look good, feel good, play good: 9 easy outfit ideas
outfit therapy: because crying at work is not an option
I’ve definitely been hoarding some recent looks on my camera roll. I went back to work two weeks ago and have been diligently trying to capture my daily outfits. The shift from summer-Traci to work-Traci feels pretty drastic. Sadly, some favorites—boxer shorts, eyelet tanks, flip-flops—aren’t exactly work-appropriate (safety hazard alert).
By the end of summer, though, I’m usually ready to “get dressed again,” and these past two weeks have actually been kind of fun! But honestly, after just two weeks of school, my brain is already fried. So fried that I don’t have some miraculously themed, deep-from-the-soul kind of post for you. What I do have: outfits, graphics that kept me sane when I was stressed, and a little rationale I hope resonates.
My pal Emily Grady Dodge (who I absolutely adore & did not confirm with her that I can refer to her as my “pal”) sent me a DM the other day to do a little wellness check now that school’s back in session. She caught me mid-chaos, and in true dramatic fashion, I quoted my favorite RHONY, Dorinda Medley:
Truth is, every school year begins like this. I haven’t cried at work since my first year of teaching, so the subtitle of this post is a bit dramatic (like me). Have no fear, zero actual tears have been shed. But I’d be lying if I said the transition back to work was smooth… it’s been BUMPY. Trying to be Mom, crush it in the classroom, write on Substack, and keep up my role as a Substack Hypewoman™ has been tough.
You could say, is it really necessary to comment and restack other people’s work when life is already so busy? But celebrating and connecting with others, both in real life and here, keeps me sane. I know how much it means when someone reads and appreciates my writing. And if I subscribe to your work, I’m telling you I’m genuinely interested in what you’re putting into the world—so I’ll always do my best to eventually (be patient with me, lol) read it and support it. Plus, I’d much rather be here reading people’s pieces than mindlessly scrolling WNBA videos on TikTok (very niche, I have a lot of layers).
I know things will settle down at work, at home, and across my many priorities. Eventually, my family and I find our groove and all is well again. In the meantime, I fall back on one of my favorite mottos…
Look good, feel good, play good. I’m not sure where I first heard it or who I shamelessly stole it from. Please note I’m not taking credit for inventing this phrase. Instead, when I’m tired, running on fumes, and my world feels a little chaotic (Disclaimer: I’ve already gotten quite a few phone calls from my kids’ school), I lean into looking polished. Somehow, that helps me feel better and lets me function in a pretend fantasy world where everything is peachy.
Christina Tumminello recently wrote about a similar feeling in her post, I almost cried today. Maybe you did too? As she navigates her own personal hardships, she discussed the significance of getting dressed every day:
Getting dressed is an anchor. It connects and grounds me to myself. It makes me feel like me. Everyday —I get dressed. Sometimes the getting dressed is good, and sometimes it’s bad and sometimes it’s just fine. But I still do it! Even when I’m going through the motions and I just need to be a step above slob. On those days, my outfit is my coat of armor.
This week I felt disconnected, ungrounded, and exhausted. But when I read Christina’s post, I felt oddly seen. I felt less like an imposter—put together on the outside but unraveling on the inside. I felt less superficial focusing on taking care of myself. And I realized these “coats of armor” helped me make it through.
So here they are—the wardrobe wins that kept me upright during two fried-brain weeks.
Foundational piece: This is the item in ALL CAPS that I built the look around.
Add-ons: The pieces I layered on to add character and interest.
Let’s get this party started…
This was my first day of school outfit! I bought this dress forever ago when the GAP x DÔEN drop happened & didn’t find the chance to wear it over the summer. In the spirit of Secondhand September (S/O Tina Boetto!). I snagged this Polo sweater from Depop and wore it draped over my shoulders. The all white felt a little sterile so this added some zest to it.
On day two, I decided to add a little color. This linen apron dress has been in my closet for a few years, and I finally took it to the tailor so it actually fits the way I want. I styled the red dress with gold accessories and black sandals to make it pop. Red + black + gold is definitely a comfort color combo for me.
FriYAY was going great until I dropped my FAVORITE ceramic coffee travel mug (already filled with my triple shot of espresso) and it shattered into pieces.
My husband texted me an hour after I got to work:
He knew this was NOT good, lol. I stopped at Starbucks on the way in to work, disgruntled and annoyed, but my whole day turned around when the barista handed me this cup!
I went with this cute white shift dress. Similar to the first day of school plain white feels like a lab coat to me. I added some character with this black and white striped sweater.
According to my Indyx data, I wore the next dress a few times over the summer—but not nearly enough. To give it a fall twist, I layered on a linen button-up. I might even try styling it with the shirt fully buttoned and tied at the waist. What did get plenty of wear this summer were these gorgeous beaded earrings (sadly, sold out)…they go with almost everything.
