Forecast: Unhinged

If you’re living in New York, or really anywhere on the East Coast, you’ve been plagued by some truly abominable weather since the start of the year. The kind that makes you ask, why? The kind that has you wondering if we’re being…cursed. Snow melting into rain, rain turning back into sludge, with the occasional, almost suspicious, flash of sun. Naturally, I’ve adopted a “fuck it” approach to dressing. If the weather refuses to behave, why should I? Before we go any further, a disclaimer: I am fully willing to endure temperature discomfort for the sake of a look. If you are sensitive to the cold, or the heat, for that matter, maybe don’t follow me down this path.

Now, onto the fun. Rainy season in NYC is about as enjoyable as doing my taxes, but lately I’ve decided to lean into the chaos. I call it Toddler Theory. You know, when you’re a kid, and you just throw things on because they feel fun? No logic, no practicality, just instinct. Well…same concept.

And honestly? I was chic as hell back then.

Now I’m dressing in ways that make me giggle. Shorts with rain boots and a blazer. An oversized t-shirt printed with lingerie, paired with cowboy boots and over-the-knee cargos. Baggy jeans with a crisp French cuff shirt, the cuffs sloppily folded over a Gore-Tex rain jacket. It doesn’t make sense, and that’s exactly the point. There’s something deeply joyful about impracticality. It feels light. Freeing. The more ridiculous the outfit, the better I feel.

Rain used to ruin my mood. Now, I see it as an invitation to be louder, stranger, a little more extravagant. The truth is, everyone’s too busy dealing with their own wet socks and broken umbrellas to care what you’re wearing anyway. So you might as well have fun with it. Pick a rainy day and try it. Dress like a kid. Mismatch everything. Jump in a puddle. Wear something that makes absolutely no sense.

You might feel stupid. But you also might feel something better. And isn’t that kind of the point?