Now, after several months of wearing them nonstop (and around the world), I’d usually start craving something new. Especially this time of year when I start digging my denim out of my closet and reaching for my khakis. But I have been reminding my boys (and myself) to “be where your feet are,” and I’m trying not to rush headfirst into fall before the weather requires it.

And pull-on pants still feel good. They’re simple and functional, with a chill that works in so many situations. And they fit especially well with how I’m thinking about fall these days: in three parts, early / mid / late. Because right now, we’re transitioning more in mood than in temperature. Early fall is all about that good frisson. That lifelong back-to-school feeling.

So while it might be time to get dressed again, we don’t have to force ourselves back into hard pants (the early alarm clocks and early sunsets are hard enough). We can keep the ease of our pull-on pants by giving them some structure. (Just like our routines.)

COLOR

This might be the most interesting and unexpected way for our soft pants to show up in fall. While we often equate summer with bright, happy color, this year those colors aren’t going anywhere. In fact, we’re doubling down. There is so much good color happening right now, and these bold, rich shades are bringing definition, intention, and form to our outfits.

So, if you want to make an easy update that packs a punch, pick your favorite color. It can show up in any part of your outfit: pants, tops, shoes, accessories. Try turquoise. Chartreuse or olive. Burgundy. And yes, still red. (Did you catch ’s excellent post “How to wear color like a Parisian?”)

But the most powerful color right now? Purple. Last year, when I made my 2026 fashion predictions, I added a purple postscript, but purple’s popularity has surprised even me! (I loved ’s recent post.) If you add one color to your closet right now, make it purple.

FABRIC

The secret here is in the contrast. Pair soft pants with pieces that have more weight and texture: wool blazers, leather or suede jackets, denim shirts, and cotton sweaters.

Or try the pants themselves in heavier, textured fabrics like garment-dyed twill, canvas, corduroy, and satin.

SILHOUETTE

Where summer was all about slouch, now I want something sturdier that creates shape. A starched oversized Oxford shirt or tucked-in poplin shirt. Cardigans. A double-breasted blazer. A cropped or oversized indoor/outdoor jacket.

Celine is the North Star, with Michael Rider’s parade of blazers, button-ups, and balloon pants.

ACCESSORIES

This is the easiest way to step into fall (pun intended). These are the punctuation points that finish the soft pant sentence.

Swap the flip-flop for a loafer, ballet heel, mule, or any sneaker (they’re like jeans, they all work). Add “hard” pieces, per : chunky chains, layers of silver and gold necklaces, stone beaded bracelets and pendants, bold earrings (if your ears are pierced, mine are not). Try a structured bag in suede or smooth leather, something with buckles or a geometric shape. Or an oversized soft crossbody tote to anchor the outfit.

ON THE MENU

Let’s look at ways to put this into practice for back-to-work, work-from-home, weekend adventures, and whatever you need in-between for early fall.

Power Purple Pose

Soft pants + sweatshirt + ballet flats

( has shown us that purple pants are way more versatile than we think, even sheer ones!)

Olive You

Soft pants + button-up shirt + loafers

(I have and - this one was her rec - to thank (blame?) for bringing this season’s incredible Dries Van Noten printed satin shoulder bags to my attention. I still think about the Dries bag that got away, a tie-dye men’s tote from 2019 that I spied on a work trip to Paris for “research” - aka shopping. 7 years later, this finally might be the one for me.)

Red Thread

Soft pants + cardigan + ballet heels or clogs

Feeling Blue

Soft pants + blazer + mules

Think Pink

Soft pants + jacket + slim sneakers

(I loved ’s great post, “Whimsical Jackets for Fall.”)

Palate Cleanser

Soft pants + cotton sweater + chunky sneakers

The Roadmap

(P.S. for more fun ways to wear pull-on pants right now, check out ’s post, “You Asked: Pull-on Pants.”)

Let me know your favorite way to wear pull-on pants in the comments, or if you have any questions, suggestions, or need more recommendations!

x Lindsay

Leave a comment

A note to readers: Fashion Soup includes affiliate links and partnerships at no cost to you. (Gifted items are noted with an asterik.) Subscriptions of any kind are greatly appreciated, as are likes/shares/comments. Thank you for reading + supporting my work!

Every weekend post is free, but if you’d like more servings of Fashion Soup, please consider upgrading for $5/month (or $48/year, a 20% savings).

Upgrade for $5/month

This is a biweekly series where I hope to spark ideas for getting dressed by sharing what I wore and what’s new in stores. The first part is for everyone and the rest is reserved for paid subscribers. Thank you for supporting this newsletter.

upgrade here or read on below!

I keep thinking of this time of year as the topsy-turvey time. (Or, as calls it: routine limbo.) I’m clinging to summer, dipping into fall, getting ready for school, still on holiday, eyeing new arrivals, and also trying to do closet/home clean-ups and refreshes. (This is my New Year’s!) All to say, there’s a lot going on. And also, a little? Because it’s still summer vacation?

I’m going to keep this short and sweet (as much as I’m capable of), but I like what wrote about fall fashion helping ease the end-of-summer blues. Nothing wrong with a little retail therapy, or my greatest parenting hack: the art of distraction.

Look over here! New arrivals! Outfit recaps!

Let’s dive in.

What’s In Stores

Buck Mason is using this in-between time to feature “the foundations” (or, as we’d perhaps call them, the pantry staples). It is “a grounded wardrobe of women's clothing built around easy layers, everyday denim, and refined knitwear.” They’ve released a shrunken featherweight version of their fan favorite sweatshirt, a new cropped fit in their classic shirt, and a vintage-inspired bootcut jean made from Japanese indigo denim. (Speaking of bootcut jeans, I love their western tilt and think we’re going to be seeing a lot of them against this fall. I was sent this pair and this pair and had so much fun styling and wearing them, which you’ll find below.)

J.Crew just launched their newest generation of the Rollneck sweater family: the Tiny Rollneck* - a cropped length with a closer fit. They’ve brought on Emma Chamberlain for a fresh vibe. Thoughts?

