Layering! For Fall! Groundbreaking.
But truly, with everything going on, and the weather finally cooling off a bit in LA, I’m wanting to feel a little snuggly. In some ways, layering feels easy (tee shirt + sweater + blazer or jacket…) but I wanted to try and think about it less in terms of pure warmth (though that was a consideration) but how strategic layers and considerations can make an outfit more interesting in non-obvious ways.
Here we go.
VERY CASUAL
I wore this on the flight back from Paris, and it was great. The oversized pants with an oversize shirt and sweater all made me feel very swaddled and protected. If I were outside in this, I’d probably add a trench coat, but inside I’m very much feeling this poplin stripe suit.
But again, this is very pants + shirt + sweater, not the most genius layering trick, but the pants and sweater being in the same print (or stripe) and everything in the same color except the bright yellow/orange bag, the overall impact is much stronger, and less expected.
1. Shameless plug, mine own Earl Earl dad cap! Ha! It’s become my go-to and I’m embracing self-promotion. Earl Earl, $31
2. A very good deep v-neck navy knit, mine is very deep V, and pretty oversized - the exact one I have isn’t made anymore, but this is a good substitute. Nili Lotan, $645
3. The exact shirt I was wearing is a mega old Steven Alan one - this is the exact match for the pants - same color & stripe, same material. This one has a great oversized fit, and can go through the washing machine. Donni, $209
4. This bag! So structured, such beautiful leather, and minimalist design. It’s super lightweight on its own (one of my pet peeves with bags are when they’re heavy even empty), and has minimal (almost invisible) branding. The color is like a bright orangey, yellow mango, which somehow comes off almost as a neutral because it’s so easy to wear, but also gives an excellent brightness. AND! It has an interior zipper pouch, and a removable shoulder strap. Cuyana, $398
5. And the pants! I’ve linked to them a lot, but they’re that good. They have a nice rope tie detail, and are mega soft and comfortable poplin. I have mine rolled up a few times here, so the whole look isn’t SO blocky, but honestly I like the slouchyness of it. Donni, $164
6. My beloved loafers. I’ve written about them at length, I can’t get enough. I love them so much, and wear them nearly every single day. The Row, $1,290
7. So this one is a literal pajama set, but if you wear it out in public it becomes actual clothes. Right? It’s very one and done with a happy red stripe. A winner. Hanna Andersson, $81
8. If full on stripe on stripe isn’t your vibe, I’d go with a pale blue classic button down. This one from J.Crew is one of my all time favorite button downs, in the most trad pale blue out there. I like mine in the classic cut and size large, so that it’s super oversized and sexy. J.Crew, $60
9. Instead of a long sleeve knit, I love a boxy sweater vest instead. Especially over the literal pajamas, this will make it feel a bit more intentional and less rolled out of bed. Madewell, $95
10. I LOVE the shape of these stripe trousers. They take this same idea and tweak it a little to be a bit more polished and dressed up. Priscavera, $320
11. THIS FUCKING SWEATER! Jesus. It is so beautiful, and SO GREAT with this idea! Kind of rumpled, hungover prep school kid out of a movie. A true dream. And on sale! Dries van Noten, $357
12. Totally wonderful little soft leather slippers with pointy toes. The most delicate and delightful shoe. Jil Sander, $760
13. Also - these have gorgeous grosgrain bows on the toe, again, really playing into the prep school kid vibe, but if the prep school were in Venice in the 1700s. Bode, $690
14. Last thing - a perfect, classic wear-forever trench that’s exactly $100 and in sizes up to XXL. Gap, $100
LESS CASUAL BUT NOT EXACTLY DRESSY
Somewhere between very relaxed and visible effort taken is this. The whole thing centers on the gray wrap, which softens the leather jacket, adds warmth, and takes something that’s pretty run of the mill (leather jacket + button down + jeans) and makes it a bit more interesting.
