I've been thinking about it a lot * week 35 Labor Day special
A string of opinionated random thoughts
On getting dressed and the joy of the small actions.
When I get dressed I am confronted with the protean ecosystem of everything I have, everything I want, and why I have things that I’m not sure I want. Some things that I almost never buy, no matter their purported “quality,” are.
Everyone’s closet has their:
Go-to’s (plenty)
the It’s-better-to-have-you-never-know (few)
What-was-I-thinking buy, impulse purchase in a moment of weakness (it’s complicated)
That’s the whole picture, the protean ecosystem. We spend our lives modifying, clearing, mending, looking for the spark of joy, caring for, eliminating, and adjusting to the fluctuations of the three sub-categories that sum up the everything.
Somewhere in the mix of the 3 categories is your style and until you figure that out, it’s murder on the dance floor type of chaos. I was in such a state of confusion about what my style was that my closet was the equivalent of a laptop with 43 tabs open. The #ruleoffive commitment was an extreme boot camp measure that made me happy and empowered and taught me how to deal with stuffitis.
Turns out I am comfortable with being a disruptive minimalist with a streamlined wardrobe. I still switch wardrobes from summer to winter tho, but now that I know where I am standing, I love finding inspiration from other stylish peeps like my BFF Laura of La Deeply Shallow and her introspective reflections on her love for the cocoon shape. In one of her last ‘stacks she wrote:
Being different is cool, and bragging about reaching “everything you like I liked 5 years ago” status feels great. But have you ever tried finding the cause of the impulse to rebel against the mainstream?
Love
Barenaked nails.
Paperback books: analog, old fashioned, that smell.
Bottega Veneta by Tomas Maier, Hermès by Martin Margiela, Marni by Consuelo Castiglioni, Romeo Gigli, Gianfranco Ferré, vintage horsebit suede Gucci loafers.
A chilled shaken gin martini with a twist, burger + fries.
Dark brown handbags
These earrings and this Fran Lebowitz book I can’t wait to read
Silk + lace as transitional dressing aka, what we have to do down here in the Southern Riviera year-round to maintain a certain level of joy in getting dressed within a swarming crowd of Alo leggings, flip-flops, and fake nails. Ebay is best for searching, monitoring, and snatching the best lacey silk slip dresses. It doesn’t matter your budget, as long as you are patient.
I-love-therefore-need encrusted or embellished denim, preferably with pearls like these or these if you have some disposable income and ofc, any Miu Miu encrusted denim anything.
Shoulder, lapels, plissée mid skirt, charm bracelet, silk foulard, mini-dress
My favorite essentials because you never know when you need to replace them (plus my list of books that never shrinks)
Pumpkin Spice Lattes
Hate
Halloween’s costume themed parties and the plastic useless chachkas
Tequila
People
Plans on Labor Day because it’s Labor Day FFS and I want to plans.
How do you say it in Italian?
"Ciao va bene … ok, ciao ciao ciaciaciacia …” this is what happens when you finish a phone conversation with an Italian. There’s nothing wrong with your phone or the line, this is how Italians are going to hang up good bye. I do that too.
