5 Years Later: Work to Play
Last year, I started doing the 5 years later outfit challenge: I picked out an outfit I first wore and blogged back in 2016 and recreated it using the same (or very similar) items. I had so much fun that I decided to keep it going for 2022, so now I’m recreating outfits I wore back in 2017! (Wow, I can’t believe 2017 was 5 years ago already…that was the year I finished my PhD!)
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!
Let’s break down the final 5 years later outfit of spring 2022!
WORK TO PLAY — 2022 vs. 2017
May 2017 was the month I graduated with and then defended my PhD! (Yes, in that order, haha—I hadn’t yet defended my dissertation by the time graduation rolled around but did at least have it scheduled.) My “Work to play” outfit was one of the outfits I wore that month that wasn’t for graduation or my defense. It’s just your standard everyday outfit that works for a smart casual office or for the weekend! In 2017, I wore a Grana top, LOFT jeans, Charlotte Olympia flats, and a hat from Nordstrom. I still own three of the four items and included two in the new look for 2022!
Items from 2017 I’m still wearing in 2022
One of my very favorite wardrobe additions ever is my pair of Charlotte Olympia navy velvet Kitty flats. I was super fortunate to have a Shopbop partnership a few years ago, and I used some credit to purchase these flats during a sale. Unfortunately, it appears the style has been discontinued, though I have seen them pop up on Poshmark. I truly wouldn’t have been able to afford these shoes on my grad school salary without that partnership, and it was still quite a chunk of change for me. I adore them so much. They’re still a favorite all these years later! I actually ended up purchasing the same shoes in a half size down from my original purchase so they fit my feet better and now I have two. 🤣
The only other item I’m wearing from the original 2017 outfit is the hat! I purchased this hat, the Phase 3 Whipstitch Wool Floppy Hat, in the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale a few years ago. It ended up being one of my best NAS purchases! It makes an appearance in my fall and winter outfits every year, but it’s also a fun one to pull out in the spring before it gets too hot. The tawny brown color goes with everything, and I love that the interior is adjustable.
What’s new in 2022
Two of the items in the 2022 version are new! (Plus, I’m wearing my signature sunglasses in the new look, of course.) As with most of my 5 years later outfits, I opted to stick as close to the original outfit as I could and picked a comparable pair of skinny jeans for the new outfit. Even though I still own the original navy silk shell, I opted instead for a light and airy linen-blend top
I no longer own the LOFT skinny jeans I wore in the original outfit because I didn’t like the lower rise. There’s also a 0% chance they’d still fit today, lol. Luckily I have a new pair of white skinny jeans from Everlane to wear (though this style has unfortunately been discontinued). They’re a fairly standard pair of white skinny jeans. I much prefer the higher rise to hold my gut in, and I love that more retailers are offering curvy styles now! They’re a game changer.
I mentioned above that I technically still own the Grana silk shell. I haven’t worn it in years, mostly because silk is so precious and I just don’t have the time for precious fabrics in my wardrobe right now. I’ve held onto it all these years because it’s such a great staple, but I think it’s about time for it to find a new home. Instead I opted for the closest alternative: a linen-blend top from Uniqlo. I love the sort of A-line shape of the top, and anything with linen is the best to wear when it warms up!
The only big difference between the two looks is the top swap! Are you more of a fan of the 2017 original with the silk shell or the new 2022 version with the linen-blend top?
OUTFIT DETAILS
Uniqlo top / old; similar from Nordstrom or Old Navy (similar silk shell by Quince)
Everlane jeans / exact (limited sizes) or similar by Madewell
Charlotte Olympia flats c/o Shopbop / old; similar by Scarosso (last seen here)
Phase 3 hat / old; similar from Nordstrom
Le Specs sunglasses / exact from Revolve, Shopbop, or Nordstrom
Dior Lip Glow in rosewood / exact