5 Great Things / January 2025

The only sunglasses brand in the world. An icy turtleneck. How to wear flimsy outerwear in January. A wild yet approachable knit polo. And patchwork leather, my newest obsession.

Good morning and happy Five Great Things Sunday. A gentle reminder that these recs go out to paid subscribers on Sunday and will open up on Monday. One such rec is 40% off + an extra 30% in cart so….consider your paid upgrade a savings. You’re welcome! :) Let’s get to it:

An icy blue turtleneck as the antidote to doldrum dressing in deep January

I had been hunting for a paper thin, blue turtleneck since seeing one on Friend of Five Things Jackie S. in Paris last October. Of course hers was old and of a brand familiar to neither of us when we checked the tag…the hunt was on! It only took me two months to Hawk-Eye one at B Sides (which you’ve seen me layer a few times in the past few weeks.) I love how it feels slightly more thoughtful than a white turtle, softer than black and yet still muted enough to force itself as a “pop of color” in an outfit. Just enough to highlight the cold air flush on your cheeks.

An icy blue turtleneck as my winter hero layer. B Sides turtle as a complete top - though I wear it more as an under layer TBH. Here with Ruadh jeans (I’m in a 27) a brown woven belt and cowboy boots. How about these stunners?

Isn’t she nice against a bright jacket or sweater? This bomber is by Giuliva Heritage. I think she would also be perfect layered under this cherry wool polo. In fact, maybe I’ll do that tomorrow since I do have that sweater!

Or with a utility jacket and velvet pants! So many textures! This jacket is by A. Presse, I know. I KNOW. But also IYKYK. 😉 It’s a size 1, if you must know. With old Chloe velvet pants - how about these flocked jeans from Tory? Big yes! Or these velvet pants? Banana for the win. Or these embroidered cords!! Delish.

I’ll have to be honest, this is how I’m wearing it most often. Under a big sweater with utility pants. (This sweater also looks great!.) The turtle adds a slight femininity to my big, bulky winter uniform. Zebra shoes don’t hurt either. Mine are sold out Rachel Comeys but this from Khaite looks just as good if not better! Totally unrelated but speaking of zebra, if you have a narrow foot and struggle with mules, I have found you the dream party heel! And it comes in cheetah!!! They STAY ON! But I digress.

With a wool shirt (or a flannel!), flared trousers and chunky boots. Just scored these Prada guys I’m wearing here on TRR after my epic Grenson sizing fail last year. They’re still what I’d recommend for the look, just size down!! I couldn’t bring myself to buy them twice! Here, here and here are some TRR options for size 8s out there.

The only sunglasses brand in the world!!!!

Thistle Brown, an impossibly cool stylist and photographer, seems to have made an impossibly cool sunglasses line. It's not brand new - a couple years old at this point - but it took me a while to finally get my hands on a pair. His collection is edited, only a few IMPOSSIBLY COOL styles that work somehow on both men and women. At a price point that won’t make me fear smudges from my SPF (on a warmer day of course.) Not cheap, but not designer designer. The sweet spot we all want!

They just make everything I put on feel a little more grounded in today’s fashion sensibilities - especially when I’m wearing skirts and girly things. Or banal mom shleppers. They’re just a yes.

I usually abstain from sunnies in the winter bc I hate the cold acetate on my face. But for you all, I will do it! Here are my Thistles Jack sunglasses which look perfect with literally any and everything. But the Al looks adventurous and worth a try. And the Malone appears to be a non-droopy aviator! Price is right. Look is beyond. (The coat is Charlotte Simone who only sells in drops. Meaning when I got the email that the site was live in December I clicked the link for this coat faster than I could blink. I highly recommend signing up for her mailing list so you can do the same. It’s a real conversation starter in the best way!)

An extremely bold polo that I can think of multiple occasions for

I am extremely drawn to this polo. Why? I’m still trying to pinpoint that. I’m here for the diagonal stripes. And I really like the thin dark stripes separating the wider ones. Both colors feel like they’d match the yellowish-tan linoleum floor of my youth. I think I just also like the idea of a top that is doing a lot right now. I’ve been in sweaters for two months now and I’m ready to sit at a lunch or dinner table (or coffee, or desk) with something above the waist to show for the the thought I put into getting dressed. These feel like they wouldn’t be out of place on a 1970s era Ali McGraw with some denim or corduroy flares. But also great on all of us with a very 2026 rigid denim flare too. It is off-kilter enough to wear with my cowboy boots and some black “work pants” and would look good under a brown or grey suit.

