Clothes I Miss 2
Pale pink paisley printed tunic silky top. This was such a beautiful fabric, and it was a great length for wearing with a low-slung belt. I wore it to opening night for the show where I met my husband.
Wide black woven belt. Went great with the above tunic. Black canvas with a leather and chrome double buckle. Creates kind of a blouson effect which is my most flattering look.
Old Navy cowboy button downs in green and brown. Snagged these from the sale rack but soon became an absolute favorite. They had a cowboy-style yoke and a tiny white floral print.
Black Gap short trench coat. This was a cropped "trench" with a tie-waist that I wore to bits. Had to say goodbye when my weight soared to new heights.
Black Gap wrap sweatshirt. This was a unique sweatshirt with no hood and a tie-waist belt. I felt so comforted wrapping it around myself, often over one of the cowboy shirts.
White lace TJ Maxx $7 bras. I was loyal to these bras for many years. They were underwire but looked like amazing vintage lingerie. The brand name is Renee Rofe but have only ever found them at TJ's or Marshalls.
Maroon bomber-style leather jacket. Thrifted, of course, this classic was worn a lot when I was riding my bike around Philadelphia. Had some sweet piping on the shoulders.
Cut-off cropped Banana Republic stretchy trousers. Also worn on my bicycle a lot because they wouldn't get stuck in the gear. These were originally semi-conservative pants for college when I was really working the whole "opera singer" vibe. Liberating to cut them off and get them dirty with bicycle grease.
Peach cotton tank top. I feel like this was either thrifted or from an Army Navy shop. It was kind of "overdyed" with thick seams. There's a picture of me wearing it to a rehearsal for my very first theater job.
White cotton spaghetti strap undershirt with lacy straps. This looked like a little girl's undershirt. I think I had it in black too. I wore this with some vintage jeans to go get my boyfriend a slice of pizza on South Street in Philly. I was cat called.
Turquoise kimono-style Forever 21 Plus top. I got this in Portland when I was riding a bicycle around town and trying to maintain my singing practice in our hotel room. It was the first time I saw plus sizes at Forever 21. They're sized too small. They should just call them “adult clothes.”
Bobeau black and cream print textured one-button cardigan. I got this when I was looking for clothes for my last job as an administrative assistant at Brown University. I think I only got rid of it because it reminded me of how I only lasted 2 months before my uncontrollable crying forced me to quit. I've been on disability ever since.
Vintage pale blue cotton swing dress. Wore this once to a party with my then-boyfriend and his friends. One of them asked me if I was pregnant and I never wore it again. It was really a great dress.
Gap two-tone blouson-top dresses in navy-on-navy and black-on-grey. These were so flattering and chic. I might have worn them temping a bit, but I really hoped to wear them as opera audition dresses. I outgrew them, size-wise, before I could.
Floral sheer-overlay ivory maxi dress with ribbon ties all the way down the front. This was the most expensive thing I'd ever owned; I can't believe my mom bought it for me. I wore it to the prom, possibly with fake Birkenstocks.
Black handmade corset style top with floral lace trim. A costume designer made this for me, trying to make a real boned corset that wasn't so tight I couldn't sing in it. It was for my senior recital. I wore it with a black ball-gown style skirt that I'd gotten on sale at some earlier date for no good reason. I donated this to Housing Works in NYC when I was trying to let go of my past and move forward with a theater career. Dumb.
Black cotton deep V-neck dress. This was a substantial heavy-weight cotton dress with an A-line skirt. It came to just below my knee. I wore it with high-heeled ankle boots to sing a concert version of a show I did.
Pale blue blouson top with 3/4 sleeves. Again with the blouson. Color was great on me too.
Joie silk medallion print cami top. I sold this because it never fit right on my chest. I bought it when I was getting a whole new wardrobe because I had lost so much weight on Adderall. Double-lined, really nice, found on Ebay.
Heather grey Vince cashmere asymmetrical ruffle sweater. I still own one in black which I wore a lot when it still fit. The grey one didn't really get any wear, so I sold it. I bought them at Salvation Army for $5.99 each.
Tweed and fake fur winter hat with ear flaps. This was probably the one item during my time in New York where I wore something and just did not give a fuck what anyone thought of it. Super warm too.
Grey taffeta dress with black studded belt. Possible my only Zara purchase ever, This was a strapless fit-and-flare style with this punk-rock belt that seemed perfect for singing in. I think I only ever wore it to one or two auditions.
Banana Republic ribbed tanks. One in white, one in navy, often layered together. These were really good quality and I think I got them on clearance. One time I wore them with cargo pants and a boy said I was pretty. Is it sad that I remember that?
Maroon drawstring-waist old school sweatpants. The infamous sweats I wore to a voice lesson in college and got reprimanded by my conservative Korean teacher. Soft, really straight through the hips, not too much stretch.
White cami-strap leotard. I grew up dancing and danced through college but abandoned it in my mid 20s. At age 30 I got back into it for musical theater auditions and I got this bright white leotard. I felt beautiful in it.
Pink leg warmers. Wore these in New York to auditions and class. Pulled them up to my knees, then slouched over the top of my character shoes. Thought I looked awesome, but I have a feeling the kids didn't share my feeling.
Black cotton jersey blouson top. I know, I know. Never get rid of blouson tops. They are gold for me, and hard to find. But this one had puff sleeves, and I came down hard against them when I cleared out all my dresses, bows, ruffles, and puff sleeves a couple years ago.
I actually teared up making this list. I feel like I've given away parts of myself- bolder, tougher, more independent parts. Brave parts. These are things I can never get back.