Big Slouch

“Jennifer, Jennifer, well and able, get those elbows off the table.  This is not a riding stable, this is our family’s dining table.”  This refrain found its way into more mealtimes than I care to remember, along with my father’s less sing-song directive: “Don’t slouch.  Sit up straight.  Posture.”  In short, the word slouching has long been a negatively-tinged one in my lexicon — that is, until this season, when I’ve been sort of dying over the 80s-reborn, oversized, slouchy proportions on some of the separates that have found their way into my closet.  To begin with, I somewhat unthinkingly snapped up this roomy red-orange sweater from Gap ($54) to prepare for the wintry mix headed our way, and a) have gotten way more mileage than I expected out of it, and b) cannot wear it without someone stopping to ask me where I got it or commenting on its cheery color or cozy, oversized fit.  I wear mine (or the similar, designer label style below — $1000) rolled up at the sleeves to expose a striped tee beneath (I wear a classic stripe, but am dying over the color combinations of this $50 J. Crew sailor tee), with skinnies and easy cap-toe flats (on sale for $105):

There you have it.  The world’s easiest, most pulled together weekend look, especially when finished with a classic leather tote (bonus points for the monogram — $199).  I have to say that as I get older, I’m on the hunt more and more for a label-agnostic-looking bag.  I mean, I’ve LOVED every second of my Alexander Wang Emile (mine is in the yummy toffee color, now sold out) and, before that, a couple of Louis Vuitton bags, but, as I get older, I’m less and less interested in the bag as a status symbol itself and find myself coveting a bag that no one else has…or that at least is more difficult to source.  Well, let me add a few caveats to that: I will die and go to heaven if I get my paws on the Pashli while it’s still hella chic to own.  And the Celine Boston bag will forever haunt my life.

Anyway, the style above is along the lines of what I’m looking for.  I’m also very seriously considering this jujued up sweatshirt from J. Crew ($148) after seeing Marlien Rentmeester wax poetic about it on her fab blog, Le Catch (LOVE that joint — the shopping addicted unite!).  It’s the perfect slouchy look for right now — a little bit dressed up, and a lot dressed down.  I’d wear it with distressed, lighter-wash jeans and some wedge booties (Plomo, $395)

The shoes are very Isabel Marant, at about a third of the price.  Parisian street chic.  I’d finish with a luxe bag ($895) — the Pashli, to be exact —

Or, how about this nubby sweater (love its roomy size and the cool zipper detailing — $84) with black wool pants ($118), some metallic-flecked pointy toe flats (Loeffler Randall, $250), and Ray-Bans ($125):

Finish with an uber-chic bag (YSL, $2,595) and an unexpectedly “rough and tumbly” scarf ($84 — GREAT textural contrast):

Very Sofia Coppola.  Finally, one slouchy look on my list — a classic denim jacket ($118) with a big ol necklace ($228), a striped tee, some roomy-fit olive green trousers ($59), and a classic pair of neutral flats (Lanvin, $495):

Finish with one of those bananas Sophie Hulme totes:

And, one accent piece that I just added to my own wardrobe very much in this slouchy style vein?  This fab star scarf ($35 — 30% off today online!), which I’m going to rock with a denim button down and black skinnies for a slick casual look.

LOVE.  Who’s slouching now?