Issue #209: The 10 Most-Worn Everyday Pieces in My Closet

And how to create an outfit that doesn’t ‘expire.’

📚 Ruth by Kate Riley: When Kate Riley was 25-years-old, she moved from New York to a mostly off-grid Christian commune that inspired this strange, new novel about Ruth, a woman born in such a community, who questions this way of life and grapples with free will and mortality.

📺 “Chernobyl” on HBO: Okay, I do realize this came out in 2019 but maybe you missed it the first time around too? I’ve been largely uninterested in finishing many of the shows I’ve started this year, with the exception of ‘The Pitt’ and ‘White Lotus,’ so tried this miniseries and have been completely mesmerized/horrified. It depicts the infamous nuclear explosion at the power plant in present-day Ukraine, and the deliberate misinformation around it, in large part to protect the interests of the Soviet Union. I didn’t realize it would have wiped out half a continent, if not for some heroic scientists. Well worth a watch, with a genuinely thrilling first episode. If you’re looking for something a bit newer… I’ve heard good things about “Long Story Short” (from the creator of “BoJack Horseman”) and “The Rainmaker” is a new show on Peacock.

🎥 ‘Girl Climber’ in theaters: Rock climbing has historically been a boys’ club—until Emily Harrington came along, and made history as the first woman to free-solo El Capitan in under 24 hours. This documentary, in select theaters, follows her badass ascent.

I often think of an article I read in Man Repeller a decade ago (?!) where

Harling Ross Anton

identified something we’ve all experienced, but that I had never put a name to, “The 3 P.M. Rule.” Maybe you already know what I’m referring to? By 3 P.M., even outfits that looked excellent in the morning tend to “expire.” They might fit uncomfortably tight after a few meals, or be wrinkled, stained, or sweaty. Given the option, you would rather run home from work to change before dinner out.

Much more rare are those once-in-a-blue-moon outfits that look just as good by the end of the day as when you started. I’ve come to think of these as “shelf stable” outfits, and as I’ve continued to break my own obsessive buying cycle and edit my closet, I’ve created one filled with these options that look and feel good all day long. At this point, I’ve never owned fewer clothes—but I’ve also never felt so confident in the items I do own. Here are a few of the qualities I believe contribute to a “shelf stable” outfit that lasts all day:

• Comfort. I no longer own pants that push against my abdomen after a big meal, and prioritize soft fabrics I feel good in. Even if a blouse is moderately uncomfortable (I recently got rid of all my wedgie-making bodysuits, even though they looked cute!), I will subconsciously avoid it each time it comes to getting dressed—or count down the hours until I can take it off.

• Versatility. On any given day, I’m running errands, working from a coffee shop, or heading on a hike or walk with Toast, with evening plans at the end of the day. I want an outfit that can go from each activity to the next, without necessitating a change!

• High-quality fabric. Buy less and spend the money on 100% cotton, cashmere, or silk. Synthetic fibers tend to trap and make body odor worse, and show sweat stains since they often aren’t breathable. I used to feel like my deodorant never worked, and prized my “Secret Clinical Strength,” but since gradually swapping out all of my blouses to be cotton, I’ve been able to wear fragrance-free deodorant.

Below, I dive deep into how to build a shelf-stable outfit, plus the 10 items I wear most often (never any affiliate links), and an update on my “no buy” year…