Welcome to This Is Cute. We’re Jenna, Jayna, and Verena. We text all day about cute stuff so you don’t have to. If you’re interested in seeing the previous and equally unhinged editions, they’re here.
Is it just us, or is it hard to get dressed right now? Lately, it feels like every other morning our text chain kicks off with something along the lines of, “What shoes are you supposed to wear in this steamy drizzle?” or “It’s 27 degrees this morning, and then 60 in the afternoon—WHICH COAT??” Today, we’re sharing some of our go-tos for when we just need to land somewhere in the middle. These are our closet goldilockses—the pieces that are just right, basically, all of the time.
Pants
JG: I did not expect a pair of WHITE CANVAS JEANS to be my #1 all-year-round pants, but that’s just what my Carhartt WIP Pierce Trousers have become. Purchased in the height of summer, and worn with shocking consistency ever since, they’ve proved themselves to be evergreeners. Their utilitarian weight and silhouette keep them hefty enough for cold, and roomy enough to slip on over heattech, and the color is a great canvas for everything from Fair Isle to banker stripes to, come summer, whispery tank tops and tees. Lately, when I don’t know wtf to wear, I’ve been defaulting to throwing them on with sneakers, a beloved sweatshirt, and a giant parka (more on the latter below).
JM: Similar to JG, I’ve got a surprising go-to pair of 365-ers: CHINOS. Specifically the J.Crew men’s Giant-fit Chino Pant. I mean, now that I just typed out the name, it shouldn’t be that surprising, but the chino part is weird! But they’re so good! Not too huge (“giant” is a bit of a stretch), but wide-legged and made with a nice mid-weight fabric that doesn’t feel too flims when it’s freezing or steam your legs when it’s boiling. I have the classic khaki pair (who am I??) but I am going to try the navy as well. Of course, because I refuse to accept that the cropped trouser trend is over and my pants betray my age even more than my withered hands, I wear mine just above the ankle with cute socks and sneaks, or with loafs and no socks and an untucked button up, or with a t-shirt and cardigan and I’m the cutest little Bugle Boy.
VvP: So, one sunny Saturday last fall, I was in a car on the West Side Highway en route to the Renn Faire (yes, you read that right) when we got word that there was a 1.5 hour traffic delay to get into the parking lot. Needless to say, we turned around. Mini and I got dropped off on Court Street, where we took ourselves for a pancake lunch, followed by a square each of mushroom chocolate for dessert. About an hour after that, I remembered that the Caron Callahan sample sale was happening that day and that, my dear cuties, is how I found myself in a corner of the designer’s lofty studio surrounded by a pile of clothing and absolutely tripping my face off on mushrooms.
Clockwise from top left: 1) Mere minutes before Mini and I received word about the parking lot situation; 2) Oops I forgot we chased our chocolates with a celebratory Jell-O shot; 3) The pants in question and also the mushrooms kicking in; 4) Post-sale beers wearing the pants and and also a shirt I bought. You can’t tell how high we are here because of our sunglasses. 😎
This is a very long preamble to say that I left that sale significantly poorer, extremely high, and wearing the CUTEST ever pair of cream herringbone twill pants that have since become outfit panic saviors, especially in this neither here-nor-there weather. They’re a whisper lighter than jeans but no less sturdy, plus the subtle herringbone pattern adds an elevated level of detail to an otherwise pretty straightforward pair of cream almost-denim pants. Anyway, I know it’s annoying to recommend a pair of pants that you can’t actually get, but there’s a silver lining to this already chaotic endorsement: all of Caron Callahan’s pants are fantastic, and she’s the type of designer who really takes the time to nail her styles and fits and therefore brings them back seasonally and in different colors. This latte-toned pair is pretty similar. One note: her cuts tend to run quite slim and straight, so I recommend going up a size or two if you’re curvier in the hips (like me!).
Jackets
JM: This is a brand new realization, but after about a decade of only wanting to wear slouchy, long wool coats in various weights, I’ve now embraced a shorter vibe. Don’t you worry for a single SECOND, I still want slouch city, but I was looking at a recent APC email teasing their new collaboration with Natacha Ramsay-Levi and was instantly obsessed with the vintage chore coat she was wearing in the pic. It honestly felt like the choice to wear it in the photo did a disservice to the actual collab, which is cool and chic but contains no showstoppers on the level of her coat. I immediately took to Etsy to find myself one.
I started my search looking at vintage Carhartts in that same shade of sandy brown, but then I came across this denim one and scooped her right up. I love the mid-thigh length and cozy flannel interior and big fat patch pockets, and I’m excited to wear her until people start looking me up and down in my wool socks and big hat and cute coat and say “Aren’t you roasting in that??” which usually happens around late April.
