What I might be wearing given a little more incentive (and some semblance of fall weather to work with).

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I’m surrounded by beauty. Glass jars, colorful palettes, perfume vials, and all that jazz (truly, the most exquisite, indulgent things you can imagine a girl having) and yet!—these days, I live in paper-thin vintage tees and sweats softened by one too many cycles in the (communal) washing machine. I’m so consumed with smelling good that clothes with a capital C have become an afterthought, and it so happens that I work from home anyway. This means that on the rare occasion when dressing up is in order, a ribs-up presentation is all I need to worry about. You’d be surprised by how little effort it takes to look camera-ready: a good hairbrush and defined brows, with the help of a blurry webcam, can make a T-shirt look less… T-shirt-y.)

Make no mistake: I don’t miss going into an office or stressing over little outfits for dates, but I do feel nostalgic for the Sunday nights spent planning looks for the entire week—something I’ve done since elementary school. That feeling is intensified this time of year: autumnal attire remains my favorite genre of clothing but between global warming and West Coast living, I’m resigned to wearing Things That Won’t Make Me Sweat™. All I want is a hint of a breeze—one waft of cool air to warrant knitwear—but all I have is 85°F weather and unrelenting sun to work with. Even if I wanted to make more of an effort in my day-to-day, I couldn’t. Not really, at least. Sweat in cashmere? Sinful.

So instead, I’m turning to baby blogger me’s pastime—Polyvore in a post-collage, pro-carousel era—for inspiration. It’s as much an exercise in revisiting old uniforms, as it is an indulgent excuse to play with recently acquired pieces… with the help of a few someday-maybe dream pieces. (Hello, Cartier Baignoire.) After all, what is fashion without a little aspiration?

Look No. 1: A Realistic Airport Outfit

I loved these Acne trousers since last year but never tried looking for them—even during sale season—because I was convinced it was trend, not gut, that made me want them. They remain steadfast in my mind: the ease, the nod to the sag (which must be attributed to Black culture), and the subtlety of suggestion (your interior life merging with your exterior self) that make it relevant for me, still. One pair remains available on Grailed and though I’m tempted, I’m just planning to layer silk sleep shorts under black pants.

The reason behind this look isn’t as deep though. It’s pure practicality. You get comfort, warmth, and key pieces you can wear throughout the duration of your trip. And a note on the Margaux 15: it’s ludicrously capacious in the best way. No zipper means you can stuff to your heart’s content (but to my immigrant mother’s horror; a bag without security might as well not be a bag at all—she’s not wrong here) and reach in from tight economy seats with ease. If you’re petite, the 15 is perfectly proportional. If you’re taller or love a cavernous tote, the Margaux 17 is as spacious as can be without being too cumbersome to carry.

Régime des Fleurs Tóor-Tóor Eau de Parfum is the final touch. Spritz reservedly; this is a tuberose so creamy and bold that its nose (Dominique Ropion, the one and only) described it as Brutalist. I don’t know enough about architecture, but I do know what I like—and this is simply beguiling.

Look No. 2: The Everyday Ensemble

Of course the pièce de résistance is the oversized red rosette hobo, Valentino from the noughties. (I obsessively scoured the Internet for this particular shape. The Petale collection isn’t hard to find, but this silhouette is; it’s similar to the Bottega Veneta Hop with a bit more slouch.). For my daily walks and weekly errands, I need a bag that can fit a book with room to spare for random things I might pick up along the way. Sneakers are non-negotiable, too. Everything between is some version of the perfect tee and black trousers, with a sweater slung over the shoulders when air conditioning becomes unbearable.

The scent of the day would be Diptyque Eau Capitale, again. I never thought I would be a rose girl but since discovering Eau Rose for this piece, I’m enamored. Completely, and not just because it’s the fragrance that gets the most compliments—especially when layered over Le Labo AnOther 13. Eau Rose is spring and early summer; Eau Capitale feels like its older, cold-weather sister.

