Jean-Adjacent: October Edition

The beginning of something new.

Hello and happy Wednesday. Before I explain what this post is and why I’m straying from my regularly scheduled programming, let’s talk about voting. Has everyone made a plan? Please don’t sit this one out just because you are dissatisfied with your options, or because the more qualified, law-abiding candidate isn’t the bowl of porridge perfectly tempered to your taste. We can’t afford to be picky eaters right now, we are grown-ups and there’s just too much at stake.

I voted early and by mail the day I wore this, from my post on belts. Sweater, belt, favorite tote, boots, sunglasses.

Me, I feel motivated by my candidate and, to be useful, I’ve been phone-banking on her behalf. Yesterday, I spoke to a woman in Nevada who believed she had no place in this election because he was just going to “win anyways.” I understood exactly what she meant (it can seem like he gets away with everything, doesn’t it?). We talked about that. And then about how important it is to show up for ourselves and the women in our lives precisely because of that. If you want to join me, I’ll be on calls again today, October 30, from 3-5PM PT. Use this link to sign-up for the Zoom. I promise, it’s fun and it makes a difference. I’d love to see you there.

For more information about how and where to cast your vote go to IWillVote.com.

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About this post: Jean-Adjacent is an idea I had for a monthly column about the things I do and love that may not be directly related to denim. For those who are new here, I am a fashion writer and designer by trade, but I am also a mother of two (ages 6 and 3), a wife (5 years married this month), and I treasure my extended family and friends. My life is full and, to paraphrase Joan Didion, writing helps me figure out what I think about things. There may be essays. There will be gifts. It’ll be fun to see where this goes. Let’s go…

A rare photo of me not in jeans, with my family at my husband Marc’s 50th birthday party earlier this month.

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Mid-month I attended a Q&A with Selling Sexy: Victoria’s Secret and the Unraveling of an American Icon authors Lauren Sherman and Chantal Fernandez at Skylight Books in Los Angeles. Moderated by my friend

Hillary Kerr

, the conversation about Victoria’s Secret’s influence and infamy was, for anyone interested in retail and/or underwear, totally delightful. I loved Lauren’s story of how Les Wexner, the legendary and complicated former owner of VS, intuited the end of grunge by noticing that more people were drinking martinis. “‘No one drinks martinis in flannel,’ he said, which is probably the best quote ever,” Lauren assured, and everyone nodded because, how true. This anecdote is in the book’s chapter about the making of the Victoria’s Secret catalogue, which happens to be one of my favorites. (The chapter, that is.) Buy the book. P.S. Hillary was wearing this jacket and it is as good in person as it looks in her newsletter.

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Last week, Jesse Kamm invited me to her home in Mt. Washington for lunch. I’m going to get to the jeans, but first let me tell you about her house, which was built by Richard Neutra in 1950 and remains in near-perfect condition having had only two owners before Jesse and her husband purchased it at the end of last year. Jesse, for those who many not know, is the kind of designer whose intentional aesthetic rigor expresses equally in her life and work. A scantily-furnished Neutra, complete with a rotary phone and natural ventilation system, is not only on brand for Jesse Kamm, the collection, it is completely and deeply authentic to Jesse. I felt moved the minute I walked in.

Jesse fits me in a pair of her classic 225 jeans.

Jesse and I have known each other for a long time, since the late 90s, and it was really nice to catch up with her as she approaches 20 years of business. (20 years!) Her core collection includes a lot of denim, and though I have seen it on young women in places like Echo Park and Greenpoint, I had yet to try the classic 225s or wide-leg Sailor Pants myself. Both fit beautifully. Standing at the mirror, Jesse instructing me to pull, twist, and tuck my t-shirt into the back of the waistband of the 225s to show their high-high rise. A styling trick – and afternoon – I won’t soon forget.

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Fine scents and hand-touched objects are always a hit with me. Here are things I discovered this month that I think are wonderful presents. (Yes, a candle. A really nice candle will transform a room and make its recipient think of you, fondly.)

• Santa Maria Novella’s patchouli-based Pot Pourri is what’s burning in my studio this fall.

• Kindred Black bottles are as gorgeous as the liquids inside. I recently added the Sleeping Beauty oil to my bedtime routine.

• My thoughtful friend Matt gave me this ceramic Georgia O’Keeffe figurine, knowing how much I admire her. It was made by Andrea Shemilt Kashanipour, who also makes these snooty-cat candle stick holders. (Their faces, I’m sold.)

From left: Santa Maria Novella Pot Pourri candle, Kindred Black’s Delta Dawn perfume oil and Prickly Pear Seed facial oil. Georgia O’Keeffe figurine by @artknacky, available at Nickey Kehoe in New York; 646-970-0020.

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Caroline Chambers

from What to Cook When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking asked me and a handful of other writers – including

Liz Adams

,

Gabby Whiten

,

Irene Kim (김애린)

, and

Laurel Pantin

– to talk about the shoes we’re wearing with wide leg pants (sub: jeans for me, obv.). I loved reading everyone’s answers, they’re worth the subscription. General consensus: Flats rule. “To me, the heel height really doesn't matter (and I'm only 5'4"),” I told Caroline.

My look from Caroline Chambers’ So Into That #44: &Daughter sweater, similar in grey here. J.Crew jeans (I’m sorry, they are nearly gone now, but Reformation has this pair). Margaux mary janes.

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Jean-Adjacent will continue to post near the end of every month. I’d love to hear what you think. As always, thank you for reading and being a part of this project with me. Denim forever.

Jane

My son gives me handfuls of tiny flowers wherever we go. I love them so much I started photographing them.

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More great links…

Night Jeans are the new Date Night jeans.

Ever wonder what I think of boxer shorts?

Here’s that very important link again: IWillVote.com.