It’s Laundry Day and your sweats are begging you for a new vibe.
If you have kids you have seen all the Toy Story movies. If not, the general premise is toys become alive, talk and play as soon as the kids leave the room. I’ve always felt like my clothes did the same thing. They for sure talk shit about me when I decide on an outfit and leave for the day. Like the other day my jeans were bitching to the silk trousers that they would love a day off and to be folded nicely vs. thrown on the floor. I also heard the sequin shirt complaining to the basic white button down that she only gets play when I go to dinner and clearly that isn’t happening. She went as far as to wish for school drop off, begging for my slimy kid hands to be all over her. Are you worried about my mental health yet?
My point is, you most likely have a few items in your closet that have received some extra COVID love that maybe wouldn’t have seen so much play in normal times. Maybe your sweats or your track suit were the go to items for day 12, day 358, day 589 or day 890,456 of this whole thing. Maybe you feel like life can carefully and cautiously return to normal and you can wear actual other clothes again, GASP! The first step in breaking a sweat pant habit is to go slow, not all at once, you don’t want to shock the system. Too fast and you are one sweat suit away from wearing a neck pillow to dinner. So, I made it easy and took my favorite COIVD loungewear and paired them with similar items. Blazers, ruffle things, denim, etc.
My starting point was this comfy and easy sweatsuit. The tried and true matching hoodie with pant. The one I am wearing is from the amazing brand 123 Ciao. If you need an upgrade to yours here are some other great options. Kule Madewell GoodLife Richer-Poorer Los Angeles Apparel
This is the molasses step in sweat and real clothing integration. Put the slippers away but keep the hoodie and pant set. Add a heel and a cute blazer and you are presentable. Here I paired a classic d'orsay heel (which is a heel that is cut away to reveal the arch of the foot) with a classic tuxedo blazer, in this case one from the boy’s department for a more snug and shorter fit. I like grounding the grey with black, it helps elevate the sweats while making it feel instantly chic. You can add color to your sweat pant look but keep it in the same color family. You can also go simple on the blazer and wild on the shoes or vice versa but don’t go crazy on both.
Here are a few ideas to help you get this look. Zara Blazer Jcrew Kids Blazer Tibi Blazer Veronica Beard Blazer TOTEME Blazer Victoria Beckman MaxMara Blazer Joie Blazer Reiss Blazer Joseph Blazer The Frankie Shop Blazer Gauchere Blazer
Armani Heel Christian Louboutin Heel Sam Edelman Heel Kurt Geiger Gianvito Rossi Heel Ann Taylor Heel Francesco Russo Heel Charles & Keith Heel Manolo Blahnik Heel Jimmy Choo Heel Gianvito Rossi Heel Nine West Heel
If you feel brave enough to take that complaining sequin blazer who hasn’t seen any human contact out of your closet, try her with your sweats. I like this fancy blazer with a mens inspired loafer. Keeping it tonal is key, the sequins sing all on their own.
Here are a few ideas to help you get this look. Vintage Sequin Blazer Vintage Sequin Blazer Vintage Sequin Blazer Asos Blazer Maurizio Miri Blazer Asos Blazer Santoni Blazer Brandon Maxwell Blazer Asos Blazer Sarah Ashley Blazer William David Blazer Norma Kamali Blazer L’Agence Blazer Banana Republic Blazer
Pedro Garcia Loafer Tod’s Loafer Schutz Loafer Giuseppe Zanotii Loafer Red Valentino Loafer Aerosoles Loafer Roseanna Loafer G.H. Bass Loafer
Never met a puffy sleeve I didn’t like. I love the mixing of high/low here. The cotton and casualness of the sweat pant mixed with the flirty satin top make this look so cute people won’t care you are wearing sweats to dinner, who doesn’t love a little room around the waist when you are eating? I added gold jewelry with a matching heel. Again, the theme in the outfit is intentional as to elevate the sweat pant.
Here are a few ideas to help you get this look. Alice & Olivia Blouse The Attic Blouse Brogger Blouse Rebecca Taylor Blouse Proenza Schouler Blouse Amanda Uprichard Blouse Amur Blouse Rhode Blouse Noir Kei Blouse Simone Rocha Blouse H&M Blouse H&M Blouse Asos Blouse Tibi Blouse Tibi Blouse Verishop Blouse Jonathan Simkhai Blouse Markarian Blouse Cinq a Sept Blouse
NinaLilou Heel Sergio Rossi Heel Gianvito Rossi Heel Saint Laurent Heel Francesco Russo Stuart Weitzman Heel Sergio Rossi Heel Alessandra Rich Heel Ferragamo Heel
This is my lazy sweat pant look but I have to get out of the house. Grab the denim jacket, button the top two buttons and throw some pearls underneath the collar. Add a mens inspired monk strap shoe and you are so cool people may think you run an Advertising Agency or maybe you’re blogger or maybe you live in Williamsburg.
