Audit 000
ironic graphics, pjs, & little boys' tees
I’m back after being MIA in NYC for the past week! And I’m kicking off my return to the Substack world with some much needed organization for my newsletter.
This post cuts off in email b/c I’ve provided abundant images, so read in browser/app :)
I began on Substack writing about miscellaneous topics that piqued my interest. Now that I’ve been here a while, I’ve noticed patterns in what I like to talk about. Inspired by Leandra’s Letters of Rec and many others, I welcome you to my first ever Audit.
Inspired by my egregiously large mood board that I treat as a sort of mental palace, each Audit talks about the cool stuff living rent free in my head right now. It’s a combination of inspiration, appreciation, and mostly attainable aspiration. It’s a home for those really cool things that sometimes get lost in the shuffle of life.
What started as a slideshow of wishlist items quickly spiraled into a map of my entire fashion/culture brain. Can you tell I’m a visual learner?
Seat belts everyone, let’s make like The Magic School Bus and dive into it (my brain)!
Niche Graphics
I love a well-done ironic graphic or play on words. For example, I recently discovered that I had squirreled away my favorite childhood top which now effectively functions as a baby tee.
Said tee displays a wired earbuds graphic around the collar, imitating how real earbuds might hang in a trump l’oeil sort of way alike Eleanor from Rabbit Fur Coat recently discussed. This top is also particularly relevant in the wired IT girl era.
Other examples of fun graphics I’m wearing right now include
my “came to break hearts” hat (thrifted). I’m not breakin’ anybody’s heart any time soon but I love feeling like a mid 5’ 11” (says he’s 6’) white boy wearing it in a ironic but not really ironic way. It’s DIY mediocre white man privilege for just $2! If you want a conversation starter, this one gets the job done.
Gremlins tee (reads “don’t feed after midnight” — also thrifted). Because you definitely should NOT feed me after midnight or you’ll end up with a rambunctious creature eerily similar to a Gremlin. I also think Gremlins are super adorable. I’m officially adopting them as my spirit animal.
“i’m desperate” baby pink ringer tee which I can’t believe I don’t have any pictures of but trust me its super fun— very 2000s.
This is the perfect trend to purchase second-hand. Sifting through the giant graphic tee section at a thrift store is like a treasure hunt on steroids. However, there are also some designs I’ve found online recently that I’m loving.
Anna Wintour Sports Baby Tee. First of all, I love a good play on words. Secondly, the only sports I enjoy are winter sports. Thirdly, the graphic is hilarious— particularly the intricate outfits and the copy/paste headshot. It’s so simple but so effective. I’m truly debating coughing up the $80 for this top.
“Luteal” Baseball Cap. I love the idea of alerting others to your mental/physical state overtly via your accessories. Again, simple but effective. And funny.
Are we moving past brand-based signaling and towards values/humor-based signaling in fashion?
While I’ve always loved a silly little graphic, I think it fits especially well into the niche-within-a-niche-filled culture of late. The streets are saying merch is dead and the market is oversaturated with collabs. Are these typical methods of displaying niche interests too accessible now? A baseball cap declaring you’re in your luteal phase distinguishes yourself even further from the typical consumer. It communicates not just the social caché of wearing an in-the know brand, but also that you’re funny.
My second hypothesis is that we want an “in” to starting IRL conversation. People aren’t serendipitously talking to each other in person anymore. Instead we are staring at our phones and meeting SOs on dating apps. Except we hate it and we’re lonely. Are niche graphics a remedy to counteract isolation in a digital age?
Pajamas and Undergarments as Clothes
are another recent obsession of mine. My favorite day of school when I was younger was pajama day. I clearly haven’t changed much, though I’ve classed it up a bit since.
My current takes on this are a
Butter yellow silky set, very similar to look 1 from Ann Demeulemeester Fall 24 RTW collection. This fully feels like wearing pajamas, but accessorized with my periwinkle jelly shoes and my pony hair purse, transforms into a chic and airy ensemble perfect for the last few days of summer. Or if like Ann you want a more edgy, transitional season look, you can pair a satiny set with contrasting textiles such as leather and fur.
Jockey tighty whities a la Bella Hadid. Why does it feel so scandalous wearing these out vs. totally normal to wear bike shorts or spandex? It’s thrilling, comfy, and a fun balance of masculine and feminine elements.
Slip dresses feel like the perfect blend of casual and dressed up. You’re wearing a dress, but you’re also still technically wearing pjs. Slip dresses are also uniquely versatile— you can wear one for almost any occasion depending on how you style it. Quick errands in the summer? Slip dress. The club? Slip dress!
Traditional boxer shorts are another popular option, though a bit too casual-feeling for me. Isn’t it strange how even underwear can carry different levels of formality?
If I were to psychoanalyze this one, my instinct would be 1. we want to look like we didn’t try too hard. E.g., wearing a pair of boxer briefs instead of an intentionally matched Alo set to run errands seems effortlessly cool. Pajamas can also add an element of softness and casualness that juxtapose more polished or structured pieces.
Secondly, there’s the alluringly rebellious appeal of wearing something out that’s typically meant for private viewing. Even if it doesn’t show any more skin than a regular crop top or mini skirt would.
