So you never get bored with your clothes and crave a punch of color? And what’s your take on accessories? And - forgive me - I’m still stuck on the five-mile hike in that skirt but moreover, those SHOES. Have you seriously done that long of a hike in those things and was it a paved/flat “trail,” or a legit rocky, up and down situation?
Also, I’m not so secretly pissed at those who voted for anything other than you treating yourself. Your readers should know by now that you’re going to deliver, and have adventures, no matter what. TREAT YO’SELF.
I can see how it can simplify your life wearing just one outfit. I think because your life is so filled with other happenings, many of them very colorful, you have enough excitement to wear just a background black color. The events you create or encounter provide the mental color stimulation for you.
I, on the other hand, am not experiencing these delightful or not so delightful experiences, which add so much "color" to life. So I generally try to dress in a colorful and attractive way just for my own self even if I am planning to be staying at home. I was an art major and so I try to dress as if I were a finished work of art everyday since I do pass a mirror occasionally to see how I am holding up.
I never could or would wear three inch heels though. I would be toppling over in a short time.
Congrats on the growth of Cafe Anne, and your success with the uniform. I did that happily for years until I became a mother, and had to pivot to wild prints due to the frequency and variety of stains. Pro tip: if you look arty, people will believe the splotches are paint.
I love this post so so so much!!! It's been my secret fantasy to wear the same thing every day, ever since I read that Vera Wang did exactly that (this was MANY years ago). She bought like 20 pairs of black pants, tops and shoes every season and that was that. How freakin freeing!!! Anyway I'll probably never get there but it's super inspiring to see people that do. Thanks for sharing!
Your newsletter is such a delight, Anne! Always something interesting and funny. I’d like to declare for the record that I very much enjoyed the Avenue U installment, so I don’t know what’s wrong with everybody else. I also have somewhat of a daily uniform, and definitely appreciate the value of the “same look every day approach”. If I still lived in New York, I’m sure no one would bat an eye at my all-black wardrobe; but here in sunny Los Angeles I’m forever on my guard, waiting for the day they cite me for a fashion felony. If they do, can I count on you and the readers of Café Anne to send me a cake with a file in it?
Oh my god I LOVE your uniform. I wear the same black Everlane cashmere sweater every single day until it's too hot to bear in MPLS summer, but, even then, often at night, I put it back on. It's so comfy, it's like my blanket, but it's also nice. It's looks good AND feels good. But I don't have bottoms to my uniform. I am going to do what you do, and make a real uniform. I do not like to spend time worry about what to wear but I do like liking what I have on! I loved the idea of the 100 wool day dress but didn't want to wear a dress every day. Anyway. this is brilliant. I am going to find myself a uniform (and yes, it will be black!!).
Wow, so many people would love to wear I uniform, why don't we all just do it?!
My fantasy uniform would be something super utilitarian including attachments for tools and a row of pens in breast pocket. Then I could pretend that me exploring life was an actual job! 😂
I am doing the 100 days dress challenge and am halfway through, not missing my other clothes that much though. My basic combo is the black dress with black tights, with either my gray cardigan or my beige wool pullover or both when it gets too cold, and black boots (flat!). Only I find it troublesome when I need a quick wash of it sometimes. I think I'll adopt the idea of a few pieces of the same thing or a slight variation only!
One of my absolute favorite things about being nomadic is my very tiny wardrobe. What's funny is that even though I have multiple shirts and a couple of different shorts, I basically end up wearing the same thing day in and day out. Washed of course!
I have adopted a bit of a uniform too. It changes depending on weather but consists of black Levis 511 jeans (cut-offs in the summer), black Vans classic slip-on or black Doc Martens 1460, five variations of black and white stripped Gold Toe socks, black Fresh Clean Threads crew neck t-shirt or long sleeve henley, Amazon basics black tank top, black Levis jean jacket (sherpa lined in the winter), black and white L.L. Bean classic ragg wool sweater - one fair isle and one birdseye, Dehen wool knit watchcap in forester red, black/red/white Timbuk2 classic messenger bag.
I loathe picking out what to wear, but that's mostly because my weight has been steadily rising since 2020. I've had to replace most of my wardrobe twice. It would be a lot easier if I just slapped on a uniform and could replace pieces as necessary. If I had to wear the same thing every day, I wonder what I'd choose. Probably a combination of a grey shirt and blue jeans.
Hello Anne, and to the several other Katies I have seen in the comments! I’m so intrigued by this article; I cannot stop thinking about it. I can so easily picture the uniform that would make me feel at ease every day: wide leg trousers, sneakers and a tshirt. This is the outfit I gravitate to first, before grudgingly ironing and wearing the other things in my wardrobe.
Love the idea of wearing the same thing daily. I am almost there. I have a style shirt and pants that I like but wear in different colors. Problem is have to donate all the other items I never wear anymore.
Uniforms are the BEST! They save time, brain space, look great, and are better for the environment, too. No need to buy lots of STUFF! xoxo
So you never get bored with your clothes and crave a punch of color? And what’s your take on accessories? And - forgive me - I’m still stuck on the five-mile hike in that skirt but moreover, those SHOES. Have you seriously done that long of a hike in those things and was it a paved/flat “trail,” or a legit rocky, up and down situation?
