Last summer, I discovered Maria Hyde on Substack - her newsletter ‘Essential Reads’ is one of my favorites. I love Maria’s simple yet refined style, her approach to a wardrobe consisting of high and low priced brands and her beautiful writing in her pieces on everyday life.
To put it briefly, her newsletter is the perfect mixture of aesthetic style and raw, authentic life. I was beyond excited when she answered a few of my questions for my Style Notes series.

So please, as always, enjoy with a cup of coffee, a glass of wine and get out your note pad - Maria had so many noteworthy things to say about her personal style, on letting go of perfection and the temporary disconnection between her environment and her looks as a mom with taste working from home in the suburbs.

*all pictures by Maria Hyde

Hi Maria, thank you so much for joining me! Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

Thanks for having me, Anika! My name is Maria, and I’m a freelance writer based in Canada where I live with my husband and two young kids. I’ve worked as a copywriter for over 10 years and most of my clients today are in the banking and insurance industries. About two years ago, I started feeling creatively uninspired and decided to launch my Substack, Essential Reads, as a way to write more about the things that interest me, what I love, and what’s on my mind.

Most of it is devoted to style and shopping, but I try to be thoughtful in how I approach these topics, incorporating tidbits on everyday life, motherhood, and spending money mindfully because these are all things that inform my reality. And, I think this is true for a lot of women.

Like many writers of fashion-focused Substacks, I’ve always dreamed of writing for magazines, and I’m so grateful to have this creative outlet and connect with readers in meaningful ways.

I love your personal style and your sense for aesthetics! If you had to describe your style in three words, which words would you choose?

That’s so kind—I feel the same about you! I feel like my style has evolved over the years, and I’m finally closer to nailing down what feels the most like me. I used to think it was very feminine and polished, but these days, my style is more classic, minimal, and a bit undone. I’m definitely a “less is more” kind of girl, which can sound boring to some, but it’s what works for me.

I often rely on classic pieces in neutral palettes that aren’t standouts on their own, but when paired together, create a cohesive look. I’ve been experimenting with adding a structural piece of jewellery or pop of colour here and there when I’m in the mood. Though, I try to keep it as unfussy as possible. That’s where the “undone” part comes in—for me, it’s keeping my hair simple, leaving it down or throwing it in a quick ponytail, wearing minimal makeup, or unbuttoning the bottom of a button-up. When something feels too polished, I’m always thinking, “How can I relax this look?”.

Do you have a style icon?

This is going to sound cliché, but it’s probably Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. Growing up, my mom was obsessed with the Kennedys and had coffee table books about them scattered around our house. She always admired Jackie’s style, and then, of course Carolyn’s, and would buy magazines that covered what she was wearing for inspiration (the original Pinterest!). It never resonated with me at the time, but now that I’m older, I think it probably influenced my love of simple and straightforward aesthetics today.

There’s a reason why Carolyn’s style is still relevant. She had a timelessness, elegance, and ease about her, and I think it’s because she kept her looks pretty straightforward. A button-up with blue jeans. Neutral palettes. Hair undone. She seemed to know what she liked and that translated into how she carried herself. It didn’t feel like she was trying to be a cool girl. She just was. That kind of quiet confidence in your clothes is something I aspire to.

What does your wardrobe mean to you on a deeper level?

It’s definitely a form of self-expression. To me, my clothes are an extension of who I am, who I want to be, how I want to carry myself in the world—all the things. I think our clothes have a way of forcing us to self-reflect, and when we’re intentional with what we buy/wear, our wardrobes can help us feel good, confident, and like our most authentic selves.

In what way do you think your personality and your wardrobe are connected? In what way can they be disconnected?

I consider myself a thoughtful and practical person, and I think those qualities are reflected in my wardrobe. Most of the time, it takes a lot for me to decide to buy something because I’m always considering if I actually need it, how much use I’ll get out of it, and what else is out there. I’m almost too careful and overthink things, and that’s why I don’t have a lot of pieces in my closet—I re-wear a lot and try to maximize what I own.

My wardrobe consists of high and low pieces, and that’s the practical side of me. I think all my years of writing personal finance and banking content around the importance of saving money have made me more conscious of spending. I don’t mind investing in a piece from time to time if I feel like it’s worth it. But I’m also mindful of my budget and all of life’s other expenses, so I try to save where I think it makes sense, like basic tees, which I often shop for at high street brands.

I don’t find there’s much disconnect between my wardrobe and personality—I’m very much someone who likes to keep things simple and not stand out. If anything, I would say, there’s sometimes a disconnect between my wardrobe and environment. I work from home full-time and live in the suburbs, and some of the pieces I own would probably be considered too elevated for my lifestyle. But I’ve learned to get over this and just wear what I want, like using my Toteme coat, even if it’s just to watch my son play hockey in a cold arena.

