A Christmas-Errands Outfit

The days leading up to Christmas are my elf days. Yesterday was elf day and today is elf day, too. I’m running errands, cleaning the house, preparing food, and meeting friends.

I love the flurry of activity leading up to the holidays. It’s fun to get groceries in our smallish town and take in the merrymaking and well-wishing. (I just ignore all the grumps, their grinch vibes pass me by).

When I left the house yesterday, I wanted to look festive and warm. What a perfect opportunity to pop on my Norwegian style wool sweater! I’ve had and loved this piece for many years - since I was a teenager, actually.

More on the story of this pullover and what it taught me below.

First, the outfits deets.* 

Let’s start from the top!

The hat is from Akubra, an Australian brand, that I bought when I visited Oz almost 20 years ago. The earrings are clip-ons from a flea market in Bogotà, Colombia. The red sweater is cotton from Sisley, the wool pants are vintage (you’ve seen them in this this outfit before), and the boots are from Marc O’ Polo (I’ve worn them here before).

A Sweater that Grew up Along With me

Now, onto the sweater. It’s a very special piece to me. It’s from Austrian brand Gössl, who make traditional clothing with an urban, contemporary twist. In the alpine region I’m from, their pieces are the type of clothing a mayor or bank director might wear to work or on special occasions. Zero Oktoberfest, lots of grounded chic.

When I got this lovely pullover, I was 16-ish. I bought it for myself, with my own money. It was a big purchase at the time. My mom highly recommended I get it, while I felt it was a bit too grown up and a stodgy looking for a teen. I wanted to be cool and this wasn’t it. I’m glad she insisted, because I’ve worn this thing so much. It’s a really thick knit and very versatile.

Yesterday, I wore it without a coat to dash from the car to the supermarket. I’ve also taken it out for sledding, skiing, and long winter walks.

In a way, the sweater and I have grown up together. 

While it felt a little awkward in the first years that I owned it, it’s now become a trusty companion. Every winter, without fail, I can take it out of the closet and trust that it will keep me warm and cozy - and looking cute.

How Long do Your Clothes Last? Long-Term Style

That got me thinking: How many of those pieces do I have? The outfit above is an amalgamation of my travels and long-time companions. A hat from Australia, vintage earrings from Colombia - worn together with home-grown staples made for a really satisfying outfit.

When I look at some of the key pieces of the outfit, I particularly love how long I’ve had them. 20-ish years on the hat and sweater, 15-ish on the boots, eight on the earrings - that’s a lot of time and a lot of wear.

I love the most that these pieces carry so many memories: Of happy days skiing (the sweater), winter walks in the snow (the hat), and dinners and parties where I felt sparkly and glamorous (the earrings).

I suppose especially now, in the onslaught of the annual consumption season, I’m reflecting on what I truly want out of my closet and style. I appreciate pieces I can live in the most. Things that accompany me throughout my life. I like clothes, shoes, and accessories I can do life with.

As much as I used to enjoy looking at fashion content, I’ve been finding myself get more and more weirded out by how unrealistic and decadent it all feels. Yes, I love clothes and I enjoy having creative choices in my wardrobe. A small, minimalist closet certainly is for other people And yet, wearing things once, photographing yourself in them to then send them back or toss them - that’s weird. What a weird cultural moment we live in with that! More so, I miss seeing photos of people with outfits that feel personal and worn in - style with a long-term, personal view.

I’m excited to go in my own direction. You’ll see me rewear and reimagine things a lot. There’ll be new things, too, of course. Newness is exciting. More than ever, though, I want what I have to be a true, long-term addition to my life.

My holiday sweater and the outfit above reminded me of how nice it is to have clothes that feel like good, long-term friends. If you have them you’re very fortunate.

On that note, happy holidays to you and yours. Enjoy the season, dress up or dress down in whatever way you feel like. ❤️

Above all, may your days be peaceful!

Johanna

*PS: None of the brands I mention here are sponsorships. I share them in case you wanted to do your own research and because context is nice.