Grey Days Ahead (in a good way!)

Grey suiting is back, but not like you remember it from your first internship.

Remember in May when Toteme’s Prefall lookbook came out and everyone freaked out!? No? Ok maybe it was just me but it seemed like every single person was posting this photo on Instagram in the span of three days. THE look of the new workplace. This dressed up riff on a sweatsuit just really nails it. Grey wool trousers with a hint of heathered knit? An actual fancy sweatshirt? A slouchy, huge bag. Some sort of slick, skinny strapped ergonomic shoe. The fashion birdies were BUZZING.

A look from Toteme’s PreFall collection

Now this photo release was a full two months after the Fall 2023 collections came down the runways, but for some reason this trend did not stick for me until I saw this image. I’ve been holding it, knowing it was a workwear idea I wanted to discuss here. It made me go back and look at all the shows again and wouldn’t you know it, there was so much grey tailoring.

This isn’t that kind of grey tailoring though… like when I graduated college, moved to New York, and bought a grey Theory suit with faint green pinstripes. Why??? I have no idea. Truly. I was coming here to be a fashion assistant so really, what was I thinking? In my head, I needed a Theory suit for “work”. I laugh now, but it was really my first lesson in understanding the differences in office culture, my own personal style and how to navigate both. I should never have bought clothes for an idea of a job. I should have waited to feel it out! Also, a corporate, grey suit is not my style. Even if that was the work environment I was about to enter, it’s probably not the suit I should have chosen. In retrospect, it was an awakening. But I digress. The suiting we are talking about today is more suiting in theory than actual Theory. Suiting for a woman with a distinct sense of style, who can navigate her office culture and her sense of self. It’s the opposite of my internship suit (as I call it)!

The said Toteme suit, which we will discuss below. (This suit is a size 4, btw.) Jacket here. Pants here. I don’t work in an office, but I’d wear this to a dinner party!

A grey blazer (tucked in!?!?!?!) to oversized trousers at The Row Winter 2023 show. I think we are going to have to talk about collars over jackets at some point this fall, huh.

Today, we are moving past the basics in Workwear Month and bringing in the FASHION, with a nod to work, of course. Designers are using grey in clever ways and clever new fabrications to create a clean look that in no way feels uniform. Since you may already have a simple grey slack or blazer in your closet, use today as inspiration for some ways to make them feel new.

While you’re at it, bring out your grey sweater. Open the box with the grey jersey button down we ordered from Tops for Work and dig out that grey t-shirt from the bottom of the hamper. We will be using them all.

The Suiting Skirt

Officine Generale Fall 2023

Officine Generale skirt, Toteme tshirt (but any grey tee will do!), Aeyde flats, Gucci bag

First up, this grey wool Officine Generale skirt. OMG. It is giving me Prada (and DIOR!) vibes with the length and fullness, swoon!! I love the drama of this piece while using a shape and material that are so traditional. It is going to be great with boots once winter hits (see the runway styling above) and great now with sandals. It’s a major statement but in such an elegant, subdued way. I want to wear it for daytime in a more creative work setting (like maybe Paris Fashion Week!?) with a t-shirt and Mary Janes, or in more of a traditional office setting with a knit polo and pumps (below).

Ven polo (RIP!, this similar style from Everlane is amazing), the skirt, Roger Vivier pumps, Dorsey earrings

CDLP t-shirt, the skirt, a men’s grey cotton sweater around the waist, Gabriela Hearst sandals

Tory Burch cardigan (which is now on sale!), the skirt, Maryam Nassir Zadeh pumps which are very old, but you all already know (if you’re paid subscribers!) that I think you should get the Piper.

A Non-Suit Pant Suit Pant

Grey pants that could never be confused with “grey pants”, KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

To start, the pants from the photo that started it all (see top of newsletter.) I know we’ve been talking about Toteme a lot lately, but they really seem to have nailed the whole workwear workhorse thing without losing their ability to experiment with silhouette. They are especially prolific in shades of grey. Is it that they are based in Scandinavia and are used to beautiful washed out tones in their art, their furniture and their sunsets? I promise, we can give them a little break after this week. :) Below, recreating the look.

Brunello Cucinelli men’s cotton sweater (sample sale find, don’t kill me!), but so many options to do this. How cute is this short sleeve sweatshirt? And here is a fantastic men’s cotton sweater for pennies on the dollar. Toteme pants, Celine ballerinas from a few years ago (these are just as good), and my workiest work bag from Metier (it fits my laptop!), Mateo mini pearls.

I didn’t order said fancy sweatshirt from the look because I have multiple grey sweatshirts and sweaters. I felt like the real hero piece that would be hard to replicate here was the pants. They are like a medium-thickness, textured wool that has a little stretch. They are slightly scratchy (which I don’t mind but I know some of you do) and fit wide through the legs. They are definitely a fashion forward style. But I’m into them. I certainly don’t feel like I’m walking into midtown as a first year!

