I’m really very curious about this: are you wearing what you wore a year ago today? Or have you made the transition from soft, indoor clothes to hard, outdoor ones? I’m sort of stuck in the middle: I want to be both insanely comfortable and reasonably well put-together most of the time, which is a tricky trick—made trickier by the fact that we’re in peak transitional wardrobe season— and I’m not sure I pull it off. But it’s also (by design) a look that’s pretty hard to screw up. Most mornings the first thing I head for are some Nili Lotan Paris pants (I don’t own this particular hue, but I do covet it). I know they’re drop-crotch and that that might be a bridge too far for many of you, but when I was wearing them recently, somebody told me that I had succeeded in making drop crotch pants look cool. Which is silly, of course, because it’s the pants were are doing all the work.
I’m pairing those trousers with a crisp poplin button down like this one most days.
On cool mornings and evenings, I throw on my trusty army jacket and go.
And I’m still clomping around in clogs. At this point, I think I will be forever.
I really prefer D-ring webbed belts these days to leather ones, because they’re less bulky, and often provide a welcome hit of color. OK, that’s my uniform of the moment. What’s yours?
I have to admit I’m not in a great place, attire-wise. For work days, now that it’s getting cold, I wear plain, dark pajama pants, often from the men’s department because I want them plain and dark, not pastel knits/plaid/critters. Decent t-shirt/tank top, one of a few very old cashmere cardigans that I probably wouldn’t wear to the office, so I don’t feel precious about. Always earrings and a bra. I completely change clothes if I’m going out to see someone, maybe even for errands. I find it helpful to hear what others are up to!
I have recently lost weight for two reasons: First, I have a new puppy who requires lots of walks and I’m consistently getting in 10,000 steps a day. Secondly, I quit drinking alcohol a couple of months ago after struggling with it for many years. Voila! All my jeans fit comfortably! I’m so thrilled, I can’t even tell you. So, my uniform when I go out to lunch or something (I’m retired) is jeans, a black t-shirt and a pair of Jenni Kayne sandals or mules (I splurged on 3 pairs of Jenni Kayne shoes over the summer). When the weather gets cooler, I have the world’s largest collection of olive green parkas, so I’ll add one of them. I’m having fun shopping my own closet.
My go-to fall look right now is the Nili Lotan East Hampton pant (sized up for a looser fit), a collarless cotton blouse, skinny dark belt, and Ann Mashburn buckle shoe. I like the mix of polished and relaxed right now. The pic above is my style goal. I have an old pea coat that I just had the gold button changed out to navy so I can wear this fall.
I’ve worked from home for the last 15 years and have ONE unbreakable rule – wear buttons and zippers. Pandemic, schmandemic. I’m in real clothes everyday. I put on makeup and do my hair nearly 99% of the work week. I owe it to myself and those around me (husband, kids, coworkers and clients). I love makeup, I love fashion. I look better, I feel better. Today, I’m wearing a black fitted turtleneck, black jeans and statement belt. No shoes though – that’s where I do draw the sartorial line.
Same…and I have only WFH the last 18 mos but I learned quickly that wearing leggings day in and day out would do me no favors in the long run.
So glad to hear this, Francine. I wfh and don’t even have many Zoom meetings, but psychologically I feel I need to present outwardly as put-together and professional. So always some makeup and usually black pants or JCrew jeans, earrings, and today a linen Cos top and long, lightweight cardigan from Banana Republic.
I’ve had to (No, seriously. “Had to” because of a 45 lb weight loss.) buy a lot of new clothes because nothing fit right anymore. The upside of being tall is that you can gain a lot of weight, still fit into your clothes, and not everyone can tell. However, the downside of being tall is that you can lose a lot of weight, still fit into your clothes, and not everyone can tell. I KNOW it’s not an acceptable thing anymore to mention a woman’s body/weight gain/loss/etc., but DAMN!!! I’ve worked hard for this and I’d love for someone to say, “Hey! You look great, Val!” (We firstborns require constant adulation and validation. 😉 ) So, I’ve promised myself that I’d buy a pair of Nili Lotan pants as a reward. I even tried a pair on in-store the other day (!!!) and I was able to actually fit into them. I screamed in the dressing room, I was so excited. My uniform right now is a striped mariniere tee, a big cardi, sweats or leggings at home and skinny jeans out in public, worn with my Birkenstock Boston clogs or Converse. Pardon me for going off on a tangent.
