My Trusty Dinner Outfit

Semi-related but hoping this amazing community can help: my husband has 12 hours in NYC in a few weeks. Where should he go for lunch? We’ve spent a bit of time there but not for years now and he’ll be with his boss who’s never been. Thank you!

It can get so cold here were I live and I am always looking for cute but WARM clothes to wear on nights out with the girls! This post was so helpful and fun to read! Thank YOU!

I’ve been giving myself a “sweater challenge” during this cold(ish) month: can I wear a different sweater every day?
When I moved to Oregon from California, I was thrilled by the fact that I needed sweaters! In LA you could get by with an occasional hoodie. In SF there is a culture around little stylish jackets to hold out the fog. But in Portland? A good sweater under your rain-repelling coat! I ended up buying a *few* (cough cough) too many.
So now I’m challenging myself to see if I can wear/style all of my knitwear over the cold season – whether for dates or daytime – and if I can’t, let it go.
That said, a slinky sweater that maybe hints at falling off a shoulder and a pair of 70’s-ish jeans is really the best combo ever.

Wow I love all of these descriptions. Delicious! I live in a year-round chilly place and the question I ask myself every morning is: which of my collection of cozy sweaters do I want to wear today? Chunky wool, thin but warm alpaca, hip-length cotton? Occasionally I mix it up with a flannel shirt and puffy vest instead. Next, do I want cozy joggers, cute but less warm leggings, or high-waisted jeans? Always paired with a long-sleeve cotton knit shirt underneath and my gorgeous locally made burgundy suede Doc Martens style boots. The best part of this outfit is that I almost never wear a bra. After years of not feeling like I ever knew what to wear due to nursing, changing body shape, and then pandemic, it feels so good to have a formula down.

Jeans and a white top is my daily uniform! And always love Sezane’s beautiful pieces.

My go to this winter has been a sweater dress and high heel boots. I’m sexy and put together but still comfy and warm.

Jo, I have to laugh reading your very romantic and whimsical description of arriving to a restaurant during winter! My family had a few days in NYC over thanksgiving and my husband and I planned a date night… cocktails at Leyenda, followed by a *pleasant 8 minute evening stroll* along the street to Frankies Spuntino for a late dinner. It was the coldest, most blustery night imaginable. That 8 minute walk involved sideways sleet and my puffiest puffer coat, heattech layers and wool sweater dress still left me shivering in my boots. Quite the NYC experience! ha. I will say that the welcome at Frankies was warm and cozy and exactly what we needed (and as you’ve been proclaiming for years, the cavatelli with sausage was outstanding). But that 8 minutes… yikes.

High waisted trousers and cozy sweaters an cardigans. We just went hybrid this week so I’m back to the office and trying to figure out what that life is like. Are we still business casual? Can I wear my sneakers? It’s all up in the air. I also like a long dress topped with said sweaters to break it up a bit.
I’m also finally able to afford nicer base layers so I bought some merino leggings and tank tops. They’re great for layering under dresses and skirts
I have my trusty burgundy Blundstones. I managed to find a square toed pair that I haven’t seen anywhere else. And my Doc Marten Bianca boots which I bought secondhand. I wanted something a little punky and these are perfect – pull on, pointy black boots. Also lots of fun knee socks from Bonne Maison.

I love seasonal outfits, especially winter! I have a TON of wool coats of different styles & colors, and they are the key pieces to my outfits. Last time I went out to dinner I wore a smart light beige one which comes down to the calf + a shorter black leather skirt, black tights, black sneakers with bold white soles, white t-shirt and black cashmere cardigan for extra coziness. Felt awesome in it :-)

I splurged and got a Fjalraven expedition down lite jacket that I’d had my eye on for a while and I adore it! Perfectly warm for Michigan winters and I don’t overheat when stop into a store. I wasn’t sure I’d like the gigantic puffy hood, but now it’s one of my favorite features of the coat, second only to the numerous pockets!

CoJ community, this post hit home and I would love your help!

