Here are five things from my closet that I love and prompts to help you identify yours!
I'm taking a personal style class this fall and have been more thoughtful lately about the clothes in my closet. While so many of them are relics of a younger, much different Thalia, five specific pieces consistently spark joy for me, facilitate confidence within me, connect me to really delightful memories, and reflect who I am right now, today. As I walk you through these five pieces, I invite you to consider the joy-sparking pieces in your own wardrobe along the way.
I picked this up on a Helsinki thrifting hunt with my bestie Lucas in May 2022. Lucas assured me that finding a Marimekko piece in a thrift store at such a discounted price was nothing short of a miracle and encouraged me to get it. He had to do very little encouraging, though, because it was truly love at first sight. To this day, it's probably my favorite – and the most worn – piece in my closet.
To start, it has two deep and well-secured pockets. As if that weren't enough, the length is perfect for my height and the fabric is unreasonably comfortable and durable. I call it my comfort dress for a reason – when I'm stressed, pressed for time, or when I just need to feel confident about something, this is my go-to dress pretty much year-round.
Oh, and did I mention it has POCKETS?
Now, dear reader, what piece in your closet gives you a guaranteed confidence boost? Is there a particular item that, when you put it on, you somehow feel braver, more resilient, and more assured of yourself? Take a note of it!
I picked this jacket up on a chilly evening in Barcelona in March 2022. My sister Alondra and I were galavanting about the city and wandered into the beautifully designed Zara on Pg. de García. I was initially captivated by an intricately (and also discounted) orange sweater that was too beautiful not to take home. But what that sweater offered in beauty and value, this green, button-up jacket offered in warmth, length, function, and a strong silhouette.
The jacket is not bulky in the slightest, yet it's one of my most effective pieces of outerwear when battling chilly weather. I often wear it fully buttoned, which gives a boxier, cleaner, more androgynous shape that I think typically works well for me. The most wonderful quality of this jacket, though, is the incredibly roomy front pocket that easily fits my phone.
Climate (and climate change) have a huge impact on how we dress. When you think of where you live, consider the season you find most difficult to dress in. For me, Atlanta’s intense summers are fine and dare I say enjoyable, but it’s the winters that, though mild by most standards, still bring me to my knees year after year. For the season you struggle with the most, what item in your closet supports you through it?
I credit my fellow Kansai Gaidai University exchange student, Le Lin, for putting me on to the transformative technology of Uniqlo HEATTECH back in 2019. I'll be honest, when he first took me into Kuzuha Mall, I had never heard of Uniqlo. But by the time we walked out the building, I had not one, but two HEATTECH turtlenecks to help me brave the Japanese winter.
I treat these shirts like souvenirs now (yes I know I can get them here, but they're not built the same I promise you). I bought two during my first trip to Japan and bought three more during my most recent trip. They are so lightweight, so durable (the original two have lasted me FIVE YEARS with no shrinking and only very minor damage), and they really do keep me warm despite how thin the fabric is. I don't know what they're doing to those shirts, but they work for me and are the cornerstone of my fall/winter looks every single year.
What piece is the workhorse of your wardrobe? Ole reliable, if you will. Is there something in your closet that has stood the test of time and remains in good condition?
I got this dress on an extremely rare Target run with my mama. I forgot exactly what the occasion was (it mighttt have been Steve Lacy's 2023 concert in Chicago), but it must've been important if it got the Butts women out the house to shop voluntarily.
Nevertheless, it was on sale and was the most flattering shade of purple against my summer-tanned skin so it came home with me and was swiftly packed into the suitcase. It's rather long for me, but I quite like my dresses of that type to be that long. It's so flowy, and though it is a bit more of a revealing silhouette than I'm typically into, it certainly makes up for it in the color, the cool neckline, and the durability. It's sturdy and generally very easy to keep clean. With a pair of heels, this dress be making me think I'm grown fr! With a trusty pair of Birks, it makes me feel like a woman on a mission to achieve my goal for the day!
When you think about colors and what works best for you, what piece in your closet comes to mind? What item really showcases the color(s) that are most interesting or flattering to you?
On my first visit to Japan, I was just happy to be there.
On my second visit, I was, unfortunately, in a bit more sensitive place about my body image, and trying to shop in the women's sections of the Shinsaibashi shops left me feeling pretty negative about my body by the end of the day.
BUT GOD. After two days of scouring Osaka for jeans I liked and fit, my sister and I wandered into the men's section of WEGO in Shinsaibashi and found exactly what I was looking for: a pair of light-wash denim jeans that were super loose and baggy, but in a utility kind of way. I wanted pants with strong form paired with really nice day-to-day function and comfort.
After such a triumphant victory, my spirits were quickly lifted. Once I identified a fit and price-point that I liked, I made sure to stock up before returning stateside. In total, I brought home four pairs of WEGO wide-leg men’s pants that fit like they were made for me:
Another joy of Japanese men's pants, besides the immaculate shape and design, is the INFINITE AMOUNT OF POCKETS COMPARED TO WOMEN'S PANTS. Not only are there several pockets on each of the pairs I bought, but the pockets are so big that I can comfortably fit a short to medium-length book into the cargo pockets. This new party trick of mine has astounded security personnel at concert venues more than once. But this new life of freedom from carrying bags was only made possible by these four pairs of pants that saved me from a spiral of body image issues and certain defeat in my pursuit of more comfortable pants.
What piece of clothing helped you identify or clarify your style? An item that just was exactly what you were looking for. These pants objectively made my closet a better reflection of where I am in my personal style journey. What item is that for you?
For me, it helps that these favorite pieces of clothing are largely connected to positive memories and travel experiences. I remember where I was, who I was with, and how I felt not only when I bought the pieces, but during really critical moments that I had them on. I wore that green dress to interview for one of my favorite jobs, that purple dress was such a look for my friend's production company party earlier this summer, them turtlenecks have been with me from the most joyous first dates to the most crushing breakups, and them slacks have clothed me in casual confidence for countless professional presentations just this year.
What I'm learning about style from my class and from what I already own is that I value comfort over all, my style must have a story, I LIVE FOR POCKETS, and if I'm going to enjoy a life of play and adventure, my clothes have got to be loose and flowy enough to accommodate that. I want my wardrobe to be ready for whatever shenanigans I get into, from bike rides to ballets to Bible study to badminton. What do they say? Stay ready so you don’t have to what, class?
Now how do these pieces play into my overarching style themes? I’m still working on that part. Stay tuned for scenes from the next episode of Thalia Excavates Her Style.
Thalia decided to stop playing bout herself this year and, dear friends, here we are.
