February is the acting out middle child of winter

Whatever winter amnesia I conveyed a couple weeks ago thanks to moderate weather and the golden sun hitting a construction site to render it a romantic, makeshift movie set is now a distant memory. More recently, it has felt like the ruthlessness of winter has come in with a sledgehammer to chip away at whatever human spirit any of us have been able to retain through the constant stop and start of performance anxiety-ridden snow storms.

These flurries are legitimate enough to warrant the wearing of bad boots, but so hollow, too, that the magic you get from a real snowdown is still but a mere pipe dream that I, for one, am ready to put to rest. Because in the end, we’re left with insidiously icy streets, rosy cheeks and this string of days that has been folding into itself, piling up like dirty dishes in a sink — the universal acknowledgment that “I give up.”

I don’t actually give up. I may have hit a wall, but there are 3 things that have helped sustain a flicker of life force:

• a daily run no matter the weather. I am talking 7 degrees F and snow on the ground and I am still out there. I never run more than 2 miles and think that’s why I can push myself out. It’s actually kind of emotional, and life-affirming to witness how many other people make the same commitment. When you’re out there with snow on the ground and just know the people ahead and behind you don’t feel their fingers either, the fight for human will is almost palpable, you can feel it as you cross each other. It makes me want to keep going.

• keeping my apartment clean. Re: those piling up dishes!!! The only time I don’t want my interior life to match my exterior life is when I feel like I’m melting into a toilet bowl. So it’s nice, you know, that when I’m slouched over and saaaaaaaad, the pillows on my couch are perky as fuq and my kitchen has perfect posture.

• getting dressed.

  

  Me + Em sweater styled with this shoulder pad tee under it, Amir Taghi pants (altered the shit out of them to get them like this; if you need a good tailor in NYC I have the best rec c/o Becky M.!!!), Khaite ‘Apollo’ boots (if you’re considering them but studless, I’d go for the white, or the wedge ones are on sale…)

  Probably for the same reason as the apartment item. Melty insides, upright outsides. It’s a small bit of something I can do that reinforces the idea that when you look good (eye of beholder), you feel good, and then in some ways, you are good. Or at least you are better. So here are a few outfit ideas for the next week. Starting with something you can wear to work —

What to wear out

No, you know what, actually, I’m going to start with the outfits you can wear to dinner or to dance or to whatever you’re doing to relieve yourself of the winter doldrums at peak night because it’s Friday. But also: these were the most fun outfits to make. So here’s what to wear to get flirty with friends:

Aritzia tube top, All Three skirt (not yet for sale, the launch is 2/26. Here is its more expensive sister from The Row for day/for night; here is its less expensive sister from Matteau; this one for $78 meanwhile is knit, but can be the answer in its own right), Co boots, Maison Krasnova crochet cap and Ray-ban original wayfarers

The basic premise of which does not ask that you overextend yourself beyond the confines of what is reasonable (an all-black ensemble, employing the simplest black tube top you can imagine with a long black skirt that doesn’t cover your ankles) but does make the suggestion that you try something new, be it a lurex knit cap or

By Malene Birger and Sable World belts (the trick here is to blend two distinct aesthetics that have one common thread be it hardware color, fabric type, complimentary vibes; figure something like this with this, for example)

The doubling-up-on of belts, or both! Another option for the same scenario:

La Double J sweater jacket, Datura silk vest, Joseph lurex knit trousers (these could be worth trying, or these), Valentino heels

La Double J sweater jacket, La Collection dress (here’s the right alt), Gucci sandals (from the Michele era; his current-era Valentino heels will give you the same umph) and here’s a little pouch to hold your tiniest possessions (this is what inspired the market pick)

They all feel a little art gallerist to me (this was more true when I had these shoes paired with the above), with the difference being that the first girl seems to have the richest sex life.

I swear this has been on my mind a lot lately — how so much of the style that is unfolding these days points towards an inner life that seizes its sexuality with more confidence and expanse. The obvious arbiters in the trend conversation of this aesthetic include Saint Laurent and Magda Butrym, though their expression is very visual whereas what I’m picking up feels far more interpersonal. It’s subtle and layered and about the woman who wears the clothes as opposed to the clothes themselves.

This Prada cape, styled over a crop top from Norma Kamali with Aflalo pants (new stuff just launched, look at this cute little fucker), and Louboutin penny loafers

It comes out in the unexpected exposure of an entire midriff that holds a secret and catches you off guard, then brings you in with a whimsical cape.

Or alternatively, could look like an upper that commands the whole of one’s body language —

Halter top bodysuit and pants; the clogs are from An Ocean of Ideas

There are tons of ways to etch it out and it rides on one garments ability to have a conversation with the one it is tucked into or slung over.

