WHO CARES WHAT I'M WEARING?

There is a column in the Sunday New York Times Styles sections entitled “What I Wore,” in which people of whom I’m never heard tell us what they’ve worn in the past week, day by day, outfit by outfit. This usually includes references to high end designers and second hand shops in the East Village. These people have some wardrobe, let me tell you. I can’t imagine where they fit all of these clothes in those notoriously tiny NYC closets. Sometimes I think they must turn an entire bedroom over to their wardrobe. I know one woman who has turned over the entire upper floor of her Park Ave. duplex to her extensive designer wardrobe. And I mean designer. Gucci, Chanel, Valentino, Prada, Balenciaga (the real one), Halston. It’s wardrobe Heaven up there. At 80-something, this fine lady is still a perfect size zero and still occasionally models. She drives a red Jaguar, which is garaged next door to her apartment, to her country house in New England on the weekends. I had the great pleasure to work with her on a play in which she played a beautiful, fine lady with a great wardrobe. One stultifying humid September afternoon, I spent hours with her, going through her closets to find the perfect outfit for her character. (I was the costume designer on this particular production, though I usually work as an actor. When there’s work. When I’m not directing. Or coaching. Or designing. Oh, you know, it’s show biz.) When we were done, we took our repast of Haagen Daas vanilla ice cream and instant coffee. She regaled me with the story of how she had a coupon for the ice cream and was able to get it for half price. She always uses coupons. Always. Why pay more than you have to for anything? Smart lady.

So I was reading the Times column today and thought, “No one has ever heard of me. Why don’t I go through my wardrobe day by day for a week and send it to the newspaper so everyone can read about what I wear, why I chose it and where I bought it?”

Monday: Dark wash jeans (Sears), a black camisole (Target. These are genius! Cotton and just enough spandex to act as shapewear and a layering piece. And at $8.99 I scoop them up by the handful in every color) and blue, cotton-rag sweater (JC Penny.) I love that sweater and often wear it on chilly days. It’s so comfy and it looks like denim so it pairs nicely with denim. On my feet where my black Rockport’s. I have two or three pair in black and one pair in brown. Approved by the American Orthopedic Association, they are classically styled oxfords that go with absolutely everything. I topped it off with a brick red, full length down coat which was a Christmas present from my parents about 15 years ago. (That Lands End wears like iron.)

Tuesday: Dark wash jeans (Sears), a black camisole (Target) and a black cowl-neck, three-quarter sleeve sweater (Sears clearance.) Black Rockport’s and a London Fog trenchcoat (Macy’s) completed my look.

Wednesday: I worked from home so I chose to stay comfy: black yoga pants (Target), Black camisole (Target) and an orange hoodie from my favorite Cape Cod outlet, Cuffies, alas, no longer there. (I so miss that Cuffies. Of course, there’s still the Cuffies in Dennis, but the one in West Yarmouth was so big and well-lit, brimming over with T-shirts, shorts, my beloved hoodies, baseball caps, all conspicuously emblazoned with the words “Cape Cod”… Ah well.) On my feet were my stand-by tan suede moccasins (Lands End).

Thursday I visited my mother at the nursing home so I wanted to look nice. I wore dark wash jeans, a black cotton long-sleeved top (vintage) over a black camisole and for a pop of color, a teal cotton flyaway sweater (Marshalls, if memory serves) and teal pashmina (from a film shoot.) Black Rockport’s and my trusty Lands End down coat served as outerwear.

Friday was another dreary, rainy day in the suburbs of New York, so I opted for comfy and warm: dark wash jeans, black camisole, cranberry colored cashmere sweater (Gap) and a red plaid chenille scarf under my red down coat. Black Rockport’s kept me on my feet and stylish at the same time.

Saturday we went to see a fabulous production of “Tartuffe” at Seton Hall. I chose dark wash jeans, a black camisole, black cowl-neck sweater and rusty-burgundy lacy cotton top. I love this piece. I bought it at a shop in the Cape Cod Mall years ago and it is my go-to blouse when I’m feeling “arty.” It looks vaguely like something you’d see at the Renaissance Festival, but I refer to it as my “Stevie Nicks top” because I would wear it to sing rock music. If I were in a rock band.

By the time Sunday came around and the weather still had not warmed up nor dried out much, I actually recycled a look from earlier in the week. Dark wash jeans, black camisole and black cowl-neck sweater, minus the teal flyaway sweater. Black Rockport’s and my London Fog trench kept out the damp.

So, that was my week in fashion. New York Times, I’m waiting for a reply.