JG: There was one day, not so long ago, when the three of us simultaneously pinged each other about the exact same Pret Pour Partir jacket that had freshly gone on sale at (where else?) No.6. Like adorable little dominos, we all fell for it, buying it one after the other. (Actually, to be fair, Nick bought one in secret for Verena, who was on a shopping hiatus, and ingeniously surprised her with it on Christmas.) It sat dormant in my closet for a couple months, and then BOOM. Ever since temps have entered the less-than-frigid territory, it’s become my go-to. It’s the perfect weight and cut for brisk spring days—substantial, but not heavy. It’s slicker-esque, so it’s serviceable in rain. It’s also suuuper roomy—honestly almost tent-like—so when it’s legit cold out, the coat easily accommodates added under layers without being at all constricting (a coat GODSEND). But mostly, vibes wise, it just has this great gentlemanly prep thing going on. Our specific checkered style has gone MIA, but the brand offers a whole array of Mackintosh-esque styles that I’m extremely interested in.
VvP: This should teach me to not (once again) be the last person writing my recs because BOTH of these would have been my suggestions. I am currently alternating between a vintage denim flannel-lined Big Ben coat that I got on an L.A. vintage shopping spree with Jayna, and the aforementioned Pret Pour Partir coat that we all have. If I had to pick a third, it would be this navy corduroy number by Howlin’ that I inherited from Jayna because she bought it in a size too big. To be clear, it’s an in-betweener in a climate like New York, because it’s definitely a heavy corduroy, but it’s slouchy enough that it ends up being a little breathable—and looks super cute open with just a simple striped long-sleeved crewneck underneath. It would also be a great nighttime non-fancy but still cool coat for a climate like L.A., or anywhere that’s hanging around the 40s to low-50s, temps-wise.
Shoes
JM: Wallabees forever. I don’t want to be one of those insufferable idiots who talks about wearing/watching/listening to/eating a thing before most people…so I won’t. Wallabees are the ideal not-quite-winter, not-quite-spring shoe, because they themselves are a sort of a not-quite-one, not-quite-the-other mashup of a brogue/loafer/sneaker that exist in entirely their own category. You can wear them with socks or without, they’re a little chunky but not aggressively so, they come in all the best neutral shoe hues, they last forever, and they don’t cost a bill trill. They also seem to be a shoe that brands will occasionally do fun little quiet exclusive designs of, so it’s worth googling around instead of just sticking to their site. ALSO I INVENTED THEM OMGGGGG. Ugh, I tried.
JG: I’m what you might call a reluctant sneaker trend adopter. I waver, can’t decide on a color, feel like style is too “everywhere,” and sort of stand by, paralyzed, until the moment subsides and I’m on to something else (case in point: I do not own Sambas). But there is one style that is my eternal sneaker safe haven—and that is these guys. To me, Chucks are essentials. I’ve been wearing my white low tops a LOT lately. They’re streamlined, comfortable, and add a subtle sporty ‘70s note to everything from jeans and sweaters to flowy dresses. I LOVE how crisp they look when they’re box fresh, but they’re also cute and Olsen-y when they get scruffed up.
Apart from sneakers, which I’ve been wearing 90% of the time, I think ballet flats are a great segue-into-summer shoe. You can wear a them with or without (thin) socks, with trousers and a sweater, with all lengths of skirts and dresses. Why I don’t have a great pair is beyond me, but I am eyeing Loeffler Randall’s Landon flats, which are a slightly remixed take on the brand’s beloved ballets.
VvP: I have two recs here. One is to sort of second Jenna, which is that Chucks are almost year-round essentials (they’re not great for snowy, sleety days in the depths of January or February). And they’re objectively perfect for right now. If you know that already, right now is also a great time to replace the a-little-too-beat-up-and-grubby pair currently in your closet with a nice, new pair for real spring and soon-to-be summer. (My preferred style is the All Star in Natural Ivory.)
