Rough start in New England, W1. Summer layers and unfamiliar surroundings. 6 takeaways.

Feeling unsettled? It's going to be ok!

So many of us lose our sh*t in summer, because we lose the tools that help us get to Lofted Settledness — that feeling of nailed it-satisfaction with your personal style on any given day. I believe in the importance of this feeling — a lot! It’s why I do lots of exploring around tools we can all use to get there, things like wearing leather in summer.

Allison Bornstein

has given us an entire library on summer layering: here, here, here to share a few. And for this week’s theme, I thought I’d test run some approaches to summer layering here in Boston where it’s been in the 80s and 90s. And even 100. And humid. I walk you through my approach here!

Here’s how that went.

First, the takeaways.

1. Use light pieces with holes for aeration and a layered look.

2. Long over short creates an interesting layered effect in back when you open up the long piece (i.e. shirtdress, long buttonup) and button a button behind you.

3. Something very light at the waist and not super think adds interest and doubles as AC assist.

4. Like the idea of kimono or something else slinky/light with cotton tee at night.

5. A layering of necklaces can go a long way (an

   Allison Bornstein
   -ism). I would add to be on the lookout for long necklaces in those Tibi Ring 3 colors and others that interest you.

6. I noticed that I lean a lot of thrifted/secondhand shirts that are kind of — worn and threadbare. This makes them even thinner + more lightweight. Hard to find/judge without being there IRL. Something you can look out for in markets/thrift stores this summer. As Cher said in Clueless, “PROJECT!”

MONDAY

What:

• Callas Milano skirt

• Tibi Harry bootie and navy sock

• secondhand Carhartt x Marni jacket (I think this is men’s - I’m in a small)

• Gucci Ophidia north/south tote with studded initials

• Prada men’s trompe l’oeil striped shirt

Why:

Traveling from MIA to Boston and this was really about function. I wanted to take this jacket and skirt to Boston so they needed to go on me.

Outcome: Cute. I love the colors, love the pieces, and love the print mix. This was perfectly functional. But I did feel very covered, possibly Amish.

TUESDAY

What:

• Secondhand Dries “layered look” top

• Tibi pull on skirt

• Vintage red Chanel bag from mom

• Tibi Mikhail flat

Why:

I love the thought of the built in layered top - it’s cotton, the sleeves are aerated, and it creates just ONE layer. Since it’s kinda “bad ass” the lady bag created some conflict. You know I am very into a Tibi pleated skirt. A happy place. I went for a long walk, so the flat worked well.

Outcome: Lofted Settledness

Later

Later

• Same skirt + flats

• Vintage cotton Castlebejak sweater with cartoon motif

• A Shirt Story - these are thrifted, redone shirts curated and recreated by a former magazine editor

• Swarovski cocktail ring

Outcome: Lofted Settledness.

WEDNESDAY

What:

• Courreges mens pull on shorts (oh here’s an $80 alt from Sporty + Rich)

• New Balance sneakers

• secondhand Frame denim shirt (if you want new, I think RL does them well - like this men’s or this women’s version)

Why: I went for a walk intending to shower after. This shirt was around my waist - it was fine. I was going to say hi to my son. But he wasn’t at work yet. So I decided to work in a hotel bar. Then I texted my sister in law and she was in the neighborhood and dropped by for lunch. Looking all cute! A reminder to me not to leave the house without making sure I feel good. Also the problem I have with this shirt, which is very softtttt, is that it’s neither big enough nor small enough — know what I mean? And I LOVE these shorts but I love them styled with sandals or loafer for contrast. Like this! I loved this!

Outcome: Not to exaggerate - but: Nightmare.

Later

After the above, finally walked home and showered - and then I had to hustle to my dinner date with my Gubbie (gay + hubbie = Gubbie) at the wine bar next door.

What:

• Tibi Winslows - always a good choice after a low style moment; these are my instant “i’m back! all good!”

• Tory Burch pierced white sandals, a gift I chose because I have a lot of black for summer nights that could use a pop (I love the toe detail and sculpted heel on these — which function as jewelry. TTS. I am often between a 37.5/38. Got the 38 and have room. These are comfy enough to get around the block, but not go for walk.)

