Document the moments you feel most in love
with yourself – what you’re wearing,
who you’re around, what you’re doing.
Recreate and repeat.
~ Warsan Shire

Lately, my jam has been dressing like a preppy teenage boy. Untucked button-down shirts, baggy sweaters, sneakers. It’s easy, it’s comfortable, it never feels old. I want all the hoodies and oversized long-sleeved tees!

This outfit was perfect for a day of walking at Wave Hill Garden in the Bronx. It was mid-40s/low-50s (almost my ideal temperature). The primaloft-filled jacket is super light, just warm enough, and very un-bulky when I want to take it off and just carry it around. If it had gotten even warmer, I would have pulled the grey crewneck off and worn just the white buttondown. It was an ideal, light layer situation.

Every once in a while I get an outfit Just Right. This was one of those. So I dissect it to try and understand why it felt so good…so I can replicate it with other pieces and make more outfits that feel this good.

Fit has a lot to do with it. The loose, long tails of the white blouse…the boxy, slightly cropped shape of the crewneck sweater…they weren’t tight on my body so they had some movement and I didn’t feel constricted in any way, or like I had to keep adjusting, smoothing, tucking, etc. I like the loose upper layer over the slimness of the skinny jeans on the bottom. The cropped jeans allowed just a little glimpse of ankle…and the white sneakers (while still dirty!) are classic and perfect for walking. The coppery jacket has the same loose, boxy fit as the other top layers, and the collarless style has a minimal appeal to me.

As far as the color palette, I’m really liking dark, monochromatic outfits lately. Not sure where that came from, but…it is what it is.

I’ve been on the lookout for cropped-length, boxy sweaters…and even knit vests – but I want them really oversized, and that has been a challenge with American plus-size brands. I see that look more with European and Asian retailers, but not in my size or that ship to the US. Grrr.

Once you’ve figured out a formula for outfits that feel like you, are comfortable, and are suited to your life, You’re Golden. This will save you so much time and effort in both shopping and getting dressed.

Do you have an outfit formula? Or are you happier in a different type of look every day?

What I’m Wearing

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