What I wore last week

I like color! and volume!

I’m still in this phase of figuring out what I like and what doesn’t work for me at all, but it is admittedly slow going. It’s hard to get dressed when you’re not going anywhere, and it’s even harder to find interesting or well-lit environments in which to take photos (having a photo studio at work helps). But I have come out of last week with a few notes on what does and does not work:

1. I like volume and drama. Big necklaces and big skirts are a win. This jacket by Bonnie Cashin from 1949 deserves its own post, which I’m working on, but for now it’s enough to say that it’s basically a perfect layer over anything, and in general long coats/dusters are extremely helpful. Skirt is from Kemi Telford but is no longer available; top is from Revelle.

2. More color! More long jackets! Unfortunately I can’t take the chair with me everywhere as a supporting prop, but the monochrome thing is working, especially with necklace — I love orange and green, as you can see. Side note on this outfit: I bought this linen top at a popup vintage shop in New Orleans from my new bud Kate (@goodiebagstroch) and clocked it as late 90s, and I did all this research on it, discovered the early history of the company which was interesting because they managed to maintain local manufacturing in Dallas even while the rest of the fashion industry was moving production overseas or to Mexico after NAFTA.

Women’s Wear Daily, September 26, 2000

and then after like three days of research I finally realize that they are still in business and still manufacturing in the U.S. which is cool but this top is not really vintage and probably from like the last few years, and I definitely still love/wear it but for some reason it feels weird to talk about the history of an extant company and I don’t know why!¹

3. So setting aside the wrinkles I accumulated after a day at work, I feel like maybe shirts not tucked in feel sloppy, and the shape of these pants is a bit weird. So because of my out-of-proportion belly, I often need to buy pants that are a size bigger than would look right on me to accommodate my “hip” measurement, which is actually my lower belly, but then the waist is too big and the pant legs themselves are too big so the whole thing just looks kind of … frumpy, but not in a fun way, in a way that just looks like my clothes don’t fit and it’s not on purpose. The vest I’m using to try and cover all this up, but the overall feeling is uncomfortable, even if it doesn’t quite show. The pants are Palava, and though the quality is outstanding, they just aren’t right for my shape; I really need like an absurdly high rise and big big pleats to accommodate my body and allow for movement. The top and the vest are Revelle (vest is no longer available but top is and I highly recommend). Overall the color story is really working here but the shape doesn’t feel good. Shoes are Nisolo, another company I highly recommend, but double check the sizing recommendations before making a purchase.

4. Did I say absurdly high rise and big pleats? These palazzo pants from Kemi Telford pretty much nail it. Again, top from Revelle but no longer available — Lisa often cycles through new designs so if you see something you like, try and grab it before it’s gone! Shoes are Root Collective, RIP.

So, we learned that color is important and creating a cohesive color story with contrasting tones is fun. I apparently want to be swallowed in fabric, as my favorite experiments involved big pants/skirt/jackets. This week I’m traveling so we get to talk about what I wear on airplanes, which used to be like tailored suits and dresses (once I flew to London wearing a black rayon McCardell and heels, what was that) and is now more relaxed but not quite yoga pants. Or is it??

1. I feel like a big part of why is that their shirts look like they belong to the sorority girls who thought I was too loud and weird to talk to when I lived in Texas or Tennessee, and also they mention size inclusivity and body positivity a couple times and yet 1) most styles in their “inclusive sizing” section only go up to a size XL which is sometimes too small for me who is only like mid fat and 2) all their models look like a size 2 or smaller and that… sends a message. so I feel conflicted about them! but not my top. I still like that.