What I wore in week #6/2025

Recovering from a cold + 1 mistake purchase

What do you do when you are sick? How do you show up for yourself and to the world around you?

A limited world in my case, as I spent most of the work week at home. I’ve been super productive, which is great. Motivated to be productive as well, which is even better.

My cold started already on Sunday. I believe I even mention it in my Sunday outfit planning live:

Sunday outfit planning live

Once I realized that it was a steep way downhill, I just got so sad. Yes, sad and sorry for myself that at least 2 nights will be difficult with that horrible pain and itching in my throat that even the strongest Halls cannot relieve. No! The first thing I always think about when I’m sick is all those great outfits that I’ve prepared for the week that I may not wear. Do you ever have it the same way?

I’m not sure whether it’s the clothes themselves or rather what they symbolize. The everyday life that I live, the clothes that I wear, the places I go and the people I meet. Maybe it’s all of this. Or maybe it’s just the clothes.

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Monday

Monday was spent in bed, almost entirely. I still worked all day - all packed in warm layers and under the quilt. Even my oat latte tasted differently because of the sore throat. Do you also prefer tea when your throat is aching?

…Eventually I think I did get up and took a shower. But it was rather late in the afternoon. I did also change to my preloved Tibi faux suede jogger in camel and my Lisa Yang cashmere turtleneck.

This is probably my most worn lounge outfit, for when I need to stay wam and feel cuddled. I cannot recommend the jogger enough. It’s an old Ultrasuede Scottie Jogger. It’s just so comfortable; so soft against my skin and actually very warm.

Lisa Yang’s cashmere turtlenecks are classics. They are part of her winter collection every year. I wish I had discovered her sooner.

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Tuesday

I spent the morning working in bed again, but then I felt a sudden urge to just get up and get dressed. I really believe that this simple act is healing in itself and shouldn’t be underestimated. It’s a way of telling my body that it’s going to be just fine and that we’re gonna fight off the virus together.

What I had planned to wear that day was also something that I was really curious to try on and style for the first time. It was a blue cropped sweater from Tibi. I didn’t really get to try it back in London last week, which is when I got it. My US colleague brought with her three Tibi items for me, that I ordered with delivery to her home in Florida.

I don’t meet my American colleagues that often, so when I do and they are willing to do me a favour, then I don’t hesitate. Ordering anything directly from the US means paying high customs duties and service fees. Which could potentially be justified for brand new items, but this applies also to preloved things, which in my opinion is completely out of proportions and counterproductive. Don’t we want to promote circular economy and sustainable consumption of fashion? Denmark - you can do better!

Anyway, my initial intuition was to pair that blue sweater with my maxi grey wool skirt that I found preloved last winter. The colors worked really good together and the sheer nylon hoodie underneath the sweater was a cool and fun detail.

For whatever reason it didn’t feel right, so I changed the skirt to another preloved piece - a faux leather midi skirt that you’ve seen here before. This was much better. The shininess of the skirt helped a lot.

Still, I was craving more… But more what?

More structure? - yes!

More put-togetherness? - yes, definitely!

So, I changed again. This time to my mid pencil skirt from COS. It’s a deconstructed model, which only makes it more cool. This finally felt like me - under the circumstances. The circumstances being that I really wanted this sweater to work for me. But it was a struggle. And getting dressed should never be a struggle. I only need garments in my closet that I cannot wait to wear and not dread to style.

I immediately decided to sell the sweater again. It’s a really great piece! I like the material even though it’s not 100% wool. It’s still very warm and more structured than pure wool typically be. The color is just amazing. …but it’s just not a piece I will ever wear a lot. I’m a blazer girl and for lounge and home occasions, I prefer my more voluminous wool and cashmere tops.

So here is a list of what I’m currently selling via Vestiaire Collective.

By the way, I’m also selling my grey wool skirt. I find it too A-line and too long. I could alter it, but I’d rather sell it to be honest. I’m sure somebody will love it just the way it is. I’m selling the skirt via Vinted.

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Wednesday

This was definitely lofted settledness, as Rachel Solomon puts it so poetically. She defines the term as:

“a very particular blend of comfort, literally and not, plus something more, something higher, a certain kind of joy/pleasure/rightness that’s almost ebullient and can be present in the most ordinary moment.”

This is exactly how this outfit makes me feel. Maybe it’s slightly more put together than the examples mentions in her post talking about the ‘lofted settledness’ term. And the puttogether’ness is both in the shirt and the blazer-like jacket, not to mention the pleated skirt. But the sum of so many elements from the formal department, do not make the whole outfit more formal. Not to me at least. Not at all.

There is so much ease and comfort. The colors are just so yummy and pleasing. There is so much texture going on. I really feel like I nailed this one and this must be one of the outcomes I aim at. It’s not about perfection on any level. What is perfection in an outfit any way. It’s all so subjective. It’s also rather elusive. Will I even like this outfit in 5-6 years?

I echo Laura here, who wrote recently: “We are playing here and the experiments don’t have to be seismic.”

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Thursday

One of the other three Tibi items that my colleague brought for me from the US was the Thomas Menswear Check Dennis Cutout Blazer. (can there product names be any longer btw?).

Now, this is match made in heaven. It’s a blazer. It’s classic. Even conservative with the brown beige plaid material. But then, there is the cut-out at the back. I went for adding some sexiness to the rather masculine outfit. The lace camisole, the jewelry and the leather pants create that balance that I need and crave.

The whole styling is leaning more to the slim side, but I don’t mind it actually. I definitely see this outfit with a pop of color as well. My preloved green jumper would look great here. If I had a big orange scarf, it would also be a great addition.

You see, adding something brand new is not something that I want to avoid at all cost, even though I do want to live and consume fashion and anything really in a sustainable and more conscious way. I wrote about it here, back in November last year, when I started my Substack journey.

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So the blazer with the very long name is here to stay. I cannot wait styling it with a white shirt …and with my wide leg preloved denim from Dries van Noten.

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Friday

This must be my winter uniform. Can I even define it?

Yes, there is a blazer. But I always wear blazers - also in the summer.

There is a thin cashmere jumper, which could merino wool or it could be a t-shirt in the warmer months.

Maybe it’s the pants. Slightly balloony, cropped, wide leg cotton trousers in an interesting, fresh color.

Or is it the silver boots?

Whatever it is I love this outfit and I also love repeating different iterations of it. Just take a look at my going-to-the-opera outfit here, or my Thursday outfit here. Same, same - but different.

I enjoy also using my colourful accessories - the preloved green tote from Celine, the navy belt from Tibi and then my pearls and white earrings. They all add dimension and most importantly interest and multi-dimensionality to this styling.

This has overall been a good week as it comes to my outfits and how they made me feel. At the same time the mishap of thinking that a rather casual blue sweater, with somewhat modern cut was something for me; that it would be that something my wardrobe needed is a lesson I’d like to be free from repeating. And when Missmatch asked me that day over Instagram whether I would have bought the sweater if it wasn’t Tibi, was a revelation(!). Why on earth can I not apply logics and basic analytical thinking when it comes to fashion. I honestly hate those mishaps. There! I said it.

I wish you a week of great outfits that will make you feel your best - whatever that is on a given day. I wish you also a more cold blooded approach to the consumption of fashion. Hangovers are never pleasant, even if there are so many good outfits to be grateful for.

With love,

Ewelina

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