The Insider Edit With Candace Marie  – Essence

The Insider Edit is a curated list of pieces worth buying once and wearing forever. Influencer and social media expert Candace Marie breaks down her wardrobe investments, which she defines as ranging from elevated essentials to statement staples. 

After beginning her career at JPMorgan Chase, Candace Marie quickly realized her interests lay elsewhere. The now social media strategist earned her MBA in finance, initially viewing it as a practical backup plan. Her short stint in banking later transitioned into a career in editorial, where she worked across market, fashion, and social media. 

From there, she moved into full-time social media management roles at Barneys and Prada Group before eventually launching her own firm, Candace Marie Consulting. Through her consultancy, she develops social media strategy for a range of brands and creatives. Think: Prada, Chanel and Beyoncé’s Parkwood Entertainment. And when she’s not consulting for the industry’s top brands, she’s also creating accessible guides, like 75 Not-So-Hard Social Media Challenge, for the everyday social media user, outlining how to build discipline and grow as a content creator.

But, regardless of what she’s doing, at the center of it all is fashion. And, on a personal level, one of Marie’s core wardrobe philosophies is exploring how, as she tells ESSENCE, “classic staple pieces can be elevated.” Influenced by her corporate background, Marie notes, a simple button-up shirt, for example, becomes interesting through unexpected details—perhaps, for example, a heavier fabric, an asymmetrical placket, or a subtle structural twist.

Beyond individual garments, Marie emphasizes the power of neutrals—blacks, whites, and creams—as the foundation of a strong wardrobe. Rather than relying on bold color, Marie, who gravitates towards designers like Comme des Garçons, experiments with texture, tailoring, unconventional silhouettes, and layering to create dimension within a restrained palette.

She also stresses the importance of understanding your body. For example, Marie says that she has long legs and a shorter torso, so she sometimes dresses to accentuate her proportions. Ultimately, understanding your own shape empowers you to make thoughtful style choices and builds a lasting sense of confidence in how you present yourself.

Scroll ahead to discover Marie’s hero pieces—investment-worthy staples that can elevate your wardrobe, too.

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