• Kimono gifted by Gubbie

• “Extraordinario” tee from my friend Dafne (see below!) - graphic tees with words found here

Why: Post shower, in sweats and tee and felt SO GOOD, and had so little time, I never put my planned outfit on at all. It was easy enough to add the kimono and the shoe and skate right out. And after so NOT feeling good, I felt AMAZING. First of all you know the way I feel about the Winslow. I AM HOME. Then a graphic tee with a word I love. This is the very essence of me, since before I could read. That I could see my friend while in his gift. And then the contrast elements — the dressy kimono/shoe, casual tee/sweats. If Kelly of

Midimalist

gives us “vibe sandwich” — would be dressy top, sweats, dressy shoe - here where it’s casual tee/casual sweats/dressy top layer/dressy shoe — what is that, a double decker sandwich? Double stuff Oreo? Taco? I don’t know but I sighed with relief wearing it.

Outcome: Lofted Settledness. I felt like maybe I was getting my groove back.

THURSDAY

What:

• Shell necklace from my friend Susanne (current fave options plus this one my friend

  Liz McKay
  wears … linked under her photo. I am deeply contemplating rn.)

• Long orange beads Kenneth Jay Lane from eBay - it’s personal, for me I don’t care if it’s the cheap part of KJL or the signed/vintage. I like length and or color. Some examples. (unrelatedly I want this now)

• Balenciaga dress (past season), pulled + buttoned behind me. (A more recent one… Cheaper here, and real though not sure re returns. A very cool one, big sale, still not cheap! Layered, real site + good price. Cute one. TRR. Mine has a cut sleeve — feel free to cut yours where you want! Amazing, has sizes and $180.

• secondhand Loro Piana foldback loafers (if you want to be fancy, not a bad place to do it. These are incredible IRL. I would go 1/2 size up and if you vary between sizes, go a half size up from the larger of the two.) Another good splurge I can attest to - the Gucci Gigi. TTS but if on the verge go up. And the foldable schmushy Saint Laurent if you’re lucky enough to get your size. TTS, they stretch a little. AND if you don’t require a collapse back and want a beautiful reasonable loafer that does “slim” in your outfit — I have and love these. Take the bigger of your 2 sizes/size up if you have a wide foot.

• past season textured Dries elastic waist shorts - I think what makes these a go to for me is that they’re easy and pull on but have textural interest and can be dressed up if you want. I think these Comme Cis (I have the brown) would work well. More options, incl secondhand.

Why:

Showered (finally) and worked, went to doctor’s. The purpose of this theme was to see if you could get some layered interest even in heat. Here the necklaces give layered. But also, by having a dress versus a shirt and then buttoning it in back (just pull it, open, to the back and then button a couple buttons from the bottom the way you would if wearing normally) I get this effect in back where the shirt is an interesting layer. I find this necklace interesting. Is it terracotta/Tibi Ring 3? or pastel ring 4? Adding this and the browns keeps the 2 main pieces less matchy.

Outcome: Lofted Settledness.

Night

What:

• vintage Escada necklace from Castanet (ok THIS is a great comp - what I love is it’s like a giant door knocker with the kind of subdued colors of the outfit and good length. And this!)

• Tory Burch pierced white sandals, (in a 38 and you can see they’re a little big, live in perpetual fear of a heel over the edge IYKYK)

• secondhand Nomia blazer with slit sleeves (this Tibi is the vibe) … slit back, size 4 $100, anyone? Slightly off topic but not entirely, THIS is amaze - size 6.

• No bag — toooo much going on for that; took phone and a key

Why: Grabbing wine and apps with my SIL, so just swapped out a few things.

Outcome: Lofted Settledness.

FRIDAY

What:

• Aflalo pants/shorts (xs only now) Lovely secondhand option. Adjacent + delightful.

• Swarovski Lucent cocktail ring

• Past season Tibi lace up loafer/mules. Saw these Rag & Bones IRL and thought they were very good. Splurge-worthy (and comfy) loafer sandal hybrid.

