The New Tuxedo

Trah-lah-lah.

Blazer (Zara - old, similar here and here), T-Shirt (Urban Outfitters, similar here), Overalls (Zara, similar here), Shoes (Asos - old, similar here and here), Necklaces (Forever 21 and Nadri, similar here), Bracelet (Asos - old, similar here)

Turns out, people in the street don't actually spit on you when you're wearing overalls. In fact, more than spit, I was met with a kind of confused wonder from passersby when I first took these babies for a spin—and yes, I did in fact wear this exact outfit to the office. ON A FRIDAY! Calm down.

I won't spend too much time extolling the good, the bad, and the crotch problems of overalls (trust me, the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks and the inability to bend over gracefully), plenty of people have already done that, and demonstrated masterfully just how on-point a perfectly styled pair of overalls can be (Man Repeller has been talking about overalls since Day 1 (whenever that was), and Danielle of WeWoreWhat has shown us why shag coats and overalls should be serious friends). But for me, the recent, and more intensely embraced comeback of the denim onesie was something of a refresher course in head-to-toe denim dressing—a class I hadn't taken since the 5th grade (seriously, I don't think I had worn a pair of full-length overalls since then). 

And what fun it was to be back in those dropcrotched pants of my youth! And in heels no less! Incidentally, this is the key to wearing overalls as an adult (and I have said this many times before about elements of personal style): you can not take yourself too seriously (<—that's italicized so you know it's important). You've got to have some fun with it; hence the leather from Leandra and the bombastic shag coat from Danielle. And really, I've gotta say, it felt great to be back in a denim parachute suit out in public; warm and familiar, breezy and liberating...like a riding a bike, or eating Dunkaroos again. 

The other key to the success of a grown-up overall undertaking is pairing them with something(s) from the other side of the style spectrum i.e. this is the part where you mix your playground pants with your ballroom dress...or something like that. All I'm saying is, wearing a thing like a tuxedo jacket, or a rhinestone necklace, or 5-inch strappy sandals, or say, a shag coat with the denim choice of most farmers is what fashion is all about.. Taking risks, blending new and old, high and low, having a sense of humor, and sometimes—sometimes—making people laugh uncomfortably at the sight of you.