Well, here we are.
First, welcome to my new subscribers and to my regular readers. This space brings me great joy and I’m so thrilled you’re here.
The Summer went by in a beautiful flash, and now everyone is triggered that Fall is on the horizon. Trump has a mugshot, Carrie bought a mansion on Gramercy Park but has to wait five years for Aidan and his tight whities to move in, while Kanye has his pants down (and shoes off) in Venice. TikTok has strawberry girls, tomato girls, glazed donut skin and cinnamon bun hair or some such. There are fires and hurricanes and mass shootings and all sorts of crazy shit, and this girl is tired. Overstimulated. Desiring a room in which to stare into blank, empty space. And it’s not just me.
And the young ones also feel the pain, with social media being used less to discover influencers and more as a way to group chat with those you hold close. So it’s all about intimacy vs. discovery. Of seeking comfort and real community vs. nebulous friends and following people whose vacation and style porn is triggering. As someone who writes about style and beauty for a living, I can’t help but look around and feel the collective confusion over just about everything. It’s a lot. So where do we go now?
Pandemic dressing gave way to dopamine dressing, but I can’t be alone in my lack of interest in wearing a sparkly top, and those old sweats aren’t cutting it either. Lately, I’ve been having hot flashes, and nothing feels right, and voluntarily hiding seems more on the menu than seeking. But if I do wish to leave the house, I crave solitude in the form of a simplified silhouette. Take an old no-name raw silk burnt burgundy caftan with a keyhole neck and slightly belled sleeves I found in my closet and can’t stop wearing. It’s such a graceful piece when stress-free and elevated vibes are desired. There’s just something in the air saying shhhhhh to me.
So it’s no surprise to me that I’m seeing 90s minimalism make a big comeback for Fall, a season of rentrée- back to school, back to the city, back to life, and some version of reality. So why not return to one of the most dialed-in eras of fashion? And really, did it ever go away? For dedicated followers of the fash, the 90s were golden. Think a simple grey (grey is the new black) sweater. A classic trouser. Ballet flats.A roomy blazer or a shift dress with some volume. These are things I reach for every year but want more than ever. Clothes that are quiet soothe my very jangly nerves, and my closet needs a clean sweep. So instead of recommending things to buy, I challenge all of us to go within. As in within our own closets and wardrobes to channel some classic 90s goodness, as shown below. Calm clothes for crazy times. Yes, please. After all, the 90s supers are on the cover of Vogue for the September issue, and I, for one, will be queuing in line for my signed copy of the new Linda Evangelista/Steven Meisel book. After all, Fashion Week is upon us.
So simple. So stunning. Feeling the sheer black hose, too.
Timeless at Helmut Lang, early 90s vibes. Could this ever not work?
The beautiful icon of 90s cool-girl minimalism, Kate Moss. The whole outfit is amazing.
White on the body, black on the feet is a fabulous fit check.
This. i just want this head to toe.
Linda +David Sims= Magic. That hair, too.
Scrolling through the J.Crew lookbook online, I feel seen. Minimalism is alive and well, and damn if this didn’t make neutral dressing feel like validation for too much TikTok. Plus, at 53, I’m on the hunt for pieces I already own, supplemented with a few new things that make me feel confident, effortless, and ready for whatever cuckoo nuts and “thickening” (my middle, though)come my way. Clothes that are age-agnostic, not too revealing, and cut through the clutter. They worked then, and they still work now. Full stop.
I’m all about those bunker basics, and with so much uncertainty in the ether, I suspect that you, too, will seek solace in a simple slip dress with a cozy sweater on top when the going gets tough. You do you, but that’s what I’m doing. Brands like Tibi, Another Tomorrow, and Theory do it right, but you can get in the game with Everlane (looking so good lately) or Quince at a much better price point. So you see, when it comes to Fall fashion, September need not be an issue.
If you want to add a sparkly shoe or a statement this or that, I’m not mad. As for beauty, I love the look of this sexy little bob, and the color is so good. If you’re in need of a new eyeshadow sitch, this spendy quad from Surratt is minimalist magic. Neutrals that last and are sublime.
I’m not trying to be grim or boring, mind you. I’m just ISO sanity, and this manner of dress is always the salve. Cheers to Fall, my favorite time of year. Let’s get through it with more style and less stress. Catch me midmonth, where I’ll talk caftans and who knows what else. Enjoy Summer’s grand finale. And be kind to each other as the chill begins. Me and my (everchanging) minimalist mood are here for it. XO
I love everything! Oh Sheri how I long for the Jil Sander I gave away and have no idea why. I wish it all to magically appear in my closet. I love the minimal look as all the splash and uberglam doesn't age well or at all as well as only good on twenty-somethings and then poof over. Great picks this month.