Third, is my childhood rationale: I just wanted to show off that I had really cool pajamas.
Softies
If you couldn’t tell from my love of pajamas, I’m a creature of comfort. Somehow it took me 24 years of life to discover the beauty that is cashmere/alpaca/any non-itchy and insulating natural fiber. I run cold, so I always need to bring a jacket with me which 1. is annoying to carry around and 2. frequently swallows my outfits. A cashmere sweater on the other hand is lightweight and compact-able into any bag should you desire to shed your layers.
Softies, especially good quality ones tend to be expensive. However, not to beat a dead horse here, but you can find delectably soft sweaters second-hand. I suggest keeping an eye out at the thrift next time you go.
My current rotation consists of
An Aritzia tan alpaca-blend, tie back sweater with a mock neck. I found this at my local Goodwill for ~$8. It is so cozy and it looks good with just about everything. It’s an ideal mix of girly ballerina and put-together adult.
A black cashmere turtleneck I thrifted years ago. A staple that goes with anything in case of fashion emergency.
My blue cashmere cardigan for preppy layering.
A grey cashmere v-neck I just got at Century 21 that I’m super excited to style in the transition weather weeks!
If I had infinite money though, I’d definitely purchase one or two or three of those beautiful cashmere sweaters with the really long sleeves.
I’m Blue (da-boo-dee-da-boo-die)
I’m a color girl and my latest obsession is blue. In a recent post, I talked about my love of ice blue, but I’m also enjoying deep indigo and periwinkle hues right now.
I’ve been incorporating these oceanic tones primarily as accent pieces in my outfits, for example, a darling blue hair bow or my periwinkle jelly shoes. But they can also play host to a monochromatic ensemble e.g., my ice blue purse & top combo.
Monochrome Basics
Lack of pattern is the new IT pattern, and all-black/monochrome outfits are H-O-T-T-O-G-O this season. But will these tonally-homogenous ensembles look like 2020 microtrends to us in a few years?
Despite their seemingly timeless nature, black and monochrome have weaved in and out of popularity just like any pattern or set of hues. Neon was big in the 80s/early 2010s, pastels were in for the early 2020s, and now in 2024 we are sepia filtering our outfits.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the neutral monochrome look, it is so chic! Although I’m personally apt to add a pop of color before I walk out the door.
But let me put you on to a few not-so-secret secrets…
I swear people who say “invest in your basics” don’t know the power of a $2 little boy’s Hanes white t-shirt. This is my favorite plain white tee.
Slightly more expensive are my collection of second-hand jeans that I LOVE to death. To be fair, I’m lucky because the Crossroads Lincoln Park location is really good. I recently bought a pair of white Rachel Comey jeans for $40 (below). But most of my fav jeans are vintage Levi 501s in various washes, which you can find many places for around ~$20-30 pp.
I never buy denim new anymore, especially since my body and trending silhouettes are constantly changing. Every girl knows what a pain in the butt jean shopping can be. Resale shops offer a wide selection of brands, sizes, and silhouettes, allowing you to discover what fits you best without having to order a pair of jeans from every denim retailer.
I DO agree you should spend up for your jeans, as fast fashion ones tend to wrinkle easily and look less put-together/clean.
Focusing on Your Hairdo
(rather than clothing items themselves)
Want a real low consumption way to freshen up your looks? Try a new hairstyle. I love pairing a more basic outfit with an attention-grabbing hairstyle. My current favorites are a
chopstick half-updo w/ little curled ringlets
anything with bows and headbands to add a girly touch
baseball cap with pigtails/loose braid(s)
I’ve been Substack-fluenced
A Miffy/Melanie keychain for my purse. I’m not a big bag charm girl. I tried it out last year when the trend was first emerging on social media
However, I realized I quite like the simplicity of a beautiful bag by itself. On the other hand, I saw a Substack Note of a bag with a Miffy & Friends Melanie key chain and I’m now willing to make an exception to my rule. This also aligns with the discourse I’ve already seen: to be a true Birkin girl, your bag decor should come naturally from knick-knacks you adore and discover over time. E.g., while in NYC this past week I picked up a lil keychain I may add along with miss Melanie.
Berets accessorized with pins. I had ordered a set of black, white, grey, and red berets and was already excited to wear them this fall. I’m even more excited now to wear them with little pins as decor too.
@matchboxdiaries popped up in my feed and i’m a big fan The Miu Miu thin oval tortoiseshell glasses are all over Substack right now, and they’ve infiltrated their way into my heart (and shopping cart) too. I bought a dupe though because I’m not spending $200+ on a non-functional pair of glasses.
Equestrian. Elbow patches. Riding pants. Horse girl core. You know the deal.
Gave it to Me: & I’ve Worn it into the Ground Edition
Cow/pony hair. This one has gone mainstream so I didn’t want to devote a whole section to it. I have been searching for the perfect cow hair bag for ages and finally found one on Depop for $30!
Loafers of all shapes and sizes (brown, black, slim, chunky, zebra-print, etc.)
Specifically, paired with crew socks to demonstrate that I’m still young and hip.
Thanks for reading and look out for a recap of my travels this past week! I don’t know how you permanent New Yorkers do it all. I have an inbox stuffed with newsletters to catch up on…
Love how long you’ve had that headphones shirt!