I used to dog-ear the Lands’ End catalogs when I was younger, although in recent years I’ve mainly bought bedding (the percale sheets) and tote bags (for our school general store). (I highly recommend their business outfitters team for merch, they are a pleasure to work with. Actual humans in Wisconsin!) But lately, I’ve been paying attention to classics like these unisex rugby shirts* and long-sleeve stripe tees* (great with shorts!) and fun pieces like these floral jeans which I featured in last weekend’s post and these daisy embroidered wide leg jeans* (you know I’m all about floral Americana-inspired pants!).

Lastly, I’m continuing my quest to refresh my boys’ rooms before school starts (so far we’ve landed on this bedding). The House of Noa kindly sent me this play chair, which is perfectly sized for my little one and, most importantly, can be easily moved around the house for forts, movie nights, and obstacle courses. I also love their bold striped collection, like the Harlan seat and Lane lumbar pillow, and Bennet ottoman, all of which remind me of some of my favorite interior inspiration.

What I Wore

I can’t wait any longer, I’m starting to bring back my blazers and jeans, one of my favorite (anti) uniforms. My other favorite, shorts and long sleeves, is in heavy rotation, and I plan to keep it that way for as long as possible.

Wednesday, August 12

A desk-to-dinner day, as promised by Seventeen Magazine when I was in high school! After work, I headed downtown to meet and celebrate the launch of Rothy’s new Ivy sneaker with , who hosted a beautiful, charming event in the lovely back garden of their Nolita store.

What I liked & learned: Earlier this spring, I went to a fun event that Kelly hosted at Still Here. I wrote about how I wore new pants and an unproven outfit (with too many elements), and I didn’t feel as comfortable as I could have. This time, I went with my tried-true formula of a favorite blazer and jeans and perked them up with a twisted top and western belt. I felt much more me. The humidity was high, but I consider that a small price to pay for a gorgeous evening. Thank you, Kelly!

Thursday, August 13

What I liked: a great denim shirt is such a staple. This is a men’s one, which I highly recommend. Women’s denim dressing has improved, but it still often leans soft (chambray, tencel blends, etc.), which is great a lot of the time, but I like having an authentic denim shirt in my toolkit. Especially when paired with more feminine pieces like this skirt.

Read more

We have more information and inspiration than ever. And yet, I often wake up and don’t know what to wear.

I think that’s why the idea of uniform-dressing holds such mythic status. It promises ease and simplicity and purpose.

I love the idea of a uniform. (I work in menswear, after all.) The problem, of course, is that actual uniforms don’t leave much room for personal expression. (My boys have to wear khakis and one of three polos to school but they can choose their shoes. As you can imagine, sneakers became the canvas for their personalities. Until the year a neon pink pair took things too far and prompted a ban on “flashy” shoes. And that was that.)

So what we really need is a uniform, but not like a regular uniform, a cool uniform. A uniform that feels like a launchpad, not a guardrail. A uniform that actually isn’t a uniform at all, but an outline. Waiting to be filled in.

I’ve (over?) thought this, and I think I have a route for us to get there. It’s got four stops:

1. Identify the pattern

2. Drop an anchor

3. Trust the vibes

4. Free dress day

Let’s hit the road.

ON THE MENU

Identify the Pattern

Repetition is the key.

I wrote about it here and keep coming back to it because it’s our starting point. What do you gravitate to? What do you love? What do you feel great in? Jeans + tees? Button-downs? Blazers? Dresses and flats? Color? Neutrals? A pop of red? (’s brilliant R.E.P.S system will help here.)

Clock what works, and then start to color inside the lines. Stick with the formula that feels best, but play with silhouette, color, volume, and proportion. Adjust the fit of your pants. Change the shade of a shirt. Switch up the shape of a sleeve.

Julianne Moore is a jeans and a blazer woman. (Same.) In fact, according to a note I just found in my phone from almost two years ago, she is the “Queen of the jeans and blazer.”

But note how her uniform isn’t actually one outfit. Her jeans change wash and shape, her blazers shift in shade and detail. Her shoes range from sandals to sneakers to loafers.

A good uniform is malleable, not cut-and-paste. A beginning, not an end.

Drop an Anchor

Here’s the thing, we don’t even need a whole repeatable outfit to get the perks of a uniform. It can literally be one recurring element.

I love Ayo Edebiri’s style, and I’ve noticed she often relies on a white base layer. Whether it’s a graphic tee or a structured button-up shirt, the white canvas anchors her outfits and gives continuity to how she dresses.

Laura Harrier’s belt is doing the same thing, cinching her looks into familiar silhouettes even while the variables change.

This is close to a signature, but it doesn’t have to be that serious. Just embrace the pieces and accessories you love and lean into all the ways you can wear them.

Trust the Vibes

An outfit, an element. But also, a uniform can just be vibes. A consistent attitude. Think a New Yorker dressing in all black, someone completely committed to vintage, or yes, even a former prep school girl who still loves her sweater vests (cough cough).

Think of Greta Lee. Her outfits change, the pieces, the colors. But the sharp shoulders, clean lines, squared proportions, and precise tailoring are all letters in the same alphabet.

The uniform can simply be a visual language.

Free Dress Day

When we don’t need to reinvent ourselves every morning, our creativity has the time and space to breathe. Which means that on the days that we want to play, we’re ready. And inspired.

We can break the rules. Which isn’t just fun, it is important. (Good thing my kids don’t read this.) Because uniform-dressing, even cool uniform dressing, only works if it stays interesting.

The moments that “surprise and delight” ensure we don’t lose the joy of getting dressed, or the opportunity for our style to evolve.

So the last piece of this puzzle is to give into the things that make us go ooooh. Some might not work. Some might just make us really really happy.

And some might lead us somewhere new.

You never know, today’s Free Dress Day just might become tomorrow’s dress code.

x Lindsay

Leave a comment

A note to readers: Fashion Soup includes affiliate links and partnerships at no cost to you. (Gifted items are noted with an asterik.) Subscriptions of any kind are greatly appreciated, as are likes/shares/comments. Thank you for reading + supporting my work!

Every weekend post is free, but if you’d like more servings of Fashion Soup, please consider upgrading for $5/month (or $48/year, a 20% savings).

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At the beginning of August, I went to the Chicago Collective Men’s Edition, North America’s leading menswear show (their words, not mine) for work. It is a great show, with menswear’s established players, newcomers, and merchants, buyers, sales teams, and media people catching up, checking out what’s new, and deciding what will be in stores next spring.

