Easy Does It

Stripping down to the essentials for a new year refresh

Editor’s Note: I debated even sending today’s letter given the events that have unfolded in our beloved state this week, but Substack has been a much-needed source of distraction for me when the news becomes too much to bear, so I’m hoping this post can serve others the same. As a Southern California native and resident, I’m absolutely devastated by the destruction caused by the Los Angeles wildfires. Our family is thankfully safe down here in Orange County, but we have many friends whose entire lives have been uprooted and changed forever due to this natural disaster. My heart goes out to everyone affected and I urge you to consider donating time, money or other resources to help those in need. A good place to start is the California Fire Foundation, but there are countless organizations doing critical work that could use any help you’re willing to provide. I don’t have tons of paid subscribers but in addition to several monetary and supplies donations our family has already made, I will be donating 2x my subscription revenue from the month of January to baby2baby. Thank you. ____________________________________________________________________________

Oh January. It’s always a bit of a tough pill to swallow following the festive merriment of the holidays. But it’s also a much-needed reset that helps us get back to “real life,” set new goals, priorities, and maybe even habits as we re-up for a new year to ‘be the best versions of ourselves.’ In this way, I really do love the clean slate January provides, even if it does come with a whopping dose of cold hard reality at times.

January is also a month every year where I always aim to go back to basics in almost every aspect of life. This is my take on Dry January. From simplifying and decluttering our house to establishing new daily routines, to eating healthier and of course—taking a pause on drinking. My application of Dry January extends to the entirety of my life, not just to my alcohol consumption (or lack thereof!)

This year, as I’ve been mentally taking stock of resolutions, goals and plans over the past couple of weeks, I realized I may want to apply this notion of Dry January to getting dressed, as well. This idea was further cemented on New Year’s Day, when I read

Allison Bornstein

’s brilliant piece, Can You Be Cozy, Comfortable, and Cute?!? Her styling advice always inspires me, but this post’s message hit at precisely the right time. The overall takeaway (at least as I interpreted) is that drilling down to the absolute simplest & most comfortable way of dressing can be liberating. She shared ideas on how to style comfortable basics in ways that don’t fall flat or feel boring. And let’s be honest—if there’s ever a month to be comfortable, it’s January.

As I’ve started to re-enter regular life over the past 10 days, coming down from my holiday high, going back to work and getting into the day-to-day, I’ve been craving this level of comfort and simplicity in how I get dressed. And I’m not alone! There’ve been some wonderful posts this week about paring back and clearing out, such as this one from

Maria Hyde

and this one from

Anna Newton

. On the whole, I think I’m still exhausted from a jam-packed December where almost every day warranted a “to-the-nines” outfit. And maybe I’m leaning toward shifting gears a bit in 2025 to focus on simplified styling. Whatever the reason, my take on dressing this month is about being as comfortable and easy as possible.

This “sober” approach to style at first glance may read: boring. At the end of the day, nobody wants to use the word “dry” to refer to their personal style by any stretch! But what if we apply the alternative definition of the word instead? “Dry,” when used to describe humor for instance, is often seen as a positive. You have to be clever and cunning to understand and appreciate dry humor. (I should know, my husband is very Irish.) When referring to dry in this manner, the word and its connotations start to take a more positive spin, don’t they? In fact, if you look up “dry” in the dictionary, you see all the obvious definitions, but then you also get this one:

(of a joke or sense of humor) subtle, expressed in a matter-of-fact way, and having the appearance of being unconscious or unintentional.

"he delighted his friends with a dry, covert sense of humor"

Now we’re talking! The bolded words are much more in line with how I try to convey my personal style (even though I do put a lot of effort into it!)…and I’m sure others feel the same way. When interpreted this way, “dry” suddenly feels considered, easy and astute—all things I am craving right now.

This yearning for easy style has manifested in several ways so far. Most notably, I was giving myself an at-home pedicure about a week ago (sometimes there’s nothing better), and I had Spotify on shuffle. Up popped the iconic artist Sade (song: Paradise…so good!) And it re-so-na-ted! Something about the overall relaxed, sultry yet easy mood of the song really hit - and made me crave simplicity more than ever. (Prob thanks to good ol’ 90s nostalgia). In any case, that sent me down a bit of a Sade rabbit hole, and not only have I decided she’s my official 2025 soundtrack, but I’m also newly obsessed with her style—which, much like her music—is the epitome of ease, comfort, and simplicity in the best ways possible. Don’t be surprised if you see a Sade-inspired post from me in the near future!

easy jazz, easy fashion, easy does it!

With my Sade mood and soundtrack in place, I began to simplify my way of getting dressed…and it’s been super enlightening! I’ve already had some key learnings which I’ll share here today, in case it inspires anyone else to adopt a similar, easy approach to dressing this month (or year!)

