When I was a child, I would change my outfit at least three times a day. To me, it was a game. I mean . . . why settle for just one dress when you could wear five? Honestly, I still don't know the answer to that. Each one fanned out differently when I sat cross-legged, twirled in varying silhouettes, and made a multitude of swishing noises when I ran from one end of the apartment to the other.
Insisting on dressing myself practically from the age I began to walk, I was stubborn and opinionated, and I developed a decisive list of wardrobe essentials and pieces I would never get within 10 feet of. As it turns out, not much has changed since then — including the pieces I still love best.
I recently cleaned out my parents' basement and found myself poring through boxes of clothing from my past. There was the plaid dress with a white Peter Pan collar that I wore to the first day of nursery school, the red gingham espadrilles so tiny they surely never touched the ground, and hand-knit chunky cardigans [1] from my grandmother; the floral French bikini it was a wonder I fit into for more than a week, the velvet-collared coats that were specially selected each Fall, and ballet flats with perfect grosgrain ribbons that I honestly wished I could still slip more than a single toe inside. And as much as I wished I could still fit into most of what my fingers ran through, I realised I owned a wardrobe that looked quite similar to what stared back at me from inside a brown cardboard box.
Sure, over my lifetime, I've added uniform staples, like leather jackets, skinny jeans, silk camisoles, and more, but there are still a handful of favourites I've worshipped since day one. Ahead, find the pieces from my childhood I still want to wear — and how you can shop them now.
Puff Sleeves
Whether it's a cotton t-shirt dress or a velvet holiday frock, I've always loved a puff sleeve. As a child, it made me feel fancy when all I was doing was running around the playground, and today, I feel largely the same. Looking for that go-to Summer sundress or even a t-shirt you can throw on that'll keep you looking pulled together? A puff sleeve might be all you need.
Agua by Agua Bendita Pomelo Embroidered Linen Mini Dress
Agua by Agua Bendita Pomelo Embroidered Linen Mini Dress [2] ($390)
G. Label Justine Puff-Sleeve T-Shirt
G. Label Justine Puff-Sleeve T-Shirt [3] ($275)
& Other Stories Jacquard Puff Sleeve Top
& Other Stories Jacquard Puff Sleeve Top [4] ($89)
Khaite Leona Velvet Mini Dress
Khaite Leona Velvet Mini Dress [5] ($2,200)
Combination T-Shirt Dresses
I've always appreciated a one-and-done, so dresses were a strong go-to back in the day. And while a party dress has an endless list of attractive qualities, sometimes I was looking for something that gave the illusion of a two-piece set, but never bunched, untucked, or twisted around my body (yes, even then . . .). Dresses of the past might have featured a bandana-printed skirt, a patch pocket, or the like, while today's are more elegantly crafted, asymmetrical, and cleaner-looking. But the sentiment surely remains the same.
3.1 Phillip Lim Belted Layered Cotton-Jersey and Poplin Dress
3.1 Phillip Lim Belted Layered Cotton-Jersey and Poplin Dress [6] ($248)
Parker Fleur Combo Stretch-Cotton Ruffle Dress
Parker Fleur Combo Stretch-Cotton Ruffle Dress [7] ($248)
Loewe Asymmetric Cotton & Silk T-Shirt Dress
Loewe Asymmetric Cotton & Silk T-Shirt Dress [8] ($1250)
Zara Combination Dress
Zara Combination Dress [9] ($36)
Collared Dresses
Much like a puff sleeve, a collar on a dress (especially one of the Peter Pan type) gives your festive one-piece that je ne sais quoi that few other details can provide. Few smocked dresses of yesteryear were without one, and while I'm no longer reaching for looks that are quite so juvenile, I can't help my love for that extraspecial finish around the necklines of my minis.
Miu Miu Broderie-Anglaise Cotton-Blend Mini Dress
Miu Miu Broderie-Anglaise Cotton-Blend Mini Dress [10] ($3060)
H&M Dress With Lace Collar
H&M Dress With Lace Collar [11] ($35)
Marc Jacobs The Shirley Dress
Marc Jacobs The Shirley Dress [12] ($550)
Red Valentino Crepe Dress
Red Valentino Crepe Dress [13] ($445)
Espadrilles
Sneakers were never my thing. Nor were flip-flops. Which is why, from before I could even walk (truly . . .), I was outfitted with espadrilles for Summer — day in and day out. With feet too narrow to hold on to a pair of slipper-style kicks, I would ritualistically cross and tie the lace-up ones around my ankles. You guessed it: not much has changed, and I'm always on the hunt for a new pair of woven summertime shoes to add to my collection.
Castañer Jean Gingham-Lace Canvas Espadrilles
Castañer Jean Gingham-Lace Canvas Espadrilles [14] ($39)
Soludos Striped Espadrille Sandals
Soludos Striped Espadrille Sandals [15] ($33)
L.K. Bennett Thomasina Espadrille Flat
L.K. Bennett Thomasina Espadrille Flat [16] ($173)
Manebi Yucatan Espadrilles
Manebi Yucatan Espadrilles [17] ($86)
Hair Bows
My hair was not exactly the most tamed during childhood. Five minutes into each day, some large portion of my blonde curls likely hung directly in front of my face — to which I paid no mind. That said, days always began with a side-parted half-pony that would be swept off my face with the most perfectly placed bow. Whether I was skiing, swimming, or heading to school, you'd better believe the bow was always a must. And it still largely is.
Chan Luu Wine Bow Barrette
Chan Luu Wine Bow Barrette [18] ($50)
Jennifer Behr Bow Barrette
Jennifer Behr Bow Barrette [19] ($106)
Lelet NY Linen Bow
Lelet NY Linen Bow [20] ($78)
Sophie Buhai Silk Hair Clip
Sophie Buhai Silk Hair Clip [21] ($220)
Pleated Miniskirt
I attended an all-girls uniform school for 13 years of my adolescence. From age 4 to 18, I awoke every morning, threw on a plaid jumper or a pleated miniskirt, and headed off to class. Though some look back on their school uniforms with disdain, I wholeheartedly wish that it were still part of my constant repertoire. And while no one may any longer be telling me exactly what to wear each morning, that won't stop me from pretending every once in a while.
Goodnight Macaroon Leea Pleated Mini Skirt
Goodnight Macaroon Leea Pleated Mini Skirt [22] ($65)
Thom Browne Seersucker Mini Pleated Skirt
Thom Browne Seersucker Mini Pleated Skirt [23] ($850)
Off-White Pleated Checked Wool Mini Skirt
Off-White Pleated Checked Wool Mini Skirt [24] ($334)
MSGM Pleated Mini Skirt
MSGM Pleated Mini Skirt [25] ($349)