While the weekend was apparently a washout, I was there on Monday, and Chicago put on a dazzling display of perfect weather and style. Everyone was dressed impeccably, and the people-watching was as informative as the product pitches.

Jacob Gallagher, the men’s fashion writer at The New York Times, says, “menswear is a game of inches.” Meaning, because there is less volatility in silhouette than in womenswear, adjustments in color, pattern, texture, and fabric carry more weight. It’s like the tush push: small shifts can score a touchdown. And right now, the ball is moving. Let’s go to the videotape.

August Field Notes

1. Color isn’t going anywhere. Especially in pants. And fall is a great time to test the trend, since colors tend to be more muted and understated.

2. Tailoring is still on its comeback tour (and I might be its biggest groupie). Everyone looks better in a suit. Which means you’re going to need one, but not just any suit. There’s a big difference between one that you wear as is and one that you can also break apart and wear separately. (We call these suit separates. Brilliant, I know.) We want the latter. I’ll explain below.

3. A matching set is a style hack. It is a more casual way to get the refinement of a suit with the ease of sportswear. This is a good way to jump on the monochrome train we talked about last month.

   

4. Shorts are making moves into everyday dressing. In fact, the men are showing the women how it’s done here. Shorts aren’t just for the beach or the boat or the baseball diamond (or even just for summer, for that matter); they’ve entered the chat for moments, and seasons, where historically they haven’t been part of the dress code. Parties, date nights, weekend get-togethers and getaways. But what everyone really wants to know is, can you wear them to the office?

Below, I’m getting into all the details, from what I actually saw to what to wear right now. Thank you for supporting this work and newsletter.

Read more

Partly because I am not ready to let go of the season’s easy vibes or the easy clothes. But also in the hopes of staving off outfit boredom (we have a long way to go before spring rolls back around).

At work, we always introduce shorts in spring as a key item, yet hardly ever in fall. Instead we move to denim guides and corduroy investments. But I’d argue that shorts are equally relevant on the other side of summer, with a deeper color palette, plenty of layers, and a touch of tailoring borrowed from the boys.

Consider this, then, a bookend of sorts to where we kicked things off in May. (I unlocked the post below for the occasion.) This is one of my very favorite formulas, and I want to make the most of it.

Personally, I am not letting myself really think about fall dressing yet. No thick wool sweaters or 8 wale cord pants or cozy flannel shirts. Because there will be time for that in September and October and November and December and January and February and…yeah, it’ll be awhile.

So I’m taking a page out of my boys’ book and challenging myself to keep wearing shorts even as fall clothes and ideas start seeping in. My middle son wore pants to school exactly once last winter. There were blizzards, plural, in NYC. If he can do it…well, I can at least stretch shorts season a little longer than I usually do.

And the good news is, the recipe doesn’t change. The pantry staples are doing their job. We just need to switch up some of the ingredients.

In May, we were in anticipation mode. Adding summery details to our shorts-based outfits like gingham and paracord and sea-inspired graphics and necklaces and light, bright colors like lavender and pink and lime.

Now there are different notes to play. New flavor profiles to try.

I’m not thinking about Fall Fashion, but I am thinking about ways to address the small shifts in weather: earlier evenings, slightly crisper mornings, longer and cooler shadows. And the slightly bigger shifts in vibes. (There’s no getting around the fact that the school year is starting, not winding down.)

The answers for me are cotton rollneck sweaters, lightweight canvas jackets and sporty nylon anoraks, poplin and oxford button-ups, loafers, mules, striped rugby shirts, the return of sneakers, varsity sweatshirts, faded navy, ochre and red. Rich chocolate brown. Late summer blues.

All paired back to the same shorts we’ve been wearing.

I’m also taking a lot of inspiration from men’s styling, which has always combined shorts and long sleeves in utilitarian yet cool ways: simple layers, neutral colors, and preppy, tailored pieces. (Looking at you !)

A caveat: for me, this formula isn’t office appropriate. But I still have my summer holiday ahead and many, many weekend sidelines once September kicks off. There will hopefully be a few WFH days in there, too. And for all of that, this recipe is chef’s kiss.

Same recipe. Different ingredients.

Whetting the palate and making me excited for what’s to come.

But most importantly, where we are.

ON THE MENU

I want to play with new ways to wear the shorts that have been on the menu (aka the ones we’ve already bought and been wearing this summer).

Consider these the daily specials.

Cool Lady Walk

Hot girl walks don’t have anything on us. The crisp bookends to the day and the lingering light make these the best days for a cool lady walk.

School Run

It’s that time of year again when we run a marathon just to get the kids out the door. And oh yeah, don’t forget you have to get dressed, too. Those PA meetings don’t wait for anyone.

Weekend Warrior

From the sidelines to the post-game pizza shop, apple picking to antiquing, layers are key for cool mornings, hot afternoons, and full days out and about.

Hope this gives you some ideas for the next few weeks, and beyond. As always, thank you for reading!

x Lindsay

Leave a comment

A note to readers: Fashion Soup includes affiliate links and partnerships at no cost to you. (Gifted items are noted with an asterik.) Subscriptions of any kind are greatly appreciated, as are likes/shares/comments. Thank you for reading + supporting my work!

Every weekend post is free, but if you’d like more servings of Fashion Soup, please consider upgrading for $5/month (or $48/year, a 20% savings).

Upgrade for $5/month

This is a biweekly series where I hope to spark ideas for getting dressed by sharing what I wore and what’s new in stores. The first part is for everyone and the rest is reserved for paid subscribers. Thank you for supporting this newsletter.

upgrade here or read on below!

The last few weeks have been a mix of summer work and play, of playgrounds and play ball, of business travel and taking care of business at home in the city. My husband and I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary, coincidentally at the very same (lovely) restaurant that and her husband celebrated last fall. (The bread basket is what dreams are made of.) And last weekend I attended my cousin’s beautiful wedding in the Catskills. The time keeps ticking, and I’m trying to soak it all up! And look halfway put together in the process.

