Comfort zone cravings: What I REALLY want to wear
Anyone else secretly excited for *slightly* cooler temps?
I know I know, as in English person it is my birth right to complain about the weather, even though I live in Los Angeles where it is warm most of the time. However, herein lies the problem… I just want to wear a blazer. I can hear my mum tutting under her breath and giving me some serious side eye for even daring to complain about the consistency of sunshine readily available in sunny Los Angeles. I’m grateful, I truly am, but if it could just be a tad cooler right now, i’d be ever so grateful.
Every summer I plan to put my beloved blazers away into storage, but somehow find them staying put, secretly hoping there might be an evening cool enough, or an overcast day where I get to wear one of them. Nothing makes me feel more like myself than outerwear. I like coats, but jackets and blazers, that’s my kryptonite. Despite the fact I live in LA, I would guess 50% of my wardrobe (or more) consists of blazers and jackets.
I was sat at home today, and all I could think was ‘I want to wear a blazer, and I want to wear one now’. I decided to try out a mix of ways to incorporate my blazers with my summer pieces, with the knowledge i’ll be travelling to the UK soon where there’s infinitely more chance of getting to wear them there. These looks would easily work in LA once the weather is a little cooler, and for now, i’m happy to wear a blazer to scratch that itch. (Even if it’s only worn momentarily or when I can guarantee i’m in close proximity to AC.)
I got my little wooden rack out, and started to think about the pieces I wanted to put together. I tried multiple outfit combinations, and very quickly I could see how I had created a capsule of sorts. If I had to give it a name, I guess I would call it a transitional capsule, because I know the moment it gets a little cooler, these will be the pieces i’ll be wearing on rotation.
Look 1
One of my favorite things about Substack, is genuinely seeing myself mention the same pieces over and over again. I’m so proud of this repetition, because it tells me the pieces I own are a) actually being worn on the reg and b) they make me feel like my best self.
This blazer was a Goodwill find that I’m determined to sneak into my summer wardrobe. (P.s. The menswear section is always the one….IYKYK) I think pairing it with denim shorts and a pump feels very much like transitional dressing. On hotter days I could swap the tee for a black vest, and the pumps for a sandal and this would still work, but just look at that blazer! I also think a summery bag (think a basket, rope or woven bag) helps soften the blazer, so it doesn’t look as out of place in the warmer months.
Look 2
I love this outfit. I’ve been meaning to wear these trousers more frequently because I love the colour, they’re super comfortable and they’re actually pretty light weight. Adding a linen waistcoat with a flip flop heel gives it a nod to a more tailored approach but one that reads more spring summer than autumn winter.
Look 3
These are my party shoes. At least that’s what I call them. I bought them years ago from Acne Studios and they just make me feel excited when I look at them, they’re kind of like a backless boot with a mix of textures. I often wear these in winter with the same blazer, a pair of full length jeans and a black cashmere turtleneck. Switching up the jeans for denim shorts (without a raw hem), still creates a polished look but with a little fun added thanks to the shoes. Also, who remembers this leather Topshop belt? I must have had this over ten years, but I still think it’s such a good piece, the leather is super soft and it’s aged really nicely.
Look 4
I wore the same base for this look but swapped back to the pumps and a blazer with more of a hue. I’ve spoken at length about this blazer, especially how much I love the color which reads a sort of olive, khaki green. It goes with everything and I love the length. I also added a tan leather woven bag to help it read a little more summery.
Look 5
Possibly my favorite look of all?! I love how classic this feels. I could totally imagine Julia Roberts wearing this as an airport look in the 90’s. I can’t stress how comfy these Chanel pumps are (which you would hope so given the price) and how good they look with denim no matter what wash. It’s the simplicity of this look that really speaks to me, and the fact that it really lends itself to feeling very summery, especially if the blazer ends up tied around the waist, or draped loosely on the shoulders during a summer evening.
Look 6
For this I wanted to see how the focus would shift if I swapped the white t-shirt for a black one, and added slightly daintier accessories, like a slimmer belt and a barely there sandal. These vintage Manolos are truly a workhorse shoe in my wardrobe because they go with everything. I like that they also add a feminine edge to an otherwise more masculine outfit.
Look 7
Another vintage jem! This aquascutum blazer (menswear) is so beautifully cut. I think if I remember correctly I paid about $50 for this and it was in perfect condition. There’s something about shades of cream that I feel called to in summer, even a more yellowy cream like this one just feels very luxe. It smartens up denim shorts and a tee in seconds.
Look 8
Would we call the shade of these trousers cream? They kind of feel like an oaty cream hue, but paired with black basics it just feels so right. I feel like the gold belt buckle compliments the color of the trousers perfectly, yet it’s a small enough detail that it doesn’t take away from the trouser.
Look 9
Just for good measure, I wanted to see the all white outfit with the olive YSL blazer. The black accents, the belt and the flip flop heels stop it feeling too basic, and help ground the outfit overall.
After doing this I feel like I have some good ideas for a UK summer capsule (don’t worry i’ll also be taking some of my hot AF clothing edits too just in case). I may well be the only person excited to see the clouds during my time in the UK, but if it means I get to wear my beloved blazers then sign me up for a british summer!
Thank you so much for reading and for all your support. P.s some links contain affiliates.
Speak soon
Harry x
Loved this Harriet, do you have any tips on how to wear blazers at 5”1 and curvy? I always feel like a bit of a barrel…..
I'm a total blazer person, too, so I feel you! I'm counting down the days until fall. Love the yellowy-cream blazer on you and the black accents with the vintage YSL is so good!