This Post is All Over The Place

Because Substack is really just another way to say 'public diary'.

So far, every post I’ve sent out on Substack has been past-due. Seeing as this is Retail Therapy, I really do want to make sure each post has a beefy shopping section to satiate our *shared* urge to shop (whether out of a need to fill gaps in my closet or in my existence, I’ll never know). I’ve been carefully monitoring my own habits, both shopping and otherwise, in order to best deliver a newsletter that combines all the adjectives I deem key when it comes to making a really good purchase: necessary, comfortable, affordable, exciting, etcetera.

I’ve come to the conclusion that I do not shop categorically, nor practically, nor really very sensibly when it comes down to it. I also find I drift into existential fashion-related conversations with myself more often than I’d like, and as stated above, I do think that Substacks serve as part informative newsletters and part public diaries. They’re a cathartic way to throw the (carefully edited) flotsam and jetsam that makes up the majority of our (my) thought processes into the world in a way that feels productive. In short, Substack is a directional way to vent.

Pigeonholing myself into a retail-focused newsletter has stifled my ability to churn out content in the way that I’d like, so instead of sitting on a bunch of ideas until I’ve rounded one out enough to be a full-fledged email, I’ve decided to string them all together in one newsletter that is, as a result, all over the place. Welcome to my world.

The older you are, the chicer you get

I recently came to the realization that closets are a lot like homes: they’re rarely, if ever, finished. You keep adding and subtracting and shifting things around until you think you’ve got it right, but you rarely ever get there. There is one corner of my apartment I love and will likely never change, much like my favorite outfit. A closet is no different: it’s an accumulation of your favorite things, some with stories, some without, some parts you hate, some parts you love. But at the end of the day, there’s no doubt that they both get better with time, and this is what I’ve discovered to be the secret of my chicer (and wiser) mentors. You just have to give it some time.

*In keeping with the ‘Retail’ theme of this newsletter, I’m including some pieces I’ve been wanting for 2+ years, a time frame I’ve deemed safe from impulse purchases and trend cycles.

From left to right: this Khaite jacket was on my list for *forever* and I actually finally acquired it in December via the joint efforts of Santa and The Real Real. I love that it is a classic shape and won’t go out of style like the moto jacket that had been collecting dust before I finally off loaded it to make space for this beauty. A serious investment piece (I recommend scouring TRR or its competitors), but worth it. I somehow don’t have a trench coat that I love, and this pleated one from Sandro is stunning. It’s a copy of a favorite from Junya Watanabe but I don’t care, I want it. Bad. I also really want a pair of Margiela tabis, whether they are in boot form, loafer form, flat form — I don’t discriminate. I found these beauties in the Ssense sale and they’re somehow fully stocked. And lastly, the infamous snap cardigan from Agnes B. I first became aware of these via Emilia Petrarca from The Cut and have added them to my ‘need’ list but have yet to develop my own personal relationship with one.

The perfect pairing of cuffed jeans and penny loafers

I recently went on a four day trip to Tokyo (a story for another Substack) and couldn’t believe how many chic women I saw. At least, I couldn’t believe it until I came to the obvious yet undiscovered realization that nearly every. single. one. of my favorite brands is Japanese (Comme des Garçons!? Junya?! SACAI?!?). So I suppose it made sense. I made note of one outfit I saw repeated amongst the chicest of the chic, and that was cuffed pants and penny loafers. Somehow the combination has defined time and remains, to me at least, as fresh as ever. I’m now on the hunt for more cuffed jeans and loafers (because I obviously need more jeans….and loafers…). Here are some of my favorites.

These are my own limbs — HOW CUTE if I do say so myself. My beloved Linda Hopp jeans and Aimé Leon Dore loafers.

Pro tip: you can definitely cuff your existing jeans (works best with a straight leg) and by no means need to purchase them pre-cuffed, but I like the no-muss no-fuss practice of walking out the door without having to think twice.

From left to right: I really like this pair by Ksubi and think they are unsung denim heroes and didn’t deserve to be left out of my denim roundup. Apologies. I also love this wide leg pair by Citizen’s. The plaid cuffs from Goop’s in-house collection are fun too. I saw these from Ksubi which technically are not cuffed so much as color blocked, but I gasped. So good! And lastly, another good go-to pair from a brand I’ve never heard of but want to investigate further.

From left to right: I love a two tone loafer, and a two tone loafer in orange and white is seriously pulling on my heart strings. I also love a silver shoe so this one is a no-brainer. And these are RUBBER? And under $100!?!? I usually don’t like Stuart Weitzman but the studs are fun. And in the same vein as silver shoes, a white one never fails. Last but not least, more two-tones.

My love-hate relationship with khaki pants

Why are khaki pants so hard to wear? Am I the only one that feels this way? Each time I feel inclined to buy a pair, I envision my own personal Cinderella moment, except instead of donning a ballgown in a pumpkin I’m Carolyn Besette getting chased by paparazzi through a crosswalk on Fifth Avenue. It never turns out this way. I always feel too formal, too boring, too Karen-esque, and as a result they sit in my cart (or worse, gather dust in my closet). I recently bought a pair by Chloe on The Real Real for $60, a price that was good insurance against feeling dumb if I didn’t end up wearing them but brilliant if I did.

This is technically cheating seeing as I’m wearing the same shoes in 3/4 of these outfits, but for whatever reason I’ve found that white flats and khaki pants are my favorite combination. No clue why. I’ve also found that layering helps, but if you’re not careful you can go from looking chic to looking like the head of your HR department. I don’t make the rules.

From left to right: This pair from Everlane is a classic. And did you really think the Citizen’s horseshoe jeans could live peacefully in khaki without making their way into this newsletter? If you want to try khakis without any kind of serious investment, this pair from H&M is fun. I know I said I was still unsure about khakis, but I’m somehow very sure about this corduroy pair from Raey and will be adding them to my own cart. Last but not least, another classic from Re/Done. 

That’s all for this week. I love hearing all of your thoughts and input, so please call me beep me any time. What are we shopping for next?

XOXO