Let’s see how it went, but first, let’s take a quick peek at what’s starting to arrive in stores this month, the first official delivery of the true Fall-with-a-capital-F season at most retailers (which feels appropriately aligned to the school calendar but completely off-kilter from the weather most of us will be experiencing for several more weeks/months - a topic and I need to tackle another day)!

Thank you for supporting Fashion Soup!

What’s In Stores

I love that I’m seeing this limey chartreuse continue as a new fall color. It features prominently in Leset’s new August Collection (available in everything from pull-on pants to a slip skirt, a long sleeve top, and a quarter zip sweater, which they are calling an anorak, but let’s be honest). Meanwhile, B Sides just introduced their newest color, calling it overdyed celery, and pistachio is a key color in La Ligne’s new arrivals, like this striped cotton sweater and crepe dress.

(P.S. I’ve been trying to track down this guy’s outfit details from Emma Roberts’ wedding if anyone has any leads??)

Also, a quick detour, but this might be relevant for my fellow boy moms? Mine are starting to request thematic bedroom decor, specifically sports, specifically baseball. (They’ve already started on their new wall treatments - covering them with dozens of baseball cards…) I just dipped my toe into the water with these cute corduroy baseball pillows, and now I’m gearing up to go full steam ahead thanks to this incredible Pottery Barn x MLB collection! If you’ve got a baseball fan, they’ve got back-to-school essentials like backpacks and water bottles, but I’m eyeing the organic cotton bedding (which is surprisingly hard to find these days for kids)!

What I Wore

Lots of simple outfits over the last couple of weeks. This is not the season for overthinking or overdoing it. Monochrome color, a good top and a favorite pair of jeans, my go-to plane pants for travel, and my new understanding that black makes so much sense in summer. That pretty much covers what I’ve been wearing. Want the evidence? Read on…

Monday, July 27

I’m not going to dwell to much on this outfit since I wrote a whole post based on it. Suffice it to say, it solved the problem of getting dressed on Monday morning for me.

What I liked: the mix of the boyish polo (buttoned up) and the soft polka dot pull on pants.

What I learned: sometimes the simplest solution is the best one, these were easy pieces to throw on, but the black polo and dark palette made it easily work-appropriate.

Wednesday, July 29

We had a work offsite today, so I wore a vintage Brooks Brothers boy’s oxford to arrive in the proper state of mind.

What I liked: This is a go-to uniform for me, a great shirt and trousers. It creates that H silhouette that I always feel good in.

What I learned: I rolled my sleeves up at the end of the day and felt so much more balanced. This outfit needed that bit of undone-ness.

Below, I share outfits from our “trip” downtown (lol, it did feel like a vacation), my work trip to Chicago, our sweet family wedding upstate, and more. Thank you for your support!

Read more

We’ve cleaned out our closets. Reset. Inhaled and exhaled and breathed in salty, ocean air. (Or maybe that’s still to come, the last two weeks of August. The long Labor Day weekend.) The sun is setting for the last time before 8 pm in New York City until next spring. The times, they are a-changing.

Now, I’m not quite giving up my linen shirts or floral shorts yet, but there’s no denying that the breeze is blowing in. Sweeping away the high-summer vibes. Carrying with it the promise of a freshly painted chalkboard. The clean slate.

I promise, this post isn’t about new fall arrivals. Not yet. It’s not about starting over. It’s about taking the ingredients that worked this summer and carrying them into the next season. Identifying the foundation of our outfit recipes and what will work with the spices and flavors of fall once we’re ready to talk about turning on the oven again. (For now I’m focused on ruby red tomato sandwiches, clusters of peaches, a crisp glass (or two) of bubbles,* and the remaining Mister Softee cones of the season.)

These are the pieces we’ve talked about and invested in over the last few months. The ones that are always there, on subscription. The items that carry over no matter the weather, for us to fall back on when we’ve run out of time, energy, or imagination to make something more gourmet. The styles we’ve been wearing through the winter, spring, and summer, cooked up in new ways each season.

Let’s take inventory.

Go look at your closet and jot down the pieces you think are your pantry staples. The spaghetti and peanut butter and pretzels and hot sauce (if you’re me). Mine include simple tops, versatile bottoms, classic shoes, and some “Frank’s Red Hot” splashed on top for a fail-proof shot of flavor. You get it.

Before the end of summer, let’s make sure our pantry staples are stocked (I have suggestions if you have some empty shelves) and ready for new seasonal ingredients.

ON THE MENU

Here are mine to get you started, tell me yours in the comments!

We’re going to chutes-and-ladders our way through this assortment, starting at the top left and working our way down to the bottom right.

THE BLACK TANK

The do-it-all layer we need now, before long sleeves come into view. You can tuck it in now all on its own and call it a look, or tuck it under another layer and call it temp proof.

I like a racerback, I think the shape is super flattering and can easily be dressed up for evening, even if it’s just cotton. A scoop or square neck is great, too, totally your personal preference. The simplest, chicest way to wear it in my book? With faded black jeans (thanks !) or black pull-on pants, of course ;)

THE BUTTON-UP SHIRT

This is the workhorse. Wear it tucked in, untucked, open or with a few buttons undone. Roll the sleeves up once, twice, or push them over your elbows. This is our indoor/outdoor layer before we actually need one.

A note: I like a back box pleat if you wear your shirts mostly untucked because it creates a cocoon shape that I adore. And a hint: If you mostly tuck your shirts in, choose a poplin shirt. The lightweight, fine weave will lay nicely. If you wear them untucked or unbuttoned, lean toward oxfords, which is a little sturdier and will provide more shape. Solid or stripe is up to you.

THE BROWN LOAFER

Loafers are more studious than a flip-flop, but that’s the point. The brown keeps things casual and gets even better with age and wear. This is a shoe you can wear with short shorts in the summer or slacks (lol) during the workweek. I even like them with a dress (if you’re a Dress Person™️). But jeans are their best friend.

THE RAGLAN SWEATSHIRT

You know how I feel about a raglan. Instant cool. The shoulder (no pun intended) seasons are the best seasons precisely because we can wear sweatshirts-and-shorts again! The best outfit there is.

