closet - and I did, at the very first opportunity.

It’s always intimidating to post your own photos next to a fashion icon, but I decided to experiment anyway and recreate several of her looks - “recreate” used very loosely here, of course.

Look 1

My outfit (most old): Cos vest (similar), Lie studio wallet, Talje belt, PD Paola earnings, Zara chinos, Gray Matters shoes, Uniqlo trench, Flattered bag, Uniqlo button up.

In this look, Yumi layers a vest underneath a trench - and there’s even a button-up shirt under the vest. I only have one vest from COS that could work in a similar way, though it’s much less relaxed. Nevertheless, I used it and added the rest of the pieces in slightly contrasting colors to recreate the overall effect. Yumi often wears cool jewelry attached to her clothes or even her belts, and since I don’t have as much, I improvised by attaching two old PD Paola earrings to the belt loops to simulate the look. Yumi also seems to prefer shoes that aren’t too pointed, so I chose these rounded, very old Gray Matters shoes. And voilà - here’s my look!

Look 2

My outfit: Frankie Shop blazer, Tibi Stella pants, Aeyde boots (similar), Flattered bag, Talje belt, Cos vest, Cuyana silk top, Missoma chain.

The next look also features a vest, but this time worn under a blazer. In many of her outfits, Yumi uses this semi-belted technique, and for the life of me, I couldn’t figure out exactly how she does it - it almost seems like the blazer has a hidden opening for the belt, as some belted blazers do. I improvised a workaround by threading the belt through the back, which means this outfit works only for the photo - but still, I loved the idea. I’ve always loved a partial front tuck, and I’m sure this kind of belting will soon become one of my favorites.

Also, notice how even Yumi’s belts feel relaxed - they’re usually quite long and casually tucked over themselves. I used my new Talje belt, though it’s not nearly as relaxed as hers. For a finishing touch, I borrowed a small Halloween pin we bought for my daughter for €2 (note: if you buy a brooch, make sure it has a very thin needle, otherwise it can leave visible holes in your blazer). And here’s the final look!

Look 3

My outfit: Cos rope belt, Massimo Dutti belt, Tibi pants (similar), Aeyde boots (similar), Flattered bag, old shirt.

A slightly less fashion-y (in my opinion!) look - with white jeans and two belts. I don’t own white jeans, so I played with color instead and used white shoes to balance the look. The belt layering is really interesting: both belts are super relaxed and decorated with bits of jewelry. I used whatever I had on hand, plus an old COS rope belt. It actually looks and feels really good, in my opinion - though once again, the secret behind the half-belting technique remains a mystery to me.

Look 4

My outfit: Tibi pants (similar), Aeyde boots (similar), The Curated sweater, Tibi dicky, Frankie Shop blazer, Cos rope belt.

When creating this look, I probably would have stopped at the dicky - which made me realize that it’s the extra elements that really make it special. The overall look turned out great, though I didn’t have a belt or dicky with as much contrast, so the effect is more subtle. Still, it’s a really cool combination - and especially warm.

Look 5

My outfit: Maxmara dress underneath, Tibi dress, Massimo Dutti belt, Flattered bag, Gray Matters shoes.

Let’s try a dress look. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a more relaxed dress - this Tibi one is quite fitted at the waist - but you get the idea. While I love Yumi’s version, I don’t like it quite as much on myself; full belting is always a bit tricky for me. I added gloves to draw attention away from the belt and paired the outfit with rounded heels again to keep that relaxed feel.

Look 6

My outfit: Gray Matters shoes, Unlabel skirt, Cos shirt, Uniqlo blazer, Talje belt.

This look is great on Yumi but somehow fell completely flat on me. I just didn’t like the belt over the button-up - maybe it’s the material of the shirt? My jacket also isn’t a bomber, which might have made a difference. I’m not sure, but something about it just looked off. Otherwise, I loved the outfit without the belt, and in the end, I threw on a few extra layers and went to the store.

Tibi boots, Unlabel skirt, Cos shirt, Uniqlo blazer, Uniqlo trench.

So here are some of the best pieces of inspo from the Yumi outfits I’ve looked at:

• Half belting. I still don’t understand the physics of it, but it looks amazing - it keeps the outfit structured yet relaxed at the same time.

• Relaxed belting with jewelry. While belts usually make an outfit look stiffer, the way Yumi wears hers feels effortless - they often just sit there, not pulled tight at all.

• Vests. I’ve never quite figured out how to wear a vest well, but Yumi has so many great examples - I especially loved the ones layered under a jacket.

• Before leaving the house, add another item. Unlike Coco Chanel’s advice to remove one accessory before going out, I think our minimalism-infused minds could actually benefit from adding one more - a sweater tied around the shoulders, a brooch, or a vest under a jacket. It creates that “complete look” feeling.

• No casual clothes and a subdued color scheme. I love that she rarely wears jeans or overly casual pieces, and her color palette stays understated - mostly neutrals and soft tones within the Ring 3 and neutral hues.

• Relaxed tailoring. I love how she achieves a laid-back vibe not just through fit, but through placement - relaxed belts, loosely tied sweaters, and layered vests all contribute to that easy elegance.

I loved getting inspired by Yumi’s outfits - let me know what you think in the comments!