Outfit ideas for limbo weather

24 of them as we enter the second best time of year to get dressed

You know what I realized last week is that there are only like 4-5 months a year when getting dressed feels genuinely fresh — like when it invokes the kind of broad energy that has even those who don’t think about what to wear, thinking about what to wear.

For the more obsessive among us, the outfits that usually sprout from this sprint can be classified as “fashion outfits” — looks that make limited practical sense (think bare legs with a turtleneck, socks and sandals, a tank top with wool pants) but feel great on.

Skall Studios turtleneck (the color is the main thing - try this), Ciao Lucia shorts, white socks, Church’s fishermans

We’re at the premature beginning of one of these cycles and maybe because I have had it with winter clothes, I am pushing its agenda forward early.

Massimo Dutti jacket, Gimaguas dress, blue socks, Adidas/Wales Bonner sneakers

I like this dress too; Delarge sunglasses

The season usually starts around mid-April when the days have been bright and long for a sturdy enough period of time that you’ve settled into a new rhythm on your own terms, one that compels you to from your comfort zone, if only for a moment — that has you thinking, “Maybe there’s more out there than just wearing black.”

But you’re feeling more social than you have been feeling, and therefore seeing more people, maybe by chance maybe on purpose but more thought goes into what you’re wearing because the spectator sport-like nature of getting dressed is coming back online.

Loulou Studio top, Massimo Dutti pants, The Row moccasins (saw these from Prada last week in Paris too, and these from La Botte Gardiane are great)

You sniff out the game and it inspires you, then do the same for someone else, you know?

This sense of fresh thrill getting dressed usually lasts until around the end of June, when the summer slow down sets in. It is around this time that you’ve become well acquainted with the uniform template most appealing to you for the season, and reinventing the wheel with ambitious jackets and shoes or simply changing it up on a more frequent basis doesn’t appeal to you with the same fervor.

The in-between pj pants and sheer cotton tanks are more than enough to now carry you through.

In-between dressing

The other time of year when this happens starts in early September. It usually lasts until about Christmas, with the holiday season as the sort of dressing bravura that ends it with all the parties. Even though holiday dressing season is a season unto itself — the bridge between romantic autumnal hues of green corduroy and burnt orange silk, and the melancholy of knits you will want to burn in no time — it still serves as a sort of peacocking farewell before you formally retreat into your cave and hibernation begins.

How do you peel yourself out of the cave? The liminal limbo between then and tomorrow, that time when you’re not in the cave or yet-fully-out is awkward as hell. What do you wear?

I probably sound like a broken record by now but I keep thinking how getting dressed can feel a bit like method acting. How even though it won’t actually get you out of the cave to wear a pair of Hawaiian print cycling shorts, it could be one of the ways you help yourself take the first step with more enthusiasm.

Khaite suede top (or try this), G. Label by Goop sleeveless polo, Gimaguas shorts, Tod’s loafers

That’s a shoelace-as-ankle cuff from a pair of Keen sneakers

It won’t change your life, it might not even change your day, but it feels good to feel good, and if you can swing the warm fuzz without taking much risk, by simply committing to enjoying the process of putting on your clothes, there’s no harm in trying.

Some outfit ideas for limbo.

Bode jacket (here’s a cropped one from Khaite on Vestiaire), Caro Editions dress and pants, Grenson shoes, sunglasses here

Bode suede fringe jacket and sweatshirt, Splendid turtleneck, Citizens of Humanity jeans, Emme Parsons loafers

Emme Parsons loafers, Leset pants, Venstore sweater (try this)

Venstore sweater, Skall Studios khaki jacket (try the longer version), Soeur khaki pants (a sample we made for our phase 2 collab which never went into production — but the collab launches later this week!), Margiela cap (good alt, esp for summer), Chanel open toe brogues

Margiela cap, St. Agni tank, Pure Cashmere NYC skirt (this one’s more apropos for the summer), Grenson sandals, Illesteva sunglasses

As a recap (get it?), this one gets the job done.

LMND top, Liberowe jacket, Soeur pants, The Row moccasins

The Row moccasins, Sir crochet dress, By Malene Birger quilted coat and sunglasses

Sir crochet dress (mine’s a size 1), Toteme pants, Miu Miu shoes and I’ve been using a silver clutch a lot

Miu Miu shoes, Alexandra Golovanoff t-shirt, Splits 59 leggings, Loulou Studio coat (this might be the hero of limbo season because of the surprise and delight shoulder pads), The Row ‘Penelope’ hat

Those two silver rings are kissing fish! They’re from a great young brand called Alaire. The thing around my neck is a shoelace

A.M.G. dress

The Row mocs, Tory Burch coat, Teira 1996 t-shirt, By Malene Birger pants, Delvaux bag

Delvaux bag, Kule ‘Wynn’ tee, Splits 59 leggings (they almost sold out but the two next best options are these from Leset and these from Donni), Christian Louboutin loafers, old Celine trench (try this for $345 from Caron Callahan; A.P.C’s may work too)

Christian Louboutin loafers, Wardrobe.nyc blazer, brooch from this Etsy shop, By Malene Birger button down, Kule tee again, Eve Denim capri jeans

Eve Denim capri pants, Manolo Blahnik ballet flats (these are less structured on the foot), Caro Editions dress, vintage Chanel jacket - here’s an option. To wear with a silver sequined cap! Eh?

Toteme leather coat (but I think I prefer this from Massimo Dutti), charcoal grey knit (or more fitted here) and grey leggings (shopped out for a slightly better Miu Miu Fall 23 effect), Repetto ballet shoes, Delarge sunglasses

Repetto flats, Matteau striped shirt, a navy field jacket here and Beyond Yoga grey bike shorts. This bag from Savette is the same shape

Matteau striped shirt, Tory Burch gold coat, Nue Studio skirt, Gucci sandals

Tory Burch coat, Lisa Yang dress, High Sport red pants (which seem mostly sold out; can I interest you in some Spanx?), The Row sock shoes (try these)

High Sport pants, Ciao Lucia dress, Gucci slingbacks

What a trip. Thanks for coming! Market assistance from Charlie Rosen