I know. I promised you shoe/pant combos this weekend. But I unexpectedly had to move out of my apartment for three days this past week and now have no doors and the contractors are busy in the shot spot peeling away decades of old paint. So in Nora Ephron spirit (Everything is copy!) I am going to show you the one outfit I wore on repeat and felt great in throughout this week of pure insanity.
Mind you, I work in a library or at my kitchen table, so this might not work for your 9-5. But for your “after work” time. For your weekends. For your 2024 “small home improvement projects” (LOL!!!) For your errands. For your casual Friday. For school drop off. For the airport! You get it. I cleaned in this. I fed kids in this. I commuted in this. I zoomed in this. I sat alone at a corner table at Nectar and ate a $44 Nicoise salad in this when I thought I was going to truly lose it. I washed it. I dried it (well I air dried the sweater.)
Alas, we survived. And next week, while I still won’t have doors, I will be able to bring you the shoe/pant combos we’ve been craving. Consider today a primer (no pun intended!) because the pants and the shoes were essential to the look.
One outfit. Five days. Five elements.
I bought these white Dickie’s painter pants on a whim over the holiday break while ordering new denim overalls for my kid, his favorite thing at the moment. They have been pure joy ever since I put them on. They fit bizarrely well. And the fabric is perfect. It’s slightly stiff - like, enough to look like you are a fabric junkie - but not so stiff they’re uncomfortable. Just last week I was chatting with a client about how fast white denim goes sad. When it’s too stretchy or silky or thin. These seem the perfect counter to that problem. And at the end of the day, these pants are designed to get dirty. I was not worried about general movement throughout the city. Plus, when they got a little nicked up, I could just say to myself “that’s part of the look!!”
From there, I layered on my security blanket: an oversized grey long sleeve t-shirt. This one is by Kule and is a size large.
A big (AND WASHABLE) navy sweater is heaped over the whole thing. Mine is Donni (size medium) which they generously sent to me to test drive for feedback. It’s currently on preorder and will be available early March. In the meantime, I’m listing a few knock around navys at your disposal right now. But maybe your husband has a cotton sweater he’s not using and you could just steal that!?
1. 2. & 3. The Clothes
4. GREAT SOCKS
A cashmere sock when I wanted to feel bad for myself or wanted to look like my outfit was “luxe.” A freshie pair of greys from Muji when I just wanted to feel clean!
5. A BIG BOOT
It poured the night I had to schlep my kid and an air mattress downtown to BEST FRIEND OF FIVE THINGS ELISSA’s spare room. (Thank you E!) So for those two nights I stuck to Blundstone’s. But when the sun reemerged I swapped out for my black leather combat boots. A heavy boot - preferably black but brown sufficed - balanced all these elements well. The white cropped pant no longer read dainty with leather boots coming out of the hem. The dark color balanced out the bulky knit and gave the whole thing an industrial strength look. But you know, still fashion.
Here's hoping next week is a little less messy. But even if it is, at least I’ll have this outfit.
Until next week.
Yours TRULY,
Becky
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I was just sitting here complaining that I couldn't decide what to wear today - another freezing cold New England winter day. And now I know. Something exactly like this. I think I have every element, albeit in other brands. Leading into white Lilly pulitzer jeans, grey Dudley Stephens tunic layered w/ a chambray shirt. Blundstone's are always ready. This is why I love you!
This is exactly why I find your Substack so very informative and helpful. I have discovered brands that are awesome, new sites to shop from, as well as how to put every thing together. Thanks for also including your sizes as I find it lets me gauge what size I should go for to get "the look".