Here are a few ideas to help you get this look. Mother Denim Levi’s Denim B Sides Denim Vintage Denim Uniqlo Denim Vintage Denim COS Denim Jacket APC Denim Urban Outfitters Denim Anine Bing Denim
Scarosso Loafer DSW Loafer The Office of Angela Scott Loafer Kelis Dagger Loafer Church’s Loafer Julia Bo Loafers Brooks Brothers Loafer
I don’t know about you but COVID or not, my sweats are a year round thing. Here I added a bodysuit and sandals, see the tonal story I am maintaining and the elegant nature of the sandals? This is the key to effortless chic. Avoid flip flops here. I have also been known to pair my sweats with my one piece swimsuits in case you didn’t want a bodysuit. Add a cropped jacket or a blazer and this look is suitable to see people in.
Here are a few ideas to help you get this look. Zara Bodysuit Zara Bodysuit Reformation Bodysuit Mod & Soul Bodysuit JLux Bodysuit Lillys Kloset Bodysuit Aritzia Bodysuit
Valentino Sandals Stuart Weitzman Sandal Tabitha Simmons Sandal Miu Miu Sandal Giuseppe Zanotti Sandal Alvaro Sandals Ancient Greek Sandals Tkees Sandal Banana Republic Sandals
Put some opposites together and crossing my fingers they work. This is a tulle dress from Khaite, paired with the same123Ciao sweatshirt, turned inside out, and a classic Cortez Nike. I love the flirty and not-so serious vibe of this look. Turned inside out sweatshirts are a great way to reimagine them. The fabric on the inside and the seams can often be just as interesting. Throw this over any tulle or fancy dress, oversized sweatshirt or cut at the hem, either way it looks cool. Pairing it with a sneaker helps maintain the playfulness without feeling like a ballerina.
Here are a few ideas to help you get this look. Dries Van Noten Skirt David’s Bridal Skirt Afrikrea Skirt Fabiana Filippi Skirt Molly Goddard Skirt Noir Kei Skirt BottleBrush Skirt Olympia Le-Tan Skirt The Outnet Skirt Simone Rocha Skirt Etsy Skirt
This might be the look that makes you unsubscribe. Yes, I paired a riding boot with my sweats, tucked those bad boys in and added a classic stripe tee under a classic white button down. I rolled the sleeves up and didn’t button the shirt, just simply tucked the ends of the shirt over each other and then into my sweats. Sometimes I like to add a denim jacket tied around the waist to add a different texture into the mix. Basically, I’m sort of a lookalike Ralph Lauren riding girl but with more of the plastic horse that stands 4 inches tall and has plastic hair.
Here are a few ideas to help you get this look. Lucchese Boot Lucchese Boot Frye Boot Ganni Boot Loeffler Randall Boot Paris Texas Boot Gianvito Rossi Boot Maison Margiela Boot Saint Laurent Boot Buttero Boot
My other go-to COVID gear, the Adidas track suit. Hands down always a win no matter what. When in doubt add some jewelry and a heel or a sparkly sandal and you are chic, chic, chic. If you need an update here are a few others to try. Bandier Forever 21 G Style Champion Wales Bonner Vintage Puma Lacoste Tory Sport Zara
Simple take, pair the track suit bottoms with a classic white tee, men’s inspired khaki blazer, sequin heel and opera length pearl necklace thrown over like a sash. For extra credit cinch your blazer with a belt to give yourself a waist. Either way I can go to work in this look or you can buy me a drink.
Here are a few ideas to help you get this look. Theory Blazer Frankie Shop Blazer Vince Blazer Officine Generale Blazer Frankie Shop Blazer Nordtrom Blazer BAPE Blazer
Asos Heels DSW Heels Macy’s Heels Bloomingdales Heels Guess Heels Kate Spade Heels Nordstrom Heels The RealReal Heel Jimmy Choo Heel YOOX Heel Stuart Weitzman Heel
Yep, I’m showing skin and not apologizing for it. I took a lace dress, added a bodysuit underneath, or you can try with a bike shot or leggings; added a white button down, track jacket and a vintage leather belt around the waist. The key is to not button the shirt or zip the jacket. I am a lady who also likes Run D.M.C.
Here are a few ideas to help you get this look. Norma Kamali Dress Self Portrait Dress The RealReal Dress Comme Des Garcons Dress Free People Dress Fleur du Mal Dress Neiman Marcus Dress Alice & Olivia Dress Asos Dress
And to wrap up my insane COVID style here is another ruffle top, go big or go home. Mine is from Loeil but here is one similar. I like helping the over the top ruffle ease its way into causal life so the denim jacket around the waist or on helps do that. Add a kitten heel mule in white and I’m as crisp as a 3 dollar bill.
Here are a few ideas to help you get this look. Zara Top Isabel Marant Top Ulla Johnson Top Shein Top Sea NY Top Shushu Tong Top 7 for All Mankind Top Ulla Johnson Top Self Portrait Top
Mansur Gavriel Heel Stuart Weitzman Heel Christian Louboutin Heel Recto Heel Schutz Heel Reike Nen Cult Gaia Heel Area Heel
I love getting your questions, suggestions or photos of the goods you buy. As always send your Dirty Laundry to sarahsdirtylaundry@gmail.com
x Sarah
OMG, every freaking post sends me running to my closet, rethinking my clothes currently organized by color story. Thank you, Sarah Clary, for sharing your amazing brain!
Genius ideas. Thank you kindly for sharing.