5 Years Later: Comfortable Classics
Every month this year, I’m picking an outfit that I first wore and blogged back in 2016 (a whole five years ago, if you can believe it!) and recreating it using the same (or very similar) pieces! I actually could have started this series in 2020 or even 2019, but 2016 is the first full year I used a DSLR for blog photos, and no one needs to be reminded of the photos I took with the camera prior to that (lol).
My goals with this series are to put together updated versions of some of my favorite past outfits, see how much my style has changed over the years (if at all), highlight the items that are still in my closet five or more years later, determine if it’s time to pass on some of my older items, inspire you to evaluate the longevity in your own wardrobe, and most importantly, remind you (and myself) that it’s cool to rewear your favorite outfits/items!
I polled you all on Instagram when I couldn’t decide which outfit to feature out of three options, and this outfit won by a mile! To be honest, I was trying to decide between the other two (Back to basics or A new me) and hadn’t even considered this one…but I’m quite pleased with how the new version turned out! Let’s dive into the final 5 years later outfit of the spring.
COMFORTABLE CLASSICS — 2021 vs. 2016
This outfit, which I called Comfortable classics back in 2016, is the epitome of a casual workwear outfit. It still feels current today, save for the skinny jeans… Gah, I just can’t get over the fact that skinny jeans are the new mom jeans. Haha!
In 2016, I wore a ModCloth cardigan, Uniqlo shirt, my very first pair of Madewell jeans ever (which have since been tailored), Earthies sandals (from my very first brand collaboration), and Banana Republic Factory earrings. I still own the jeans and the shoes from the original 2016 look but this time, the only item I featured in the new 2021 version is the pair of sandals!
Let’s start with the shoes. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to select and style the Morolo wedge sandals courtesy of Earth (at the time, the shoes were from a sub-brand called Earthies) in the spring of 2015, and they’ve been an integral part of my closet ever since. I still adore them and wear them constantly during the warmer months! They were my first foray into the brand, and from then on I was hooked (and continued my partnership until the pandemic).
A good pair of neutral wedge sandals goes with anything and everything. They’re the best wedding guest shoes because they’re neutral and super comfortable to wear. They’re starting to show slight signs of wear since I’ve had them for over six years now (mainly scuffs), but all things considered, they’ve held up quite well! You all know I love a good style stat, and according to my Stylebook app, the cost per wear is down to under $4 (had I paid full retail price). These sandals haven’t gotten much love since the pandemic started but I’ll be reaching for them again as I head back into the office!
Even though I do still own the original pair of skinny jeans (and these were the FIRST EVER jeans I ordered from Madewell), I’ve since had the inseam shortened (because I’m dumb and didn’t realize that I’m most definitely never a 32” inseam, LOL), and with that, the ankle opening is a little wider than I wanted for this look. The rise is also somewhere between low and mid, and right now I prefer higher rises. So, I swapped the original jeans with one of my newest pairs from Madewell: curvy skinny jeans! I picked this particular pair up last summer and love the fit. The wash is a great medium blue that is quite similar to my original pair. I’ve since added more pairs of curvy skinny jeans!
I no longer own the cardigan, shirt, and earrings I wore in the original 2016 outfit. Like with my previous 5 years later outfit, though, my swaps are all quite similar to the originals!
The ModCloth cardigan I wore in the 2016 look was thin and not particularly great quality. Even though it’s a good neutral color, I didn’t find myself reaching for it that much, so I passed it on to someone new. I picked up the Uniqlo AIRism cardigan a couple of years ago and packed it for my trip to the Cook Islands, where it was very much appreciated due to its UV-blocking technology! The new cardigan is also lightweight but feels higher quality, and it also has a better fit overall (it fits over my broad shoulders and it’s easier to layer with). This was a no-brainer swap!
Another no-brainer swap: switching out the blue linen sleeveless shirt from Uniqlo for my trusty sleeveless chambray shirt from Madewell. Much like the old cardigan, I found myself not reaching for the linen shirt that often even though it was a great color…and linen! I love linen, especially in the summer. The fit was just a little bit off, so I sold it on Poshmark. I purchased the chambray later in 2016 and have held onto this version over any other with sleeves because it’s so easy to layer with. I do wish I had gotten my true size instead of one size down from my pre-pandemic size because now it’s quite snug!
Finally, the earrings…I impulse bought the Banana Republic Factory statement earrings while shopping the outlets in New Hampshire many years ago. The style is fabulous, but they were too heavy to be comfortable, so I didn’t wear them all that often and I constantly worried about them pulling my earlobes down! The lightweight clay earrings I purchased last fall from Romy Studio are much more my speed and are way better for everyday wear.
Which outfit is more your style—the updated 2021 version or the 2016 original? Even though the outfits are pretty similar, I think overall I prefer the updated 2021 version! I like the cleaner lines provided by the non-wrinkled chambray shirt and the skinny jeans with no cuff.
Check out all outfits in the 5 years later series!
OUTFIT DETAILS
Uniqlo cardigan / old; similar by LOFT (shop all Uniqlo AIRism products)
Madewell shirt / old; similar from Bloomingdale's
Madewell jeans / old; similar or similar Roadtripper style (review here)
Earth sandals c/o / old; similar from Amazon (last seen here)
Romy Studio earrings / check for new releases or similar from BR Design Co (last seen here)
Le Specs sunglasses / exact via Zappos or Nordstrom
Dior Lip Glow in pink / exact