What to wear the last week of the year
And every Sunday thereafter
Hello!
I’m writing to you from the high-speed train en route from Paris to the South of France where I am visiting my parents for the holidays. To my left I have a front row seat to a countryside sunset, a view so beautiful I won’t even try to describe it. To my right, there is an adorable old couple who clearly just discovered TikTok, watching videos with the volume all the way up. I have no issue telling Gen-Z to put on headphones, but I can’t ask these two to quiet down. Slowly going crazy in an idyllic environment is perhaps the best analogy for Christmastime at home. It should be perfect, but we (my parents, my siblings and I) all know it’s a ticking bomb before someone loses their sh*t over something irrelevant. It’s the busiest time of the year, especially for therapists.
Growing up, as soon as winter break began I would turn into my Grandmother’s happy sous chef in creating the Christmas’s 13 desserts, a Christian tradition local to the South of France. Her job had only just begun once the cookies were baked. “Who wants Orangettes?”, she would ask every few hours, as she took joyful duty in making sure there was not a trace of sugar left by the time we all split up before New Years. Christmas was her thing and while the pain of her absence may have dulled over the years, it always comes back in full force in December. If you’re also someone who struggles to get into the holiday spirit, I’m thinking of you!
What I do, LOVE are the days between Christmas and New Years. A coordinated week of rest for almost the entire world. Most years, it is the perfect time for me to catch up on a year of sleep, claim the corner of the couch the furthest from the TV, put my legs up against the wall and read a novel for 20h straight, only to get up when my little brother makes us crepes. Since I started Ghia, this special week has been different. This time of introspection for most is the busiest for us, as it’s when 30-50% of the American population goggles “Dry January”-ish terms. It’s a unique opportunity for us to put Ghia in front of many - even my father, who refuses to drink Ghia without wine in it, but also chooses not to imbibe in January.
In my home, it’s an appropriate time to not leave the house, dress up, consume vegetables, and even really shower for a couple days straight. So here’s a selection of what to wear between Christmas and New Years. This one is especially fun for me because I’ve always loved pajamas, in a very Peter Pan sort of way they are my adventure outfit of choice. The theme though, is the same - a selection of quality items that you will love and wear a lot, day or night. Let 2024 be the year of outfit repeating.
I’ll be skipping next week’s newsletter to focus solely on Ghia as we kick off Dry January (wish me luck!). But I want to take a moment to thank you for being here. Reading all of your responses the past few months, getting pictures of you on your trips or with your confit tomatoes has fueled me! I can’t wait for 2024!
Wishing you delicious food and lots of rest.
Melanie
1. Princess Pajamas
I’m currently rocking my striped cotton pajamas, by my friend Carly of Carly Home. Other favorites in my rotation are the luscious Spritz Pants from Comme Si, they feel starched like the linens at a hotel I can’t afford. This Doen nightgown I wear more during the day than at night, many of which are also easy to find on Etsy. Also, some really affordable ($31) Gap PJs, though these are not vetted - I’ve returned everything from the brand recently because the quality felt subpar. ...
2. Really soft things
Everlane sent me this fuzzy sweater and I haven’t taken it off since. It’s so soft but in a way that doesn’t feel highly flammable. Speaking of soft and flammable, some of my friends swear by Skims Cozy Knit and these with the side stripe do look pretty good. Tom Ford capris - no caption needed, they’re a statement for < $200 (lol). These Alanui knit pants that are 80% off - I’ve been in a bandana phase since I came back from Japan.
I ran into my chic friend Eleonore at a Goop party last week and I asked about her super soft ballerina cut long-sleeves tee, which she claimed was also very warm. I made her spill the beans about it: Intimissimi, cashmere blend, $59. You’re welcome!
3. Sporty daily pants
These straight leg JW Anderson I want to pair with these Alaia flats which are now finally becoming available to us civilians, two seasons later I still really like them. Donni waffle track pants - on pre-order so if you can’t wait, these are good dupes. If you’re feeling indulgent, well this Wales Bonner Men’s pair is just the perfect hue of blue (size down!).
4. Rainbow Cashmere
I hate how much I love Elder Statesman, all my sweaters were collateral damage in my second to last breakup, but I snagged a pair of super thick rainbow pants on The Real Real last year and oddly have gotten a ton of use out of them. They’ve been my favorite coffee shop, post surf, or post ski pants. I’m loving this polka dot set so I’m following it on every retailer. The brand is unisex so for a good TRR find, type “Elder Statesman”, do not filter for category or gender, sort price low to high, scroll - you’re welcome. These are really good (they size big)!
5. Neutral accessories to go with in case you decide to get up from the couch
I can’t justify the price of Loro Piana’s Rebecca flats but I am about to cave for the Toteme ones - are white pointy shoes the new Mary Jane’s? My Bottega glasses which seem to be $100 less on MyTheresa than anywhere else. The Kimai lab-grown diamond hoops I never take off - the founder, to thank me for including her here previously, offered a 20% off with the code MASARIN20.
See you next year!
I got the gloves! they're so good..
discovering the Kapital bandana tote bags in Japan kinda broke my brain! Immediately going down the Alanui rabbit hole now....