That is so great and so true about being tall. It has been the case for me.
I don’t even need to see you to know this: “Hey! You look great, Val!” Rock those Nili Lotans, job well done. 🙂
Congratulations, Val! I suspect that you have great style. You clearly seem to enjoy fashion… And you are TALL! Enjoy your new wardrobe!😍
Another tall girl here. Go You! You are right about not commenting on the appearance of others. My Gen Z niece liked a dress I had on last week and I could see her wheels turning trying to articulate a compliment without it being a comment on appearance. Anyway, hey you look great!!!
Great news on having the body you want. THAT is totally acceptable. So is lots of new clothes.
Wow, I feel you. A couple of years ago I lost 19 pounds over the course of about 4 months and NO ONE, I mean NO ONE noticed. I’m 5’8″ so I get it that maybe it didn’t make a HUG difference but still. Not my friends, my daughters, my husband. I was so depressed about it that I gave up & gained it all back. (I’m the youngest so I crave attention)
I think we are on to something…I recently lost 10 lbs and no one has noticed. Not sisters, neighbors, no one! How can you lose 20 and 45 lbs and no one notices. It is weird. I’m not attention seeking I lost weight for health reasons, but I did expect someone to notice.
It’s just awkward to comment on weight loss (not supposed to)… did no one even just say you look great??
My mom! (Of course, she wouldn’t have been concerned about being PC. It would’ve been couched in passive/aggressive language such as, “I’m so happy that you lost weight for your health, because you look so much better!” 😉 )
Same. As long as I’m working from home, I really struggle with getting dressed, like AT ALL. Embarrassing, but most days I wear the same lounge pants and long sleeved tee that I slept in the night before. If I have a zoom meeting, I’ll pull a light sweater over the tee.
Oops, nesting fail – this was supposed to be a reply to Stephanie’s comment below!
I’m in between in all ways. Back to teaching in-person but most meetings are on Zoom. So I’m dressing up on teaching days — tho not as much as I used to — and sticking to ballet flats or flat boots instead of heels. On non-teaching days I’m in jeans or whatever I’m going to wear later that day to work out in. Between Covid pooch and menopause my body shape has really changed in the last 18 months. One thing I found amusing is that I have gone through a ton of makeup and hair products in the last year – I found that unless I really did full-on makeup and actually styled my hair, I looked like shit on Zoom.
As a faculty who only is f2f 3 days a week for teaching, I relate! I also wore more makeup on zoom, especially lipstick! Still need better lighting for those long faculty meeting.
Still struggling not to wear jeans when teaching, especially after tenure as a Women’s Studies faculty.
Yay congrats on tenure!!! Such an achievement. I’m actually teaching Feminist Art History (first time it’s been taught at my uni) and both I and the students are loving it.
BIG congratulations on tenure!
RE: Hair (me too). I used to think my messy, wavy lob was cute. Video calls taught me it is very NOT cute.
Oh crap! Not cute???
I relate to this! My hair on zoom—ugh no I have to pull it back or I look like something the wind just swept in. Or like a tired person who just gave up. The French model Caroline de Maigret says in her hilarious and wry book HOW TO BE PARISIAN WHEREVER YOU ARE that the older one gets and the messier one’s face gets as a result, the neater your hair should be to balance it out. Whenever I get my hair done and it is more polished and less frizzy as a result, I see how true this is, at least for me. But I cannot replicate the results at home. No patience, no skillz.
I’ve been a retired RN for ten years. I wore scrubs at work so I didn’t change the way I dressed when I quit working. I didn’t change how I dressed at home during the pandemic. Today I am wearing Eileen Fisher’s slim ankle pant, a loose blouse by ace & jig, and sandals by Finn Comfort. When I venture out, which isn’t often these days, thanks to the Delta variant, I prefer to wear dresses–my current favorites are by ace & jig, anthropologie+ and a new-to-me company based here in Los Angeles, Christy Dawn. And a couple of sleeveless t-shirt dresses from Target, of course. We still have summer weather here in southern California.
As for the “drop crotch” pant? I think you’d have to be very slender and quite a bit younger than I am to carry that off.
Not just slender, but have so-called boyish hips.
Prepandemic, lawyer suits. During pandemic, working in my jammies. I have recently been living in Madewell coveralls and platform sneakers. Still not up to tailored suits…and I may never go back.