• Old secondhand Tibi tee that ties in back (today I’d use this; the point is the same, getting to see the other tank). Sleeveless maroon tee under there (secondhand Rick Owens, the point is cotton! don’t add heat! This is good — I have it — and good colors).

Why: Playing with layers on a hot day. I wanted to experiment with cotton with cutout + cotton under. Worked well — went for a long walk. Hung out at my parents’. Then drove to the summer place.

Outcome: Lofted Settledness.

SATURDAY

What:

• A Shirt Story shirt (these are curated and upcycled by a former magazine editor but they all seem sold out… you could find a shirt you love or steal one from family and have the dry cleaner replace the buttons or you could do it, but I’m trying to be realistic)

• R13 shredded cotton sweater (they make iterations of this regularly — I like it b/c usually cotton sweaters are the same, and this looks different, even just around your waist, and also looks casual)

• Riand28 drawstring pants

• Gucci mules (blue/9 and 6/6.5) and the new style is awesome

Why: Another day I sat around in pajamas. When I finally showered put this on to have dinner at home at the big house. Drawstring pants are comfy. The mules are mules but add a little Miami to it all.

Outcome: Lofted Settledness.

SUNDAY

What:

• Past season jumpsuit from my friend Tanja’s shop in Portland. Her brand is Mulxiply. The shop is called Ember. Do not miss if you have a Maine trip! I couldn’t find anything comparable that wowed me, but remembered I liked Alex Mill’s jumpsuits .. so I went there, where I was promptly distracted by how good their pajamas are! Anyhoo, I like this one, and I actually love the ring 3 thistle color, which would be so good with a red flip flop…But I’d order 2 sizes bigger. In Tanja’s I’m in a large. If you want it short sleeved, cut the sleeves! Or shove them up.

• Old Tibi sandals (these - but yes, they come undone). The point is to get some skin and vibe contrast with the jump suit, so not a sneaker or flip flop. Actually, that BA&SH one I tried IRL would work well. Or the Tory (I mean I personally am down for the silver. Ask your cobbler to take the charm off if you want). Or this crazy Pucci if that’s your mood.

Why: I forgot the shitshow that is a New England Sunday. Rolled out to brunch in pajamas, no time for a pic, not that you’d want it — it was a “leaving right now” thing. And then immediately after it’s pulling stuff out of the fridge, packing, sheparding unwilling cats, etc etc. I just wanted to feel comfortable and like myself for this operation. The shoes kept untying, but they were useful to lace the pant legs in!

Outcome: Lofted Settledness.

OUTFIT PLANNING

This week: Prep with a twist, playing with the tropes. Watch the live here. Here I am — in New England. And many of you are landing in prep settings. How can we be ourselves there?

Next week: Working with things you bought or were gifted that have a little more of that summer vibe than you’re used to. A little market-y, etc. How do you make those feel like you?

Let’s get dressed.

XOXO,

Rachel

Notes:

1. I am using affiliate links, and I do not use them lightly. In fact here’s a whole post on it. Thank you for using these links to shop. Every little bit helps!

2. My Market editor Wendy and I are in limited, special, and really particular ways working with a select group of partners and accepting gifts in order to inform you better, especially around attainably priced brands and pieces. Here’s something on that.

3. We are also starting to get promo codes from brands, and here’s an updated list; be sure and check weekly before purchasing. I grew up shopping Filenes Basement. Your girl loves a discount:

CLOTHES

Callas Milano : Take 15% off with code HMS15

Heidi Merrick: Take 10% off with code HEYMRSSOLOMON10

Left on Friday: Take 10% off with code HMS10

Sanctuary: Take 15% off with code RS15

LUISAVIAROMA: Take 30% off full price items with this link and code LOVEX30 (excluding Adidas & Salomon)

Asher: Take 15% off with code RACHEL15

SHOES

Nomasei: Take 15% off with code HMS15

JEWELRY

AtPresent: Take 15% off with code HEYMRSSOLOMON15

BEAUTY

Lake & Skye: Take 15% off with code HMS15

Ursa Major: Take 20% off with code HEYMRSSOLOMON20

FRE Skincare: Take 25% off with code MRSSOLOMON