Hello my dearest readers, thank you from the bottom of my heart and the depths of my soul for reading! In this week’s newsletter, I break down getting dressed to work from home, share some of my recent fashion discoveries, and give my latest watching/reading/shopping recommendations. If you missed last week’s newsletter about getting dressed for a first date you can read it here.
Outfit Formula: Working From Home
I’ve been working from home every single day for 82 days now, (but who’s counting!?) and by day 4 it was abundantly clear that getting dressed in actual clothes is essential to my productivity. Conceptually speaking, I understand how one could accomplish tasks in pajamas. I know that there are no shackles attached to my cheetah print nightgown holding my fingers just out of reach of my keyboard, no adhesive on the bottom of my sweatpants gluing my butt to my couch, but so long as I have them on I will behave as if I’m performing the role of a sloth in a broadway production, an exaggerated-to-the-point-of-being-comical sloth. So, yes, I need to get dressed. Every single day. But putting on jeans or “work pants” or even a shirt that touches me too much feels slightly sociopathic given the circumstances. A good working from home outfit strikes the perfect balance of comfortable but not too comfortable, casual but not too casual, and creatively stimulating enough to get me out of bed in the morning. At the ripe old age of day 82 at home, I think I’ve finally cracked the code. Gather round children, I am about to impart some serious wisdom upon you.
Though you could obviously wear whatever the hell you want in the comfort in your own home, I’ve found the types of outfits that maximize my productivity and style (and minimize my habit of changing clothes 32 times just because I don’t have anywhere to be) come down to just a few components that can be infallibly combined in millions of ways. Don’t check my math on that.
Tops:
The key with these three top options is that they qualify as being “dressed” more than your sloppy sleep t-shirt, but when you get the fit right, they’re almost as comfortable. If you know me even a little bit, you know I live in striped t-shirts, so they obviously had to be on this list. They just look so crisp and fresh, and I will stand by my previous statements that they go with literally everything. A breezy printed button down is a slight step up from the striped t-shirt while still having the same laidback vibes as a grandpa on vacation (AKA my style icon). The third option should be a fun wild card to keep in your back pocket for when you need the outfit equivalent of an espresso shot, but it can be just as functional as the other two.
Bottoms:
Since the tyranny of real pants is absolutely not allowed in my very professional home office, these are my comfortable yet put-together substitutes. They’re really bringing the casual/comfortable side of this equation, an essential for hanging out at home all day. I don’t think I need to explain the inclusion of leggings on this list, although I do find non-black ones make more of a style statement in my personal rotation. With the rise of athleisure and the decline of any actual professional setting, tennis skirts are the new pencil skirts. They supply all the comfort of athletic shorts with a sassy twist, perfect for flirting with your imaginary coworkers! Boxer style shorts (emphasis on style: they should not have a hole for you to pee out of) are perfect for playing with the proportions of your top halves and getting a little breeze on your lower half.
Extras:
Spoiler alert: I end up including colorful jewelry every single day, and I highly recommend it. I find it can bring the most disparate outfit elements together seamlessly. I am constantly shivering in any air conditioned space, so the cardigan keeps me toasty while toning down the sportswear vibes of some of the other components. Last but not least, bandanas are the easiest way to sneak another print into your look. I might be the only person actively trying to accomplish that, but whatever. You can wear them on your neck, in your hair, around your arm, or as a mask if you have the great pleasure of interacting with another human being.
Sorry to bring up traumatic times, but think of this like an ACT question. 1 top + 1 bottom + 1-3 accessories = X fun outfits. Answer: X = INFINITE fun outfits. Not to mention shoes! (Some might deem shoes unnecessary for working at home but toe freedom is really distracting for me and shoes are freaking fun, okay.)
Here’s a fun gif to demonstrate!
And here’s some examples of my own outfits using this formula. You could use this as a capsule wardrobe of sorts with just one of each item, but I am forever a maximalist at heart, so I have a couple iterations of each one that I keep in the mix.
Have you been working from home? Are you still getting dressed? What are you wearing? Whatever it is, tell me about it or send me a picture (bonus points if you try out my formula). Seriously, please, I’m so starved for human interaction. We could even pretend to be coworkers on a Zoom meeting if you want! Can you tell I’m an extrovert? (This may or may not be a cry for help.)
Fashion Explorations
In my efforts to break up with fast fashion (I love you Zara, but we just don’t want the same things anymore...), I have been voraciously stalking Instagram to discover new independent brands to support instead. During one such stalking session I stumbled upon Avail, a new fashion app based in Antwerp. Avail is populated with products from an excellent curation of up and coming, values-driven fashion brands as well as photos and selections from the app’s incredibly chic users. Seriously, every single post I’ve seen thus far has been Danish it girl level inspiration.
A second gold mine of sartorial delights that I feel is especially important to share is the list of Black-owned brands put together by Elizabeth Tamkin. (I highly recommend giving her a follow on Instagram.) The crowd-sourced list of over 600 businesses is organized by category and includes recommendations from Elizabeth for many of the brands, and it is an absolute joy to browse. There are lots and lots of different ways to show support to the Black community and this is in no way a substitute for other forms of education and solidarity, but economic stimulation is incredibly important given the disparity Black businesses face when it comes to funding. It’s also a great reminder of how much creativity, talent, and variety is out there if you’re willing to step out of your own little bubble. I‘m buying this top, but there are so so many goods left to be uncovered.
Recommendations of the Week
Binge watch The Great - This historical drama/comedy about Catherine the Great starring Elle Fanning is available to stream on Hulu, and it is FABULOUS!
Follow @racquetmag on Instagram - You don’t have to be into tennis to get inspired by the vintage tennis photos they share. This may or may not be where my recent tennis skirt obsession started.
Read this Man Repeller article - I, too, wanted to dress like Michael Jordan after watching The Last Dance, and I will definitely be rewatching the entire thing and taking detailed notes for style inspiration come fall.
Treat yourself to a pair of socks from Comme Si. Yes, I know they’re annoyingly expensive for socks, but as I type this my feet are swaddled in Italian luxury that I can’t possibly keep to myself.
Should I buy this?
Mom, Dad, Wells Fargo, just skip on past this part. I don’t want your input on the subject.
1. A top for picnicking 2. The most adorable mini duffle purse 3. A romper for the pool and probably everywhere else 4. A vest to achieve my Michael Jordan style goals 5. Chunky black sandals reminiscent of my Chanel dreams 6. A sweater t-shirt that I need for the buttons alone 7. A plastic ring that my father will certainly hate.
See you next week!
Thanks again for reading! Let me know what you think of this week’s newsletter by commenting on this post or replying to this email. Like I said earlier, I need the human interaction. Don’t forget to submit your questions for Q&A! Maybe you don’t know what to wear for a socially distanced birthday party? Or you need help getting ready for a cat wedding? I’m here for you. And as always, if you enjoyed this newsletter, please share and subscribe. Ok, thanks, ily, byeeeeeeee!
Amazing !! Buying some striped shirts ASAP to channel some Maddy Paul this month. 🤩
Love the gif! And especially the printed button downs.