Do you think style is something we’re born with or can it be learned?

Hmm, this is a good question, and I think it can be both? There are some people whose style I admire who seem to have a pretty innate gift for picking pieces and putting outfits together.

On the other hand, I definitely think it can be learned. Not by listening to others tell you what’s cool to wear or reading articles about the pieces you should have in your wardrobe. Personally, what has helped me better understand my style is taking the time to focus on myself—to reflect on why I like certain pieces (or don’t), find what inspires me, and most importantly, to experiment. Sometimes, you just don’t know if something is for you until you try it out.

I really believe developing your personal style can be like building muscle. The more you work at it, the stronger your intuition gets for what you like and what works for you.

What was your biggest revelation when it comes to your wardrobe and style? 

That it doesn’t need to be perfect. I used to spend hours getting ready, thinking everything had to look perfect, from my hair to makeup, nails, and of course clothes. Sometimes, I would even avoid wearing special pieces to keep them looking pristine, which seems so silly. Thankfully, I’ve let some of that go and noticed that I actually gravitate more to style that’s a little undone. I remember watching an Allison Bornstein video a while ago about what makes French women so chic, and one of the things she pointed out was that their clothes have wrinkles and look lived-in. It really resonated with me. It made me think of how we’re all obsessed with airport style and other off-duty looks. There’s something about those imperfect everyday looks that feel more alive than the overly-polished, produced aesthetics.

What’s your favorite season to dress for?

Can I pick two? Spring and fall. Primarily because of all the layering you can incorporate to add depth and interest to your outfit. I always love how there are so many different outerwear options to choose from during these seasons: trench coats, leather, suede, jean, barn jackets, and now technical styles, too.

I find the elements of summer and winter make it a lot harder to get dressed and feel stylish.

At what times in your life has your personal style changed most and what would you say was the reason for that?

After becoming a mom, I definitely went through a period of feeling lost about my style. I was adjusting to a new body and lifestyle, and I remember feeling like some of the clothes I owned no longer fit who I was at this stage in my life.

Before, I mostly cared about what looked good and wasn’t as thoughtful about what I wore, so my style was all over the place. I wasn’t defining how I wanted to dress and there was no sense of consistency.

It wasn’t until my kids were a bit older that I could focus more time and attention on developing my personal style. I’ve always loved clothes, but at this point in my life, it was about regaining some of the confidence I had lost. I started thinking about how I wanted to present myself and how I wanted to feel while adapting to the realities of my life. I was no longer working in an office and a lot of my outings were casual, mostly to kids’ activities and playdates. So, comfort and ease became part of how I got dressed but always with an elevated twist.

For me, that means wearing corduroy pants with a sleek black turtleneck. Or pairing stirrup leggings with a button-up. Or wearing a white tee and jeans with ballet flats. At the end of the day, we all want to feel like our best selves, regardless of our situations.

What are the questions you ask yourself when buying something? What’s the buy you’re the proudest of?

When a piece catches my eye, I immediately start to think of all the ways I can style it with what I already own. So, the first question I usually ask myself is “How many different ways can I wear it?” The other two questions I ask are “Will I love it for more than a season?” and “Does it feel like ‘me’?” I’m always considering versatility and longevity, which I think has helped me curate a wardrobe that’s functional for my lifestyle and that I love year after year.

The buy I’m most proud of is my Chanel ballet flats. They were on my wishlist for years and I patiently waited and saved up for them. I eventually purchased them during a girls’ family trip to London, so they also hold a special memory for me.

There were so many times I considered alternatives just to fill that gap in my closet but I’m happy I didn’t settle and held out for what I really wanted. It feels extra meaningful now when I wear them.

Do you plan your outfits or are you an intuitive dresser?

I would say a little of both. Living in Canada with the drastic changes in temperature, you kind of have to plan what you’re wearing based on the weather. I also take into consideration what I’m doing for the day.
The intuitive part for me happens when I’m actually dressed. I may have an idea in my head for an outfit I’d like to wear, but sometimes, once it’s actually on, something may feel off. Maybe there are too many layers or my accessories feel a bit fussy. I’ll pay attention to my body language and how I’m feeling. If I catch myself tilting my head to the side or scrunching up my face instead of standing confidently in front of the mirror, I take it as a sign that something’s not right. I’ll listen to that feeling and will usually pare it back or switch up my accessories until I feel comfortable.

Thank you so much, Maria, for taking the time! I can’t wait to read more from you on Substack and follow your personal style journey.