« Greatest Hits » is a series where I highlight my most-worn evergreen wardrobe essentials. First up this week is transitional weather coats and jackets.
My favorite times of year for dressing are March-May and September-November. Nothing’s too extreme temperature-wise, humidity (my nemesis) is low, yet there’s still some chill in the air which means I can wear all my favorite mid and lightweight coats and jackets. Unlike dead of winter when snow and windchill means the best option is a full-length duvet puffer coat or heat-wave summer when the objective is to wear as little as possible while still staying decent, spring and fall promise the sweet spot of integrating style and practicality in equal measure.
Regardless of how unpredictable spring weather can be, my transitional weather uniform always revolves around three reliable outerwear pieces:
a wool topcoat
a cotton gabardine trench
a leather jacket
Classics on repeat: topcoat & trench. The topcoat is from five years ago; the trench is over a decade old. They’re both well-loved wardrobe essentials. In spring I treat my topcoat as a less of a coat per se and more like a really long blazer; not having to layer on too much when the temps are in the 50s means I can let the coat’s clean lines be the focus and feel more like part of the whole outfit. (A light Uniqlo heattech top underneath serves as a warm but not overly warm base layer.)
My trench is indispensable for rainy April and mild but blustery spring days. The cotton gabardine is an ideal mid-weight material, and there’s room to layer underneath as needed. I had the tailor at my neighborhood dry-cleaners take up the sleeves a bit when I bought it in 2012 (shortening a jacket or coat sleeve is a minimal but impactful alteration that can really make something feel custom-fitted). Timeless outerwear is a category where it’s worth getting the best quality you can afford,1 as these are the evergreen wardrobe foundations that will anchor the rest of your outfits from year to year.
Gym life » Real life. Lately I’ve been wearing nonstop what I consider to be a contemporary classic: Adidas track pants with the ankle side-zips. I got two pairs several years ago for workout warmups, but quickly found myself wearing them all the time. Now I just treat them like regular black pants that also happen to be gym friendly. I’ve been pairing them with everything from ballet flats to boots and I think it works. Venn-diagramming my workout life with the rest of my wardrobe is so satisfying!
Speaking of which, the SUV sneakers from my Q1 WP update are truly like walking on jumbo marshmallow clouds. They make the rest of my sneakers look like underachievers with their ridiculously plushy cushioning and support. They run TTS and I highly recommend. Lots of funky and elegant colorways to choose from too.
Leather jacket + cuffed joggers. Any time I have a reason to wear a leather jacket, I do. A day in the 60s is perfect leather jacket weather, and I’ve been wearing mine on repeat with the fleecy joggers from my Q1 WP list. The cuff detail at the ankle allows for a slouchy fit but no dragging hems, so universal compatibility with flats, sneakers, even a mid-heel boot. Bonus points for the cozy fleece lining and the generous cotton-lined side pockets. Just a very nice laidback essential for weekends and popping out for errands. I plan on always packing a pair for travel.
What’s on the regular rotation for you this spring?
Both the topcoat and trench are examples of “buy once, cry once.” I kept waiting for the topcoat to go on sale; it never did, and after two months of thinking about it I finally just bought it. No regrets. Same with the trench all those years ago (see my original review). Usually I’m all for finding things on sale whenever possible, but in this case both of these pieces have proven themselves well worth the full price.
I love the insouciance of the adidas pants with the tan tailored coats. *chef's kiss* i also love pieces that cross the decade mark.
After years of trying to go the bargain route for medium blue straight leg full length jeans, I finally caved and bought full price. No regrets.
I love a buy once, cry once approach. Surprisingly for me, an ankle bracelet, which is actually a bracelet bracelet is the thing on heavy rotation for spring! It’s orange, and it has beads on it. I found it in my drawer and resuscitated it rather than buying the Miu Miu runway version, and I must say it brings instant cheer every time I see my ankle in it! I don’t even have to think about how to wear it. It looks great when it’s just totally wrong. 😘