a fit check

Getting dressed and thinking about getting dressed

I’ve been on an unexpected writing hiatus since.. *checks notes*.. January?! My god. My creative time and energy has been focused elsewhere lately, I apologize. Honestly, I got hyper-fixated on beading, and the tunnel vision got real bad there for a minute. If anyone wants an anklet, hit me up.

Even though I’ve been a lot kinder to myself when I neglect self-determined goals — like posting here once or twice a month (ha!) — it’s tricky to maintain a sense of discipline and adhere to structure while I work on healing that part of my psyche. Regardless, I’ve missed this! I know it’s time to start writing again when I really want to, instead of when I think I have to. Given all this, I thought I’d take it real slow by dipping a freshly polished, sometimes sandaled, summer toe back into this thang and share what I wore last week.

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Oslo’s weather is mild but erratic these days. Some rain here and there, enormous billowy clouds, a crisp breeze no one asked for. But still, it’s warm in direct sunlight, when it’s there. It’s like one long, leisurely spring to me, but in reality, it’s classic Norwegian summer. And surprisingly, it’s becoming my favorite weather to dress for. I’m moving further away from my Californian impulse to show as much skin as the climate allows, fine tuning my skill for the art of layering, and fine, maybe accepting my new home for what it really is: not that warm. Even in the summer.

Monday

The fit: a vintage white sweater with hook-and-eye closures down the front; older Everlane trousers (similar); the perfect trench coat from Norwegian brand Once Untold (still a few available in a darker taupe); second hand black heels from Miista (similar); a slouchy vintage leather workbag that holds everything I could hope for, tied with an old silk scarf I picked up somewhere at some point. And a simple, second hand silver chain!

The vibe: I’m trying to think less when I get dressed. Imagining how I want to feel that day and forcing myself to go with the first thing that comes to mind has been a huge step in the right direction. Monday was my first day back from a 2 week holiday (more on that soon, also) and I was going straight into a full day workshop with my entire department. So, I knew I needed to be comfortable above all else.

The verdict: This was intuitive, this was very me. I grabbed it and, after a few attempts at various belts, I let it go au natural, and it just worked. Voilá! Good for sitting all day, but still enough detail to look polished and visually interesting. This is definitely an outfit I’ll be repeating, so I’m glad I took notes.

Tuesday

The fit: vintage Issey Miyake mock neck top; thrifted gray pinstripe trousers; Paloma Wool Malix skirt (sold out); thrifted pointed toe canvas mules (similar); same trench; vintage Furla bag that I bought for work but use for everything (as similar as I could find; not that similar but gorgeous).

The vibe: I had meetings all day and wanted to look sharp but still be myself. That’s when I do my best shmoozing. I bought this skirt nearly 2 years ago because I saw the photo below and instantly knew that was an evolved version of my own style. The trousers, I had. But, determined to recreate this exact outfit, I patiently searched for just the right top to recreate it, and then I never wore it!

The verdict: Honestly, I felt verrrrrry hot. The best dressed gal in the building? Perhaps. I cannot believe I deprived myself of this look for so long. So, please, I beg you: wear your clothes! And don’t forget to actually go back and look at the outfits you screen shot. You might already have everything you need to make it work and then you, too, can feel as hot as I felt on this random Tuesday.

Wednesday

The fit: COS long sleeved white t-shirt (here); thrifted Eileen Fisher linen button down; COS jeans (these); brown square toe leather flats from Arket (here, but I cut the bow off); the most deliciously worn vintage leather jacket from Poshmark; vintage beaded belt (similar vibe).

The vibe: I didn’t want to go to work on Wednesday. It was rainy and chilly and I was tired. I knew my day would mostly consist of focused working time, so I didn’t have any reason to look particularly good. Still, the outfit I had planned in my head looked very bad in a way I couldn’t quite put my finger on, so I started from scratch at the last minute. Aiming for ease, I grabbed the jeans first, knowing they always do me right, and I built on a first-instinct basis from there.

The verdict: This was a surprise winner. I expected to feel ugly that day and alas, I did not. Pairing navy and brown is grounded and cozy, and wrapping and belting the top instead of buttoning it offered more sophistication than I usually achieve on my low-effort button down days. So, big ups to this beaded belt, which I just found in the pocket of a suitcase after years of missing her dearly.

Thursday

The fit: thrifted cropped gray hoodie (similar cut); Girlfriend Collective flared leggings (available in Norway here); Holzweiler quilted jacket (here); vintage nylon crossbody bag from Agnes B. (like mine in brown, also here in black); vintage Nike Air Rift 2 (here in a 9).

