Long Live A Wearable Skirt

On Harling Ross Anton, a brand I adore, and recent vintage.

If you read this newsletter, there’s a high probability you were a Man Repeller reader back in the day. I, for one, checked the site daily, and bought an entire new outfit for an internship interview with Amelia ten years ago. Did I get the job? Of course not, but it didn’t matter. Just being in the cramped Soho office where the magic happened was enough.

Not to play favorites, but Harling’s writing has always been an inspiration. Her newsletter, Gumshoe, is a hearty recommendation from me. I want Harling’s take on everything! Butter dishes! Summer shorts! What trends are worth skipping! Subscribe + thank me later.

How long have you had this piece?

I think I got it in 2013, so about 10 years,

Where did it come from?

It's from & Other Stories. I bought it on a trip to Paris, back when & Other Stories hadn't even opened a location in the U.S. yet, so it felt really exciting to be able to make a pilgrimage there while I was traveling. 

How much did you pay for it?

I believe it was 60 euros. 

How do you wear it?

It's extremely versatile, I've worn it with everything. It's a white skirt so I tend to get the most use out of it in warmer seasons, but I've even worn it with black tights and a sweater in the dead of winter, making it -- against all odds -- a year-round staple. 

What does it represent?

To me, it represents the era when traveling to another country meant discovering stores and shopping experiences unique to that place. It might feel a little absurd for me to say that in the context of a brand like & Other Stories, which has become so ubiquitous, but it's still tied to a broader movement toward sameness in commerce, so I think the point still stands. Apart from that, it also represents the timelessness of a great silhouette in a quality fabric -- in this case, 100% cotton denim. I've worn it incessantly over the last decade and it looks brand new. 

Archived Outfit

Instead of highlighting secondhand picks (we'll be back to regularly scheduled programming next issue), I wanted to showcase a small brand I love. Local Woman is based in Toronto and designed by the lovely Sarah Gregg Millman. Her pieces have main character energy, that is, if the main character in question is in a Sofia Coppola movie or Elena Ferrante novel.

These are a few of a my seasonal picks, if you’re in the market for something summery, sustainably made, and sure to last for decades to come.

Babette Dress—See the dress worn here. What I love about the shape and flow of this piece is that it’s as comfortable as I always imagine a slip dress to be, minus the weird clinging and delicate fabric. I love wearing mine with ballet flats on the hottest days, but also have paired a Wolford turtleneck bodysuit underneath once temperatures drop.

Cloud Blouse—My first ever Local Woman piece! I wore it on an outing in Soho and fell in love with the movement. It instantly turns an outfit into an Outfit, especially when paired with black pants and black boots. Bonus: you can easily wear with a bra if that’s more your speed.

Gregg Shorts + Claire Blouse—Made of 100% cotton, I can’t wait to sport this set in Midnight all summer long. Last summer, my navy linen set was a godsend on days I wanted to look pulled together, but couldn’t really deal with real clothes. I’ll wear both pieces separately

Communion Dress—Summer bridal events upcoming? This darling dress is a far cry from bridal basic. I love the oversized bow and can imagine a million places to wear it; a communion certainly being one of them.

Honorable Mentions

A reminder! My Notion template, Wear Your Clothes, is still available on Gumroad. It’s been so fun to see how many people discovered it on Tiktok.

And, as promised, I’ll be documenting my clothing purchases in an effort to actually take a look at my consumption. Here’s the damage I did since then:

1. Vintage Patagonia Baggie Shorts via eBay $45.99

   I’m all about athletic shorts in the summer, so adding these in a color I’ve been obsessed with recently felt right. Plus, I told myself Christian could borrow if he wanted…

   

2. Vintage Duke Tshirt via eBay $10

   I don’t know! Sometimes grief is weird and it’s been almost 12 years since your dad, the biggest Duke fan ever, passed away, and you need a tshirt to sleep in.

   

3. Interior Sweater $272

   Ok, this was random. A brand I really like was having a sample sale, so I darted into the city during lunch. The sweater is super heavy, amazing quality, and totally unique.

Home/Land—A touching remembrance of how home changes, and never really changes, set in New York City and London.

Getting To Center—My new favorite book on creativity. Gift to an artist on your life. Perfect if you loved The Artist’s Way.

Radically Content—Take a long look at the life you’re living with this very self-help-y book. I loved it, but if you’re grumpy about introspection, skip it.

There Are No Rules For This—A rec from my brilliant friend Caro (great newsletter). It’s about grief + female friendship. What more do you need?

Thank you so much for reading. See you next, next Thursday! x