Now that I’m thinking about it, I think this is precisely what has drawn me to the brand (owned by my friend), Aflalo.

On the surface, these clothes look like they’re of the same ilk as Toteme/The Row but once you’re with them and in them, it’s hard to deny that the girl who wears them — she has good sex. Whether literally or figuratively is irrelevant right now but there is an underlying yearning that calls to mind the sexual revolution of the 70s (no doubt a response to the 60s) that seems to mirror where we are at culturally.

I have to break this one down more thoroughly, but in the interest of this post; let’s parking lot as we move on to —

What to wear to work

House of Dagmar jacket, LMND blue ‘Chiara’ shirt, Argent trousers, Officina del Poggio belt (this one has a bit more going on, and is thicker if you prefer), Hunting Season bag and Pierre Hardy boots (this alt looks nothing like the ones pictured, but conceptually, they serve the same purpose; broader page is here)

A play on color more than anything else here, with the camel blazer and blue shirt inviting the red leather belt into the fold as the three create a trifecta that is pleasing to the eye. I have the look styled with a pair of suede chelsea boots (genuinely considering these an their heftier alt) and these black pants from Argent, which I cannot recommend enough. The shape is ideal for a straighter leg, but still so feminine and applicable in many circumstances. Case in point:

Argent blazer and pants, The Row derbies (try these for a more refined toe, or these for similar clunky awkwardness on the expensive end and these on the more achievable one). Rue de Verneuil tote

This outfit, employing the same pants and a tuxedo blazer from the brand. It is also work adjacent, although maybe you’d wear it to like, a corporate dinner at The Grill. I paired it with heavy brogues in the style of Kallmeyer’s most recent show and you can’t see the red tassel at the end of my necklace but they’re the touch of femininity, right along with the earrings (lab grown diamonds). Onwards!

What to wear during the day (when you don’t work in an office)

Kule ‘Wynn’ t-shirt, Aflalo v-neck sweater (it sold out, but she is cool too, or for the more classic take: Rohe), Blaze Milano jeans, Gianvito Rossi sandals

Here is something I recently wore to have lunch with my friend Sophia at neighborhood restaurant on 83rd street called Mykonian House. I live only 5-blocks from there, and on that day, the temperature hit 38F, which made wearing sandals feel more possible. The hardware on the shoes added a nice degree of texture to the overall look. The shape is also ideal with a pair of pants — just wide enough to sustain proper proportion, but refined, too.

By Malene Birger coat (I don’t mind something like this for the alt, esp if you want to get weird/wear jean shorts and riding boots instead of actual jeans and sandals, but I effusively stand by this too. As styled with a scarf-as-belt), vintage Rafael Sanchez tassel bag (my alt rec is a real wood coin purse shaped thing like this for $350 from Etsy) and here are your Ray-bans

They do something nice with the bag, no? If you’re going to throw your arms up and give a chance to sandals when it feels least possible, another way I’d do it is like this:

Sessei plaid shirt (there are two shapes: Zoey and Esther. Zoey is longer and thicker like an over-shirt and the other is thinner and shorter), Tuckernuck lurex turtleneck, Reformation jeans and sandals, Ray-ban sunglasses

The formula is basically the same. There’s hardware on the sandies, and they’re married to a pair of jeans —

The jeans are cut for a loose fit, so take normal sz if you’re after a slouch/plus Ref sandals. Didn’t mean to pair this with navy socks but actually, it works.

My personal feeling is that jeans suck with closed toe shoes, but that they are so gangbusters-good with sandals, like there is no better pant for a refined sandal, so to the extent that I can jam in a pair, I will.

But let me rescind my initial point because there are some closed toe shoes that work with jeans. I wore the pictured Ref ones out a few nights ago, not with sandals but boots that are basically suede socks:

Heirlome silk shirt and scarf, Reformation jeans, Khaite boots, Cutler and Gross sunglasses

The one nice thing about winter wind is that I have wings when I wear a scarf life this

And felt pretty great. Comfortable, warm, a little whimsical c/o scarf, weird c/o sunglasses and has-good-sex c/o low rise waist line and silk top combo.

Some more garnish from the first one for good measure —

Jujuvera collar necklace, Marisa Klass tourmaline alligator pendant on beads

What to wear on the weekend

Two thoughts as it relates to dressing for this occasion:

1. your style changes when you have kids. At first this happens for practical reasons because you spend a lot more time on the floor and bending down and picking them up and absorbing drool etc, but it continues because as they get older, you get older too and if clothes really are an expression of who we believe ourselves to be in the broader world, the role of mother no doubt contributes to the etching up of this persona.