The vibe: I work from home on Thursdays, which means that I oscillate between meetings, cleaning house, and running out for quick errands. As such, I often succumb to the bad habit of staying in my pajamas until I have to leave the house. The weather was gross, my whole day felt scattered and unmoored, and by the time I got my shit together, it just made sense to get dressed for my afternoon HIIT class.

The verdict: I didn’t really plan on highlighting athletic wear in this write up, but here we are. Not every day is a fashion show, or so I’ve been told. This was about function over all else, and while it did the job, I need to remember not to wear these pants in the rain, or to HIIT for that matter. Soggy bottomed flares don’t work with burpees.

Friday

The fit: beige COS t-shirt (here); a thin wool sweater my husband thrifted in Japan; thrifted lambskin midi skirt (similar); Vagabond Blanca boots (here); silver braided chain with a sphere pendant from a flea market (similar-ish); thrifted Nine West faux snakeskin shoulder bag (similar); thrifted suede shirt collar jacket (identical but brown).

The vibe: It was pouring outside but we had a pre-wedding party to attend at a cute bar nearby. So I rather quickly settled on the bottom half of my outfit, knowing that this is a combination I wear in the cold when I want to look hot. Events in Oslo are rarely as formal as I instinctually want to dress, so these types of evenings can be confusing for me. The people and the location are lowkey, even if there was cause for celebration, so I was aiming for some kind of middle ground.

The verdict: Absolutely loved it, 10/10 will be repeating. The contrast stitched sweater with delicate threading hanging loose and a t-shirt peeking out softened the lower half of the outfit, and the purse added texture and playfulness. I was warm but felt very Olsen-adjascent. What more could I want?

Saturday

The fit: Thrifted jersey cotton top from Ann Taylor; vintage Nike ACG track pants (similar); thrifted rugby shirt (same one here); thrifted buckle kitten heels (similar, similar idea); again, the trench; again, the nylon crossbody.

The vibe: The sun surprised us with a gorgeous day, so I rushed to find any excuse to be outside. This became a trip to the craft store, the thrift store, and a little coffee and reading in the park for good measure. You never know with Oslo, so I wanted to be prepared for the clouds to roll in, but still take the chance to show some toe.

The verdict: I rarely wear the items I threw on as the base layer of this outfit: the rugby shirt isn’t my normal color pallet, the long sleeve tee is often forgotten, I tend to think of the track pants too literally. But this is an ideal outfit for wandering around on an unplanned afternoon, and it’s been sitting in my closet for months! I was just as comfortable and casual as needed, but the peep of toe and colorfully defined waist peeking out from my trench was just the touch of personality and femininity I wanted, and balanced out the sporty elements v harmoniously.

Sunday

The fit: strapless textured dress from Anthropologie (sold out, here in orange); vintage Prada kitten heel sandals (here in black, here in pink); thrifted mother of pearl button necklace (similar); Issey Miyake cardigan (here); vintage leather jacket (similar); same Nine West purse.

The vibe: Our sweet friends got married on Sunday! The energy was high, the weather questionable, and the fit very last minute. Because I rediscovered this little number in my closet and decided it was more naturally me than what I had planned. I knew we’d be mostly inside, so I wasn’t too concerned about being cold, but wanted to survive the train ride to and from with dignity intact.

The verdict: Admittedly, the dress is a bit tight on my belly and hips, but I leaned into the Renaissance beauty standards of it all and really loved this look. I’d been searching for the opportunity to wear a very Paloma Woolish necklace I found for less than a dollar (!!!) and this was definitely it. The cardigan gave me more coverage while we were inside, and it ended up around my waist which also looked cool. This fit held up through 4 fairly nonstop hours on the dance floor (Norwegian weddings are something else entirely)! Also — a moment for how packable Issey pieces are! Forever impressed.

And what about it?

Although I started this styling diary as an easy re-entry into my writing practice, it turned out to be a week of consistently feeling really good about how I looked. That hasn’t happened for me in a minute! I felt good about the way I looked because everything felt aligned. This week, I was in tune with my inner voice. I was decisive, quick, and stress-free. I felt very me, rather effortlessly. And I know that the more I listen to my intuition, the stronger it will become.

The transitional weather set the stage for such an ideal variety of layers and contrasts, but the container of this essay also made me consider, How do I want to present myself today? It will be immortalized in the digital archive. I solidified some ideas that have, until now, been floating aimlessly in my mind, often forgotten when facing a closet full of clothes I think I hate. Thinking of how I want to feel and dressing towards that has been a game changer. Forcing myself to go with my first instinct is a habit I want to keep. Intentionally deciding to style pieces I rarely wear will expand my closet immensely. All of these concepts are no-brainers but need to be put into practice consistently to have an impact.

So while I likely won’t go into this much detail again, I might just start sharing more about how I think when I’m getting dressed. If not for your benefit, then at least for mine.