THE SPORTY SHORT

See above :) But I also love shorts with button-ups (and sweaters), and I am making a new-school-year fashion resolution to wear shorts as long as possible this fall. (My 7-year old wears them all winter…)

THE WESTERN BELT

I know I bang on about belts and they’re not big sellers from what I can see, but I’m telling you a great belt, preferably a western inspired one, can make a whole outfit.

Remember my work colleague from Naples who changed her whole look day to night with a change in jewelry? I saw her at the menswear show I just attended in Chicago in jeans and a navy tank top (and another great necklace) but the statement-making piece? Her western belt.

THE PLAIN WHITE TEE

The plain white tee carries the outfit optimism of a blank canvas, while also being the piece that tones everything down.

A white tee is like the salt of your pantry, but you should probably just stockpile a range of colors, like your spice cabinet. (They’re the perfect way to work a blazer, more on that below, into your wardrobe in autumn.)

THE PULL-ON PANT

A pull-on pant was the defining Fashion Soup style of the season, and a personal favorite of mine for its casual, comfy, chill functionality. (This one is the top selling Fashion Soup style of the year, so far!).

I love this pant so much that when asked me for my favorite heavy hitter under $100, I knew exactly what to pick.

THE NAVY BLAZER

The blazer is the pasta of my fashion pantry, the piece that always satisfies. It’s armor and comfort food, rolled into one. Once you find your favorite, it’s fast, easy, nourishing.

A graphic tee will take it down a notch, a twisted tank will level it up. Jeans are always the best pairing, in my book. When I wear this uniform, I feel ready to tackle anything

THE MIDI SKIRT

Airy enough for August, structured enough for back-to-school, it even works in winter with tights and knee-high boots. Wear it like you would a pair of pants.

See? So versatile. Try swapping your jeans for a midi skirt next time you need a little boost. It will go with whatever you already on top, a button-up shirt, a sweater, a tank top, a tee shirt, and on and on.

THE MULE

The shoe for when we miss our boots but aren’t ready to give up our sandals. Super sleepy yet chill, and there is a style for everyone on the market at the moment (this one keeps haunting me on Substack, and check out this post if you need ideas)!

If you can find one with a collapsible heel, you’re getting a two-for-one deal that can’t be beat. ( co-signed my final-sale-but-still-pricey purchase of these and per usual, she did not lead me astray. I love them, thanks Kelly!!)

THE BARREL JEAN

The jean that does it all, including making an outfit look intentional without any effort. I think of this leg shape like umami, that elusive flavor that just makes everything taste better.

The barrel shouldn’t really work, and yet it does, so well. I’m going on two years with this staple in my closet, and I’m not planning on a replacement any time soon.

BONUS: THE BATHROOM PANTRY!

While we’re talking about pantry staples, I thought it’d be fun to peek inside my bathroom cupboard. The front row of each shelf is like the end cap of a grocery store aisle: prime positioning. I’ll highlight my current favorite flavors of the month/season below!

Ok, that got long for a short summer post! If you made it to the end, my hat’s off to you, and thank you! Please share your pantry staples in the comments - clothes, accessories, beauty - I’d love to learn about them <3

Leave a comment

As always, thank you for reading!

x Lindsay

A note to readers: Fashion Soup includes affiliate links and partnerships at no cost to you. (Gifted items are noted with an asterik.) Subscriptions of any kind are greatly appreciated, as are likes/shares/comments. Thank you for reading + supporting my work!

Every weekend post is free, but if you’d like more servings of Fashion Soup, please consider upgrading for $5/month (or $48/year, a 20% savings).

Upgrade for $5/month

Without further ado, here’s what we bought and loved last month.

ON THE MENU

10. Uniqlo Raglan T-Shirt

9. Splits59 Nico Airweight Cargo Pant

8. Splits59 Megan Woven Nylon Jogger w/ Piping

7. Madewell Essex Long Baggy Short

On ’s sage counsel, these are the shorts that convinced me to wear denim shorts again this summer.

Pairing these shorts with a long-sleeve top and ballet flats or sneakers instead of flip-flops is a great way to shift the mood as we crave a new feeling. The white is almost sold out, but I love the black, too.

Especially in summer ;)

6. Gap Poplin Easy Double-Knee Barrel Pants

The pull-on pant train keeps chugging, and I am working on a post about how to style these as we head into fall. In the meantime, there are a few sizes/colors left in this pant, so snag now!

5. Gap Cotton Gauze Easy Pants

So many good colors in this pant (and the matching shirt, shell, or peplum top)...I also love the balloon jogger version, which are very on trend.

4. Left On Friday Towel To Go Short

3. Adidas Satin Sprinter Short

2. Madewell Darted Barrel-Leg Jean in Airy Denim

They also just launched this new subtle barrel-leg jean for fall in two new washes.

1. Left On Friday Tour Pant

May this pant accompany you on the rest of your summer adventures!

See you next month!

x Lindsay

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But alas, the first pants I tried were too skinny. The second pair was too wide. I swapped the pants for a blue striped skirt. Then I tried a white top. I was way off course.

It was a high level of difficulty and ultimately too challenging for 7 am while trying to get the kids ready for camp. (But I will try again!) I started over, even though the getting-ready clock was running out.

I pulled out pull-on pants, because I needed something fast and easy by this point. I paired them with a polo to make it work for work.

And immediately sighed with relief.

It took me a minute to figure out why.

Yes, the pants were comfy. The shirt was simple. But overall, it was the color. Or in this case, the lack thereof. The dark colors gave the casual shapes presence. The soft silhouette made the serious color chill out.

Off I went to work. Where my colleague was wearing almost the same outfit. Which, combined with the comments to my note below, confirmed my hunch.

Wearing black makes more sense in summer than I’d ever realized.

Some of you might be reading this and thinking…duh? But I actually don’t wear a lot of black (take away my New Yorker fashion credentials!) or even dark colors head-to-toe very often. Often, these shades are used to elevate. To turn up a look. To add purpose and polish. (The fanciest dress code there is is literally black tie.)

Meanwhile, I think we’ve established that my personal style leans preppy, boyish, casual. And black often redirects me away from that ease.

But in the summer, black stops feeling formal and starts giving outfits room to breathe. Like in the looks above, with the soft relaxed pants, shirt buttons undone, the easy open necklines.

The non-uniform uniform.

