Media Worker Fit Watch, Part II
Featuring pantaloons, bolo ties, at least one Sopranos reference, and cats.
A million years ago, back in March during the early days of lockdown, we put together a Media Worker Fit Watch — the idea being that while anxious and confined inside, we could at least distract ourselves by trading pics of the comfy and sentimental outfits we donned while working from home. Now it’s November, most of us are still not back in the office, a vaccine is months away at best. Yet we continue to clothe ourselves, even if it’s pajamas or the same favorite T-shirt several days in a row. Has our indoor style improved? Have we gone full feral? Citing sartorial inspiration from Christopher Moltisanti and our grandmothers, here’s what media workers are wearing these days to endure the slog.
“Outside of journalism, I’m a passionate sewer and make my own clothing, largely using vintage patterns and fabric from the 1940s-1960s. This floral look is inspired by Rachel Syme’s New Yorker article about the nap dress, arguably the most comfortable quarantine fashion trend.” — Hannah Steinkopf-Frank, Paris-based freelance journalist and grad student
“It’s comfy and roomy, and an all white fit is a flattering even as it gets dirty. The shoes are Salomons, which strike me as the perfect in-between of a house shoe (they are slip on) and a walking-around shoe. I have a 69 US denim mask, which are very breathable.” — Kevin Lozano, Brooklyn-based writer, editor, and Diversity Hire podcaster
“I live in these Yogalicious leggings — I have five pairs and they are legit the best Align dupe I’ve found — and a rotating collective of sweatshirts. I also bought a pair of Dansko clogs because I lecture on campus and have to be on my feet for hours. Tbh I am sort of mad at myself for waiting this long to get them.” — Rachel Raczka, Boston-based freelance editor and WLP affiliate faculty at Emerson College
“At the beginning of the pandemic, I bought a set of secondhand silk pajamas on Etsy. They are the perfect pig’s ear pink with cream-colored piping. Many mornings I don’t want to face the ugly world and its requirements, so I stay in my pajama set, which elevates my lingering to something like a lifestyle.”—Carina del Valle Schorske, Manhattan-based freelance writer and translator
“I’m really into slightly oversized everything for this season, so cozy, graphic knitwear and wide-leg pants are definitely going to be in my rotation. Working in some forest green into my looks is going to be key since it’s the color of the season.”—William Goodman, Washington, DC-based freelance writer
“I like to wear a comfortable horror T-shirt and baggy yoga pants, or black pajamas shorts. I hardly leave the house so I need to wear something that I can relax in.” — Tiffany Aleman, LA-based horror journalist/film critic/satirist
“I’ve basically worn this caftan I found on Etsy every day since I’ve gotten it. I already worked from home the last few years, but my desire to put on clothes has just absolutely plummeted so this shapeless bag is the best I’m gonna do. If I have to do a call or something, I will pop on some lipstick maybe and put on earrings. Luckily, from the waist up this thing looks enough like a black top or something, though I guess my ~secret~ is out now.” — Matt Lubchansky, Queens-based freelance cartoonist and editor
“My work from home outfit varies drastically. But at least five days a week, to blow off some steam, clear my head, listen to some podcasts, I head to a court near my apartment and shoot around for a few hours. This is what I wear.”—H. Drew Blackburn, Dallas-based freelance writer
“Loose patterned button-downs have always been a wardrobe staple for me, but for some reason in quarantine I started pairing them with track pants?? When re-watching The Sopranos recently, I realized I had basically adopted the sartorial sensibility of Christopher Moltisanti. I’m now comfortable in my new identity. This is how I dress now. I usually pair this look with Converse but have also worn it with snakeskin boots, which should probably be illegal.”—Allegra Hobbs, Marfa, Texas-based staff writer for Study Hall
“I usually wear a shalwar and a kameez, and now a giant hoodie because the weather isn’t so warm anymore. If you have never worn a shalwar, then, quite frankly, you do not understand the true meaning of comfort. I don’t wear a hijab when I am working from home, because…why? I throw one on for Zoom sessions, but otherwise, it’s just me and the mess on my head. It’s what’s on the inside (and in the Google Doc) that matters anyway.”—Zainab Iqbal, Brooklyn-based reporter at Bklyner
“My PR job is my first job since graduating college, so even though I work from home, I’m trying to dress up to show my coworkers that I’m taking the position seriously. Today, I have my first article on bolo ties coming out in MEL Magazine, so I thought I’d wear one bolo from my collection to celebrate. It’s a chrysocolla bolo with Hogan-style tips.”—Pearse Anderson, Chicago-based press strategist and freelance journalist
“Six months into working from home, I’ve graduated from sweatpants into elastic-waisted pleather pants, which are surprisingly comfortable for a wholly unbreathable fabric. Top portion consists of fuzzy (inside and out!) Levi’s sweatshirt which I have washed nearly never and a checkered lumberjack piece that allows me to work at all times with my windows fully open, despite almost daily rain.”—Gabrielle Pedriani, Paris-based publicist and occasional freelance writer
“Throughout quarantine, I’ve bought a series of progressively stupid outfits (because I’ve lost all impulse control and no one has to see me in them), including this set I got for my pandemic zoom birthday. That was the first and last time I wore the pantaloon portion, but the top has seen a lot of screen time over the last few months. It’s my go-to on the rare occasion I have to get out of my pajamas because it’s comfortable and formal enough, but still very silly.” — Asli Athman, writer and researcher
“I work one day a week at my friend’s vintage shop. I normally resist buying stuff on my shift, but a couple weeks ago, I caved and bought these brown trousers. I like wearing them because they’re a new addition to my closet and, after seven months in quarantine, I’m craving any kind of novelty in my life. I’ve also been into the black/brown color combo lately, which I thought was just a consequence of fall, but then I realized I’ve been accidentally dressing to match my black/brown dog, Sweet Potato.” — Nora Belblidia, Baltimore-based freelance writer
“I’m generally not thrilled when it gets colder out, but one small joy is that it’s chilly enough for me to wear this ’70s athleisure/house dress that belonged to my grandma. I really don’t understand what it is, but it’s thick and comfy and makes me feel like a strange gnome. I usually don’t wear it outside of the house except maybe to walk the dog, although I did put it on, with several layers under and over, for a blizzard Rockaway beach day back in January (oh, we were so young then!).” — Kate Mooney, Brooklyn-based freelance writer and author of this article 🙂
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