Cheryl Shops

Well, friends, we are back in lockdown in San Francisco, which means no outdoor (or indoor) dining, no hair or nail salons, no gathering with people outside of your household, and a bunch of other no-nos. It is, to say the least, a really depressing development in this a dumpster fire of a year, although one that I recognize as necessary to help flatten the spread of COVID and address the ICU capacity issues in hospitals all over the state. My heart really goes out to all of the small businesses who have to lay off workers again (and especially to the workers themselves), right before the holidays; I'm going to take this as an excuse to not cook for the rest of the year and instead order takeout so all of my favorite restaurants don't go out of business. But unlike the first lockdown, I'm not going to retreat into my cozy cocoon of sweatpants. It's the holiday season, goddamnit, and I'm going to dress like it! Here's what I'll be wearing.

I've wanted a Max Mara teddy coat for awhile, and while one almost seemed in reach this year, I unexpectedly had to shell out $2680 for a new water heater, so like nearly everything else in life, that will probably have to wait till 2021. I did, however, want to get a nice, warm coat to wear while eating outside, and what's the saying that when you make plans, you make god laugh? That said, I did get quite a few meals in while wearing this warm and fuzzy Uniqlo coat before outdoor dining got shut down. This coat was a Black Friday score (and it's already incredibly well priced), and while I was wary about the fact that it's polyester, it's so freaking warm and soft. Even the pockets are lined with fleece! I was debating on getting the camel version of this versus black (it also comes in army green), but black felt a little more sophisticated to me, and not so blatantly teddy. Then again, you could afford to get it in two colors and not feel too guilty, as long as you promise to wear both and not let them end up in a landfill. This coat is cut rather generously; I'm wearing my usual size small and there's plenty of room for a thick sweater underneath. 

While I may not be reaching for sweats, I am living in cashmere sweaters at the moment. You last saw this one paired with a floral skirt, and while I have it tucked in again here, it's actually a bit oversized and a good length to wear with leggings too. I particularly like to layer this one under my teddy coat because then I have a natural fiber against my skin, which keeps me extra warm without a lot of bulk. I probably could have gone with a lighter colored sweater for a bit of contrast, but black felt a little fancier and thus holiday-appropriate. I sized up to a medium in this sweater for a more oversized fit. 

And speaking of holiday-appropriate, you last saw this skirt around the same time last year, and sadly, I have not had many events to wear it to this year, so I decided to start wearing it anyway. It's such a fun, sparkly style without all of the weight or awkwardness that comes with a sequined or beaded skirt. And it was obviously a popular style, because Isabel Marant brought it back for another year. I particularly like this skirt for the holiday season because it has an elastic waist; I may not be wearing sweatpants, but I don't endorse torturing yourself with a buttoned waistband this time of year. I'm in a size 40 here and probably could have gone with a 38 (I think Isabel Marant has changed her sizing recently, because I certainly haven't dropped a size during shelter in place). 

Accessory-wise, yep, it's more black—the bag because I was too lazy to change it after last week's post and the boots because I didn't want an ankle boot, nor did I want a knee-high. These slouchy suede boots (which you first saw here) hit at the mid calf, which can be a tricky area, but I love how they look with a shorter skirt. They are also, like all of Calla's shoes, ridiculously comfortable. I may have changed out of my sweats, but flat shoes are here to stay. 

OUTFIT DETAILS: Uniqlo fleece coat | Equipment sweater | Etoile Isabel Marant Benedicte skirt | A.P.C. sac demi-lune | Calla Giorgia boots (c/o) (similar here)