As we continue to navigate these ever-changing times, in season two of What I Wore This Week, one Vogue editor shares their outfits—both on Zoom and IRL—from the previous week.
It’s been 7 months since I’ve been in New York. I thought I’d be in my home city, Chicago, for only two weeks, and left Brooklyn with only my coziest clothes, because who was going anywhere at that time? Weeks and months passed, and I found myself digging into my old clothes from when I was young to switch things up. But it all just felt so mundane–a melange of yoga pants and knits–and I quite honestly stopped enjoying getting dressed completely. My frustration was partly due to the fact that most of my favorites were back in New York, and also because I was in the mindset of “I’m not going anywhere, so what’s the point?” I was neglecting the fact that, whether I admitted it or not, what I put on set the tone for the day in terms of my mood, motivation, and energy.
Now that I’m back in my Brooklyn apartment, I have a newfound appreciation for my clothes. I used to think of myself as a pants girl, but after many months of being away from my favorite dresses and skirts, they’re all I want to wear. They’re joyful, fun to play with, and far more comfortable to lounge in than I realized. Although I keep my outings to a minimum, I make it a point to get dressed as though I have somewhere to go everyday. Approaching my morning routine this way has been super powerful, and when I embrace getting dressed, I feel more at ease and productive. It’s like designer, Sade Mims, said in her Texture Diary: “There’s so much power and beauty in simply getting ready and dressed for yourself. It feels so good. It’s a different feeling than constantly getting ready for others, or because you have somewhere to go.”
Monday
The week started off with pretty gloomy weather, so I mainly stayed inside and on Zoom. I mixed a white turtleneck with one of my favorite tie dye dresses to keep things fun. They’re both super comfortable to chill in at home but still look great on during virtual meetings as well. I swiped on an eyeshadow from Pat McGrath for a little sparkle. To wind down after work, I put on one of my favorite records Jazz Is Dead by Roy Ayers, which was a gift from a friend, and flipped through one of my favorite coffee table books, Black Girls Rock.
Tuesday
Tuesday was another bad weather day, and so I made it a point to double down on the cozy vibes. This comfy sweater from Kelly Rowland’s new collection is my favorite fall item right now. I put on a suede skirt that used to be my mom’s and added my favorite mismatched, asymmetrical earrings from Svnr Shop. A little blush from Mad Hippie was the perfect touch to give me a pop of color for meetings. After work, well, a little wine never hurt anyone.
Wednesday
Wednesday was finally nice out again! I went to get coffee at one of my favorite cafés in my neighborhood, Paris Dakar. My roommate (and best friend) Aurielle and I are obsessed with their chai latté. Before heading out, I put on my ASAI sheer turtleneck with a black dress underneath, and my new mini purse from Anima Iris. I couldn’t find my All Saints leather jacket sadly, so I put on my vintage one instead. Though I was drawn to my Kendall Miles boots, I went with my chunky heels because it was 70 degrees. I’ll pair the boots with this outfit when it gets cooler. I swiped on my new favorite mascara from UOMA and grabbed a face mask. After we got back, I answered a few emails and flipped through a few poems from Shake Loose My Skin to wind down.
Thursday
Thursday was another beautiful day. I put on my favorite velvet dress (which is now even more special because Imaan Hammam rocked it during a print shoot). It’s comfortable enough to lounge at home while reading Black Is Beautiful by Kwame Brathwhaite, and also chic enough to wear outside. I paired it with chunky sandals from ASOS, a vintage Ferragamo purse, sunglasses, and my vintage leather jacket (which I finally found!), and went to get a facial from my esthetician, Samantha Mims of Dermasaa and Brooklyn Face & Eye. This has been my first treatment since before March, so I was pretty nervous. But of all the places to go to for my first COVID-era treatment, I was glad I went here. Mims wore two face masks and a face shield during the facial and also walked me through how everything was sterilized well before I came in. Highly recommend!
Friday
Friday was all about being playful and comfortable. I layered a maxi jean dress over a pair of vintage jeans with a knit body suit underneath for warmth. I balanced out the all jean look with my sparkly Margiela Tabis, which make me feel like I’m heading to a disco. I was looking through my old poetry book, Awakening, for some inspiration because I’m trying to challenge myself to write new poems this winter. It’s been too long. At night, I went to my friend, Sojourner’s apartment for a roof top hang and a covid-safe (we both just tested negative) dinner. We ordered thai food and had some tea.