Today I’m wearing yoga leggings and my fav black tee and I’ll probably wear my birks until my toes start getting cold and convert to socks and clogs and cropped jeans. Love those black clogs and they look like a comfy footbed!
I’m doing lots of the same things in this strange transitional weather. I am working from home indefinitely, so my workday is either sweats and a cute tee or jeans if I feel excited about them in the morning. I wear house shoes all day (mohinders in the summer, shearling lined birks in cooler weather until it’s very cold and then supportive slippers). As it gets colder, I wear jeans more often and rotate layered tees, tops, blouses and cardigans or regular pullover sweaters. I have had a few in person community meetings lately and have been wearing a popover blouse, dark wash skinny jeans and clogs and then layering on top – typically my leather moto jacket. I just picked up a suede one in a light color on poshmark if I’m not wearing black.
Ugh. I don’t know what to wear. This morning I put on about 5 outfits and threw them all in a pile in frustration. Ended up in a trusty black gauze caftan. I’m in NYC and I can’t take this humid weather. The calendar says October but it’s not crisp here at all. I love a pair of comfy jeans with a tee or blouse and a boyfriend blazer, or an oversized cashmere sweater. Between my loss of a waist due to the pandemic and menopause I’m always hot and uncomfortable. So, it’s either a loose dress or jeans and a tee. I really only like straight boyfriend jeans now. I’m finding it harder and harder to get dressed. I can’t wait for it to cool off. I can’t stand climate change!!
So funny- I have been wearing almost the same outfit as Kim this past week. Green Paris pants I bought recently deeply discounted from BG, white and striped button downs. Besides clogs I have been wearing this with suede cowboy ankle boots and funky vintage quilt jacket….
I’ve actually branched out from jeans into trousers! Feel a little bit more put together. I still love denim but often feel a bit sloppy if not wearing a blazer, an item unsuitable for wearing around the house.
So I’m on the hunt for tops to dress up jeans – I know Kim has mentioned quite a few promising picks!
Wow! The picture a the top of the post gave me a big style crush. Unless I’m in exercise clothes, I wear no-elastic-waist “proper pants,” as we’re calling them, every day, and did so throughout the pandemic. I don’t find them uncomfortable. I seem to gravitate more to knits – tees or sweaters lately, and have been neglecting my button downs. It’s started getting cool where I live, and I’ve only just begun to bring out my fall/winter clothes and put away my summer stuff. In winter I’ll be in wool trousers and sweaters and boots will replace sandals or sneakers. My uniform now is high or low waisted chinos or cargos, tapered, fitted or baggy, with a cropped cashmere hoody in the morning, then a long-sleeved light wool (striped?) crewneck or cotton tee (tucked in) as the day warms up. And always a belt. My motivation to get dressed in a nice outfit has to do with my relationship with my body , enjoying how my clothes fit and the creative outlet of putting things together. I’m transitioning in more ways than one: my husband died last month, after a long illness. I know, I buried the lede, but this discussion is germane because having time to take care of myself again helps my equilibrium. Being a caregiver can result in a loss of identity, and my style is integral to my sense of self. It’s something I tried not to forgo, even in the worst of times.
Oh, I’m so sorry, Mimi. I just lost my dad unexpectedly a month ago and my hubby & I took Mom with us on our vacation this week. It was heartbreaking in so many ways, and yet I was so grateful she was with us. Love to you.
I’m so sorry, Mimi.
OMG Mimi – so sorry – so many warm thoughts your way
My sympathies to you, Mimi A. Please take extra good care of yourself. xo
Mimi, I am so very sorry for your loss.
I am very sorry, Mimi.
Mimi, I just lost my father and I witnessed the same loss of identity that you describe here in my mother. She spent so much time taking care of my dad in his illness that she lost a lot of herself. All the best to you in your new journey.
So sorry, Leah. Today would’ve been my dad’s 88th birthday, and I miss him more than words can say. I feel untethered.
Thank you, Val. It’s so hard it takes your breath away. Like a punch to the gut. Much love. I bet your dad was a great guy, based on what I see of you here. I hope that’s a small solace.
So deeply sorry for your loss. Sending healing thoughts from NYC.
Deeply sorry for your loss, Mimi A.
I’m so sorry for your loss, and have the deepest admiration for how you are responding and embracing beauty, curiosity, dignity, and self-determination.
Mimi, I am so sorry for your loss.
