The only outfit recipe I want to think about at the moment is the one we started the summer with: shorts and long sleeves. The most perfectly balanced outfit there is.
Partly because I am not ready to let go of the season’s easy vibes or the easy clothes. But also in the hopes of staving off outfit boredom (we have a long way to go before spring rolls back around).
At work, we always introduce shorts in spring as a key item, yet hardly ever in fall. Instead we move to denim guides and corduroy investments. But I’d argue that shorts are equally relevant on the other side of summer, with a deeper color palette, plenty of layers, and a touch of tailoring borrowed from the boys.
Consider this, then, a bookend of sorts to where we kicked things off in May. (I unlocked the post below for the occasion.) This is one of my very favorite formulas, and I want to make the most of it.
Really Good Clothes for Really Good Walks
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May 3
I’m about to leave for my 10-day trip around the world (perfect pull-on pants packed and ready to go), but I’ve also been thinking about what to wear for adventures around the block.
Personally, I am not letting myself really think about fall dressing yet. No thick wool sweaters or 8 wale cord pants or cozy flannel shirts. Because there will be time for that in September and October and November and December and January and February and…yeah, it’ll be awhile.
So I’m taking a page out of my boys’ book and challenging myself to keep wearing shorts even as fall clothes and ideas start seeping in. My middle son wore pants to school exactly once last winter. There were blizzards, plural, in NYC. If he can do it…well, I can at least stretch shorts season a little longer than I usually do.
And the good news is, the recipe doesn’t change. The pantry staples are doing their job. We just need to switch up some of the ingredients.
In May, we were in anticipation mode. Adding summery details to our shorts-based outfits like gingham and paracord and sea-inspired graphics and necklaces and light, bright colors like lavender and pink and lime.
Now there are different notes to play. New flavor profiles to try.
I’m not thinking about Fall Fashion, but I am thinking about ways to address the small shifts in weather: earlier evenings, slightly crisper mornings, longer and cooler shadows. And the slightly bigger shifts in vibes. (There’s no getting around the fact that the school year is starting, not winding down.)
The answers for me are cotton rollneck sweaters, lightweight canvas jackets and sporty nylon anoraks, poplin and oxford button-ups, loafers, mules, striped rugby shirts, the return of sneakers, varsity sweatshirts, faded navy, ochre and red. Rich chocolate brown. Late summer blues.
All paired back to the same shorts we’ve been wearing.
I’m also taking a lot of inspiration from men’s styling, which has always combined shorts and long sleeves in utilitarian yet cool ways: simple layers, neutral colors, and preppy, tailored pieces. (Looking at you Sam Bolianatz!)
A caveat: for me, this formula isn’t office appropriate. But I still have my summer holiday ahead and many, many weekend sidelines once September kicks off. There will hopefully be a few WFH days in there, too. And for all of that, this recipe is chef’s kiss.
Same recipe. Different ingredients.
Whetting the palate and making me excited for what’s to come.
But most importantly, where we are.
I want to play with new ways to wear the shorts that have been on the menu (aka the ones we’ve already bought and been wearing this summer).
Consider these the daily specials.
Hot girl walks don’t have anything on us. The crisp bookends to the day and the lingering light make these the best days for a cool lady walk.
It’s that time of year again when we run a marathon just to get the kids out the door. And oh yeah, don’t forget you have to get dressed, too. Those PA meetings don’t wait for anyone.
From the sidelines to the post-game pizza shop, apple picking to antiquing, layers are key for cool mornings, hot afternoons, and full days out and about.
Hope this gives you some ideas for the next few weeks, and beyond. As always, thank you for reading!
x Lindsay
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