On Being (and Getting) Ready

January books and closing looks

Dear Reader,

Every afternoon, around 4pm, I take my dog, Meadow, for a walk around the neighborhood. We have different routes, from a quick twelve-minute loop to a longer hour stroll. After three years of Meadow walks, I’ve gotten pretty good at figuring out what kind of walk we’re both in the mood for. No matter the route, this walk is the highlight of my day.

One of the things I love most about my little pocket of Los Angeles is how small-town and familiar it feels; I rarely go on a walk without running into a kind neighbor. There is one neighbor, however, who always has something to say about my shoes. Every time I’ve seen him (a half-dozen times, at least), he’s felt the need to express his disapproval. It’s always “Why are you wearing those shoes?” or “Those aren’t walking shoes.” If you’ve been a reader of How To Wear It for a while, you can probably guess which shoes he’s referring to. Ballet flats, of course!!

This past weekend, on our usual afternoon walk with Meadow, we ran into him again. After we exchanged hellos, he zeroed in on me and asked, “Why are you so dressed up?” Uncomfortable and eager to move on, I answered him with a clumsy and slightly cheesy “You always need to be ready.”

Although my answer was awkward and definitely not my best (do you also always think of the right thing to say after the fact??), it was truthful. You do need to be ready—at least, I like to be. Not for the paparazzi, as he rebutted, but for life. For the life I want to live, and the way I want to move through it. That means getting dressed every single day in clothes (and shoes!!) that make me feel like me. Jeans that get better with every wear, tshirts and sweaters that have seen me at my best + worst, and, of course, my trusty ballet flats.

How to wear it: dog-walk outfit edition.

Getting dressed is personal. It’s not an invitation for commentary, nor does it hinge on anyone else’s approval. I’ve learned to trust what I like and let that be enough. What I wore that afternoon was the same outfit I’d worn earlier that day—to sushi with a friend, to run errands in a new part of town, and to stand in the kitchen making dinner. These are the clothes I live in, and they make me feel ready for whatever life presents.

I hope this letter reminds you that you don’t need permission to wear what you want, where you want, and when you want. The “right” outfit isn’t the one that earns approval; it’s the one that lets you move through your day with ease, confidence, and a little joy.

With that in mind, below are the six outfits I wore to close out January, along with two recent reads.

All my best,
Natalia

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January Closing Looks

Outfit One. Wearing an Asher pointelle polo // old Zara jeans // Pêche loafers // Parker Thatch bag and strap // red socks.

Over the Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale weekend, I ordered these Pêche loafers. They arrived in early January, and this was their debut. I love the red sock here, but I want to try a black sheer sock next.

Outfit Two. Wearing a Frank & Eileen fleece cardigan (like a sweatshirt, but as a cardigan) // Frank & Eileen pants // Manolo Blahnik flats.

The selfie // What it looks like to take an outfit selfie. You probably know that holding your phone upside down is the best way to get the whole outfit in the picture, but you might not know that if you set your phone timer, you can extend your arm and not have to worry about clicking. It will also take a burst, so you can make subtle movements and pick the image you like best.

Outfit Three. Wearing an RLT sweater // RLT tshirt // vintage Levi’s // Parker Thatch bag and strap // Margaux ballet flats.

I've been throwing my hair up in a pony a lot, especially when I want to dial up the “chill” on an outfit. Kelly Williams spoke about how showing a little skin at the neck can change the whole look of an outfit, and I agree. // My Dairy Boy pouch fits perfectly inside this bag!!

Outfit Four. Another dog-walk outfit. Wearing a Marine Layer coat // Quince zip-up // CozyLand pants // and ballet flats :). I could have done without the coat, but I wanted to cover my whole body after an everything shower. Know what I mean?!?

Outfit Five. Wearing a Prada trench coat (via The Real Real) // Nation tshirt // Levi’s jeans // The Horse bag // Margaux ballet flats.

Handles, a coffee shop in LA, has the BEST red counter. The color is so vibrant. Matcha is good, too.

This Prada trench coat is a dream. Here are some currently on The Real Real.

Option 1 (Size Small, $220) // Option 2 (Size Medium, $273) // Option 3 (Size Medium, $248) // Option 4 (Size Medium, $173) // Option 5 (Size XL, $143) // Option 6 (Size Small, $255).

Outfit Six. I don’t have a full-body picture in this look, so it’s a top-half/bottom-half split. Wearing a La Ligne V-neck (btw, I met up with Maurene Goo at the end of last year for coffee, and we both showed up wearing this sweater. Hers is in black, mine in white!!) // Clyque Tommy pants (as good as everyone says they are) // Deux Amis necklace // Marion Parke leopard kitten heels (a must with these pants pre-tailor).

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January Books

UK Vogue, slouchy bag, a cute leather holder for the new Saie CitySet spray, Lost Lambs tucked underneath.

January wasn’t a great reading month. Between travel, an upsetting/scary news cycle (and social feeds), and work deadlines, I didn’t feel especially pulled toward reading. To be honest, my anxiety hit an all-time high this month. If you’re also feeling this way, my heart goes out to you. I was also less willing than usual to push through books I wasn’t immediately connecting with—if it’s not clicking by the second chapter, I let it go, with plans to try again another time.

I started The Ten Year Affair (Erin Somers), which I was excited about, but couldn’t quite get into and returned quickly (the library waitlist is longgg). I’ve added myself back and will try again in a couple of months. On a bookstore visit, I picked up Lost Lambs (Madeline Cash), which so far is strange—but good? The character voices are strong, though it’s too soon to tell if it’s good weird or just weird weird.

I’m excited for this new month, mostly because I get to read One & Only by Maurene Goo!!