Never not know what to wear again

The simplest base look to carry you through the next 2 months

One formula I have consistently returned to this winter: a monochrome base look of shell-layer turtleneck and pants (usually either in all navy or all black) with a rotating parade of different things over —

Splendid black turtleneck, Aflalo ‘Bradum’ pants (but these could be better for you if you want something even slimmer), Dries van Noten sneakers (also a good colorway), Loulou de Saison bag; in the same spirit here’s a great coat from Dries (or for $695, Staud’s got you with this), and Ray-bans

The pants have, for the most part, been these (sold out) or a variation on them. They are the most versatile shape for the moment given how well they work with heels, sneakers, boots or loafers. I wouldn’t recommend something tapered for this particular uniform but it works with a straight but slighty wider or straighter but skinner fit too. Least not with a pair of jet black jeans. (Ruadh has some good ones coming, and these are wear-tested and good.)

The turtleneck’s already been broken down here. The best blue one for you is this. (I’d recommend the exact one I wear, from Sprwmn, but it doesn’t seem still to be in stock.)

You can obviously do this with a formally coordinating set — I will not deter you, for example, from this lurex combo I injected into this letter of rec. It’s a great set for pilates,

Live footage of me last Friday, shot by the only Pilates teacher in the world

And going out

The set with old Valentino shoes, these new Valentino shoes would be good too.

With a Soeur suede jacket (this seems like the obvious alt), Rafael Sanchez bag from Etsy (Poshmark and eBay are serving), Rouje sandals (these for a tighter toe)

And hanging out too.

This is the jacket; see also this, this, this. Plus a Rue de Verneuil tote and The Row flats

Sneakers and another “freaky” coat in this one

But for the purpose of this exercise, just know, you probably don’t need anything new to nail the base. It’s as simple as black or navy pants and a matching, probably machine-washable t-neck.

The rotating parade

Bode coat (with alts for you here and here), Khaite bag, Christopher Esber sunglasses (if Prada! Loewe! Bottega! Miu Miu! are an indication of much, our sheer lenses era is here; the range from Yes Glasses is actually good — my friend Ashley wears them consistently) plus a pinky ring (the square Greek key) I made!

The parade of different things has included jackets, dusters (so many dusters; we are entering our decorative long coat era and this is why I don’t recommend too wide a leg — the shapes compete with each other), sweaters, varying pieces of jewelry and a lot of different shoes. The spirit of a look can change so much by simple virtue of its shoe pairing.

The looks

Now that you have the above information, here is a visual shortlist employing the navy and black base layers, broken down by color and starting with a couple of knits over the classic black combo. First, there is the poncho:

Maragua Studio poncho (I love this for an alt, on sale from By Malene Birger), Khaite boots, Ray-ban sunglasses, Jujuvera necklace and the Callas pants/Splendid t-neck. The white labels could be a great alt

Same same here, but inserted bc this is a subtle expression of what a shoe can do for the outfit. Went from playful and sleek to tough and cool in two zip-downs and pull-ups. Cowboy boots from Bottega (these are a good shape comp, which if you’re a 38 can be yours for $380; love the shape of these for a taller fit), lightened up with a silver minaudiere (hard shell clutch) (there’s a Juju vibe about this one)

Then here is a sweater jacket —

Madeleine Thompson sweater jacket (I’m so hot on this one too) styled with a not-turtleneck in the form of Aflalo’s ribbed v-neck and pants; the sandals are Khaite (these are metallic, but can serve same purpose, and the shape is so good) and the sache around my neck is from a great young brand I told you about a few weeks ago, Emote.

On to alterative shirts, there are multiple ways to do this in varying fabrics. Poplin is the most obvious one, so if you are after a more unexpected look, I’d recommend a flannel plaid like the below (either on your person, or wrapped around your waist) —

Tory Burch sunglasses, Sessei plaid shirt, Chloe clogs, Khaite bag

And a Jujuvera collar/cuff (she and she and she are pretty too) styled with Le Sundial’s red beaded ‘Opera’ necklace

You can alternatively wrap the plaid shirt around your waist (this one’s also Sessei; the Greek key ring and wood bracelet are still from my collab with Audry Rose; then a budget comp for the choker is here or I might actually get this one!, and the fish comb (fish comb!!!) is from Blooming Dreamer, but this is the choice of the moment

Or something silk, which you’ll see represented when we get to the navy base.

