021: ERIKA VEURINK
lives in mini skirts, red socks, and basket bags.
As I write to you this week, I’m thinking about fresh starts and novelty. It’s the last week of summer and with the approach of September I always feel like it’s time to start anew. (September is the January of fashion, if you weren’t already aware). This year the feeling is stronger than usual.
Of course, I like to shop. You probably do too if you’re reading this. For me, one perfect addition to my wardrobe can make all of my clothes feel brand new. I’m no stranger to reinvention - whether it's for a new season, or a different phase of life - but I hate the feeling of recklessly adding to cart, like I’m trying to fill some kind of hole. It’s not about more, it’s about right. And it’s about longevity. That’s why I wanted to write a newsletter about the foundations of people’s wardrobes - however simple or outlandish they might be.
Erika Veurink is a Brooklyn-based writer who also appreciates the hunt for perfection - she writes a newsletter, Long Live, all about it. That’s actually how Erika and I met. We stumbled upon each other’s substacks and realized we have a shared philosophy. Erika cares a lot about owning and wearing her clothes for a long time. Every other Thursday she celebrates a most-loved piece.
Erika grew up in Iowa, where she spent most of her time scouring thrift shops for jeans with a 36” inseam (she’s tall!) and other goodies. She is still quite the thrift store dynamo (though she does a lot of eBay now too). You can find more of Erika’s work in Vogue, Strategist, The Cut, and Architectural Digest, or at K18 where she oversees copy. She also created this template for organizing your closet and falling in love with the clothes you already have. A woman after my own heart.
I loved hearing about what Erika is living in right now.
After cataloging my closet, I was met with some hard truths. There were certain styles I'd kept on hand for years—midi skirts, cropped shirts, peplum blouses—that had to go. Since then, I've been leaning into my classics and shopping with certain silhouettes in mind. I love something oversized on top paired with something tailored on the bottom. Sets and suits are an easy yes for me. And even though it's boring, black will always be the safest bet. This summer, I'm padding around in an undone men's button up, Patagonia baggies, and Onitsuka Tiger sneakers or clogs. For a nicer dinner, I'll reach for a satin slip with a blazer for later, punctuated by a Mark Cross box bag. If I've learned anything in my late twenties, it's to embrace the mundane delight of being a creature of habit.
ERIKA’S MOST WORN:
Oversized striped button down. Menswear is my religion. Growing up, spending a Saturday afternoon shopping Marshall Fields with my dad was my truest delight. I'm in a button down 4-ish days of the week. My favorites are by Chava Studio, but I also love the J. Crew and Eddie Bauer ones I've had since high school.
J.Crew ($118), Alex Mill ($125), Chava Studio ($355), Our Legacy ($320) (P.S. lots of vintage Eddie Bauer out there for very low prices - I like this one.) Vintage Levis 505s. Being 6'2", I started shopping vintage denim out of necessity. Where else could I find a 36" inseam in suburban Iowa? To this day, all my jeans are vintage, and most of them are Levis 505s. One pair's tight—ideal for a night out dancing with a baby tee and loafers. Other pairs are loose—made for rainy WFH homes with an oversized La Ligne sweater. Bonus: the best wide leg Levis to shop on eBay are SilverTabs. They're the chic equivalent of sweatpants.
A simple suit. This is my forever outfit. When I'm stuck on what to wear or over everything in my closet, I reach for one of my suits. I have a vintage Dior pinstripe set I reworked with a tailor, a black linen one from Chava, and a black wool suit I handmade with my tailor, Ramon, on the Lower East Side. Suiting separates are always fun to play around with—a t-shirt with wool pants, a vest over a dress—but the full look is unmatched.
Vintage Prada set ( $545$436), Alex Mill pants ($155$80) and jacket ($295$150), Chava Studio pants ($575) and jacket ($980), Vintage Gucci set ($395$119), Raey pants ($485) and jacket ($845)Mini skirts. I like to keep things pretty buttoned-up, save for the occasional mini skirt. I have a metallic vintage Kate Spade that's navy and silver that I love pairing with a vintage tee. An A-line mini is incredibly flattering, especially with tights in the winter. I love the contrast of a short hemline and a knit turtleneck or bare legs or a huge blazer. With minis, it's all about the contrast.
Sandy Liang ($325), Loulou Studio ( $475$142), Khaite ($455$159), Arket ($79) - apparently this Arket the known high-street Prada nylon dupe. And speaking of Prada, I also love this vintage.Basket bags. Someone may have consumed a little too much Jane Birkin propaganda growing up. Regardless, I'm always charmed by finishing an outfit with a little basket bag. I have some natural ones, from markets in Paris, and colorful, more plastic-y ones, too, from Mexico and a fab vintage store in Rhode Island. As a New Yorker, it feels cheeky to opt for something as impractical as a basket bag.
AlbaATN on Etsy ($39), AlbaATN on Etsy ($63), Bembien ($260), Hay (designed by the visionary Laila Gohar) ($135), Muun ($76) 
Red socks. I'm picky about what colors I wear. It's mostly white, black, lots of blue, a little green, and some pink. For accessories, it's always red. Manicures are always a poppy red bordering on orange. I wore a red Mark Cross box bag to my wedding. And to add a boost to an otherwise ordinary outfit, I trade white socks for red. I especially love them peeking out of a pair of Levis. These are the best. These last the longest. And these are undeniably affordable.
Mes Chaussettes Rouges (€22), Darn Tough ($23), Calzedonia ($9) Loafers. Really, loafers of any kind. I've resoled a pair of Ferragamos I bought at an Upper East Side charity shop two times. I've always just adored a woman in loafers. And since I don't do heels, they're my go-to formal option, too. Bass Weejuns are my favorite new pair, though they take a minute to break in. I wear my two-tone pair with athletic shorts and a big t-shirt when I want to dress up for my pastry run.
Clockwise from top left: Bass Weejuns ($195), Hereu (€410), Vintage Gucci ( $495$148), Tod’s ($695)Vintage cotton dresses. It's not all blazers and trousers. I've cycled through dozens of vintage dresses through the years, finally curating a select few that toe the line between costume-y and cool. For me, a tight waist, volume in the skirt, or a bright color are all a pass. I prefer an A-line silhouette or something that's mid-thigh, at least. If I'm shopping new, Batsheva makes my favorite pieces, which I love to pair with a rugby shirt over the shoulders, a slicked back bun, and sneakers.
Deiji Studios ($250), Tory Burch ($598), Batsheva ($300), Toast ($280), Doen ( $500$250)Little white blouse. High collar, big sleeve, lace detail, ruffled neck. However you spin it, I adore a little white blouse. Short-sleeved is my preference, plus a little oversized. 100% cotton is important here, too. I wear these with loose denim shorts all summer long. In the winter, I'll pair the best collars with cashmere sweaters for a little interest under a jacket. Every vintage store I walk into, I'm checking the white blouse section first. The hunt is ongoing.
Vintage Chloé ($110), Ciao Lucia ($315), Reformation ($168), Doen ($178), Vintage Chloé ($105)
Thanks for reading this week! See you in September. xxx
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also very tall, appreciate this
quietly inspired by the red socks