a winter dressing manifesto,
by a silhouette addict.
No dressing guide has ever been as redundant as this one.
Dressing at home should serve the sole purpose of being cozy, stretchy, and warm, nothing else should be on your mind while lying on the couch watching the sunset at 4 p.m.
That’s what I’ve been doing for the last few years at least. Wearing the most worn-out cotton pieces, washed-off colours, pieces with that tiny cotton pilling that weirdly adds more of a nostalgic than messy feel to it (extra points if that’s your bedsheets as well).
But I’ve grown up. I work from home and I love my home.
Doesn’t my home deserve a tiny bit of that glam I keep secretly covered in my closet?
During those few seconds my living room gets to see me all dressed up in my favourite coat, boots, and pants, I must be barely recognisable to it.
Is this the girl that wore joggers and a vintage sweat for the last week straight?
Yes, I am.
And I am tired of it. We all deserve to feel constantly like ourselves and I’m not saying cozy-us is not us, I’m just saying cozy-us has gotten a bit too dominant in this balancing act.
I will not question anyone’s capacity to find the perfect home-fit. One more guide on that cozy jogger duo set in a cashmere/silk mix and I’ll throw up. But I do question how far we are willing to go for that fit that no one will ever see. That island home fit no one will ever know existed. A painful yet rewarding journey.
I took on the responsibility of thinking about this, my first step back into civilisation after the dawn of men (imagine the bone throw moment cutting to the orbiting spacecraft in 2001: A Space Odyssey here).
Option 1: Do what you like the most
I am wearing a navy sweater, psychedelic Prada t-shirt with cashmere shorts and a bag belt used as a belt, actually wanted a wider one like this. I am not yet over peep toes and discovered metallics again, these ones will be a forever classic or plot twist these here, because they look like I could sleep with them! I am wearing a
At first, I go with some cashmere shorts. Yes, they are capable of carrying a belt, yes, they keep you warm, and yes, they transform you from a lazy couch potato to a stylistically intricate hobbit lost in the city.
Undeniably, the Prada effect got us (you should watch my YouTube video about this!), because how else can a psychedelic flower tie-dye T-shirt used as an undershirt make sense here?
I just love a good surprise. In fact, I think the whole design and art world should solely focus on good surprises, that’s what it’s all about. I can imagine what your artisans look like, but I can’t imagine a good look!
Option 2: Be a bit delusional, yet hopeful
The white cotton Leset long sleeve and t-shirt, that I got separately, but apparently there is a set for it (smart people), go for this if you think you’re better than us, Lisa Yang cashmere shorts, I think the best cashmere short fit I tried on yet (not too tight, A-shape, elastic, but structured) and a turqouise Polo sweater that only made it to the photo because of its colour (I am stylist!!) and stayed for the cozy vibes. It’s incredibly soft, do I need to get into the Polo-verse?
Let’s calm down a little bit and have a more realistic outlook on our future ambitions.
If you’ve read my article about the relevance of raglan shirts, you might also have watched my Patreon video about HOW TO STYLE your daily looks. One thing I passionately talked about there was layering basics. This is its own art form and has pretty much turned into a trend now. But obviously, you are a professional and layer pieces yourself and don’t buy the pre styled ones, ew.
One thing I see very rarely is the monochrome interpretation of the T-shirt-over-long-arm skate-core look. I love it in white, black works well too. I’m not too sure about seeing this in colours, but you are wild, young, and free, go for it.
These Leset pieces are my current must haves. I am obsessed with T-shirts under anything, and longsleeves now as well.
And since you decided to go incredibly wild with a monochromatic shirt over shirt look, what about dropping down that sweater and turn your short situation into something with silhouette. No, it doesn’t hold long, but we are here for the moment, dream a little bit.
That turquoise colour of the sweatshirt got me, I am writing another article on that specific colour and I am once again proven right, name a happier and more beautiful colour (that one orange/red mix colour doesn't count, its my second fav).
Option 3: You really came this far huh
Wearing a Proenza Schouler sweater, another more relaxed alternative here, vintage dkny skirt, but I really like this and this one here too. Shoes are old Balenciaga with tiny kitten heels, these work well too and I only hear good things about these, maybe worth a try. If you’d ask me what I would have styled this look with if i’d be princess Tuba, I would have loved to wear the Nina Christen wedge instead.
One thing that saves you, when lost in the depths of winter homewear options, is that tiny detail called silhouette. In a fight between colour, texture, and silhouette, I will always be on team S. Silhouette is the greatest invention of optical illusion after the Müller-Lyer illusion. The fact that the whole world has not yet adapted to this magnificent weakness in our eyes’ skill set can work to our benefit.
Make those shoulders wider. Grow that arm perpetually voluminous and build up the perfect triangle shape for your upper body. Swimmers and Victorians would be proud of you. Your waist is gone.
And there you stand with shoulders, your posture straight, ready to knock off anyone at your next metro stop.
I am probably the only person in the world who was sad about Jack and Lazaro leaving Proenza. They built everything completely by themselves. I spoke with Julie Gilhart one day, and she told me how she remembers these two stopping by Barneys one day, not yet fully graduated, and showing her their first few pieces.
She said it was clear to her in that moment that these kids would make it.
I know we crave constant dopamine driven surprises (me) on the runways, but Proenza Schouler was one of those brands that offered a high level of consistent satisfaction, in both quality and design.
A survival brand for people who cared about textures and, especially, fits.
I think Rachel Scott starting at Proenza is one of the best pieces of news in the whole creative-directors-changing-chairs game plus Meryll Rogge at Marni, so I am not at all concerned about the future of Proenza. But the kids are now at Loewe, and as much as I liked their debut, we will need to look carefully at how the development evolves and how they grow out of the JW infused multiverse of Loewe.
Fashion will always have only one function: to serve us and make us happier.
Nobody needs fashion, but it isn’t frivolity either. We have all experienced the impact of certain clothes on ourselves at one point and should never forget that it is we who can create these moments at any time. In short, forget about your cozy sweaters for a second and come up with a better cozy idea that represents you in the best way.
xoxo
the looks & alternatives