For me, there is a bit of rebelliousness in the way I convey my motherhood. I don’t want to fall into the no doubt dependable and extremely convenient uniform of straight leg jeans and down coat with a pair of suede shoe boots or sneakers.

Charlotte Simone jacket (how do you feel about a faux fur cape, or this fella from Prada, $676), two layers of white shirts (a long sleeve from Donni, a short sleeve from Kule), Altuzarra pants, Khaite belt, Delvaux bag, Khaite blue suede boots (so r these from Yuni Buffa)

Mostly because I know I lose myself when covered by an idea that doesn’t feel like it’s my own. This doesn’t mean my ideas are better, but it does mean that they’re mine and that gives me confidence, agency, a sense of fluidity that makes moving the world easier because it’s more honest.

But I also don’t want to evade the element of practicality w these clothes. Or the responsibility that comes with it. Maybe these sentiments are not visually obvious in the clothes, but they’re there. The broader look places a high level of respect on the role of mother.

I like a belt like this for this cause too, and if you’re after the boots, my most eager color rec is for the white

But it also feels more original. So that’s what this one is about with its knit pants (fancy sweats, basically) and layers of white t-shirts (take ‘em off as they get dirty), made more exciting with the add of a shiny belt (the elevation!) and a shaggy coat (the key style expression).

I probably wouldn’t actually wear the blue leather flap bag though. I like how it catches the blue suede of the shoes but a tote like this is the more appropriate choice.

2. I forgot what the second point was…

One more weekend look from last week/for next week:

Skall Studios turtleneck, St. Agni belt, Missoni lurex knit trousers (I have on good authority that these ‘Disco pants’ from Negative do nice things to the shape of a woman’s lower half), with socks and wide-sole sandals

You can recreate a necklace combo like this with a gold collar, black opal beads, something like this to dangle longest (or just forget them all and go for !!!this!!!). Then once again, here’s the belt to end all others!!!

And a bonus round third look with the same turtleneck and a pair of sandals, no socks, perfect for when you are hosting at home and don’t have to think about weathering the damned elements:

Same Skall Studios turtleneck, but I have it styled with this shoulder pad shirt under it, Kallmeyer belt, Rodebjer pants (I sized up 1x for maximum flowiness per Becky Malinsky’s rec), Gianvito Rossi sandals

A new necklace from Marisa Klass, cobbled together with some wild stones she found at the recent Tucson gem show

Re the former look (w socks): spent a lot of time on the floor at my mom’s apartment in it, which was good in the stretchy pants. Used the pouch on the belt to store a credit card, regretted socks and sandals (was too cold out) but it did look subjectively right. Had to change before taking my baby out to run an errand, which actually brings me to the finale category of —

What to wear when you want to look put together but you’re mostly just going to be outside

A euphemism for when the coat is part of the outfit. Which also means what you’re wearing above the waist doesn’t really matter (pile on the sweaters, have at it).

Bottom half does still matter because, you know, them pants and shoes are going to creep out of your coat if its long —

Rodebjer navy cape coat (something like this is good too), Giuliva Heritage pants (more price friendly from the range of Nili Lotan on The Outnet), The Row ‘Canal’ loafers

Ray-ban sunglasses, Indress brooch

And be the main event if its short:

Chanel shield sunglasses (see also: Oakley), Bogner vintage ski jacket, Max Mara corduroy pants (these r cotton, same shape tho; I shortened them to wear w flats), The Row’s ‘Canal’ loafer in blue suede

You would not believe how warm this jacket is, or maybe you would, idk. It’s a vintage ski jacket by Bogner and the outer is ~ultrasuede.~ The sunglasses riff on the ski reference, hopefully making me look like I’m at the top of Ajax mountain!

Meanwhile here’s an oldie but cutie:

Initially dropped this one into an October story on ‘Big Change Dressing.’ Valid here on account of the scarf styled as belt. Here’s the coat in camel, a reach for fringe scarf, MVP Polo sneakers and the pants.

I guess this concept of the coat as part of the outfit keeps coming up because so much of my daily movement these days revolves around taking my baby for walks in her stroller and it feels so much better to actually be dressed. Like my energy is more open to the social possibility that I could run into a friend and it could become a full blown meetup — stopping for coffee or wine and talking about life when I didn’t expect to, as happened last week.

Cos cape styled over an old brown satin/wool blend Tory Burch coat (this new one from Aflalo is a similar shape), with Alex Mill’s ‘Ivy’ trousers (they gone, but these could be a comp), Khaite boots, an Alighieri fish necklace and Khaite’s fur handle bag

These spontaneous run-ins embody the magic of New York. This is what makes it desirable to live here at all.

It’s so important to remember that it’s not season agnostic, that it still has a place in the heart of the winter.

That winter even has a heart at all.

Have a good weekend,

Leandra