Remember? It's Winter. Wear a Cape.

Cape (Zara - majorly on sale this past Winter, similar here and here), Sweater (Zara, similar here), Trousers (Sessun - old, similar here), Heels (Zara, similar here), Necklaces (Dogeared) Ring (Blanca Monros Gomez via Of a Kind)

In case you haven't noticed, it is currently Summer here in San Francisco. More Summer than it is in the Summertime. And although this beautiful weather is a salient reminder that we are in the middle of a very real drought and probably steadily on our way to some sort of apocalypse (whichever one suits you), we should throw our heads back and laugh a laugh of not caring about things that are too scary and important to think about and take a 50 minute shower because we can rely on the life sustaining powers of our abundance of plaid. 

And so maybe it's just for funsies that I'm wearing this plaid cape, but maybe it's also to remind me that even though plaid as a sartorial staple of the colder weather months is a tenant that has been around since Jamie from Outlander times, it is an ever-repleneshing resource that, at the hands of very adept designers, presents itself anew season after season, and we never seem to tire of it. Plaid will be around when there's nothing left but the cockroaches, so eat up.

The sweater is not a real sweater like people in New York would wear because it's completely permeable and basically see-through. The trousers bring a nice monochrome mleh-mleh to the outfit while still reminding you that I'm a BOSS (jk I'm not a boss of anything other than the jar of peanut butter in my pantry). And the shoes are presenting themselves to you in that distinct gunmetal grey probably thanks to somebody who's named Alexander Wang and his Fall/Winter 2013 collection last year. Trickle Down Dance, guys! I'm telling you.

Also, when was the last time you wore an actual cape(coat)?

Back in Black (Not Really)

Coat (Zara - majorly on sale recently, similar here - also on sale!), Sweater (Zara - old, similar here), Trousers (Madewell, similar here), Loafers (Zara, similar here), Bracelet (Nadri), Ring (Blanca Monros Gomez via Of a Kind - Christmas Present from The Man) 

I won't bore you with the details and reasons behind my blogging hiatus (suffice it to say that it was mostly colored by a surplus of self-loathing and a general malaise surrounding the idea of the "effort" (pfft) it would require to, in fact, blog (the verb)), but we're one month into the new year, which means it's precisely the right time to start hacking away at those now perfectly ripe New Year's Resolutions (as futile an endeavor as they may be, the annual exercise of discussing and setting them gives me a temporary high that I will liken to the feeling of hope mixed with something similar to that of purpose). 

Along with such lofty goals as Have Fewer Nightmares, and Say Nicer Things to People, getting back on the "blogging horse" was (is) on my list of resolutions for 2014. So, after giving myself the required one month of lead-in time to store the fat and strength needed to OBLITERATE my New Year's Resolutions To Do List come February, here I find myself. And with Fashion Week(s) nigh, I figured now was as good a time as any to pretend to be in the game. The New Year doesn't really start until February anyway as far as I, and the Chinese, are concerned. So make the necessary adjustments to your schedule and get on board because you just gained one whole month of dicking around that you get to summarily write off as an operating expense. Chest bump!

Now the outfit, well the outfit is something of a cross between a mid-20th-century accountant perhaps (see: tweed trousers and cognac loafers), someone who thinks they're a Fashion Blogger Capital F Capital B (see: ornamentally draped statement coat accompanied by a vacant stare), and an Irish fisherman (the appropriation from the latter is obvious here). 

Wear your sweaters long, and your coats longer, and don't forget to remind yourself that it's still Winter somewhere, and that you still have a whole 11 months to exercise those demons of optimism that authored the compendium of hopes and dreams you have for 2014 and your life in general. HAPPY NEW YEAR, KIDS!