So very sorry for your loss!
I work at a school and had a cute outfit on yesterday that got compliments from the kids and staff: army green Vince chinos, a crisp striped Nili Lotan button down, a FLEECE James Perse black blazer, and some new white Veja sneakers.
I am very intrigued by the fleece blazer. Can you share a link?
I am periodically in the office but still mostly working from home. Still, when in the office, it’s a very casual place. I want to kiss the feet of whoever decided high-waisted jeans needed to be a thing again because they have always been my best look. (I am stocking up now in case they go underground again in the future.) Today I am wearing a cigarette pair from the Gap (still my best fit after all these years) with a light J Crew sweater and my favorite sneakers — white Pumas. (Did I think I would become a sneakers girl? Nope. But now I can’t imagine life without them.) This morning I threw on a navy quilted Joules jacket you showed on this site, Kim — was a great Nordstrom buy in the spring!
eBay is great for finding styles or color ways that aren’t current. When high rise gets scarce in stores, look there.
Nili Paris and Military pants in all colors (plus cropped Uniqlo cigarette jeans they no longer make), insanely oversized FOTL white muscle tee I found in a Catskills Walmart a million years ago, well-fitting blazer (Rag & Bone or J Crew Regent) and good lowtop sneakers. My fancy shoes and bags sit in my closet, replaced by sneakers and knapsacks
I like the belts. Always looking for ways to add pops of color. They are so cheap, I can get a couple.
It is still summerish in Northern California, so lots of stretchy Athleta shorts. I had to dig around in my storage boxes for my sweatshirts last week. Today I have an event, so stretchy jeans, black leather sneakers and a flowery button down. I will bring my army jacket in case the air conditioning is jacked up.
I am biking a lot with a couple groups of very fit retirees. My jeans and underwear are fitting nicely again and working out regularly feels good on so many levels. Plus we always break for donuts.
I need a look!! And thank you for checking in a belt. I was a couple clicks from requesting a belt segment!! COH boyfriend jeans and I need a shoe plus top!
Now that it’s cooler out, I’m more amenable to jeans and other hard pants. My current uniform is a light tucked-in hoodie with a James Jeans blazer on top, and my beloved beat-up Gap Girlfriend jeans and clogs on the bottom. So yeah, basically a sweatshirt and jeans, but the blazer dresses it up a bit. 🙂
Thanks for this post. I have a request. I’d love a post comparing the different Nili Lotan pants. I’ve been wanting a pair for ages but always get stumped on the website by all the styles that seem so similar but slightly different. I know I could just buy a few pairs and try them, but a “compare and contrast” post would be super helpful since they are an investment. Thanks!
I LOVE this idea, Bevin!
Me too!
Great idea! I am 5′ 4″ and feel comfortable in the East Hampton style. I wear them a size up for a looser fit. I have found a few pairs 2nd hand on the Real Real and ebay.
What a great idea for a post! You can also sign up for a (free?) consultation on the Nili Lotan website. As someone who wears a lot of NL pants, I suspect that they all look a little different on each wearer. Find the ones you love that look the best on you! Enjoy!
I got really into buying vintage 70s Indian block print cotton maxi skirts over the summer and am trying to make them work for fall by pairing them with a fisherman’s sweater, leggings, a crossbody brown vintage coach bag, a vintage 80s sherpa-lined jean jacket, and my chunky black Clarks or brown ankle boots. Other than that, I usually pull on an oversized fringed Madewell sweater that I hand tie dyed black in a bullseye pattern, which was my pandemic hobby. I wear it with black straight legged jeans and my Clarks.
Maybe it’s my old Catholic school discipline, or some weird fear of slippery slopes, but I never wore sweatpants during the lockdown; every day I showered, fixed my hair, put on makeup and jeans & a shirt of some sort. Life was hard & scary enough; I needed to feel some semblance of normalcy. Also, I can also feel my grandmother judging me; at 102 years and blind, she wore heels, stockings, a wig & makeup every day.
I’ve worn scrubs to work for years, and have always thought it would be strange to come home and put on something less comfortable after work. I ‘ve saved “harder” pieces for nights out, but to be honest, those are slowly disappearing from my wardrobe altogether. With midlife and menopause upon me, I find I’m most comfortable in fabrics that breathe, and shoes made for comfort. It’s a world of bretons, joggers/utility pants, cashmere sweaters and sneakers or clogs in my closet. Comfort is of paramount importance in all clothing decisions.