The next three looks represent what a shawl can bring to the look, starting with one I borrowed from my friend Tal a few months ago. There is an old Celine energy about it that is hard to deny —

An alternative to this shawl (which is huge), could be this one. Or she is expensive, but beautiful. It’s styled with the Aflalo pants that are linked at the top (the next two maintain the same base layers). This turtleneck is the Frances de Lourdes one. The moccasins are Chanel, if you can figure out your size in these, would def recommend (my friend/Pilates teacher has and wears them). The sunglasses are Ray-ban.

Same uniform with two gold necklaces, one of which is from my family’s jewelry brand!, a frilly-trim shawl (if you have not gone for Toteme’s, I still recommend it; it’s big enough to cover your shoulders and so nice over a brown or beige coat). Linking more Yesglasses here.

Toteme’s scarf is a bit more substantial than the one styled here, from Emote. But this one works for a more subtle expression, with the Shtor x Cenci horn necklace (a smaller horn pendant you might like) and the watch equivalent of an eclectic cuff

Shoe boots from Shiloh Heritage; I like these too.

Finally, here we are getting weird in a white taffeta trench coat (Kallmeyer and on sale in black!; overall, the vibe is Prada) and a sheer tunic (Aflalo) styled over the uniform with another Sundial necklace, Emme Parsons loafers and Ray-bans

Welcome to the transition to navy!!! Starting where we finished off with another coat:

Important look because over this uniform, you can fully play with stylistic contrast as opposed to actual thing contrast to shake shit up; cue the rich tailored coat (and our alts here, here and this one is not leopard, but would similarly be an outfit maker; this one also does exist), with the relaxed suede Ugg-style booties/round frame sunglasses

Here’s a distant, but possibly more relevant alt for the jacket (also Bode), Jujuvera choker (I do like this an alt for the choker). The boots are Pierre Hardy from 5723567 years ago. Bet you didn’t know I was alive 5723567 years ago, let alone that I was wearing chelsea boots (here is a pair from Proenza Schouler for 60% off, these Isabel Marants are good too)

If you want to keep it real simple and not bother with a jacket or a shirt or a shawl over, but still want to have something kind of dynamic going on, you can also always wear your sweater as if it were a shawl tied over your shoulders. I clip mine with a brooch to bring some hardware to the look —

Eliou ear cuff, vintage Cocteau fish pin connecting sweater sleeves over shoulder, black wrap watch and LAB GROWN DIAMOND RINGS!!!

For the rest of the look: Callas’ ‘Jules’ pants (try these from Me + Em, I have them in black and wear them a lot, or if you’re down to try suede, these are def the right shape; I wouldn’t dismiss these for an olive take either), a Sprwmn navy turtleneck and Sezane black patent leather platforms. The sheer socks def make this more evening apropos.

Now this one is a bit of a doozy with a silk shirt that is layered over the turtleneck (and another shirt that has shoulder pads in it to give my upper body more structure) and a capelet layered over the silk shirt:

It’s also an example of what a difference a shoe can make:

This is shoulder pad shirt (Norma Kamali) that’s under the turtleneck to give it (me) more shape, with a silk shirt layered over (try this one? Or on the even more luxurious end, this), and the silk capelet. Prada shoes (this version is all over the second hand internet), Rafael Sanchez bag (hero of last week’s Letter of Rec!; the prices are up, but just found this cutie)

This should be where I leave you, but it’s not because it occurred to me that the bonus of trying something all white does exist. Here it is:

Margaret ‘Opera’ coat, Madeleine Thompson turtleneck, ‘Gala’ pants (think these are the right bet), Emme Parsons loafers, Ray-ban sunglasses, Indress feather brooch

And one more for the cheap seats in the back with the crazy Ajax mountain sunglasses (more subtle, kind of; this is a thing that is going to happen). Styled with a Splendid turtleneck, Bobkova black blazer (she is navy, but makes a good case for blazer-as-top), Valentino pants and Dries van Noten sneakers (ever since I saw that woman wearing her sneaker laces untied in the freaky coat report, I do the same thing).

Have a great week,

Leandra