Look No. 3: Brunch Before The Broad

If I were in New York, I wouldn’t bat an eye wearing this. But in L.A.? It bears some consideration, which means spending the day at an art museum or gallery hopping in DTLA is the only viable occasion for something like this. It’s mostly neutral, but the textural explosion makes it loud. Already you have the runway Stella McCartney x Yoshitomo Nara knit with its extra-long sleeves and open back (the find of the season, I tell you!)—a statement all on its own—but with the multi-pocket Maje cargos (truly, an ode to the now archived Orseund Iris pair) and flared heel of a cream boot, it’s a cacophony of trend. Add a chunky chain to lean into the maximalism, then finish with the iconic Bottega pouch to balance things out.

And because I’m in a fun, funky, girly mood already, only a quirky fragrance will do. Etat Libre D’Orange Fat Electrician is stunning: whipped cream, smooth vetiver, and a metallic edge that keeps it cool.

Look No. 4: Date Night

Soft and ladylike—ideal for an intimate wine bar or early dinner. Or anything really, because the foundation of this sweater-slip pairing is so versatile; it’s the surrounding context that informs the vibe. A cozy knit keeps things casual but is practical, too: leave it on, throw it over the shoulders for some coverage, tie it around your waist for a more layered look without hiding the décolletage, or go without and stuff it into the Pouch. (It’ll fit: the Bottega is the ultimate Mary Poppins bag.)

Now: Maison d’Etto Macanudo may not be the most obvious date night fragrance in a world of Baccarat Rouge (a masterpiece) and Delina (Exclusif, always), but it’s transporting. Powdery and pastoral with a hint of sweet, sun-kissed skin—what could be dreamier? Discerning noses will understand. Automatic green flag.

Look No. 5: Sensible In the City

By “The City,” I mean The City. (New York, of course. Where else?) I’m keeping this one on file for when I’m back in town later this year—black floor-length puffer jacket not pictured, but certainly included). The look is boring at worst, fine at best—but I wanted an excuse to spotlight three items that will continue to inform any sartorial decisions this season.

The first are the Cole Haan Grand Ambition boots. Ankle booties are deeply millennial and passé, but wear them under floor-grazing pants and let everyone assume they’re an acceptable calf-length. These in particular are a must for Manhattan; Cole Haan makes the most walkable women’s shoes. The sculptural heel is as much a design element as it is functional—any ballroom or Latin dancers will know the power of a flared heel—and without hyperbole, is key for comfortably trekking from Midtown to FiDi. I cannot recommend them enough.

The second: this Acne Studios bag, which I was lucky enough to get my hands on before they sold out. I don’t often go for trend-based accessories, but I couldn’t resist a piece that so perfectly captured the details I loved seeing on the runway. Bows of girlhood, 90s distressing, an early-aughts shoulder bag silhouette—dissonant in theory, considered in reality.

And finally, the fragrance. Marissa Zappas is a perfumer to watch for many reasons: even if you’re on the periphery of the perfume world, one look (and a few sniffs) in and it’s clear she creates perfumes for the girls. The scents can be worn by anyone and everyone of course, yet there’s an indefinable throughline in her work that embodies the female gaze. Queen Nzinga is fizzy. Warm. Evocative. The mere suggestion of a spritz is enough to create a cloud of amber and tamarind that cocoons you for days, it’s gorgeous.

Look No. 6: The Work Uniform

For nearly a decade I wore some variation of this look—less luxe, but similar in silhouette—while committing myself to climbing the corporate ladder. Life looks a little different lately, but this outfit still stands. It’s the accessories that have been refreshed: The bag? A 30-something’s Birkin. The shoes? Strappy shearling sandals, a Californian’s idea of cold-weather footwear. The watch: on my wishlist. And the perfume: Perfumehead Canadian Tuxedo, an ode to this L.A. working girl‘s new chapter.

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xx