Dressing for Depressing Weather

And how to escape the trappings of a """capsule wardrobe""" NPC

On my commute today I found myself sandwiched neatly between two wool-cladded 9-5ers, who occasionally would nod away, only to awake with a resigned huff. Seemingly disgruntled by the series of life choices that landed them on this incessantly delayed C train.

Somewhere between Fulton St. and West 4th, I glanced to my left, then to my right, and after, down at myself, to find us all in the typical wintery New York get-up of all black — a sure signifier of that time of year when our taste gets a bit stale. We forego our fashion philosophies; opting instead to sling on a pair of black jeans (standing pants at that!) and a dark knit in the name of style.

Dressing post-December can be undeniably bleak. 

I think many of us default to this way of dressing because the post-holiday decision fatigue has finally (finally) caught up. Our brains haven’t had a chance to defrost and no amount of hot water running overhead will help (much like that piece of meat our mothers told us to take out the freezer several hours prior but we only ever do when she’s 20 minutes away from home).

Another theory (a better one, probably) is the frustratingly logical rise of the ‘capsule wardrobe’ that many have taken to mean a regurgitated ensemble of striped tees, chambray button-ups, puffer and pea-coats, straight-leg denim, and white sneakers. A concoction I deem as Non-Playable-Character fuel. It's offering uninspired looks at its very best and entering passé territory at its worst.

Here, however, is my take on making the dreadfully monotonous starter closet pieces speak a bit more to my all-around taste and style, which falls somewhere between classic, chic, and comfortable, with a psych-rock flair.

My first step when pulling together a visually intriguing look is to play with colors. And no— I’m not just talking about a pop of red. Instead, I find this sort of sexy allure in the pairing of blacks and browns, or muted browns and blues. I’ve personally been incorporating shades of grey and brown into my outfits— a welcomed departure from my usual color palette. These rich tonal colors add a layer of sophistication and bring together a blend of timeless, quality staples and uniquely refreshing pieces into my wardrobe.

I went for adding both grey and brown to this look. My wool jacket is vintage, the top is a button-up turtleneck that I style backwards from Nili Lotan for Target (but here’s a fun take on that), the miniskirt is Tae Park (the twill smoke color), the bag is Mulberry, and the loafers are Gucci (found a heeled pair on Grailed, and a Jeffrey Campbell dupe on eBay).

Banana Republic Knit, & Other Stories Button Up, Strongthe Pants, Tae Park Skirt

If color isn't adding the intrigue, then I’m most certainly reaching for an accessory or a shoe to nail the look. Case in point, my collection of chunky belts (as seen here, lazily saddled on my hips) pays homage to my YSL x Hedi Slimane days, adding delightful contrast and a touch of texture to a monochrome ensemble. The silver hardware on my purse and the subtle reflectiveness of my jewelry find a perfect harmony with this studded belt, tying the entire look together.

An all-black look with a pop of brown from the heels and purse. The top is actually a dress from Reformation (love it), the trousers are Calvin Klein, the heels are vintage, and the purse is Maison Cleo (I will never get over the hardware for the strap!!!). I’m unsure about the belt, but it might have been Nasty Gal circa 2016 so here’s a similar (rip, never mind just looked and saw they still exist…crazyyy).

Paloma Wool Kitten Heel Boots, Stand Oil Bag, Sandro Paris Belt, Stand Oil Bag

Lastly, play around with different hemlines because it’s never too cold to look hot in a mini skirt or pensive in a midi. Get creative; turn a top into a skirt or repurpose a scarf into a bag. I just know your closet holds far more potential than the mohair sweater and black slacks you've been wearing on rotation. Unlike my brief encounter with autopilot dressing (alongside things 1 & 2 today), resist falling into this repetitive, pedestrian pattern for too long. It’d be a shame to waste a perfectly good season of dressing up.

Look one: Goonz cap, vintage trench coat from Art Project Shop, my go-to grey knit from Weekday (similar), a thrifted white button down, vintage slacks, and Adidas x Wales Bonner sambas. Look two: vintage coat from IAMTHATSHOP, same sweater and button down, vintage pleated midi skirt, and loafers from Neiman Marcus (similar).

Anyway, if you made it to the end, I'd love to hear from you! Drop a comment below and share your favorite styling tips or any creative wardrobe hacks you swear by. Let's turn this into a conversation.

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Happy dressing, and until the next one!
xx