Upon reflection (since that’s what we do here!), I think this is due to 5 key features.

1. Black toughens up texture.

The fabrics that work best in hot, humid summer weather are light and floaty. They are constructed with an open weave, like linen, or made from fine poplin. Eyelet and light lace and crochet add airy elements. Often they are sheer. They drape and soften on the body.

Black gives these fabrics structure and visual heft. It anchors without weighing us down.

2. Black shows off shape.

I’ve had black clothes on my mind since earlier this summer when I listened to the Fashion People podcast episode, The Suit Chronicles, with Alessandro Sartori, the artistic director of Zegna.

Lauren asked Alessandro, “Why do you only wear black and white? Is it just in your mind, does it not feel clear to you to wear color?”

And Alessandro answered, “No, because I love colors, but I love to see myself just with a shape, to understand the shapes better.”

Black creates negative space between our clothes, our bodies, and the world we inhabit, allowing the lines of our outfits to lead the way.

3. Black tones down preppy.

Black is not part of the preppy canon for the precise reasons we’ve discussed. Too formal, too serious. In fact, it was banned when I worked at Abercrombie & Fitch. And at Tommy Hilfiger and Brooks Brothers, it is not the default dark color. Navy is. But black takes the literal out of the equation. We’re not actually at the yacht club. We don’t need a nautical navy uniform or tennis whites. Instead, black lets us focus on the shapes (see #2), like the polo, the button-down, the chino, which are simple, gender-neutral styles. Black modernizes the classics.

4. Black simplifies decisions.

Honestly, black goes with everything, which makes getting dressed easy. But all black outfits really simplify summer style, like proves below. I was getting there in this post, with the khaki + black 30-second outfit formula. (And I love how picked up on that and took it a step further towards fall by shifting the khaki to an olive green.) But really, right now, all black is the easiest move you can make. To make more time for summer’s fleeting delights.

5. Black is practical.

In New England and the northeast, the idea of wearing white between Memorial Day and Labor Day came from early 20th century wealthy city dwellers escaping to the country for the summer. Upon their return, their white clothes were packed up, out of harm’s way from the sooty city streets. But that was the olden days. I live in New York City, and I want to be out and about as much as possible in the summer. In the parks. On the subways. Sitting on benches with ice cream cones. Walking miles from uptown to downtown and back again. The grown-up version of playing in the dirt. Black does the job without looking any worse for wear (can’t say the same for me).

Black neutralizes summer’s more-is-more style.

Black, and other deep, dark shades like chocolate, navy, deep burgundy, and olive, dial the intensity up or down. They do more with less. They give form to something soft. They add ease to interesting silhouettes.

Black quiets the noise.

It makes room for shape, polishes casual fabrics, and frames simple summer accessories like jewelry, shoes, bags… and a good tan.

Plus, I can do less laundry :)

Come winter, black serves a different purpose. But right now, at the apex of summer, wearing black delivers exactly what I want from my outfits: immediate relief.

ON THE MENU: Outfit Inspiration

Out & About

Day to Night

Desk to Dinner

Dress-y

Casual Vibes Only

Let’s end with the mood I most like to revert to in the summer: relaxed sporty clothes to move in. Grounding this vibe in black takes it to a whole other level of cool, in function and spirit.

IN THE STACKS: Summer Reading

• wears black in such a fresh, easy way. Her summer outfits are great inspiration.

• I loved ’s spotlight on Olivia Wilde’s style, which is based on classic black shapes and accessories.

• After I write about a topic, I like to check to see what other POVs are out there and found this great post, which is full of easy-to-apply advice and styling suggestions on wearing black in the summer.

• and I have bonded over our short-girl status, and I love how she explored oversized, drapey style, which she grounded in black pieces and silhouettes.

• wore white, cream, and black for a week. Love her little black linen dress!

• Last, but not least, incorporates black into his outfits in a sporty, chill way I love. His black shorts and tee with a denim jacket is a great transitional outfit.

Thank you for reading!

x Lindsay

A note to readers: Fashion Soup may include affiliate links and partnerships at no cost to you. (Gifted items are noted with an asterik.) Subscriptions of any kind are greatly appreciated, as are likes/shares/comments. Thank you for reading + supporting my work!

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This is a biweekly series where I hope to spark ideas for getting dressed by sharing what I wore and what’s new in stores. The first part is for everyone and the rest is reserved for paid subscribers. Thank you for supporting this newsletter.

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Summer is a funny season, because it’s so all over the place. One week it might be slow and languid. Another week it might be super hot and hurried (or maybe monsoon-ing). There might be a lot of travel, or none at all. I have a hunch that all of our summers look rather different from each other’s, especially compared to the school year where the calendar is more or less set.

All of which is to say, the last two weeks were quite varied in terms of activities, adventures, and outfits. It kicked off with a trip to my hometown for the 2026 MLB All-Star Game. (A big high! And also a hectic one! Packing was hard! More on that below.) It ended with a busy week at work with a 3-day team meeting, but a quiet week at home, with 2/3rds of my family at hockey camp in Minnesota. I tried to stick with the simplest solution for getting dressed that I know.

I’ve been doing a bit of summer sale shopping, mostly at Net-a-Porter, where I snagged this chocolate brown henley at an additional 20% off ( did too!) and invested in this black jacket, which will look so good with jeans for a day in the office or a night out come September. I’ve also been eyeing new arrivals that I’m sharing below and starting to jot down some items on my back-to-school wish list. (Even though I’d prefer not to utter those words again for at least another few weeks!)

This is a long one…thanks for supporting Fashion Soup!

What’s In Stores

• I promise I’m not really thinking about fall fashion yet, but I am keeping an eye out for great transitional items that will bridge the seasons. J.Crew kindly sent me this shirt (I chose black, more on that this weekend!), and I love the styling on the site. Each one of these outfits is great inspiration for end-of-summer through back-to-sch…you know.

  

• Henleys are having a moment (I also just got this black ribbed one*), but so are waffle tees. They look great with a barrel jean in a vintage wash and a great black boot for an Americana feel and also would be cool with a suede or real or faux leather skirt for some textural contrast. I bought an olive waffle tee last year from Re/Done, and Winslow, an independent LA-based brand whose 70s-inspired ringer tee* I love, is generously sending me a unisex white raglan one that I can’t wait to wear. I love tomboyish tops like these.

