the denim pant i wore almost every day
and it goes with pretty much everything in my closet
Today’s post will be short, but I hope it will serve as a gentle reminder: all you need is that one staple wardrobe piece if you feel uninspired by what you already have in your closet.
This past week felt like a marathon sprint for me both personally and professionally. I will be honest in saying that a) remodeling a home and residing in said home is a lot harder than what I had anticipated and b) contracting with corporations can be incredibly daunting. From time to time, I will be transparent about the type of work I do because it is very much a part of who I am, much like what I like to style on a daily basis. My husband and I spent Saturday morning and early afternoon shopping and researching different materials, textures, colors and appliances for our kitchen and master bathroom renovations, so it did feel like an extra day of work. Scrolling pinterest board after pinterest board was a great workout for my thumb and index fingers but not so much for my brain, which needed a boost of caffeine every three to four hours.
In terms of fashion and style, it is a different story: I was incredibly inspired and rejuvenated by what I had in my closet. Mainly because I finally did the thing and had my one on one styling session with the one and only Allison Bornstein (the NY/LA based stylist and author of Wear It Well!). I am working on a post reviewing my experience consulting with her (hint: it was so great, time well worth spent, and I absolutely admire her style and approach to fashion).
So the one staple I kept going back to during and after my styling session with AB was my beloved Garra pant by Rachel Comey.
What I love:
The high waist
The wide legged silhouette
The dark wash (with the contrasting side denim panels)
100% cotton
Usually I avoid wearing wide legged jean during floortime therapy with little ones, but this past week, because I was so inspired by wearing looks that I would typically not style together, I decided to step out of my comfort zone. Besides, the reason for starting this newsletter was to reconcile my work in healthcare and education with my love for styling. What better way is there than wearing what I love to work?
Exhibit A: Sock
Socks are an essential part of my wardrobe. I need socks. I barely even walk barefoot around my own home because I can’t stand having cold feet1. Even more so when I am working with kids in their homes; socks protect my feet from whatever I might accidentally step on as much as it protects me from cold temperatures.
Cashmere socks are my all time favorites; their thickness and quality are great to wear with sneakers, mules, and my platform Mary Janes.
So how do I incorporate my love for colors with work socks? I wear pairs in grey, blue, red, and brown and for quick screenings with children, I work on their understanding of colors and types of clothing by asking WH-questions.
Wearing colorful socks makes me feel happy and put together.
Exhibit B: Denim
I mentioned before that I am particular about the denim I buy because I want to purchase pieces that last throughout the washes.
My favorites are 100% cotton, and second favorites are at least 98% cotton; the more uncomfortable, the better.
Because my jeans are so uncomfortable, and I intentionally wear them as part of my professional outfit, it mentally prepares me to get in “work mode” and tackle my agenda for the day.
Now back to my Garra pant:
When I first purchased a pair, I immediately loved that I did not need to tailor them. Rachel Comey herself has a petite frame. And what makes her one of my favorite designers is that her shoes, accessories and of course, the clothes are designed to fit short people like myself.
The contrasting detail alongside the sides was a simple but unique touch. As someone who loves layering pieces and exploring color palettes, I knew it would work well with whatever else I had in my wardrobe.
Things I’m looking forward to reading, watching and wearing this month:
A red lip. I love a beautiful red lip. I have red lippies in all shapes, forms, and textures; liquid, bullet, palette, matte, satin, tint, oil and gloss. But alas, I am intimidated. I feel self conscious because I feel judged for wearing such a bold color. But I love it so much. So I want to “ease” into what I already have, starting with a tint and then gradually working my way up to a more opaque level.
Byredo Colour Sticks. I bought these two (at $35 each these are not budget friendly, but I am weak for sleek packaging and that wonderfully satisfying magnetic closure) in Coleoptera (described as beetle brown with a turquoise glitter) and Demerara (a natural pinky brown).
Glossier mint balm dot com with the original beeswax formula. I found this on eBay. After reading raves about the beeswax formula specifically with this mint flavor on reddit, I had to get one for myself.
Frederick Wiseman’s 1983 documentary The Store. When I saw Sofia Coppola’s IG post about this film I was immediately intrigued. You can watch it on Kanopy through a local library that carries the film, but since I don’t have a library card yet I went ahead and found a copy on eBay. Now all I need is a DVD player.
Elena Ferrante’s My Brilliant Friend. I am so eager to get to this book before watching the HBO series.
Should I or Shouldn’t I?
I am always working on practicing restraint when I shop, whether it is retail or secondhand. During this process it truly helps when I share my list of “Should I or Shouldn’t I” on this newsletter that will help keep me accountable for my spending choices.
The Row Idaho bag. I get it. The bag is gorgeous. It is not cheap. But lately I’ve been seeing it on my FYP nearly everyday this past week on TikTok. Now, I am not so sure if I truly want to, shall we say, “invest?” Because after awhile, I wonder if I want to get it because I want it for myself, or because everyone else is getting it? What comes to mind is this great insight from hey, mrs. solomon Substack into investment spending and I am pondering what you are probably pondering too.
The Tibi Borg Sock Shoe. It’s quirky, it’s functional, it’s beautiful. I love it. But do I love it enough to spend $575.00? Perhaps. Maybe. Yes, possibly.
The Tibi Lucas bag. I have a weakness for shiny things.
To mentally separate myself from work, I remove the socks I wear for work as soon as I get home and wear a fresh pair of clean “house” socks. Over the past year, it’s become a sort of “ritual,” kind of like getting ready for bed.