Lesson 1: The Comfy Item Still Has to Be *Good*

I’ve found the key to easy, comfortable dressing is ensuring that you actually LIKE the comfortable piece(s) you’re wearing. For instance…think about a pair of pants, sweater, or shoes in your wardrobe that you’re always excited to wear. It may or may not be super comfortable, or even basic, but you love how it makes you look & feel, right? The SAME principal applies to our comfy basics. So often, we can fall trap to not investing in basics bc “oh it’s just a sweatshirt, who cares, I’ll grab a random one on Amazon” - but NO! This way of thinking is flawed and ultimately leads us to purchasing subpar basics we have to replace every year or we flat out just don’t like. I used to have this same mentality up until last year when I underwent a total upgrade of my comfy basics to ensure I’m always excited to wear them. Also, notice how I said “good” and not “expensive.” A good, comfy basic can be a luxe investment piece OR an affordable find. This practice is less about $$ spent and more about whether or not you gravitate toward the item on the regular as something you actively reach for in your closet. This approach has been a game changer in helping me feel just as great in my comfy clothes as I do in my fancy-pants ones.

Allison’s post discussed sweatshirts which is a great place to start, bc what could be simpler? Her ideas for styling sweatshirts are brilliant, many of which I’ve employed before but not in a super intentional way. As part of my 2024 basics upgrade, I added a few stellar ones to my wardrobe, probably subconsciously knowing I’d be craving this level of simplicity come 2025. This time around, my wholehearted embrace of this casual workhorse item has made getting dressed comfortably that much easier.

a good sweatshirt is magic. LEFT: sweatshirt (another great shade here), pants* (use SOGOLE15 for 15% off!), old Zara sandals, (very good comp, cute too). MIDDLE: since Jamie Haller cannot keep her navy sweatshirt in stock long enough for me to buy it, I found this one that is VERY close (or so I imagine). pants are old Free People and sold out but I found these shades still available (snatch them up!) or you can give this style a whirl in ivory, loafers. RIGHT: double the sweatshirts = double the comfort! gray sweatshirt, old St John skirt via TRR (try this or this and just get it hemmed like I did), black sweatshirt tied around the waist, slippers

A few other stellar sweatshirts to consider at various price points:

from left: black shrunken sweatshirt, red sweatshirt, gray sweatshirt, navy sweatshirt, cream sweatshirt

Lesson 2: Rinse & Repeat

I love outfit creation as much as (if not more than) the next girl. It gets my creative juices flowing and makes getting dressed fun — and again, fashion should always be FUN! But hear me outtttt when I say right now, in my January state of mind, outfit repeating in its most basic sense is keeping me sane. Call it dry. Call it lazy. Call it inspired! Whatever you call it, repeating very simple outfits is making getting dressed so stress-free, I cannot recommend it enough. And you might want to sit down when I tell you this next bit…ready? NO ONE NOTICES. Literally no one! I wore the below outfit the past 3 days in a row to work and not a single solitary soul said a thing. In fact, I got multiple compliments!

same, same, but different. LEFT: tee, pants* (SOGOLE15 for 15% off, same throughout), belt, shoes MIDDLE: tee, jacket is vintage Pendleton via TRR, try this, necklace, same shoes. RIGHT: tee, cuff is sold out but similar, Chanel shoes but you know I love me a dupe!

The key to successful consecutive outfit repeating lies in a few things. First, pick an outfit you love to wear that’s appropriate for your week ahead, both for weather and function; be it going to work, school drop offs, errands—whatever. Similar to Lesson 1 above, you want it to feel comfortable and *good*. Second, try to stick to neutrals and/or nondescript items. It’s much easier to get away with wearing a gray sweater three days in a row vs a bright red one (unless you truly don’t care what anyone thinks in which case, please teach me your confident ways!) Finally, change just one or two small things. As you can see above, Tues I wore a belt, Wed I added a bright (distracting?) jacket and necklace, and Thurs I added a cuff and changed shoes. Of course I didn’t wear the exact same long sleeve white tee three days in a row either (ew, hygiene) but very close variations thereof that made a super subtle yet unnoticeable difference. If you’re into outfit repeating, check out

Angie Uh

’s “Shop Your Wardrobe” January Challenge here too for some daily prompts and more ideas to simplify it all.

Impt note! Outfit repeating is very different than an outfit formula- which is super handy, too! Formulas are more about elements you change up for different effect whereas outfit repeating is…well, just wearing the exact same thing :) When I tell you the liberation I’ve felt in doing this…! Definitely a practice I’ll be revisiting again in the future, esp on those weeks where I just cannot be bothered.

