Issue #03: Full Body Yes, Part II
“Full body yes” in practice. Sharing some of the most beloved and hardest working pieces in my closet.
Today we are taking a peek inside my closet and examining pieces that pass the “full body yes” test!
As a quick reminder, a “full body yes” is achieved when the item in question:
Was on my wishlist
Fits perfectly off the rack or requires easy, minimal alterations
Is comfortable to wear
Can immediately be worn with clothes I already own
I’m sharing a small selection of outwear, knitwear, shirts, pants, and jewelry that fit the “full body yes” bill. Unsurprisingly, most of these are more basic, season-agnostic pieces, which means that they are true wardrobe workhorses.
Without further ado, here are my picks from the outermost layers to the innermost layers:
Outerwear
Harris Wharf London Overcoat in Light Pressed Wool
Despite being a wool coat, which is pretty seasonal, this piece gets a fair amount of wear year-round. Here’s what I like about it:
✔️ It’s lightweight, which contributes greatly to its comfortability.
✔️ The wool is not itchy! I don’t know how this company does it, but the wool feels really fine and smooth.
✔️ Long, but not too long. For my height, I like a woolen coat that hits past the knee.
✔️ I can layer thick sweaters underneath this coat without looking like the Michelin Man.
Harris Wharf London still makes this coat, although not in the taupe color. This brand sits at a high price point, but I can vouch for their quality and timelessness. I’ve had my coat for 4 years and think it still looks great.
If you like outerwear that has a “tailored, but fluid” look, Harris Wharf London can’t be beat.
SLVRLAKE Thompson Jacket
Denim jackets are tricky for me because something about them that feels college-coded. My theory is that there is something undeniably youthful about a denim jacket. And when I say youthful I mean basic. 😅
Denim jackets as a category haven’t changed much. They tend to have the same silhouette, same denim wash, etc. That’s why I was so excited to see this fresh take by SLVRLAKE. This version feels grown-up, unexpected, cool!
Here’s what I like about it:
✔️ Cropped, boxy shape that I really like on my body type
✔️ Contrast stitching feels interesting and sophisticated.
✔️ The copper hardware complements the golden-brown contrast stitching.
Note: SLVRLAKE no longer makes this jacket.
Brixton Utopia Jacket
This jacket is an edge case “full body yes” because I did not purchase this jacket myself. It was gifted to me by one of my best friends for my birthday last year. We walked into the Brixton store, saw the jacket, and liked it so much that she bought one for both of us!
Here’s what I like about it:
✔️ This jacket gives my outfits texture, which I didn’t realize had been lacking!
✔️ Reminds me of the jackets my dad used to wear, and I’m a sucker for nostalgia.
✔️ Say it with me: Dark green is a neutral!! It fits effortlessly into my wardrobe of navy, black, cream, and gray.
✔️ More than anything this jacket is a “full body yes” because every time I wear it, I think of my friend!
Sweaters
Reformation Jadey Cashmere Oversized V-neck Sweater
The cashmere on this sweater is thick, plushy, and so soft! The v-neck also adds much needed novelty to a sea of turtlenecks and crewnecks.
Here’s what I like about it:
✔️ Can be dressed up or down! Versatility!
✔️ The bottom hem is wide and straight, which means it floats over my hips instead of accentuating the widest part of my body.
✔️ I love that they’ve done a thick ribbed hem on the sleeves, bottom hem, AND neckline. Details like this make the sweater feel even more luxurious.
Shirts
Stella McCartney Denim Shirt
Let me prove to you that manifesting is real. “Dark denim shirt” had been on my wishlist for months before I came across this Stella McCartney option on TheRealReal. My requirements also stated that it should have a longer length, be 100% cotton, and have cute buttons. Check, check, check.
Here’s what I like about it (aside from what I’ve already mentioned):
✔️ Flexible enough to be worn either as a standalone shirt or a “shirt-jacket”
✔️ Washes incredibly well. No color fading and no scratches on the pearl buttons!
✔️ The cotton fabric is thick, which means it holds its shape and doesn’t wrinkle easily.
RE/DONE Tee
This t-shirt knows all my secrets. I’ve worn this black RE/DONE tee everywhere. They don’t sell this style anymore, which is a bummer, because it’s been fairly hard to find a worthy replacement. A t-shirt that you can actually buy that comes closest to the RE/DONE in terms of fit and quality is the Buck Mason Pima Boxy Crew. I own it in white because I could never betray my favorite black tee like that.
Here’s what I like about it:
✔️ Cropped fit, which hits right at the top of the waistband of any high-waisted pant
✔️ This tee has a raw hem, which gives the shirt an “organic” shape.
✔️ Medium-width collar. I wear this t-shirt on its own, and when I wear t-shirts on their own I prefer a medium-width collar to be able to show some décolleté and my necklaces.
Pants
Amour Vert Willow Paris Rib Pants
In the throes of the pandemic I found myself needing a pair of pants that was utilitarian, uncontroversial, and felt as comfortable as sweatpants. I had gotten too accustomed to wearing pajamas all day, and wasn’t about to start wearing “hard pants” outside of the house. Enter the black, loose-legged pant with an elastic waistband.
Here’s what I like about these:
✔️ Super comfy
✔️ Keeps me feeling warm, but never too hot
✔️ The ribbing provides a bit of texture to an outfit and prevents the pants from looking like yoga pants (or as the youngsters call them, “flared leggings”)
✔️ Excellent for travel
Note: The Paris Rib line at Amour Vert still exists, although these specific pants do not.
Madewell Emmett Wide-Leg Crop Jeans
Purchased pre-pandemic in 2018 (wowza), these pants are an old faithful. Wearing a white pair of jeans feels very bold, partly because white is a high-contrast color, and also because wearing white pants is an inherently daring choice.
Here’s what I like about them:
✔️ The pants are fitted around the waist and hips and wide through the leg, which prevents them from looking baggy or sloppy.
✔️ The wide hem is a nice design detail. The extra weight at the bottom also helps maintain the pant’s long line.
✔️ Not see through!
Note: The Emmett line at Madewell still exists, although I don’t know if the styles are the same.
Jewelry
All of my jewelry is 14K solid gold, which means that I wear them 24/7. Talk about great cost-per-wear!
Bracelets
I started wearing jewelry after getting permanent necklaces and bracelets with one of my childhood best friends. We first got matching Catbird forever bracelets and then later got matching chain necklaces and another bracelet! Every time I look down at my hands I think of her. Permanent jewelry is such a cute thing to do with someone you love and a super chic way to always keep them close to your heart.
Necklaces
As mentioned above, I have a permanent dainty chain necklace with one of my childhood best friends. I also recently started wearing a second chain necklace after being gifted a few charms from my partner for my birthday. I took an old chain that I already owned and added the charms to it!
Hope this was fun! Thanks for making it to the end!
Until next time,
Thuy
permanent jewelry for life (literally lmao) so glad we shared that experience together and yes they still look as good as new!!