Good morning, Saturday. D is en route after a week away, and needless to say, Khan and I are anxiously awaiting his return, and before I head out to Tribeca to touch up my roots, I thought I'd give you some thoughts on one of my favorite yet also most troublesome pieces of clothing, the jumpsuit.
So the WSJ, whose fashion and lifestyle prose of late feels more USA Today than economic stronghold, published a piece this past week on the long lasting appeal of the humble jumpsuit, a new wardrobe "staple" that has surprised fashion insiders like Rebecca Taylor as less of a trend, and more of a long lasting option for women who like an all in one approach to dress. I'm one of those girls and ever since my Miami days when I discovered the wonders of a good dress, I'm all about a more uniform, non thoughtful approach to dress. Yes, I'm lazy. Yes, I'm at ease in this silhouette that can be both forgiving and flattering. And yes, I'm also surprised at how long this grown up onesie has stuck around. Just the other day, I saw the sickest gold threaded voluminous jumpsuit at Electric Feathers (not on their site but so many other great jumpsuits there), and immediately began scheming how I could live a life where all I have to wear are about five different versions of this one piece and be done with it. (Chic commune, anyone?)
Jumpsuits are the answer for an easy, comfy chic vibe that will most likely have you looking cooler than anyone else in the room. But really, and to be transparent, jsuits suck for an obvious reason, and that reason is toilet time. For this reason, jumpsuits are the ultimate Iove/hate wardrobe item of all time.
Whether you drink too much coffee or too much tequila, the jumpsuit is no friend to the weak or alcohol infused bladder. There's no delicate way to say this, but really, there's no way to feel more vulnerable and alone than to sit in a bathroom stall with not only your pants down, but your top down too. It's fraught with cruel intentions, embarrassment, and weird vibes. Because at any moment, somebody could bust open that door and there you are, in your bra, sitting on the toilet. That ain't right.
So as much as I love my jumpsuits, I wear them, but with caution. If I am going out for the evening in the East Village (ha, as if that ever happens anymore), I'm not going to wear one. Nor am I wearing one on a day when I know more than one iced coffee is happening. Nor, and as much as I would like to for comfort's sake, wearing one on a plane. OMG. Plane bathroom. Top down. Oy. (Tip for those that want to experience jumpsuit joy but have the blessing of full frontage- if you are larger up top, go for one a piece that has more volume like the one in the picture above from Electric Feathers- it will be easier to get on and off vs. fighting with a too tight top half.)
So the moral of the story is this- if you are neurotic, jumpsuits can be wonderful because they suit most body types and make you look fabulous. But if you are neurotic, you're probably going to panic through the course of the day and/or night because the exposure required to wear this jam is far from ideal. Oh, well. Maybe wearing a jumpsuit is the ultimate staple for a more human approach to dress, because sometimes, you may be caught not only with your pants down, but your rack out as well. You just gotta be cool with that. So you tell me, Wall Street Journal, if designers are "betting" that this look can be a wardrobe staple, can they provide a pep talk to those of us that find the look fabulous but the utility not as much?
Cause that's what's up this post trend cautious kind of Saturday in the buttoned up 718. Yours, in hesitation. XO