I love what you’ve shared here. I’m back on the road for work so I’m looking slightly more professional. Coincidentally, I am wearing the And Other Stories button up in black and brown animal print you had posted awhile back. I’ve paired it with my trusty J Crew wing tips, black ankle length pants, and a black cashmere cardigan. Easy, comfortable, stylish. I have an army jacket in a drape-y fabric that I love to wear on the plane with a striped t-shirt, jeans, and sneakies. I have always sought out comfort while trying to maintain some semblance of style. I’m just glad that it’s fall which means more cozy layers!
This post could not be more timely. I decided a couple weeks ago that I couldn’t face another winter of sweatpants. I’m WFH full time now, so am stocking up on boyfriend jeans to wear with button down shirts and sweaters or striped Ts. Occasionally I’ll wear a shirt dress or skirt. I have no idea what to wear out in the world anymore, but whatever it is, there will be Hokas or Blundstones at the base.
Yes with timely! I also transitioned to WFH and bought two pairs of Rag & Bone Dre boyfriend jeans – I usually wear them with Birkenstocks, Clogs, or my new Adidas Marimekko sneakers and a decent solid colored Top for the zooms. I’ve been spending most of my energy on jackets/toppers when I go out after work or to grab coffee with a friend – Blazers, lightweight windbreakers, hoodies, etc. Would love to see more fun jackets/blazers suggested! When I teach my college classes in the evenings – I bust out the dress collection – because why not .
I loved dressing for work, but working from home for the last 18 months means I’ve been just throwing on whatever and putting my hair up in a pony or bun. We’re being called back to the office later this month, and I’m looking forward to blazers, skinny jeans, and sneakers (and a mask) as my new office look.
I’m so grateful for this – needing some inspiration after life in isolation for so long. The other day I had my first in-person meeting in over a year and googled ‘what do we wear now?’ so clearly need some help!
To be honest, I didn’t change my wardrobe all that drastically during the pandemic outside of not really wearing shoes. So jeans and a cotton button-down with Converse or the Gucci loafers I splurged on a couple of years ago. I do find 70 degrees and humid to be the worst of the weathers to dress for made worse by the fact that the building I work in has about fifteen different climate zones (this is not an exaggeration). My new favorite thing is the J Crew cashmere poncho. It’s like a blanket that I can put on in my cold office and then continue to wear to a creative meeting or to teach without embarrassing myself.
When I started full-time WFH (2016), I wore a uniform of jeans (skinny, boyfriend, cargo, etc), a graphic tee, and a cashmere hoodie or cardie, sneakers or boots. I’d flex with dropped waist dresses. Today, I wear oversized (but nice) men’s hoodies (or sweater hoodies) and bike shorts, caftans w/ kim france pance, and still manage to wear a dress a few times a week. Yesterday, I wore a l/s cotton maxi, subtle blue-gray tie-dye with a gray ballerina wrap sweater. Today, overall, my flex is pattern mixing and skirts instead of shorts. Our weather in SoCal is either 80+ or 65, so I may end up changing mid day.
Geez, how is everyone so motivated? I can barely roll out of bed to turn on laptop to WFH sometimes. Been living in black sweatpants and joggers, sneakers, t-shirts, and hoodies, some having seen better days (and yet I will still leave the house in them). Had to get dressed for work recently to see people IRL and nearly went into a tailspin. Saved by Athleta joggers. Looks I’ve been rocking: boring, schlumpy, and crazy. New look added to the mix: elderly. :/ (Can’t remember if I stole that from an EIF podcast.)
Am mega into ADAY clothes. The Something Borrowed shirt is insanely flattering. Otherwise, I wear Eileen Fisher washable stretch crepe pants with a long-ish sweater and a scarf. And sneakers, always.
Still looking for a a jacket that is neither blazer nor E Fisher wafty.
Is there an affordable sub for the beautiful but astronomically pricey Nili Lotan trousers? I’m dressing similar, but with Boss suit trousers (you can move in them, and they stay magically crisp) , more colorful sweaters, and Ariat short riding boots (comfy, firm & interesting zippers)
Tkees makes a good pair of drop crotch sweats in a plethora of colors , but at $150, they’re still not cheap.