1. I love this soft gray wrap. It’s cut to drape over your shoulders, so you don’t have to keep constantly adjusting it, but you could also wrap it fully around your neck like a scarf. It’s super versatile, and feels interesting and cool, but very, very easy. It’s perfect for LA winter - something effortless that you can throw over literally anything to keep you just a tiny bit warmer. Cuyana, $248
2. This biker jacket is perfect. Perfect fit, and washed so it’s not too stiff or shiny, not over-designed, and it’s under $600. Madewell, $548
3. This is an older Jil Sander shirt - I like how low the V is and how the strings hang down off the collar. I can’t find this one, but I love this from Maria McManus just as much - a gorgeous chocolate brown and from one of my favorite people in the world. (ILY Maria!) Maria McManus, $380
4. And now, my Wranglers AGAIN. My favorite jeans of all time. Ever. Period. Wrangler, $55
5. And then, another favorite - my white Yuni Buffa ballet flats. They work with everything, and make everything that much cooler. Yuni Buffa, $395
6. If you don’t want to do a leather jacket, I’d go for an oversized black blazer like this one from Cos, and put the lapels over the Cuyana wrap. It has a gorgeous oversized shape, and is also minimally designed so it mixes well with everything. Cos, $290
7. Another great alternative to the brown shirt - this pale blue one adds similar interest without being too statementy. The Frankie Shop, $185
8. Slightly closer to the original brown Jil, this is purple Jil. I love the swept aside scarf at the collar, and this, layered with the jacket and the wrap would be so beautiful. Jil Sander, $428
9. My Wranglers are highly specific - there’s no stretch, and they work for me because I don’t really have hips or a waist or a butt. I’m very rectangular. These can accommodate hips, and come in sizes up to 18Plus. Good American, $139
10. Weirdly, sweatpants would also be great with this. Especially with the blazer and the white ballet flats. Just the right amount of weird, and these are also so polished for sweats, they can totally function as real pants. Jenni Kayne, $175
11. I looooooove these leopard Alaïa flats. They’re so interesting, and so beautiful, and would sub in perfectly with any of these other options. Alaïa, $1,090
12. Or! With the jeans, consider a pair of heeled booties. They have a great stretchy upper part, so they’ll fit beautifully under jeans. The color is gorgeous, and in my opinion, they’re the perfect 90s inspired city boot. Emme Parsons, $795
A FANCY ONE
And now, a fancy layering option. A layer to just gussy up your dress and transform it into something a bit more styled.
1. I love this silly scarf - mine is vintage Mary McFadden, and I use it all the time. If something feels too bare, I’ll tie it around my body like this, and it also has such an interesting print it makes everything else more interesting. I can’t find mine, but here are a lot of second hand Hermés scarves to consider.
2. I know this look is about laying, but this dress. Is just. So good. It has a gorgeous scoop neck and scoop back - it feels like a ballet dress, and the jersey is perfectly springy and dense. Mainly, the scoop is just so beautiful. It’s also kind of a blank slate, which I love. You could wear it in almost any scenario with any jacket, any shoe, and it would work. It’s kind of a do-it-all dress. Cuyana, $198
3. These Comme Si cashmere socks! I love the color, especially with these pointy Mary Janes. Red socks with the red scarf would have matched better, but I like how unexpected this combination is, and I think it works. Comme Si, $80
4. I also love these J.Crew mules - they’re so classic and polished and pretty, and super easy to wear. They add a nice bit of femininity to my wardrobe without being too girly or romantic. J.Crew, $248
5. So I linked to a ton of Hermés scarves above, but I especially love this print. It’s ocean-themed, and so cool and interesting. Hermés, $275
6. If it’s colder, a sweater could also sub in for the scarf. Either worn layered over the dress, or tied around your body and shoulder. I like this bright blue to match the socks, or as a contrast on its own to the dress. Alex Mill, $325
7. I also REALLY love this floral knit cardigan - the pattern reminds me of my scarf, and the bright red is so excellent, I truly love this one, and would wear it all the time. YMC, $345
8. Not into a heel? Here’s a pointy flat Mary Jane version! M. Gemi, $298
9. But here is a slightly sexier heel version with a slingback. I also love, love, love these, but they’d be harder to wear with a sock. Saint Laurent, $945
10. Last, to dress it up even more, a sheer black sock. I love sheer socks for styling, and these would be so great with this dress and the red cardigan. Raey, $65
And here we are! Little layering ideas to make normal things feel more interesting. This was a fun one for me, I love these outfits and feel like I pre-styled my entire fall in this letter. Win, win!
And! This week I’m going to do a guest style edit on Gloria, an excellent newsletter for women who are….let’s say….hitting their stride (not exactly young but not exactly old either). They do a lot of expert interviews and style recommendations. I’m doing a little thing on wearing oversized clothes, and you can sign up and read it here.
x
Laurel
Going to pull the trigger on the Wranglers! Do you recommend adding an inch or two to the waist, when using the size chart? Thank you!
1st !