Comfy Pants

To combat my seasonal self-negotiation.

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This Fall began beautifully—sun soaked days glimmering down over gold and red leaves, temperatures that necessitated jackets and boots, but not many other necessary considerations (ideal conditions, imo).

Where October brought clarity and hope for a new season, the transition into November felt abrupt, with its intense temperatures and an early Midwest snow. The darkness now too all-consuming to ignore, I’ve felt myself falling headlong back into a head space I’ve worked hard to forget. My seasonal depression scrapes along my bones in an acute way; when combined with old triggers, new routines, and more time stuck in the house, I begin to feel pulled in conflicting directions. The seasonal split has begun.

Cohesion feels like a distant memory, and this is most immediately felt when I try to get dressed. I have to remind myself, perhaps cohesion day in and day out isn’t the point—being present with my body and spirit each day is.

My day to day necessitates a spectrum of wardrobe requirements and restrictions (I’m resonating a lot with this piece!!). I’m experimenting with ways to wear comfortable pants in a variety of situations… perhaps that’s my one through line in the midst of a time where I feel conflicting sides of the self negotiating. Below is a mix of outfits from September through November. Enjoy! xx

I’ve been living in these Gap sweatpants lately. When I want to feel a little more pulled together, I throw on my Grandpa’s button up and a very cool/silly knit dickie I got a few years ago at Clash.

In September, I was invited to a celebration thrown in honor of the Kent State University Museum’s 40th year. The theme was “Dazzle,” a nod to the theme of the original opening soirée. This outfit felt way out of my comfort zone simply due to all of the COLOR. But I love each piece and was excited to pull together something special and a little outside of my norm. I often chicken out when it comes to event looks, but I felt comfortable with the shape of each piece which is why I think I was able to actually wear this out of the house.

The sequin cardigan is vintage Georgio di Sant’Angelo that I found by sheer fate at a going out of business sale at a small shop near my apartment in Philadelphia years ago. The last time I wore it was on my 30th birthday.¹ Underneath, I wore one of my prized possessions—a late-70s Calvin Klein silk charmeuse camisole.

The skirt is Tibi. Yes, I was Substack influenced and yes, I have opinions! (!!) Despite the wonderful color, shape, and details (wraps all the way around and has clever pockets), I immediately noticed how poorly things like buttons and hooks were sewn on to the garment. The first time I wore it, a button actually popped off as I got in my car. For this evening I made sure to bring a backup safety-pin to avoid any wardrobe malfunctions! My official review: Cool cool, but kind of wild considering the price point (relieved I found this on deep sale at a small business). My shoes are Jeffrey Campbell found second hand and my bag came from the gift shop at the Cleveland Museum of Art.

I was bonding recently with someone over the fact that I’m obsessed with blazers and jackets. They constitute a sizable portion of my wardrobe and I have two racks in my closet dedicated to them. This fall I wanted a tan or brown blazer and found this lovely version via TheRealReal by Luca Luca. The asymmetry won me over immediately. Pants and boots (recently resoled) are tried and true Everlane from 2017 and 2018.

I think any good millennial worth her salt holds some proper devotion for the Olsens, and in doing so keeps certain outfit formulas passed down from the twins in her back pocket. For me, I’ve been dipping my toes into pairing navy and black, a la Mary Kate. Last year I did so with my black eBay knockoff Pleats Please pants and a navy wool coat my Great Aunt made for my Grandma. I love pairing the same pants with a COS cotton button up this fall. I think the key to the first iteration pictured above is that the navy isn’t too blue (I don’t mind the brighter navy for the coat layer). The sailor collar stirs up my longing for the sea, and in this way I don’t have to leave the Summer completely behind. Outfit completed by my family’s Scottish clan tartan scarf.

Difficult to see the sailor collar in the first pic, so here it is! I like how it toes the line between a feminine and structured detail.

I’ve been wearing some iteration of the outfit below on a weekly basis since the weather turned. I start with a stretchy black base layer and then I pile on this all-cotton JCrew barn jacket, the same scarf as above, and my Sam Edelman boots. I love the action pleat on the back of the jacket and the giant pockets have been *chef’s kiss* for toddler outings.

I’m off to catch up with family and friends over the next few days. Thank you to all who read and share my work. I’m so appreciative for each and every one of you! Hope to be back in December with a more festive spirit and perhaps another interview to share. Stay warm!

1. Photo proof of the sweater and camisole on my 30th birthday. Also perpetual proof that neither of us can take a photo without blinking.

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