It’s been three months since I’ve posted on this blog, and during that time, I’ve kept myself distracted from the crumbling world around me by going out to eat. For New Yorkers like me, who didn’t have the option to escape to a more socially distant setting, the summer was defined by eating food tastier than I could ever cook, while sitting on sweltering sidewalks and ignoring the songs of ambulances and garbage trucks passing by the same street. A perfect example of the word “bittersweet”.
One night, I ate at a random sushi spot near Soho. Rolls were like $11 – no need to go all out. I wore my trusty thrifted denim Wrangler shorts and a white t-shirt, which very much made me feel like a model-off-duty. But then I noticed a woman sitting at the table over, who was wearing the Manolo Blahniks of my dreams (any Monolo Blahniks are of my dreams), and the cutest LBD. That stupid feeling of being underdressed entered the pit of my stomach, and I thought, Who wants to look like a model-off-duty anyway? I wanted to know where she was going or where she was coming from, but the answer was probably nowhere, you know, because of the whole pandemic thing.
I thought it was cheesy to get all dressed up just to eat on a stinky sidewalk (being overdressed is a thing…or is it?) and after seeing a few more women in the area dressed in a similar manner, I questioned if doing so was just a Manhattan thing.
But then, a revelation: Going out to eat is the new… going out. I know it seems simple, and maybe a little obvious after constantly browsing Instagram for an entire summer, but it’s actually pretty genius. Pre-pandemic, a big part of my life was getting dressed. Every night, I’d go to bed excited to wake up and pick out an outfit to wear in the morning. Since March, I’ve just changed from one set of pajamas to the next, and that little feeling of pleasure has been missing. When, where, and how else am I supposed to feel the satisfying rush of putting on a new outfit that makes me feel cute, sexy, powerful, and dangerous all at the same time?
Behold! A temporary but surefire answer to feeling semi-normal again: Putting just a lil more effort into my outdoor dining outfits. It used to be a feeling only achieved before making a public debut, but why should I have to wait for restrictions to lift to feel it again?
I present to you three going out-fits that will take my frumpy loungewear out of rotation at last, and perhaps put me on the path to feeling semi-normal again.
Lunch
When it comes to fashion, I’m lazy but I still like to look good, so picking up basic staples with small details allows me to look and feel more dressed up without even thinking about it. I love picking out black accessories with silver or gold hardware, and I’ve recently overcome my fear of mixing metals after realizing it has only limited my wardrobe in the past. Also, cool jeans are the answer to a great wardrobe, and jeans with an asymmetrical waist are the perfect addition to anyone’s closet. These ones from Colada on Yesstyle are a $39 alternative to Agolde’s $188 Criss Cross Straight jeans. This isn’t a sponsored post, but you can use my rewards code KIKI123 on Yesstyle.com for an extra discount.
Dinner
Exact skirt here | Mini purse here
I bought this basic, slightly metallic white blouse from Dynamite to wear at interviews and job fairs when I was a sophomore in college. I repurposed it by fastening one button under my chest, crossing both of the blouse’s ends over each other, and tucking the remaining material into the bottom of my bra.
A distant relative gifted me this metallic leather Coach bag from the Poppy Collection about 10 years ago, and I never liked it or found use for it until now. The best advice I can give you is to keep everything your relatives have ever given you, even if you don’t like it at first!
Because He’s Gonna Wear Sweatpants Anyway/Staying In
Original sweats from I.AM.GIA | Cute alternatives here, here, here, and here.
(Honestly the sun went down before I got to shoot these photos, and I had a self-imposed deadline to meet, so I decided to just ~own it~).
Cool sweatpants are my newfound passion, and I owe that to female clothing brand marketers who have successfully taken advantage of the pandemic to convince me that I can still look cute while lounging around my living room. Recently, my boyfriend and I decided to stay in, watch consecutive episodes of The Good Place, and order two courses from two different restaurants (10/10 date night btw, I highly recommend). Admittedly, we both opted to stay in our robes that night, but this outfit is a cute, comfy alternative.
Let me know what your favorite date night outfit is, as well as what you’ve been doing to feel normal during this pandemic!
kiki 