The grandeur
The removal of the holiday spirit was everywhere today. My building elevator and lobby were littered with tree needles, the lights and baubles are completely gone from MKT, and when I met Vaio for lunch at the Rotunda (thanks for the generous treat V!), we noticed the Union Square tree had been removed.
There’s a holiday episode of Pete & Pete (arguably one of the greatest TV shows of all time, alongside Strangers With Candy and Twin Peaks) that hones in on the sudden shift from festive cheer post-holiday blues. The town decides to keep Christmas going for days, leading to their creepy garbage man refusing to collect their trash until they surrender their trees. Ultimately, they realize that what makes Christmas special is how rare it is, and normal pedestrian life is necessary to give the holiday season its luster. It’s a good point to keep in mind as we return to the humdrum of another year.
I’ll need to have my tree removed tomorrow (along with my horrible mirror and old vacuum). Thankfully, it’s still pretty chilly, so I went cozy this Saturday.
The Christmas is(n’t) Over outfit
Pilcro denim coat
On any day, in any Anthropologie, you’ll find some guy sitting on the sidelines, scrolling through his phone as he waits for his wife or girlfriend to shop. But there’s so much for men! Like a glazed bowl from which to sip his morning coffee with both hands, Moroccan themed towels to make his bathroom feel like a spa, or a piece of outerwear like what’s pictured above.
This coat is my favorite, most-used purchase from Anthro (apart from my duvet cover and green cake cutter - other manly items). It’s basically an elongated denim trucker turned into something that feels more like a duster. I use it a lot to offset metallic or ornate shoes. You could be wearing a very adventurous outfit, throw this guy on, and suddenly you’re a chic gay rancher in Colorado having an affair with the town sheriff or something.
H&M sweater
The quiet luxury look has everyone talking about quality knitwear, but they’re not high on my investment scale. I live in California and prefer layering with scarves, cardigans or outwear to adapt to San Francisco’s microclimates. As such, the handful of sweaters I needn’t have high wool content, and I’m happy to find them on sale at H&M.
One weird policy of mine when I consider high street knits or coats: I avoid black (opting for gray, navy, or oat tones), traditional cuts / tailoring, and favor a generous fit (not baggy but oversized). I’ll always go for the generous gray coat with the dropped sleeve over a nipped-in black traditional coat at H&M. In doing so, I land on pieces that look more expensive than they actually are. Vaio asked me if this was cashmere, and I proudly said it was a poly-blend from the women’s sales rack at H&M. And it feels great.
Chanel Bombay Boy Bag
To keep the jingle bell rock spirit alive.
One thing about Chanel Boy: Aesthetically, they’re my favorite of all the Chanel bag bags (its mannish size, the chunky ruthenium chain suits my proportions better than a dainty leather-woven one, and I love its tie to the tragic Boy Capel). But the one design element I don’t like on the traditional Boy bag is that the chain is attached to the flap, not the main compartment of the bag.
There are Boy bags that correct this flaw. The Boy Reverso, which is my first Boy bag and continues to be a hero piece. And then this guy, which is in every aspect a traditional Boy bag (with the diamond quilting on the main flap, not the trim), but smartly holds the bag at its sides instead of the flap. I also wanted this bag for the removable straps (and sometimes an outfit calls for a thick leather strap instead of ruthenium).
One432 star slippers
These normally come in white canvas with black leather stars, but I had them make a version in black leather with white stars. With the gold stripes, this is something of my take on a sports shoe (for lazy city strolling and rifling through the women’s section). But in the face of fading Christmas ornamentation, these jutes with stars and gold thread allow me to be the tinsel in this town.
Mint Designs socks
Had the good fortune to speak with the ladies behind Mint Designs while shopping overseas. Some really amazing jackets / coats, but I had to exercise restraint after spending a year thinning out my closet. Must remember to avoid throwing into the dryer - they feel like they’ll shrink to toddler size.
H&M cap
Some gloss to play with texture and offset the coziness of the outfit. Vaio took photos of me during lunch to show how the grandeur of the Rotunda bounced off of my head. So there’s that.