Birthday Post: An Outfit & Reflection for Each Month of 27-Years-Old
Ahh yeah!! I am 28-years-old, knee deep in reflection and sharing never-before-seen photos from the last year.
Full look description below.
I graduated from Northeastern University in 2019 at age 22. In July of 2023, just before turning 27, I finally admitted to needing to slow down. Up to that point, the better part of my post-grad life had been spent hustling, taking every professional opportunity and leaving minimal time for friends, hobbies or love-interests. I expected to be a huge overnight success after college, and when it didn’t happen I figured the solution was to work harder. Do more. Be better.
Frankly, I felt embarrassed. It wasn’t enough to have a job, I needed to skyrocket to the top (whatever that meant), otherwise what would people think of me? A moment that encapsulated my insecurity happened after I reconnected with my childhood best friend in 2021. During a plane ride home from a trip we were on, she told me she wanted to stay friends with me because “if [I] became famous one day” she wanted to be associated with me. Major friendship red flag notwithstanding, her words perfectly mirrored the attitude I had toward myself after completing school: I am worth keeping around because one day I might be X.
Spoiler alert: That was stupid!!
I burnt out, blinked and was 27 and on my way to regretting all of my twenties. This past year I tried prioritizing my mental and physical health, family and friends before work. Here’s what happened:
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September
We begin in the month following my birth-month, since in August 2023 I wasn’t using my phone and took almost no photos!
Below, I am headed to a Lingua Franca x Brother launch party:
I wore a little black dress from Aritzia (Wilfred) with a coverup and Salvatore Ferragamo heels (similar ones). Image taken by my brother, who I ran into just before the event.
I had taken a few months away from fashion and New York at this point, and was dipping my toe back in for the first time. I remember wearing this look because I wasn’t entirely comfortable in my skin and likely couldn’t fit much of my clothing at the time…
The photo session I had with my brother before the party truly fortified me! People who love you will take your photo and tell you you’re beautiful even when you are not feeling it! Looking back, I don’t look half as bad as I believed I did when I saw these pictures back in September, which is actually kind of sad.
October
Still in recovery mode, I wore my late grandpa’s jacket and sweatshirt together quite often:
Windswept and held by Grandpa’s clothes. Tommy Hilfiger jacket, here.
Still not the most comfortable in my body, I didn’t play around with clothing too much or switch up what I wore very often.
November
Finally getting my mojo back, but still mostly wearing PJs:
Visiting Washington D.C. in a Parks Project T-shirt, Natural Life shorts and Bombas slides.
December
As is clear by now, I didn’t love everything about my body around this time of year, but throwing on a turtleneck and tying my hair in a messy bun made me feel French and feminine:
Going for a walk with sweet Sake. In a Kapital jacket, Scanlan Theodore turtleneck, Everlane jeans, Uniqlo mid-calf socks, Tod’s sneakers (similar ones) and Able earrings and ring.
In the book The Ethical Slut, which I read my fifth year of college, authors Dossie Easton and Janet W. Hardy suggest an exercise I still enjoy to this day: The next time you see a couple, try picking out one or two features about each of them you think the other person might love about their partner. It’s a good reminder that beauty doesn’t always look the way you expect, and it can be appreciated in all forms.
January
The "messy French-girl hair" stuck throughout winter:
Up top, Aritzia (Babaton) puffer jacket and Topshop turtleneck (similar), REI Co-op pants and Able ring and earrings. Below, Uniqlo sweater vest, Parks Project T-shirt, Scanlan Theodore scarf, Able circle ring (new version), Lululemon leggings, Uniqlo mid-calf socks, Tod’s sneakers (similar) and Ray-Ban sunglasses.
At this point basic things like grocery shopping and getting dressed to go out were part of my regular routine (whoopee!). Getting these areas together aided me in launching this very website in January 2024!
February
The month All-Year Season was born:
In my favorite Kapital jacket and Officine Générale pants, Tod’s sneakers (similar) and Vogue Runway tote bag, up top. Below, the same jacket, sneakers and tote bag with an Aritzia (Babaton) turtleneck and Scanlan Theodore pants.
This newsletter was born at a time when I was rediscovering my love of my body, living in it and dressing it each day.
By February, my social calendar was filled back up.
Still home by 9:00 p.m. and loving it, though!
March
March was my resort season. In other words, I dressed for spring vacation all month:
In a Free People slip dress, Uniqlo cardigan, mid-calf socks and Rothy’s flats, up top. Below, my familiar Kapital jacket, Scanlan Theodore tank top, DKNY sweatpants and same shoes and socks.
It makes me smile to see how much more comfortable I am in my skin here. :)
Honorable March Mention
Shoutout to Pearl Star Hotel Atami in Japan for having these sick gym uniforms, right down to the socks and sneaks:
Post-sweat session with my beautiful and fabulous cousin, Lexi at Pearl Star Hotel Atami.
April
Bringing back some of the silhouettes I saw in Japan after my Tokyo trip the previous month:
My Kapital jacket, vintage polo shirt, Uniqlo x JW Anderson skirt, Tod’s loafers, Able ring and Vogue Runway tote bag.
Connecting with my Japanese culture was an unexpected gift this year. I wore the above look to attend a Maison Miru Earth Day event in April.
May
Just living, laughing and loving at this point. The benefits of consistent rest and routine really began to show as spring sprung:
In a top I borrowed from Mom. Uniqlo x JW Anderson skirt, Rothy’s flats, Ferragamo crossbody bag and Burberry sunglasses.
This was the month I finally confronted my fears around dressing for hot weather. Here, I take a lunch break during jury duty in late May:
Embracing transitional weather in a LouLou Studio blazer, Scanlan Theodore camisole (awesome similar one), Uniqlo jeans, Chanel flats, Burberry sunglasses and Vogue Runway tote bag.
My shamelessness increased as the months passed…
June
Writing has a very salubrious effect. After the hot-weather dressing story I stopped caring so much about my underarms and acne scars and became more comfortable showing a little more skin:
Running errands in Uniqlo easy cargo pants and top styled with Tod’s sneakers (similar), above. Ray-Ban sunglasses and Rothy’s flats below, plus my Maison Miru event tote bag.
Dog Days Of Summer:
Up top, coming back from my first live Peloton run in 2XU compression tights, New Balance sneakers, Bombas socks, Nike hoodie, Uniqlo crossbody bag and Ray-Ban sunglasses. Below, a gifted tee with Uniqlo biker shorts and Tod’s sneakers (similar) worn to a yoga class this morning! My yoga mat is Yune.
What can I say? Happy and healthy.
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With that, thank you so much for being here. This one took a while to write…much longer than expected, but it was worth it to look back and see how much things have changed for the better since I took a step back from the "Go! Go! Go!" I hope this encouraged you to do something positive for yourself as well. Until next week…
Yours Truly,
Kyoko
I am not compensated for the features listed in All-Year Season. My sincerest thank you to Uniqlo and 2XU for supporting the creation of this post.