I snagged these pants from the J.Crew Labor Day sale (in a few colors, of course). They’re super comfortable and such a nice way to ease into fall—light fabrics but still seasonal. They run just a touch big, but with a belt they’re perfect. I especially love how the silver buckle detail ties in with my silver orb earrings.
I felt a little dark for an 80-degree day, but this look was so fun! It feels like it’s giving a feminine Johnny Cash vibe. I was chatting with Danielle about whether this skirt would be work-appropriate, and I think paired with the button-down and loafers, it definitely was. The loafers are still in the break-in period and I’m sad to report I currently have two open wounds below my ankle bone. Send thoughts and prayers.
As I mentioned in Lindsay Sword and Evonne Sturm’s latest post - my hero piece is definitely a cashmere crew sweater! I have this one in multiple sizes and colors, depending on my vibe. I love the red when I want a pop of color. I paired it with turquoise earrings and a colorful necklace—look at this neutral girl getting all wild and crazy!
As I mentioned above, these cashmere sweaters are my wardrobe heroes—they always add a pop of fun. There was almost a crisis when a blue pen exploded in my bag. I spent the entire day covered in blue ink, and by the end of 6th period, the pen had migrated onto my white tee. Usually, this would have triggered an emotional meltdown and a plea to my husband to drive a shirt to me1, but instead, I relied on my trusty sweater to cover the mark. I’m not sure how the sweater escaped the pen, but good karma was definitely looking out for me2.
I went to a store IRL a few weeks ago (GASP!) during our “back to school shopping.” I popped into Levi’s and actually tried on jeans. I hate to say it, but it was a game changer. These black barrel jeans fit perfectly (I sized up one from my usual). I would’ve never purchased these online and the act of physically trying them on really sealed the deal.3 I love the width of the barrel and the length! I’m 5’6”, and they just barely graze the floor. I can’t wait to also wear them cuffed in the future!
Lastly, some polka dot fun! I almost didn’t include this one, but after posting the look in my notes, it seemed to get some love around the Substackverse. This is an older J.Crew skirt I snagged on crazy clearance… I called it the skirt everyone slept on! The reviews were iffy, and I think a lot of people passed on it. It’s semi-sheer with a shorter slip underneath and runs a little big… but man, she packs a punch!
These J.Crew tees are my favorite. The key to this look is wearing a cropped tee. It eliminates the dilemma of whether to tuck or not.
And that’s what I wore the past two weeks! Life may have felt a little crazy, routines haven’t quite been established yet, and by the time I drop my kids off at morning care, I’ve already made more decisions in one hour than I did all summer. But what I can control is putting myself together in a way that makes me feel confident and (semi) collected.
When all else fails, I simply do my best to look good, feel good, play good.
Lindsay Sword & Evonne Sturm - Two brilliant merchandiser minds write about their work and various “hero items!” Some of my favorite Substack writers share their own must-have pieces—check them out here!
Katelyn Cnossen - In last week’s post, Katelyn shared her mom Tam’s simple, timeless formula for effortless, confident looks. The ultimate mother-daughter style duo!
Emily Grady Dodge proves in her summer style recap post that buying a season’s wardrobe at once can be fun, practical, and surprisingly satisfying.
Elin Strong - $500 Birthday Challenge asked 30+ Substack writers how they’d spend birthday “fun money” - SO FUN.
Rin-On’s post from last week reflects her week of outfits, highlighting what worked, what didn’t, and the lessons she’s learning about letting go of clothes that no longer serve her.
Jordyn Sharfe shared tips for mixing casual and polished pieces while navigating seasonal wardrobe transitions that can sometimes feel like a struggle. THIS RESONATED DEEPLY.
Thank you guys for taking the time to read my work. Your support means the absolute world to me.
May your coffee stay hot, your sweaters stay ready, and your pen explosions stay contained,
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Things he has brought to me while at work: My lunch, my coffee, my laptop, my work bag (?), deodorant, and more. When Type A marries Type B. BLESS HIM.
If you zoom in on the picture, you can definitely see the pen mark—that’s how serious this story was.
Perhaps this will be my annual once per year shop in an actual store experience. I had to interact with the sales associate (because like a toddler I couldn’t understand the way the sizes worked) and she could not have been more helpful. Stay tuned.
Traci you are juggling a lot!! I totally hear you on clothes as a coat of armor - those small acts of getting dressed mean a lot when everything else feels chaotic. Wishing you smoother times ahead and lots of opportunities to fill your cup!!
I absolutely love all these looks 😍 hope these last two weeks have been much smoother. Sad face on the mug as that would have been the tip of the iceberg on an already overwhelming morning for me too. Any tips on getting the sweaters draped over your shoulder so perfectly in place?