I’m still doing pretty much what I tried to do last year — wearing something without an elastic waist every other day 🙂 So today it’s cotton knit pants from Lucy (remember them?) and an Everlane hooded sweatshirt, but yesterday it was high-waist jeans and a striped sweater. In summer, I made sure to wear shorts (no elastic waist) every other day (or a jean skirt), and then comfy shorts (elastic, drawstring) on other days. I’m going to be 58 years old in a couple of months and I found I was gaining weight easily if I was going day after day in sweatpants.
I’d say that’s a good reason to wear proper pants – to be more accountable for my more sedentary life.
This is a good question. I find I have a hard time trying to decide what to wear. I am still mostly working from home and truthfully I find it hard to be motivated to wear pants with non-elasticized waists and proper shirts/blouses. So I wear leggings, sweatpants and t-shirts with cardigans or t-shirts and flannel shirts. I’m tired of my “lockdown” wardrobe but if I’m still at home working then I don’t feel motivated to get back to dressing like I’m going to work.
Me too. Even in the before times I found hard pants to be uncomfortable for sitting at my desk all day, and I have no use for “standing only” clothes any more.
I find that if I put my gym clothes on in the morning, I’m more likely to go there later in the day, although this is kind of embarrassing if I have a last minute zoom.
When I go outside, my uniform is pretty much like Kim’s. I have several pairs of Hope News trousers that I love, and I pair them with a button down or popover and lightweight jacket. When it was warmer, I just wore sundresses all the time, but I can’t abide by tights these days. Sometimes I feel like I get away with a long dress though.
Relatedly, I cannot make the boots with bare legs work like the photo above. Does this only work if your legs are not super pale?
100% on the gym clothes, except in my case, I’m not going to the gym still, but sometimes, just want to wear comfortable leggings that I can quickly transition into a quick walk or even a couple flights of stairs at home. But it’s inconsistent. I gained the pandemic ~15 (on top of my normal over-weight) last year and then I made an effort to lose the weight and having lost that, trying to lose my normal over-weight. I realized that wearing elastic band sweat pants/leggings don’t help, so I try to wear real pants/jeans most days. I haven’t been wearing my nicer blouses and shirts, because I hate getting them dirty, if I decide to prep some food for lunch, do a quick dish wash, or vacuum in the middle of my workday. I guess, I could put on my apron. When I went to work, I didn’t do these things, so it was easier to keep the nice clothing clean. Today, though, I have to admit, I never changed out of my pj pants and sleep shirt.
When I go out, I take a long time figuring out what goes with what. It’s just not coming as naturally to me as before. And sometimes, I put stuff together that I’m not sure really hang together. I was happy when it was hot here or when I was on a vacation trip and I got to change over to comfortable but still pretty skirts. Also after wearing skinny jeans for over a decade with ankle boots/booties and untucked shirts, I’m figuring out how to wear looser jeans and with what shoes, etc. Casual dressing can be so tough! Yesterday, met up with a friend for outdoors happy hour at a wine bar, and it was chilly, so I wore thick black wash boyfriend jeans, black turtleneck, crocodile skin booties, my nice and warm sherpa/quilted green coat (so happy I got from Madewell last year and great for chilly outdoors meals) and my black Athleta beanie with a couple white stripes on fold. I even broke out some jewelry. My friend complimented my mustard Girl Collective belt bag. I was pretty happy and nicely warm.
The top image of the Nili Lotan pants with that beautiful black coat is pretty much my ideal minimal and somewhat androgynous outfit — maybe not the colors of the pants or shirt for me personally, but love the cut of everything and how they gel together.
I’ll just call out the small victories to myself — I dug out my crocodile skin booties last night instead of falling back on sneakers or my patent leather Docs. I totally want a pair of Flora Doc Marten Chelsea boots though. In the blood red. But I’ve got scores of boots and don’t need new boots. Sigh.
I was coming to write the exact same thing. I am finding it very hard to motivate myself to wear proper clothes. I’ve always worked remotely but used to travel quite a bit, so transitioned easily between work clothes and home clothes without guilt. But now, it is all home clothes – leggings, shorts, tees, with an occasional blouse or dress if I have an important zoom or meeting out of the house. Kim, are you getting properly dressed every day? Tell us your motivational secrets to do so, please!