But now is also time to bring in a little color. No one needs to hear about Adidas Gazelles from me, except for the fact that I wore them religiously 25 years ago and therefore invented them just like Jayna invented Wallabees. (This is the mental gymnastics I have to go through to buy, wear, and recommend something so thoroughly in the peak of its latest trend cycle but, honestly, whatever.) They’re a classic for a reason and they come in a bil trill cute colors that will make any outfit feel a little more special now and straight on through September. If only they would re-release a pair in my favorite old school baby blue. :(
Miscellaneous Hero
JM: Ok, absolutely nothing revolutionary about this, but a zip-up hoodie. A navy blue zip-up hoodie is, to me, the ULTIMATE transitional layer. It’s not something I wear on its own because it feels a shade too sporty for me. (Though we had a VERY interesting conversation about whether or not the drawstring color affects the sportiness of the vibe—I think a matching drawstring is more sporty, VVP thinks a white drawstring is more sporty—and, yes, this is the sort of thing we discuss AT LENGTH on our text thread.) But under a trench or a lightweight chore-type jacket or a big wooly cardigan—the best! And the hood is critical, since this season can trick you into thinking you no longer need a beanie, but then you get out of your apartment and the dog is yanking you up the block and your ears are already starting to chill but it’s too late to turn back now, but it’s all fine because you have a hood!
JG: Maybe it’s beanie withdrawal, but lately (and if you haven’t guessed from the pics above), I haven’t been leaving the house without a baseball hat. A good dad-style one ties an outfit together in the same way our beloved beanies do. (LITERAL hat tip to Jayna, who has schooled all of us in the deep satisfaction of matching your hat to your socks ... or turtle. or pants. You get it.) A baseball hat feels spring-y (baseball teams are in spring training, after all), and even a little chic, in a hiding-from-the-paparazzi kind of way. A branded or idiosyncratic hat also adds personality to a look. This is prob a big no duh, but next time you’re at your favorite restaurant, coffee shop or hotel, peep the merch section. It’s where the good dad hats live.
VvP: While late March (and almost April!) is firmly spring and spring means warmer weather and warmer weather means summer is coming, it also means I am, historically and currently, my palest, most indoorsy, and sallow self. Enter my new go-to morning duo: Saie’s Glowy Super Gel and Glowy Super Skin Tint Foundation. I’m not usually one for face makeup (I try to stick to just concealer where I need it, etc.) but these two combined are just so good. If I had to recommend only one, it would be the Glowy Super Gel, because just that over your sunscreen gives your skin the nicest, most subtle and dewy sheen. But if you want a little more even tone and brightness, a half pump of the Super Skin Tint Foundation covers my whole face and makes me feel beamy and fresh, instead of sad and tired. (Sorry, but March is my least favorite month and that will never change!!!!)
Bags
JM: I think this is definitely a year-rounder, and also I think of the three of us I am by far the most clueless when it comes to bags (I spent my entire 20s carrying everything in a series of swag bags from book publishing events, yiiiikes), so I pretty much just carry the same bag until one day I look down and am like “Gross, YOU AGAIN??” and then I get a new one. I also sort of feel like bags are the one thing I just cannot justify spending an absolute bill trill on, because they get so beat up and no matter how careful you are, you’re gonna have to put it on the subway floor at some point. However! I did splurge a few months ago on an Il Bisonte bag, and I have to say, it was absolutely worth it. It’s a great size, the perfect color, and the leather is not the easily scratchable kind that uptight people like me try to convince themselves is cool once it gets a “patina,” but actually collapse in tears inside every time it gets another scratch. They also make really cute glasses cases!
JG: I’m not even sure why we assigned this category to ourselves because BAGS ARE HARD. No matter how many times I try to check a bag box or fill a bag void, I rarely seem to have the right style on hand. I think that’s why—like so many other fashion-invested people—I’m so attracted to The Row’s Margeaux bag (join the waitlist here, and shop some wildly priced ones on Vestiaire here). It would just seamlessly meld with whatever outfit, on whatever occasion, in ANY season. It would fit all the stuff, and it would polish my vibe, which lately is that of someone who has a lot of split ends. But to share some other good, less pie-in-the-sky options that I think are reliable in many sitches: My off-white Boat and Tote (size small), which I’ve written about before and which is already dip dyed with coffee drips. For a while now, I’ve been eyeing this one from Attersee, which could go black-tie, but would also be fun for dinner in the neighborhood (the blush is so pretty and could slot into many different outfit scenarios). I also love this Longchamp mesher, and would have a great time hunting for cute pouches to line it with.
VvP: Honestly, my answer here is a cute tote, which I know is probably the last thing anyone wants to see. But hear me out: this in-between season is a time for layers (already shed or to be added), tiny umbrellas (April showers), and way too many out-and-about activities because everyone’s stir crazy and throwing events and making dinner plans and scheduling out-of-home meetings. So you need a good schleppy bag! The catch is to not use a dirty old branded canvas one that you got from a book publishing event (sorry, twenty-something Jayna!). My go-to right now is a sky blue microsuede one from Whim Golf, which sadly they don’t make anymore. But if I were buying a freshie, I’d look at a practical corduroy one with cute pockets in a fun color or a classic L.L. Beanie, or a Baggu in a printed canvas!
