5 Great Things
January 2024 Edition: Some sporty things, a reader request, and the Couture street style trend that has me late night scrolling.
1.Snow Peak insulated pants
The arctic freeze has since subsided in New York. But I’m still hopeful for real sledding weather this winter. Last year I thought myself the cleverest mom in all the land and bought two sleds in September to “beat the rush.” They are still sitting in a corner taunting us, having yet to be used. But I digress. Down pants!! They are not a “new trend” per se, but new to me since I always thought one had to be absolutely insane to add puff to their hips and thighs intentionally. So you’ll be pleased to hear I’ve gotten out of my own way and tried these Snow Peak insulated pants. They are weirdly flattering, no? And they will keep me content on the playground. Because after last weekend’s sleep schedule, I cannot have another all-day-indoors weekend. Ever. Again. Even if the thermometer never makes it past 14.
Why they work: They’re flattering because of their sung fit. The quilted sections are generally large enough to lay flat and not look like a bunch of tiny, puffy pillows. The belt gives me a little bit of a waist and the slight crop makes them lay flat along the leg. No bunching in a boot, just gently grazing the ankle.
2.Anderson’s Belt
Was everyone’s new years resolution to buy a belt? Because it’s my most requested reader item this month. The great, all-around women’s belt for “less than [insert your favorite designer brand here]” has to go to this one. It also comes with a gold buckle, but I’m on a silver kick lately.
3.Sella V tennis skirt
This may come as a shock, but I no longer exclusively wear white to play tennis. It got too played out in “fashion” and I’ve broadened my horizons to ice-skater-ish-shiny pleats and whatever vintage Fila I can find that doesn’t seem like it’s going to arrive stinky.
One recent addition to my collection is this awesome little Fort Lauderdale flee market orange (that’s just what I’m calling it because it reminds me of my Grandma Flo’s preferred color palette) itty bitty tennis skirt. It does not come with briefs (fyi! but these are great to buy separately) so it definitely skews more fashion than function but that’s my preferred vibe anyway. NBA players used to play in Converse! So how techy does our sporting gear realllyyyyyy need to be? Not that this isn’t techy…I love the material (a little crinkly and very lightweight). The fit (high on the waist and the perfect short hem) are excellent toboot. It just feels and looks positively 80s which is right where I want my tennis style to be right now.
4.Xero Shoes
Last October, I was walking down Lex and I saw a man in these funny little barely there rope shoes. I could not stop staring. By the time I reached the red light, it was like there was a physical force drawing me back. I had to turn around and ask about his shoes. They looked so familiar, but also so goofy because it was not warm and he looked slightly unhinged in a SF-tech-bro-turned-extreme-health-nut kind of way. Needless to say, he was SO excited to tell me about them. After sitting with these sandals in my head for a week, I realized why they kept calling me…they share an essence with Miu Miu’s spring 2024 runway shoes! Miu Miu’s have a much better sole for pounding city concrete (IMO! I’m sure soylent-tech-bro would disagree!!! But these would destroy me on cement for more than a half a block) and have fancy leather detailing and some even have rhinestones. But like, NOT NO to these for the beach!? They are pennies compared and you can pick your own lanyard color. How fun! And…funny. Gorpcore lives!!!
5.Buttery black leather coats
It’s fashion week in Paris again. It’s always fashion week somewhere! Technically we just wrapped Couture but it was also men’s the week before that and some brands that design ready-to-wear (produced at scale instead of made to order - one of the many differences between the two categories) are choosing to show in January too, for more reasons than I’m sure you really care about. The intimacy of the audience, the additional production time you get by showing six weeks early, etc etc etc. But we are not here to talk about industry schedules and politics! You want the goods, I get it! The thing I noticed watching from afar this season was the sheer amount of black leather in the audiences. Buttery black leather styled with jeans seems to be all the rage. Some vintage, some new. It’s clearly the LOOK. And of course, now I want one. But I actually struggle with leather (something we are going to talk about in an upcoming sletter.) So I’ve been trying to figure out why this resonates with me. I think its the uber casual styling and the really really soft, flexible looking fabric. It doesn’t look like it’s stiff or hard to move in. It looks thrown on without second thought. I’m debating, but for now the eye candy.
And to take us home, five options…at resale!
Jil Sander - Prada - Zegna - Nili Lotan - Gucci
Happy Sunday and as always, Yours TRULY,
Becky
I forgot to add sizing! But I have a size 2 in the Snow Peak pants. A size 1 in the Sella V skirt and I ordered the Xero Shoes in a men's 6 though they are not here yet to test the size...hope that helps!
The sleds. Nect comes the part where you bungee cord them to roof on ur next east coast ski trip😂😂 I’m all in on the insulated pants .. & confess I’ve been wearing the OR bib pants .. both coasts & Sundancd.. more than I care to admit.
I’m pretty sure they were from ur 🎿 newsletter .. the copper colored ones 😘😘😘😘😘