I am in the middle of a major closet purge, because I realized that I wear the same kinds of things over and over again, like a uniform. Currently, I am wearing Nili Lotan Cropped Military pants or Frame cropped mini boot jeans, No.6 wedge clogs or black Koio Chelsea boots, a solid white or blue and white striped cotton button up . (Denimist made several cotton button ups with long ties in front, which work well with both high and lower waisted bottoms.) I layer button ups with either a solid, camo, or animal print military jacket, a Men’s wool or cashmere cardigan, or an oversized pinstriped or checked blazer. I also tend to pile on a lot of bracelets and necklaces, which sat mostly untouched during the worst of the pandemic. At some point, I will have to add a coat… And switch to No.6 shearling lined clog boots, which are toasty warm, waterproof, and seemingly indestructible. Everything in my closet that isn’t one of those things (with the exception of a few dressy items and exercise stuff) will soon be finding a new home!
Mostly wearing scrubs to work, but when i’m not, cropped pants or jeans that are not too tight, a white button down, chunky loafers and my Iro Shavani jacket i think i linked to here!
I used to wear some version of chinos or trousers with a button down and usually booties to my casual workplace (with maybe a cardigan or occasional blazer), but working from home I started with sweat pants and have moved up to jeans, with soft tees. I’m embarrassed to say I stick with this because the laundry is easier (I don’t even wear my favorite jeans, because I don’t want to over wash those). It’s comfortable enough, but I feel shlubby and wonder if I should make the effort even though my employer is saying we won’t return to office until next spring. I don’t even think my old pants fit any more (thanks, pandemic!), so maybe it’s time to shop for some new pants that aren’t jeans. This is a good reminder!
I don’t look great. My excuse is when I do go out of the house I’m heading to the beach (ratty jeans, ratty sweatshirt) or the dog park(ratty jeans or ratty sweatshirt) or the weird little neighborhood grocery store (ratty jeans, ratty sweatshirt). However, I head home to Texas soon where I will be back in my downtown condo so I will be seeing live dressed-for-work humans on a daily basis and our building discourages owners from appearing in sweats or p.j.’s in the lobby. That said––it’s still in the 90’s in Austin as I type so I’ll probably be wearing slightly less ratty jeans and slightly less ratty tee-shirts in the near future. And my Hokas. (sigh)
Wow, that’s the first I’ve ever heard of a dress code (beyond just shirt and pants) in a residential building. I live in an old 1940s apartment building, where the landlord has never fixed the broken buzzer. So countless number of times I’ve had to run down to accept a package in pjs or a robe, depending on how early in the day.
For those who can’t transition to hard pants for work, I recommend these: https://www.marinelayer.com/collections/gals-bottoms/products/re-spun-allison-pant-black?variant=32615919
They are my go to work pant with a long cardigan and Clarks. They’re flattering and have a hidden elastic waistband, so they’re really comfortable.
Those are adorable. Never even heard of that company, but now I’m intrigued!
I am so beyond irritated with Nili Lotan sizing. Seriously, her biggest size is a 12??!! I love her stuff, but I am between a size 12 and a 14.
Outfit is good, and I love the belt idea.
My hips are apparently too big for Nili Lotan pants according to the size chart. Maybe the size chart lies? I’ve haven’t bothered to try. But pants I wear constantly, and are maybe a little similar in vibe, although not drop crotched or cropped, are the James Perse “soft drape pant.” I have them in several colors, all purchased secondhand or on mega discount. I am wearing a black pair now, and being the weirdo who obsessively tracks wears, this is wear number 105, purchased in 2019 for $33 off eBay. Anyway, size JP 3 fits perfectly (and slouchily), even though their chart would otherwise a suggest a JP 4.
Gave notice just as we returned to the office, which was great cause I got to dress up for the 3 days of my last week AND say goodbye to my friends in person. LOVE my new job but back working from home again lol. Lots of meetings so wearing blouses with Saint +Sofia knit pants that have elastic but look professional (not that anyone can see but gives me a boost). Non-work is black or blue jeans, tshirt and jean or army jacket. Can’t wait for fall to arrive here in NYC!
Black Everlane tank (I have ten of them) sans bra. Black yoga pants or blue jeans. Dansko clogs: black or leopard-print nubuck. A jean jacket, flower-embroidered army jacket, or oversize alpaca cardigan top it off according to the temperature. That’s it! I’ve actually gotten rid of all my other clothes except for a little black dress and nice low heeled pumps in case I have to go somewhere where one might wear that sort of thing. I am 61 years old and I don’t give a shit anymore.