Letter of Rec #104: The bathing suit that's also a leotard

Plus: what does it take for fashion to feel alive?

A topic that seems never to get old is how to pack for some time away. You could be going on a work trip, or for vacation or temporarily relocating.

I packed a bag the size of a large L.L. Bean tote when I left the city at the end of June (won’t go back until early Aug) and stuffed it with:

Doen plaid shirt, H&M cargo shorts (an alt from same place, or from Uniqlo, I really like these), Valentino sandals

bathing suits, sarongs, halter tops, balloon pants, some surfs shorts, security blanket items like long sleeve button downs and elastic-waist shorts plus a few wrenches for good measure: this skirt, Emi, the croc ‘suit.

Some say I’m a masochist for actively pursuing the challenge of a tiny capsule but there’s something satisfying about stretching a small number of things to see how far they will go. I actually think it’s another reminder, from deep within a life that is full of STUFF, that you (I) really don’t need most of it. Every time I reconnect to this absolute truth, I am reminded that it’s the only reason I can even have it. If that makes sense.

But anyway, the most unlikely heroes of the bag have been sarongs which I’ve been wearing as skirts and headwraps and tops and peplums (more on this next wk), and this subtle leopard print bathing suit that I ordered from MyTheresa right before I left.

She’s styled here with Aflalo pants (inside out), Havaianas, a Marisa Klass necklace and Ray-bans (but do you know this brand? I just ordered these, am also hot on these)

I assumed I’d wear it in contexts beyond the beach because the high neck lends itself to more formal conjurings but didn’t expect it would become a one-and-done base layer for almost any occasion. I’ve worn it to hot yoga at least three times.

Exactly like this (Caro Luna shorts — but why not get a little freaky?). In case you’ve been in my class any of the 3 times!!!

Have styled it with a button down and surf shorts for the beach.

Versace shirt (comes like this too, and do one of us need this skirt?), Venroy shorts (here r Staud’s), the Tory suit is still avail.

For the photo: thank you Madeline Cohen! Tom Ford’s Speedo is styled here with: the world’s greatest button down shirt (Matteau; the solid black is same shape), zip-up neoprene shorts (Miu Miu/TRR; maybe these in their place; for a lower rise, love these; may also get after these?), Emi clogs (primo alt)

Or to get dinner in town.

It’s better with nothing over it in my opinion though. Except maybe a necklace —

It’s a good time to be a Speedo. Styled with Belle the Label shorts (these as alt) and The Row sandals (these as alt)

It’s also been out to dinner with balloon pants.

The belt was ambitious, I’d just returned from a run and the athletic confidence got the best of me. If you’re after another leopard print swimsuit, might I suggest this.

She wraps nicely around the arm too. Earrings r here

and right now, in fact, I’m free-balling it. Sitting at my computer from the deck at my parents’, writing this while I watch my daughter Laura dance around inside of a butterfly-shaped pool float (not in the pool).

I like this suit because it touches the original bathing suits-are-the-new top post of the season, which focused on athletic style suits. The racerback broadens my narrow shoulders and the open bottom makes me look ready to poooorrrrty. If I were in the city, or had proper trousers here, I’d definitely try it the Auralee way too—

We’ll keep an eye on the foam base flip flops

All of which is to say: welcome to recommendation #1! Not necessarily the suit in question, but if you haven’t considered a Speedo just yet, it might be high time.

A few more good things from around the web, including with two brands I’ve recently encountered: Okinuri and Trois the Label, some good summer from Moda and a sliver of the early fall spoils that are trickling in. I’m so hot on new Khaite. No one does shoes like Trevor Houston.

Khaite’s ‘Aimee’ sandals in brown suede and cherry pony hair, a close up of the new Clive, the only shoe I care about getting to know this fall, and a pair of wedge mules (also like them in white) akin to the pair I got about a month ago, with a heel comfortable enough to walk 20 blocks. There’s a studded version too.

Trois the Label sheer dress. Feel like she can be whisked away, into any season, any suitcase, p much any setting. It’s dying for some colored under things, no? A fuller length look at Khaite’s Clive, Ben-Amun butterfly pendant and the aforementioned Okinuri headwrap, styled as a top and then in pink, as a headwrap

WALKING HEAD FIRST INTO THE SOUTHWEST with: these earrings, this collar, and take your pick (Aureum, Polo, Valentino — Etsy!) on belt.

Last thing: Have you been watching the men’s shows? The two big headliners were Celine and Dior, with their new creative directors (Michael Rider, who formerly worked with Phoebe Philo at Celine and Jonathan Anderson, who launched clothing for Loewe prior to taking this role), but some of the other sticky shows included Dries (sarongs over pants) and Auralee.

Michael Rider’s Celine

Michael Rider’s Celine

The week got me thinking about what it takes for fashion to feel alive. My conclusion is that it has to project a sort of freedom — and that this freedom depends on how participatory clothes can seem. To make clothes that feel participatory you have to be generating new ideas that open the minds of those who are witnessing them.

Auralee (and as easy one to get right now)

Auralee

Once your mind is open, for example, to the possibility that a classic Bar jacket (fluted like an upside down coup) not just could but should be styled with utilitarian pants (in the case of Dior, they’re cropped balloon cargos) —

the second-order impulse to take to your own closet and reinvent items that are already in there can produce enough confidence within you to make you feel like you are part of something, you know?

At the end of the day this is all we ever want, is to feel connected to the worlds that inspire us. A good designer sets the groundwork that helps each of us become the good stylists who can do this.

That’s it from me for a little bit! Hope your summer is going well,

Leandra