Orange. Blue.

Here are some ways I think this polo could be worn fabulously:

• With brown baggy mens pants, tucked in, cinched at the waist and belted. Buttons undone.

• Worn on top of a bias cut slip skirt with tights and a bitchy toe boot. :)

• With vintage jeans all tousled at the waist and a brown slipper/slide type shoe.

• With grey slouchy or wide leg wool trousers (top tucked in with pumps for an office, messily untucked with chunky loafers for creative types.)

• With a mismatched Prada patterned or tweed skirt!

• With fancy surf or track pants.

How to wear a coat that is not warm enough

This past week I saw Ragtime at Lincoln Center and WOW! A must see! This is relevant as my outfit sparked point no. 4 in this week’s 5 Things. I wanted to wear a lightweight coat as theater seats are cramped and the thought of squishing into the seat for three hours seemed less than comfortable. So I chose a satin A-line coat from my closet (very much not a winter coat) and proceeded to layer underneath a thin cashmere turtleneck, under a thicker wool sweater, wool trousers, knee high wool socks and equally tall boots. Topped it all with a cashmere beanie and I was FINE! Now, this isn’t for a night spent outdoors but from bus—>dinner—>theater—>uber it worked and I didn’t think about my seating arrangement once during the show. Success! (Minus the box of junior mints that melted onto my pants and destroyed them…their first wear! 😭 But that’s a story for another time.)

It’s pretty straightforward, but don’t worry, I will break it down. Basically, once you have chosen your flimsy coat, everything else you wear needs to be warm. If you stick with that notion, it should work.

Step 1:

A similar version of what I wore to the theater spurring this concept. Coat is Veronica de Piante which no longer appears available but the site is 70% off and worth a visit! Here, here and here for pretty, seasonably questionable alts!

Step 2:

And then over that a big decorative scarf. Mine is an oldie but a goodie from Attersee. Still avail in brown! But honestly any scarf, just your biggest one! I also love these for something BOLD.

Step 1:

An easy enough outfit for New Yorkers to try. Your biggest black sweater. (maybe even put a cashmere turtle underneath?!) with wool black pants (I know you all have a pair!) tucked into your favorite black boots (yes I know, and like that they are bunching at the knee). A perfect base for a statement coat that is only mildly weather appropriate.

Step 2:

Add mildly appropriate coat: Mine is a shockingly thin silk fringe coat. Added a beanie to keep as much heat in as possible!

Step 1:

And for a real night out night out: I actually don’t mind a little party dress in the dead of winter so I can at least wear tights and boots to offset the amount of skin I’m baring. I love this one from Collina Strada and have been waiting for an occasion for it. Wearing with my thickest Swedish Stockings.

Step 2:

A completely non-weather-appropriate satin-ish anorak from Rue Sophie that I just wear anyway! :) Layered over my thickest, coziest cashmere turtleneck by Extreme Cashmere and of course, tall boots for extra protection on my legs. Sweater can become a scarf upon arrival or checked with the coat!

Brown patchwork leather jackets are NEXT

There are two that have consumed my imaginary vision board since I saw them a few months ago and now that Demna’s Gucci is finally hitting stores it is only a matter of time before his trickles down to the rest of us. I squealed when I saw the Gucci Famiglia version at the preview in Sept (I think it was Sept? Time is a blur!) and styled so perfectly with a frilly trimmed peter pan collar and preppy stripe sweater. So much friction!

I wasn’t as immiedately drawn to the Chloe one (also below) during the runway show but its funny how different things can grab you once it all arrives in stores. But maybe I like it even more than the Gucci!? Lucky, me, I don’t have to choose…not getting either! 🤑

Both are very obviously vintage-inspired, lucky us! I love that this “trend” it’s weird enough to make jeans and a thoughtless Uniqlo cashmere feel cool. So I’ve done the digging for us and found a bunch of vintage options that will immediately give their lucky wearers style cred. But can someone please please please buy the Chloe one in a 34 so I can stop checking back everyday to see if it sold? Put me out of my misery. I long for it SOOOOOOOO!!!!

From left: The jacket I am manifesting by Chloe. The coolest leather jacket on the market by Gucci.

Clockwise from top left: YSL via 1st Dibs, Vintage Twin, YSL via 1st Dibs, Etsy, Ebay, Etsy, Poshmark, Poshmark, Anderson Bell

That’s everything taking up my brain today. See you back here next week. Thank you for making it to the end!

Yours TRULY,

Becky