  

• We’re always in a baseball frame of mind in my house, so I got excited when I saw this new Lululemon x MLB collab, there are amost 400 options! I like the placement of the logos and graphics on this crewneck sweatshirt, and I might need to buy my dad this t-shirt. Also, hello leopard! Rawr. (I am intrigued how they assigned what styles to what teams…)

What I Wore

Saturday, July 11

Sorry about the wet hair! I had to drive to Long Island for my son’s double-header before heading to Philadelphia for All-Star Weekend. (To say I was in a rush is an understatement.) I have to continue to eat my words, because I happily wore denim shorts for this adventure (and then wore a different denim pair the next day, as you’ll see below!).

What I liked: these shorts felt like the perfect mix of no-effort and interest for a day when fashion was the last thing on my mind. I tend toward baggy on top and bottom (like the baseball raglan tee I’ve worn with these shorts before), but the longer short and slim tank created a nice balance.

What I learned: the little hits of color and texture in the accessories made this look feel slightly more intentional than just a tank top and jean shorts, which ultimately is what this outfit was.

Sunday, July 12

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I’ll let you in on a little industry secret. July is generally one of the slowest, smallest shopping months of the year. Even January often has it beat, with those gift cards to spend and new workout gear to buy. BUT, does that mean we don’t have anything to talk about this month?

No, it does not!

Because, July has actually been chock full of menswear inspiration thanks to several major sport and movie moments and the athletes and actors who showed up and showed off on the world stage.

Up top, I have an overview of the looks and style that caught my eye recently, and below the paywall, I’m sharing my winning fits from the month and how they can help us hack summer style. Thank you for supporting this newsletter.

July Field Notes

First up, we had the grand finale of the World Cup, which we chatted about last month. Do you think those Loewe fits were the reason Spain took home the trophy??? As Deion Sanders once told us: “If you look good, you feel good. If you feel good, you play good. If you play good, they pay good.”

Perhaps it’s no surprise then that a team that looked this good landing in Chattanooga, Tennessee at the start of the World Cup won the whole darn thing.

We also got Wimbledon, where the famous attendees served as hard as the players on the court did, especially Andrew Garfield. (Thanks for the hot tip !) Boy, can this man dress.

The Odyssey global press tour was an odyssey in and of itself, featuring a who’s who of the world’s biggest stars on red carpets all over the world.

But even as a longtime Team Edward fan, I will definitively say that Tom Holland stole the spotlight. Seriously. If you can keep up with Zendaya on the red carpet, generally agreed upon to be the best dressed person in the world, and he can (he also married her), we should all be taking notes. (And I did, keep reading.)

Finally, the MLB All Star game took place in my hometown of Philadelphia. It was 100 degrees, and yet baseball’s biggest stars managed to look cool on the red carpet ahead of the big game. (My favorites are below.) Also speaking of baseball, there was some fun discussion on Substack this week (hi !) on whether baseball tees are cool on guys, and my answer is a resounding yes.

Below the paywall, I’m sharing Andrew and Tom’s secret to summer style, and how we can get the look. Plus, I’ve picked my Best Dressed All Stars (it’s a tie, but they share a stylist, so I think it’s ok), and what we can learn from their red carpet style.

Thanks for reading!

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Except these days, even 30 minutes feels long. Es…

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This is a biweekly series where I hope to spark ideas for getting dressed by sharing what I wore and what’s new in stores. The first part is for everyone and the rest is reserved for paid subscribers. Thank you for supporting this newsletter.

upgrade here or read on below!

We crossed the rubicon of July 4th, and it’s officially summer. Heatwaves, humidity and holidays (hopefully). Unless you live in the Bay Area, and then apparently you’re having a false fall??

The last two weeks saw a mix of work and play in New York City and Wyoming. I leaned into simple fits and easy tricks to get dressed without expending any extra energy.

The shopping is the same: low-key as we bide our time between seasons. Sales continue as stores clear out spring inventory to make way for fall, but there are also fresh pieces landing that will spark new ideas in our closets. I’m paying attention to twisted tops, sporty vibes, and lightweight layering.

Let’s jump in.

What’s In Stores

• The Frame team served an ace with a very well-timed tennis collection available in both women’s and men’s.

• There’s nothing easier to wear than a (literal) twist on a tee right now and Modern Citizen has so many great options.

• Summer is all about celebrating the outdoors as much as possible for me, so I love Outerknown and their ethos. Their summer sale launches today and has a ton of great pieces that work hard so we can get outside and have fun.

What I Wore

Sunday, June 28

My summer uniform is in full swing: athletic shorts + chill tops.

What I liked: the details on these shorts take things up just the notch I need for cute comfort during a long afternoon at the baseball field: the off-white texture, a little cargo pocket, and red grosgrain trim at the hem.

What I learned: if your track shorts ever feel too baggy, just roll the waistband once. It’s like a built-in belt.

Monday, June 29

I honestly didn’t know what to wear for the start of a short week. Mentally I was packing and getting ready for vacation, physically I was still in the city, going to work.

What I liked: this is a great example of how I wear tees intentionally in the summer, to balance a dressy pair of “slacks” and still feel relaxed.

What I learned: I’m not sure I’m a sweater-over-my-shoulder gal. It never quite feels right, or rather, me. A chunkier sweater would be better. (And a sweatshirt always works.)

Tuesday, June 30

A 2-for-1 day! Work in the morning, a flight in the afternoon. These pants do it all. I was trying to keep it simple, I had a quick turnaround from the office to the airport, so I leaned on color to punch things up for work that could be easily switched out for the flight.

I swapped the sleeveless sweater for a t-shirt and the loafers for slip-on shoes. I also had my old trusty black sweatshirt in my carry-on tote.

What I liked: these pants really do travel so well, sturdy but comfy, and the barrel gives them an instant lift.

What I learned: a shoe you love will always make you feel good in your outfit, even if the rest is as simple as can be.

More daily specials right this way, including details from our midsummer trip out west.

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Or at least loosening its hold on our bodies.1

Somewhere in the last …

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Let’s dive in. Leave us a comment if you ordered any of these and what you think!

