Falling into BIG TASTE
Wear what you want! Big pants, #twilightaesthetic, and finding the real thing.
After sending out the last edition of this newsletter1 I had a thoughtful conversation with my long-time internet friend Angela on the topic of getting dressed in these uncertain times. According to Angela,
“i think i am personally going to have--and i do not think i will be the only one… a sort of carrie bradshaw moment with fashion… which is to say trying to figure out what a femme person in their mid-late 30s looks like when they are trying to be stylish but recognizably...in their mid-late 30s… i think for me a lot of it is taking stuff i loved when i was younger—florals, basic fit and flare shapes, even a novelty print—and styling it kind of unironically? like what i want to wear right now is a pretty dress with a nice handbag.”
Taking stuff you’ve always loved and styling it unironically2—yes! And Angela’s thoughts strike a chord with what I’ve seen across my timelines all summer and into the fall, which is encouragement to embrace your tastes and explore what feels right. To quote Rachel Tashjian, “NOW IS THE TIME TO DEVELOP YOUR OWN INTERESTS! We are entering a period of BIG TASTE!”
Shopping
In the spirit of BIG TASTE, I’ve been on a bit of a luxury journey inspired by advice from writer/filmmaker Marc Anthony Green, paraphrased as follows:
If you really want something, save your money and buy the real thing, because buying knockoffs will never satisfy you and you’ll just spend too much money buying knockoffs you don’t want to wear.
Great advice, although “the real thing” can be extremely expensive. This is where secondhand / vintage comes in. Thanks to online resellers—from classic eBay to Etsy, TheRealReal, Depop, Grailed, and millions of individual sellers on IG and FB—high-end luxury brands are now widely available at more affordable prices. I’ve recently found several items on my “wardrobe staple” dream list in good used condition: a pair of Gucci loafers, a pair of Armani trousers. Look at me, I’m buying less bullshit!
I also shopped the recent SSENSE sale and the ongoing NONNA sale, acquiring some Marine Serre masks for 70% off, my first SKIMS, and some Lauren Manoogian pants that are like a big cozy sweater, but pants.
Trends
A few trends I’ve had my eye on:
Speaking of PANTS: I’ve been nagging everyone about wide leg pants for years, but they’re still dominating the runways and they’re available at all price points, depending on what you’re looking for. I got a massive pair of pleated trousers from COS recently. It’s okay to get away from your skinnies, I promise!
A note about low- and mid-rise flares: I’ve seen them styled well on the street, but a lot of people in my demographic are afraid of them thanks to residual fashion trauma from the 00’s. Listen to me: you don’t have to be afraid of a style of pants. In fact, I bet you could put on a pair of Seven For All Mankind jeans and look amazing. But you don’t have to if you don’t want to. That’s the beauty of BIG TASTE—if you don’t like it, you can just ignore it and do something you DO like!
SHOES SHOES SHOES: I had fun looking at chunky loafers with my friend Marlee recently when she found some great options from L’Intervalle. And my friend Kat texted me about which pair of Danskos to get, reminding me that clogs are big time trending for all genders.
TWILIGHT: Gen Z loves Twilight3 (see #twilightaesthetic on Tiktok) and it’s making its way back into fashion. We’re talking muted earth tones, longer layers, cardigans, anything that would keep you comfortable and modest in the Pacific Northwest. Truthfully, a lot of people never stopped dressing like this, so lucky for them, they’re about to be on trend again without even trying.
Currently Reading/Listening
I get a lot of joy (and data) from fashion newsletters. A recent new follow I love is Laura Reilly’s Magasin, which is full of style and shopping advice. I’m thrilled that Blackbird Spyplane has more womenswear content lately. And I’m extra lucky to be on the list for Opulent Tips.
I discovered a new fashion and culture podcast called Nymphet Alumni, made by three incredibly smart twentysomethings who have a keen eye for trends (did you know Pinterest is booming again? Surprise!). They also have the chops to analyze cultural phenomena in a way that pleases the academic brain. Their most recent episode is about the Tumblr days when everyone wore t-shirts with phrases like “touch my butt and buy me pizza!” and they absolutely ether the self-obsessed millennial.
My current favorite style IG is @parisiensinparis, a street style account that documents incredibly chic Parisiens going about their business, running errands and looking amazing.
That’s all for now! Please reach out with style tips and questions. What are you wearing to drop your kids off at school? Do people still go to bars and, if so, what are they wearing?
And please share this with anyone you think might enjoy some fashion takes from a bored mom.
I changed the name of this newsletter because I’m not actually a hypebeast sneakerhead, I’m a bored mom who wants to look good at elementary school drop-off and the office.
New Sincerity but make it fashion.
Speaking of Twilight have you SEEN Kristen Stewart on the red carpet in Venice?