January Fit Review

At the end of each month, I’m going to revisit my fits of choice and attempt to dissect them. Beyond the obvious wardrobe changes that happen with the seasons, I believe there’s an idiosyncratic change to my looks from month to month, whether that be the choice of pattern, color or cut.

I’ve made it to the year 2022 seemingly unscathed. My personal style has changed quite a bit in this decade, though for the first time, I feel that I’ve reached the last frontier. The clothes I choose to wear each day feel like me. I feel that my uniform has reached home base, after rounding the bases of trial and error. What does this look like? Something out of a Ralph Lauren catalog.

The truth is, this uniform of mine has been boiling up for years. In high school, I was going for the frat star look. Even then I was affected by John Hughes's idealistic vision of Chicago’s North Shore. I’d wear Sperry’s, button-ups, Polo or Brooks Brothers.

Suffice to say, I’ve reached my uniform, but that doesn’t mean I’m unwilling to experiment in newness. This month featured a revival of Levi’s that's been sitting in my closet for months. They’re that striking shade of black, that leaves no room for imagination. It was one of those purchases I immediately regretted. But being the persistent experimentalist that I know I can be, I soaked them in bleach, which turned them into this beautiful gray shade.

Another point of newness is my obsession with blazers. I bought two tweed blazers this month, both including a bulky shoulder and need to succeed. I love the tweed look, but it saddens me to think that these two will be retired come summer.

January brought me a big coat, which in turn brought big dreams, such as the longing for a new pair of loafers.

I wear a single pair of loafers almost every day. The problem is, they’re dusty, beat up, scuffed and broken-hearted. I look forward to Spring when the snow and slush will be melting away, and a potential pair of Celine loafers stomp the sidewalk in anticipation of the day.

You might be wondering what I have on my horizons next month besides Celine. For starters, I’ve weirdly been inspired by the Kanye and Julia Fox love affair, not because of love, but because of the looks. I see leather in my future, more denim and dare I say, boots?