It’s the best and worst time of year to get dressed

Mini identity crisis season is here

It’s the best time of year to get dressed because it’s great outfit weather so the pairings have an opportunity to be more idiosyncratic than during other seasons —

DL1961 top, Aflalo pants, Khaite boots

Toteme clutch, with a Kallmeyer tassel clipped on

Add to that the fusion of summer’s laidback energy, still hovering overhead faintly, with the get-serious energy of Fall, and you’ve got a startling tension, which when towed thoughtfully can make for an outfit that is freaky, practical (relatively speaking) and editorial. Impossible any other time of year.

Aflalo shirt and bra, here’s an alt belt, Tory Burch skirt, Khaite boots (navy satin sock boots here)

But it takes mental space and physical energy, a thorough dance of off, then on, off, then on, off, on, off, then-on-again, to get to this place of “just right.”

And during such a busy time of year for whatever your reason: kids, their school, work, or the basic transition from one mental place to another, the spacial freedom — the well from which creativity springs — can feel backed up or clogged.

I think this is why I have been craving a back to basics approach with clothes. Why I’ve been most drawn to the subtle pairings at fashion shows, the ones that have kept colors simple, but textures rich or cuts unique —

A leather/knit combo at Khaite

A silk jacquard suit at Fforme, with a simple black cotton tee and leather flip flops

Ralph Lauren’s layers of jersey and knit, cut to layer in its various shapes

Why I’m extracting a similar, thoughtfully articulated simplicity, from the guts of my own wardrobe.

It’s subtle cues and impulses that are sirening loudest and feeling the best around here. (Best because most achievable in such a way that without exerting too much time, I’m still pushing creative curiosity forward.)

Veronica Beard jacket, Skims bandeau, Still Here jeans, Soeur sunglasses

There’s an inherent sense of destabilization that comes with change. In my life, I’m experiencing the oft-overlooked but intense transition from having a baby who’s a blob to a baby who’s a toddler, with speakable needs and a desire for consistent attention. That is necessarily forcing a sort of reallocation of where my energy goes. It’s not bad, just different, but when I don’t stop to acknowledge that this is what’s at play, when I try to resist the change, I can spin myself into a spiral of doom.

The nectar of life, I am coming to learn, is embracing the shifts that call for evolution. This is how our lives grow, how they get bigger. How we reject staying small, trying to keep it the same.

If you are feeling the same crunch and in pursuit of a solve that feels more like slow progress than quick fix, here are 3 cues that have been working for me.

1. Styling a bag over the shoulder with a laidback look

Here is a good silk top. The pants are from Alfie (the shape of them is ideal), any flat, wood sole sandal you have will be good here

Altuzarra bag, and could I suggest these sunglasses from Blenders?

Same pants styled with an All Three tank and Prada’s green satin mules (these are still around!). Here, here for sequined shoulder bag (like a baguette in spirit)

Same Alfie pants with Aflalo’s new leather car coat. Frances De Lourdes tank, Emme Parsons sandals

Don’t know if I can call this one a trend, but I’m noticing that I want to swing bags over my shoulder instead of gripping a clutch or top handle-hand-holding and it feels like a fresh and new impulse. This is the bag that launched the observation. It’s so nice styled over an all-black look, a perfect segue to impulse no.2 —

2. Black and brown, styled together, in various textures.

Jennifer Behr headband, All Three dress, By Malene Birger belt, Callas Milano ‘Jules’ pants (they’re back in stock), Manolo Blahnik sandals

Khaite sunglasses, A.L.C. cardigan, Aritzia skort, Soeur sandals, Dries van Noten bag

I have a feeling this one will change once the season settles in, but I crave nothing so much as a muted look that still feels like it was slowly assembled. And because the glow of the sun is so golden these days, you really get a change to witness the textures bouncing off the changing season.

Another angle from last week’s post on what makes a pair of loafers good. (Skims bandeau — this one from Toteme is dressier/feels more like a TOP, Kallmeyer belt, Soeur skirt. Remember The Row’s sequined ascot bag? Here for sub $1k)

Co jacket, Frances de Lourdes pants. J.W. Anderson’s sequined bag alt, one more time

The other subtle piece of this that feels alive is how a thick leather belt sits on lightweight fabric. How it looks styled low on the waist, and holds up the weight of the skirt or dress or pants. Another perfect segue because impulse no.3 is:

3. A belt styled on lightweight low rise pants

Christopher Esber crop top, Ralph Lauren concho belt (a more subtle pass here), Kallmeyer jeans

And K. Jacques sandals. A great reference brand to nail the natural leather/wood sole look. The earrings are Viltier

Actually, there is one more.

4. A tank neckline and boots, cut in various ways

The most relatable of which is with jeans (everyday)

All Three tank, Aflalo jeans, Prada boots (here’s an alt from Lucchese, here’s one from Tecovas)

Three Western boot recommendations here, here and here.

Khaite sunglasses, Marisa Klass necklace, Ysso gold bangle styled as an arm band

or a dress (a little more special) —

Co dress (a poplin alt from Staud), Marsell boots, some amber lenses for you here.

The last thing I have to say here is that this is the best t-shirt —

Blenders sunglasses, a great necklace for you here and these are the earrings.

From Old Navy. Get it while it’s hot, have a great week, and to all who celebrate: a sweet new year.

Leandra