Here’s another outfit idea I plan to repeat soon:

cropped jeans, black turtleneck, silver necklace, black loafers, python belt, green mules, white tux blazer

Lesson 3: The Hero Piece

A different take on Lesson 2 centers around the concept of a “Hero Piece.” A hero can mean so many things. In some instances, such as in

Kelly Williams

’s brilliant post back in October, it’s the “pièce de résistance” items in our wardrobe that are true outfit completers. But in my Dry January interpretation, dressing around a hero piece is much simpler. In essence, you identify a versatile piece in your wardrobe that is a) comfortable b) you reach for often and c) makes you feel great (are you noticing a theme yet?) and you build outfits around that piece for the week! Styling around a weekly hero makes the process of getting dressed less daunting. While not as simple as blatant outfit repeating, it still offers a stable base from which to build. (And let’s be honest, half the morning battle is picking that first outfit puzzle piece!)

laziness can be chic! i styled my favorite trousers from Jamie Haller in a few different ways. it was so easy to grab them each morning and go from there - half the puzzle solved! LEFT: tee is sold out in this print, but lots of other colors here. trousers (same throughout and sadly sold out but found a few here, or you can do this color way), old The Row mules, comp and comp. MIDDLE: sweater, kitten heels RIGHT: old Nili Lotan shirt (comp and comp), slippers

As you can see from the above, styling around a hero doesn’t have to feel boring, flat or ‘dry’ in the slightest! You can still very much express your personal style in how you outfit build. In fact, I’d argue that by using one piece as an anchor, getting dressed in a way that feels authentic, unique and exciting to you becomes much easier. Cutting the noise leads to clarity.

Your weekly (or weekend for that matter) hero piece can be whatever you want, but generally I’d advise to pick either a top or a bottom. While it’s tempting to pick a coat, a pair of shoes or a dress as the hero, those items are going to require more thought & energy to outfit-build around, at least for more than one day. But…you can totally have two hero pieces, too! In fact, choosing two heroes, like a pair of jeans and a coat, will make outfit creation EVEN easier.

A few solid go-to hero pieces, in case you need a reminder or a refresh on any of these items (plus some pretty accessories thrown in for fun!) Again as a reminder, your hero can be anything, but I prefer to make it one of the more neutral items in my wardrobe so it offers ample styling options to take me through the week.

from top left: silver earrings, white button down, silver cuff, kick flare pants, cream bootie, gold necklace, gray wrap coat, gray turtleneck, beige sweater, shell necklace, cropped jeans, black oversized blazer, black mules, gold earrings, resin bangles

Lesson 4: Let Color Be Your Guide

It wouldn’t be a Sogole Kane post without mention of color somewhere, so here we are. This time, I’m referring less to literal color (ie, wear yellow or brown or powder pink) but instead, color stories. Whether or not we consciously realize it, every time we get dressed, we’re actively choosing a color story. Sometimes it’s super simple, like monochrome all black or white. Other times, it’s bold and daring, like color-blocking red and purple or blue and green. I’m not reinventing the color wheel here by any means, but landing on a weekly color story when getting dressed is a turnkey way to keep outfit-building simple while still expressing your personal style.

black & blue FTW! LEFT: blouse, sold out Zara jeans, give these a whirl or these for a different take. heels, belt. MIDDLE: sweater, vintage 505s from The Jean Genie (one of my most treasured pairs!), old Isabel Marant booties but these are close (or try these!) RIGHT: Celine jacket (but I am shooketh by this one?!) with a Target turtleneck - this is how I roll! necklace, jeans, flats.

As you can see above, I took a page out of

Lindsay Sword

’s recent inspiring post where she extolls the virtues of the classic blue jeans and black top combo. Chic, simple, understated yet always in style - I knew this would be the Dry January color story of my dreams. This approach allowed me to inject some spice back into my styling, so as to not equate “dry” with “bland.” Using only two guiding colors as my guardrails meant that any pair of jeans and any black top were game. Once I gave myself seemingly strict parameters, the options became endless, but in a non-overwhelming way. As we know from the paradox of choice, limitations can be helpful —and that’s exactly what the blue & black color story did for me.

A few other great color story ideas to think about this month, where you can easily swap top & bottom combos to make multiple outfits throughout your week:

BLACK & WHITE: white turtleneck, black jeans, black loafers, tweed jacket, black button up shirt, white maxi skirt, white mules NAVY & RED: red cardigan, navy pants, silver slingback pumps, navy jacket, navy tee, red cords, navy ballet flat GRAY & BROWN: gray tee, brown barrel cords, ballet flats, barn jacket, brown sweater, gray pant, brown booties

One final “tip” about dressing easily & comfortably (which kinda goes without saying but I’ll emphasize for clarity). Make sure your clothes fit properly!! When I say properly, especially from my Dry January state of mind, I’m referring to breathing room. I generally size up in most things (tailoring excluded) to give myself an automatic “worn in” look & feel…plus, it’s more comfortable and easy when clothes slightly “hang” off your body. And hey…more room for tacos!

Paring things down and back—be it while getting dressed or for life in general—is such a useful way to get back to the heart of what matters to us as individuals, and make space in our days for other (more important!) things to occupy our brainpower and efforts. There’s liberation in simplicity, solace in comfort and even power in restraint. A Dry January mentality certainly has its benefits…but don’t you worry—come February, that corkscrew will back in business ;)

Thank you for reading! It means the world to me, and I hope you gleaned a few helpful nuggets today. Now more than ever, I deeply appreciate this community for all the support we offer each other. Thank you again…until next week! xx

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*It’s rare but occasionally brands send me gifts. I will always note these with an asterisk, but I would also never feature anything I don’t love, endorse and wear on the regular!