I am taking my first solo trip, since becoming a parent, to NYC next month. I will be here for 72 hours, with plans to see a show, visit galleries, and live my Big Apple dreams for a weekend that will go by too quickly. I am bringing only my carryon.

So, what do I pack? What are the perfect essential pieces I need to bring with me to have the best solo weekend? Thanks!!!

I love all the photos of eyelet/lacy blouses, but whenever I try one on, I feel like an overdecorated birthday cake! I think I’ve come to the conclusion that this is a “good for her, not for me” style.

I recently got myself a cozy turtleneck sweater in very soft yarn. I love it. Not a super dressy style but it’s a flattering color for me, so I’ve been wearing it a lot.

Guys, what are we wearing on our lower halves? After the last few years of staying inside, all my skinny jeans went out of style…and my skinny jeans body went right with it. I can’t with the leggings anymore, but jeans just make me want to turn around and crawl back into my jammy pants! Help!

I am living in a series of pantsuits I bought in the last few years- black ones with v-neck, velvet, boatneck… I can wear them for dates, at work, hanging out with friends.. They are so flattering and comfortable— so much so that I stopped wearing jeans all together. There are affordable options at Zara, Mango, COS, Esprit.. Highly recommended

My current winter wardrobe is essentially what I was wearing at 13 – leggings, flannel, and Dr Martens. Angela Chase in My So-Called life has apparently imprinted on me as a style icon.

LOL to the Vermont top. Nobody in Vermont would wear that. It’s pretty but impractical here for about 50 reasons!

i’m very casual this winter….loving shackets…😉❄️ p.s. pretty blouses! 🤍

Because of you I just bought the blouse from The Loft in XXL at a great price..I love it.

I want to make another strong sweater recommendation: Uniqlo’s Extra Fine Marino Wool Crew Neck Sweaters – specifically the men’s – have been my go-to sweater for years. I wear them to death and buy a new one every year. They are perfect sweaters for me! They are thin and I buy them so that they fit close to my body, but they’re surprisingly warm, excellent for layering, machine washable, and somehow feel sexy because of the fit and professional, put together & in charge for work events. I also LOVE the men’s because the sleeves are longer, so I can pull the up and over the palm of my hand, adding to the general coziness. Also, I’m plus sized, so men’s size range works for me whereas I size out of the women’s sizes. I wear a 1X/18 in women’s and usually wear a M or L in this men’s sweater.

Living in an always warm climate = add a denim jacket. That’s it. Still in sandals, sun dresses, tank tops… just bring along that jacket in case a touch of chill arrives.

I always feel pulled together and neat whenever I wear anything from Massimo Dutti, I recently purchased skirt-pants! with gold buttons which I have worn with a similar style embroidered blouse by Mango and with a black silk high neck blouse- my go to now! Simple and chic!
https://www.massimodutti.com/gr/%CF%80%CE%B1%CE%BD%CF%84%CE%B5%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%BD%CE%BF%CF%86%CE%BF%CF%85%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B1-%CE%BC%CE%B5-%CF%87%CF%81%CF%85%CF%83%CE%B1%CF%86%CE%B9-%CE%BA%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%BC%CF%80%CE%B9%CE%B1-l05207713

Question for the room: I’m headed to the City for a solo trip and I’m wondering if I need to research “solo dining options” or if pretty much every establishment will be attentive to a solo diner? I want to feel taken care, you know? I don’t plan on hitting up anything too fancy and my list so far has places such as Gramercy Tavern, Grand Central’s Oyster Bar, Frankie’s Sputino, and Balthazar,

Jeans, Sweaters and 20 year old Dock Martins all winter long!
Side Note, I get a Stitch Fix 4 times a year and that has helped me 1000% get new thing introduced into my wardrobe! Can’t recommend that service enough!

I am swathed in merino wool dresses and leggings through the winter – lightweight, soft and silky, and warm in my old and chilly house! A knee length grey shift dress, a breton stripe dress that makes me vibe warm weather even when its chilly and a few other pieces.

Love this description of New York dinners! These blouses are lovely.