Also, I’m not so secretly pissed at those who voted for anything other than you treating yourself. Your readers should know by now that you’re going to deliver, and have adventures, no matter what. TREAT YO’SELF.
I can see how it can simplify your life wearing just one outfit. I think because your life is so filled with other happenings, many of them very colorful, you have enough excitement to wear just a background black color. The events you create or encounter provide the mental color stimulation for you.
I, on the other hand, am not experiencing these delightful or not so delightful experiences, which add so much "color" to life. So I generally try to dress in a colorful and attractive way just for my own self even if I am planning to be staying at home. I was an art major and so I try to dress as if I were a finished work of art everyday since I do pass a mirror occasionally to see how I am holding up.
I never could or would wear three inch heels though. I would be toppling over in a short time.
“ If everyone else wore a uniform, I would be very, very sad.”
Oh my God! Anne! Your uniform practice does not pass the basic Kantian categorical imperative test.
Congrats on the growth of Cafe Anne, and your success with the uniform. I did that happily for years until I became a mother, and had to pivot to wild prints due to the frequency and variety of stains. Pro tip: if you look arty, people will believe the splotches are paint.
I love this post so so so much!!! It's been my secret fantasy to wear the same thing every day, ever since I read that Vera Wang did exactly that (this was MANY years ago). She bought like 20 pairs of black pants, tops and shoes every season and that was that. How freakin freeing!!! Anyway I'll probably never get there but it's super inspiring to see people that do. Thanks for sharing!
Anne wearing the same thing every day... 😐😮😯🤯 😀😁 So COOL! You are one of a kind.
Peace is not in the world. Peace is in the person that walks the peaceful path. 🙏🏽
Your newsletter is such a delight, Anne! Always something interesting and funny. I’d like to declare for the record that I very much enjoyed the Avenue U installment, so I don’t know what’s wrong with everybody else. I also have somewhat of a daily uniform, and definitely appreciate the value of the “same look every day approach”. If I still lived in New York, I’m sure no one would bat an eye at my all-black wardrobe; but here in sunny Los Angeles I’m forever on my guard, waiting for the day they cite me for a fashion felony. If they do, can I count on you and the readers of Café Anne to send me a cake with a file in it?
Oh my god I LOVE your uniform. I wear the same black Everlane cashmere sweater every single day until it's too hot to bear in MPLS summer, but, even then, often at night, I put it back on. It's so comfy, it's like my blanket, but it's also nice. It's looks good AND feels good. But I don't have bottoms to my uniform. I am going to do what you do, and make a real uniform. I do not like to spend time worry about what to wear but I do like liking what I have on! I loved the idea of the 100 wool day dress but didn't want to wear a dress every day. Anyway. this is brilliant. I am going to find myself a uniform (and yes, it will be black!!).
Wow, so many people would love to wear I uniform, why don't we all just do it?!
My fantasy uniform would be something super utilitarian including attachments for tools and a row of pens in breast pocket. Then I could pretend that me exploring life was an actual job! 😂
I am doing the 100 days dress challenge and am halfway through, not missing my other clothes that much though. My basic combo is the black dress with black tights, with either my gray cardigan or my beige wool pullover or both when it gets too cold, and black boots (flat!). Only I find it troublesome when I need a quick wash of it sometimes. I think I'll adopt the idea of a few pieces of the same thing or a slight variation only!
One of my absolute favorite things about being nomadic is my very tiny wardrobe. What's funny is that even though I have multiple shirts and a couple of different shorts, I basically end up wearing the same thing day in and day out. Washed of course!
I have adopted a bit of a uniform too. It changes depending on weather but consists of black Levis 511 jeans (cut-offs in the summer), black Vans classic slip-on or black Doc Martens 1460, five variations of black and white stripped Gold Toe socks, black Fresh Clean Threads crew neck t-shirt or long sleeve henley, Amazon basics black tank top, black Levis jean jacket (sherpa lined in the winter), black and white L.L. Bean classic ragg wool sweater - one fair isle and one birdseye, Dehen wool knit watchcap in forester red, black/red/white Timbuk2 classic messenger bag.
I loathe picking out what to wear, but that's mostly because my weight has been steadily rising since 2020. I've had to replace most of my wardrobe twice. It would be a lot easier if I just slapped on a uniform and could replace pieces as necessary. If I had to wear the same thing every day, I wonder what I'd choose. Probably a combination of a grey shirt and blue jeans.
Hello Anne, and to the several other Katies I have seen in the comments! I’m so intrigued by this article; I cannot stop thinking about it. I can so easily picture the uniform that would make me feel at ease every day: wide leg trousers, sneakers and a tshirt. This is the outfit I gravitate to first, before grudgingly ironing and wearing the other things in my wardrobe.
Love the idea of wearing the same thing daily. I am almost there. I have a style shirt and pants that I like but wear in different colors. Problem is have to donate all the other items I never wear anymore.