ON THE MENU

10. Old Navy Vintage Crew-Neck Raglan T-Shirt

9. Tuckernuck White Cotton Poplin Nicole Circle Skirt

8. J.Crew Pull-on Midi Skirt in Cotton Poplin

7. J.Crew Essential Linen Blend Wide-leg Pant

6. Madewell Mercer Relaxed Blazer

5. Umbro UO Exclusive Checkered Performance Shorts

4. Gap Organic Cotton Poplin Relaxed Easy Stripe Pants

3. Splits59 Megan Woven Nylon Run Short

2. Buck Mason Surplus Rib Scoop Neck Tank Dress

1. Buck Mason Pima Boxy Crew

See you next month!

x Lindsay

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Fashion Soup includes affiliate links and opportunities for items I’ve discovered and love, at no cost to you. (Gifted items are noted with an asterisk.) Thank you for reading + supporting my work!

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This is a biweekly series where I hope to spark ideas for getting dressed by sharing what I wore and what’s new in stores. The first part is for everyone and the rest is reserved for paid subscribers. Thank you for supporting this newsletter.

upgrade here or read on below!

I hope most of you are well on your way to a well-deserved long weekend, so I’m going to keep this short!

June is a great month to get dressed in NYC (it feels appropriate, if not fair, that it’s now 100 degrees as July begins). I had a lot of fun with my outfits over the past two weeks. And in case you missed it, and I published the third edition of our New Yorkers’ guide to getting dressed at any temp. We tackled the 70s, 80s and 90s! (And clearly might need an addendum if this heat wave sticks around.)

Let’s see how this looked in practice over the last two weeks, where we witnessed all these temperatures, and more!

But first…

What’s In Stores

On the Menu:

Aligne’s “Summer in the City” New Arrivals caught my eye, because as you know, I need outfit ideas for summer in the city. I love the 90s vibe and bright lime green. And while I was in no way ready to think about suede jackets, I might be now because this one is amazing.

Alex Mill is in major summer sale mode (as almost everyone is, July is the big changeover month for retailers, out with the old, in with the new, inventories have to be reported to Wall Street, etc.) and there’s so much to dig into but select styles of the Hudson pull-on pant (the #2 Fashion Soup bestseller in May) are on sale, and so are the Hudson pull-on shorts. I like the blue stripe poplin and red linen.

Meanwhile, floral pants have been finding me all week after I wrote last weekend’s edition. I love the retro tropical pattern and color of these The Upside pull-on pants (ignore the belt) and how they are styled with a vintage-y graphic tee and a quilted tote. Modern Americana, indeed.

p.s. while we’re here, I love how they styled this track short. Sheer layers were one of the small style shifts we talked about earlier this spring, and while I probably wouldn’t wear this as is, it does make me think about whether I have à long lacy tank I could layer instead.

What I Wore

On the Menu:

• Neutrals (lots of black and white, and navy, always, but I lean away from it in the summer and toward black, which I like as a sharp antidote to the summer haze)

• Bright pops of color, especially anything in the lime-y, briny family, and red accents of course

• Simple shapes & minimal layers, the better to navigate high heat and humidity and cold offices

• Sporty details, which are my favorite kind of details, they just immediately add a reality check

• A dress! Can you believe it? A rare occurrence for sure.

Sunday, June 14

The first beach day of the year! We went down the shore (shoutout to my Philly/NJ readers) to spend the day with our best friends from high school. It was magical: wide open beaches, low tide, sunny but not too hot. I love seeing our kids become friends with our friends’ kids. It’s the best.

What I liked: the sporty ringer tee with the lace-trimmed linen shorts

What I would change: I’ll be honest, I’ll always prefer a long sleeve shirt or sweatshirt with a short pair of shorts, but needs must. It was hot.

Monday, June 15

I had a vision for this top as soon as I received it, and this was it.

What I liked: how the longer structured twill top layers over the floaty pleated midi skirt and creates a single line. This was just plain fun swish around in.

What I would change: got this top, too, and she wore her hair back with it. I love how that created a really sharp effect and will definitely do that next time.

Tuesday, June 16

I didn’t know what to wear and then remembered the post I’d published two days before, and I thought: be like Bacon.

What I liked: literally everything. This is me in outfit form.

What I would change: not a thing. Be like Bacon.

More daily specials right this way, a baker’s dozen!

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“In the morning Pa was there. He had brought candy for Laura and Mary, and two pieces of pretty calico to make them each a dress. Mary’s was a china-blue pattern on a white ground, and Laura’s was dark red with little golden-brown dots on it. Ma had calico for a dress, too; it was brown, with a big feathery white pattern all over it.”

It’s been over thir…

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Right after the Knicks won the NBA Championship, my friend Mike told me I needed to do a merch round-up. This past weekend, he asked me why I hadn’t done it yet. I’m on an editorial calendar, Mike!

But, guys, it’s time. And you know what? When I walked into my office on Monday, I had a company-branded Knicks cookie sitting on my desk. MSG is across the street, so it’s either hometown pride or a thanks for putting up with the barricades and the ID checkpoints. Either way, if they can still hand out Knicks cookies, I’m not too late. (Plus, a lot of the good stuff is on pre-order, so consider it a way to get ready for next season. Gotta defend the title.)

I’ve also got the World Cup on the brain (again, our offices are at the entrance to Penn Station and the trains to MetLife Stadium). But I’ll be honest, I’m more interested in the style than the soccer, especially now that fashion and sports are teaming up more than ever.

And finally, several major men’s brands just showed their Spring 27 collections in Milan (Paris is happening now). I picked my 10 favorite looks for you and have ways to incorporate the key trends (prep, Americana, denim, tailoring) into your closet this summer.

So to recap, in this issue of the Men’s Department: above the fold, new Knicks merch. Below the paywall, vintage Knicks gear, World Cup style inspiration, and the menswear trends from Milan that will help you get dressed over the next few months. And if you missed last month’s, check it out below. Thanks for reading!

Knicks Merch Worth Your Nickels

For the guys

For the girls

Below you’ll find my round-up of vintage Knicks gear and the World Cup team kits that are winning the tournament so far. Plus my favorite menswear looks from Milan and how to translate key ideas in your own closet.

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