Beauty & Body Care
JM: I love perfume, as I think I’ve mentioned 800 times, and as much as I adore the idea of having a signature scent, I am a greedy monster who spends a not insignificant amount of time reading about obscure perfumes. Did I die of happiness reading Molly Young’s profile of Hilde Soliani and then order like six samples of her wildest fragrances? I absolutely did. I will report back on whether or not smelling like a buttered oyster is for me, but in the meantime, I’m recommending what will likely be my winter-to-spring scent, which is from Vryao. I only learned about the brand recently when I had the opportunity to chat with its eternally cool founder, Yasmin Sewell. Everything is as natural and organic as possible, and the larger bottles come with a cute little crystal bobbing around in them, which is supposed to make them…more powerful I think? I’ve tried a few of the scents, but keep coming back to Witchy Woo, which has rose and patchouli and sorta smells incense-y but also surprisingly light and fresh, which is why It feels like the perfect in-betweener.
VvP: Okay two quick recs. First up: I am having an absolute love affair with my new bodywash and moisturizer by Baude, which describes itself as a scent-centric bodycare company. Their inaugural fragrance is called Darkwave Utopia. I’m also obsessed with their copywriter so I’m going to let them do the work: “Smells like scissor-cut stems. Cruel intentions. LA calima. Dewy ferns and anxious moss. Venus flytrap gardens. Tart adrenaline and chlorophyll opulence. Wet cut grass and black picket fences.” YOU GET IT, I LOVE IT. Anxious moss = also me. Second rec is even quicker because we’ve talked about it before but now is the time for Soft Services Theraplush hand cream. I don’t know why but my hands are dryer now than they were in the dead of winter, and I recently got a refill of Theraplush to remedy that and I’m sorry but this is truly just one of the most effective products I’ve ever used. Plus the little container is so cute!
JG: It feels weird to end this edish with a note about hand soap, but… HAND SOAP. I’m not one for perfumes, except for this one that Jayna gave me 100 years ago. I don’t wear it, I just smell it every so often and it makes me want to cry, in a good way. Anyway, hand soap! My home is predominantly fragrance free, but I do always keep a fancy soap on hand (lol) for visitors. My current favorite is the Lake & Skye 11 11, which I’ve rebought several times. I’ll treat myself to a pump every so often. It smells musky and a tiny bit sweet, and lingers—faintly—in a delightful way. Lately, I’ve been seeking it out more regularly, probably because my hands have officially been liberated from gloves for the year!
THE CUTE CATALOGUE™
Pants
Carthartt WIP Pierce Trousers
Uniqlo HEATTECH Leggings
J.Crew Men’s Giant Fit Chino Pants
Steirman Pant by Caron Callahan
Madewell Perfect Vintage Wide-Leg Jean
Jackets
Pret Pour Partir Sunny Parka
Vintage Big Ben Flannel-Lined Coat
Howlin’ Never Be Bored Again With This Jacket in Navy
Skirts
The Frankie Shop Leila Flared Skirt
Tops/Sweatshirts
Leset Tank Top
Rachel Comey Fond Sweatshirt
Madewell Terry Raglan Sweatshirt
Everlane Micro-Ribbed Turtleneck
Kule Long-Sleeved Crewneck in Denim/White
Glidan Full-Zip Hoodie
Cos Funnel-Neck Sweater
M.M. Lafleur Axam Turtleneck
Shoes
G.H. Bass Weejun Loafers
Clarks Wallabees
Nike Dunk Low Sneakers
Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars
Adidas Gazelles
Loeffler Randall Landon Ballet Flat
Accessories
Falke Cotton Socks
Herbs for Relaxation Thinking Cap
Loeffler Randall beanie
Sunset Tower Hat
Cafe Spaghetti Dad Hat
Il Bisonte Fausta Cross-Body Bag
Il Bistonte Glasses Case
The Row Margaux 10 Tote
LL Bean Boat and Tote in Small
Attersee The Brea Bag
Longchamp La Pliage Filet Mesh Bag
Emile Et Ida Toiletry Pouch
L.L. Bean Open Top Tote
Etsy Double Pocket Corduroy Tote
Baggu Horizontal Zip Duck Tote
Beauty
Saie Glowy Super Gel
Saie Glowy Super Skin Tint Foundation
Vyrao Witchy Woo Eau de Parfum
Baude Bodywash and Lotion
Soft Services Theraplush Hand Cream
CB I Hate Perfume 101 At the Beach 1966 Perfume
Lake & Skye 11 11 Hand Soap
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Amazing roundup!!! Thanks y’all