A secret sauce signal
Your outfit repeating is telling on you (non-derogatory!)
In our totally functional materially dominated, choice inundated world, the incentive to “capsulize” one’s life, nurturing a loyalty to an intimate selection of aesthetic choices and stalwartly sticking by them, has never been lower. This is by no means an abomination to my personal formulary senses. One of my favorite people watching mini-games is spotting the most complexly fashionable passers by and trying to identify every piece of the 5+ layered elements that make their shit POP. And as a lover of slow, holistically considerate clothes makers and second hand escapades, I totally respect the swagged out, maximalists, with insatiable appetites and closets of steel, putting on novel, cohesive fits every day that bless the eyeballs. As long as those people don’t 1) indulge unrelentingly in the environmentally pillaging practice of fast fashion consumption and 2) operate with some sense of awareness about the fact they have a serious shopping problem… 🙃
Nevertheless, a world without the kind of romantic vibrancy these people exude is not one I’d care to live in, much like the bleakness of world without peanut butter, rap music or trans people. Those who grant the rest of us license to be bold, seek oneself fully and refuse to settle.
Then there’s those outside of the maximally inclined. A distinct group of people, hermetically sealed from all noise, who genuinely prefer it simple. These people, which I tend to identify with, are the outfit repeating, probs vanilla sex enjoying lot that find confidence, calm and satisfaction in abstaining from the flashy and new while celebrating the lowest common denominator of things that they enjoy. Things that require little resistance to indulge in tastefully. Unconcerned with the frills or trends. Instead, they focus on what matters most to them: practicality.
They hold on to the things that fulfill that standard for dear life and scoff at the mere suggestion of switching it up. They relish the getting dressed in the morning, unburdened by extensive choice, and the reliance on the knowing is, in its own way, a source of excitement.
Speaking from personal routine, I love the frictionless experience of waking up every morning and throwing on one of seven pairs of pants that all go with every single shirt, sweater or jacket I own, with few exceptions. It looks exactly how I want it to, by its very design. Knowing that everything I own and might acquire in the future can adhere to an organized standard of things I enjoy in small quantities, unlocks a sense of freedom for me.
For those freaking out over the seven pants thing, I raise to you this question:
Why would I need more pants than there are days of the week?
The particular few I describe aren’t as extreme as say, Phineas and Ferb. Rather, they adhere to outfit formula in varying combinations over and over again (guilty), and perhaps even one hairstyle to accompany it (also guilty).
Like 2 of my favorite fellow low bun loyalists, Grace Wales Bonner (left) and Robby Hoffman (right), who rock the style without no fail.
Robby Hoffman swiftly became one of my favorite comedians last year for her fired up counter-culturally opinionated style. She’s also a force in tv comedy, with recurring roles on Hacks, Rooster and her own series that’s soon-to-come.
Grace Wales Bonner creates incredibly dialed in clothing out of vibrant juxtaposition. She’s a fashion designer who captains her legendary namesake brand, Wales Bonner, and was appointed the creative director of Hermès as of October 2025. Her eye is thrill seeking, focusing in menswear, and draws outside the lines with the influence of her Jamaican roots and European tailoring.
These two artist’s outputs are anything but formulaic. Their work has a nonconformist quality that pushes itself further and further into tonal upheaval. The question I beg is whether people like Grace and Robby have happened upon a cheat code for creating without bounds, eliminating monotonous aesthetic choice in favor of surplus brain power toward much more important efforts of creating. Or does an innate sensibility, leading them toward simplifying certain matters of self, make them keenly equipped to churn out work that speaks volumes.
I’m no scientist. And they say it takes three to form a pattern, but the precedent for the innovating uniform guy isn’t exactly unspoken for…
Outfit repeating scrutiny has survived decade after decade, but real ones know its a special sauce indicator. MIND SAUCE. Keeping your most loved, reliable garments in consistent rotation is a sign of mastery in my book! I also find it profoundly human to return to the things we love for comfort and renewed pleasure.
I talk about matters of style more “creative exploration newsletter” implies for reasons I often expound. I’m obsessed with style not only as an access point to expression, but as craft that’s poured into by individual hands at every step. I enjoy riding for brands with a sustainable ethos as much as I love a good vintage hunt because that fast fashion company sending you targeted ads for a below average baby blue tank top that’ll fall apart within the span of a year keeps finding ways to amplify their conniving and seductive tactics.
Second hand shopping is as accessible as it’s ever been. So why settle?!
I am in fact wearing my newly beloved, vintage Margaret Howell MHL cardigan as I type this… which I copped for wayyyy lower than retail and have been wearing the shit out of, as the previous owner(s) did with thoughtful care before it was bestowed on me.
P.S for any doubters, 20 bucks is an immense steal for those whose senses stay attuned to things like natural fibers and design detail.
Thanks for your time this week!