And slightly more casual. Here they are with the Toteme jersey top from two weeks ago. I layered two necklaces to make this outfit feel a little less “minimal” and our granny sandals (I hope L’Amour des Pieds knows I mean this in the best way.) I am EXTREMELY comfortable in this oufit. Maybe too comfortable!? Necklaces are Mateo and Elizabeth Locke.

My Toteme grey pant purchase from last year! Just reuppping this photo from the Tops For Work newsletter to show you how all of our themes this month are tying together. This is a style they seem to bring back year after year in different fabrications. Here they are just released in a grey felted wool, slightly thicker than the pair above, but basically the exact same pant.

Maria McManus wool/cashmere slim suiting pants. Very into the skinny leg on these and how they lightly gather at the ankle. Usually I struggle with the whole “ankle pooling” thing…SEE THIS NEWSLETTER, but the super supple fabric on these buckles ever so nicely. These fit like a dream, which is to be expected given that our black cropped MM pants are our all time favorites. Worn with an old Row sweater (this one looks great!) Savette crossbody (really love red and grey together, consider it!) and Chanel t-straps.

A Boxy Blazer

Either as a full suit or just as a fall jacket, a grey blazer has the potential to be your confidant this fall. Most blazers are hysterically big at the moment, however. Even brands that I usually call on for classic feminine pieces have shoulders sticking out so wide you have to enter the room sideways. I don’t mind a boxy shoulder, but I think the whole swimming in your blazer look is a bit much for us everyday folk. Here are a few happy mediums. Some real beauties! That can be worn over a simple knit for all day or layered as a fall “jacket.”

Here is the full suit by Maria McManus. Notice how the jacket shoulders are boxy but not insane? Like, when I put a sweater on under this and wear it with jeans and boots in November, it will not look outrageous. And to wear as a full suit, I rolled the sleeves so it doesn’t feel like my appendages are turning into giant sea monsters. I’d advise putting one of those Babaa knits on under this if you are going to an actual office though. :) Toeing the “internship suit” line, but the shapes are subtly much more fashion-forward.

An insanely wonderful blazer from the Sacai Fall 2023 show. These jacket layers are all attached. It’s so beautiful. Would be great with a simple tshirt and black pants too. Or with a floral midi skirt? Just lovely.

Back to the Toteme suit. Here is the jacket with our date night pants, transitioned into daywear. One key factor that makes this oversized blazer great is that it has three buttons and is relatively narrow. When I button the top button only, it creates this elegant, curved A-line shape, flattering my waistline. Plus the length weighs down the flowiness of the pants. Strategically paired with my grown up Metier bag and little pumps. This jacket is a size 4, for reference.

With all the same accessories and underpinnings, just switching out the silky pants for 501s (These are the men’s 1954 501 in a 29 (I usually take a 26 in women’s). Totally changes the look!

Tried an action shot. LOL. Who do I think I am, Gen Z!?

Looks great with my silky Indress dress! Remember her from our holiday dressing newsletter last year? Try out whatever flowy midi dress you have hanging in your closet and see how the color and longer line of the blazer gives the whole thing a daytime gravitas.

Just to really drive the point home: Prada Fall 2023. Our favorite Prada pants, but in grey, with the matching jacket! I would probably say you should add a shirt. :)

Farewell Chambray

And maybe the easiest way to play with grey this fall, is to just give your chambray a little nap. While it’s hibernating, swap it out with a grey button down. This shirt comes in basically any iteration you want. Jersey (which we discussed in Tops for Work), stretch wool, slouchy non-stretch wool, linen, etc. Its a nice way to transition to fall without actually having to commit to heavy wool suiting.

From Left: Toteme (the one worn throughout), Nili Lotan, La Ligne, Stella McCartney (which I found for a steal on Yoox!)

Our grey jersey button down and Kallmeyer pants from Non-Sad Black Pants

The shirt with a vintage Prada skirt. Any statement skirt would be fun!

With my The Row parachute pants. What silky date night pants did you end up trying? This shirt will work with them. I can pretty much 100% guarantee it. Also, just spotted a similar version in none other than…grey! from Lemaire.

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And thus concludes Workwear Month. I touched on blazer fits today, and I plan to discuss blazers in more depth later this fall (since I know there are still a lot of questions out there about that category.) But in the meantime, I hope you found some useful (and fun) takeaways for your work life in this series.

I won’t be in your inbox next Sunday. Taking this last week of August off to spend with my family. I look forward to seeing you back here in the FALL! In the meantime, I wish you all a wonderful end to Summer.

Happy Labor Day (in advance) and as always…Yours TRULY,

Becky

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