A few years ago, I had the opportunity to take the creative lead on a collection with Swedish fashion house NA-KD. At the time, the brand was largely known for its modern aesthetic of clean lines and neutral shades. And while there’s certainly a place for those minimalist staples , I wanted to take a different approach. They gave me free rein to create a colorful assortment defined by one major hero piece—a green jacquard jacket .

(Image credit: Larissa Mills)

To me, what makes an outfit interesting isn’t necessarily the basic staples, but what you choose to pair with them. I wanted to create an unexpected piece made with color, texture, and personality—something you might actually want to keep for years. (And I have.)

This jacquard jacket, complete with a built-in scarf, became my favorite piece in the collection.…