Your most treasured piece?
My mom used to travel around West Africa buying art and selling it in Toronto. She had this gorgeous suit made in West Africa for my grandmother. It’s an indigo-dyed pattern with cinched pants and a loose, oversized suit jacket. My grandmother never really wore it, so I ended up with it.
What are you struggling to style?
A vintage Loewe shirt with a zipper in the front. Usually, when I buy something, I ask myself, “How am I going to style this?” But this piece was so good that I was like, Actually, it doesn’t matter, I’m going to get it either way. It’s been three years, and I’ve not worn it once because I just have not figured out how to style it.
Traore’s prized indigo-dyed suit.
Courtesy of Hannah Traore
The Loewe top Traore struggles to style.
Courtesy of Hannah Traore
What couldn’t you bear to part with?
My Isabel Marant sneaker wedges. I always put them in the pile to give away, and I just can’t do it, and I don’t know why—I’ve never worn them. I think I was so excited to get them at the time. I’m a very sentimental person.
What piece do you regret getting rid of?
I bought a really cute suede zip-up shirt-jacket. I never had been able to style it, so I gave it away—but to this day, I’ll have a skirt or pants or whatever, and I think, “You know what would be fucking perfect with this?” I’m so mad.
Your biggest splurge?
Moda Operandi has 50% off sales twice a year, but sometimes that really feeds delusion. I ended up getting a Wiederhoeft corset. It reminds me of me as a child—I’ve always been so girly.
Courtesy of Hannah Traore
