5 Pieces We Bought on a Whim and Ended Up Loving
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Photo courtesy of Matteau
While we’re big proponents of shopping with intention, sometimes circumstances—a big life change, an impending event, or a temporary lapse in judgment—lead us to make less-than-considered purchases. And sometimes, when we’re lucky, those purchases work out quite well. Here, five of our own share the sleeper hits that surprised them.
Although I still love a fun fashion moment—especially for in-office days and going out—I realized a few years ago that I needed to rethink my everyday uniform. (Perhaps COVID, having a baby, or my Virgo stellium had something to do with it.) So I bought a pair of Deiji Studios Ease Trousers. They were lightweight, comfortable, and had the perfect, not-too-wide-leg cut. I immediately wanted to wear them all the time—for daycare drop-offs, dog walks, and basically anything that wasn’t work. That’s when I knew I needed to start building an arsenal of similarly easy cotton pants. To my delight, I started seeing them everywhere, from baggier styles by The Row to striped summer favorites from Donni—to Leset’s Yoko Carpenter Pant, which the brand can barely keep in stock. They’re ideal for those days that require more practicality than fashion—but they still make me feel cool.
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I relocated to New York this past spring after living in LA for 17 years, so I’ve spent the last few months building up my jacket collection. I bought our James Blazer thinking it’d be one of many black blazers in my rotation, but I’ve worn it a surprising number of times this summer. The shape is so good—it’s that borrowed-from-the-boys brand of boxy, the kind that makes every outfit just a little bit cooler. It works hard for me now—over almost-naked dresses for summer nights—and will transition perfectly to fall, with a leather skirt and tights.
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My best friend is getting married in Mexico this summer, and I knew from the moment she told me that I wanted to wear a black dress for it. I just think there’s something striking about black in a vibrant, sunny setting. I have looked at so many black gowns over the past nine months, searching for something that felt elevated but not overdone, elegant but still comfortable. Somewhere along the way, I bought one of my own designs—partly as a joke, partly because I really was coming up empty—and it ended up being the winner, ha. The silhouette feels event-y, but because it’s done in cotton, you can also wear it more casually...which I will definitely be doing.
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I didn't think I would ever hop on the miniskirt trend until I saw this drawstring one from Toteme. The crisp cotton poplin makes it feel easy and polished, while the square pockets give it a cool-girl touch. I love that I can style it with a tank and sandals for a casual day out or with a blouse, kitten heels, and a tonal clutch for date night.
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Inspired by all the ties shown during men’s fashion week last month, I bought this TWP shirt—somewhat impulsively. Did I feel a small twinge of doubt as I filled out my payment details? Sure. (I’m usually pretty good about making thoroughly premeditated purchases.) But as soon as I tried it on, any misgivings I had completely evaporated. I wore the shirt to work the next day—and then again, that weekend, out to dinner with friends. In retrospect, I’m not sure what my hesitation was; I love a good button-down. Now I’m on the lookout for more cool twists on classic shirting.
