In Defense of the Brown Sweater

My mom recently gave me a copy of Women in Clothes, a book of essays, Q&As and oral histories focused on our relationship to our wardrobes. Based on my reading thus far, the book’s cadence and tone is self-important and intellectually stilted. That’s not necessarily bad — writing about clothes connotes a certain amount of pretension, after all. (Ahem.)

 

Ripped Jeans: Madewell | Caramel Sweater: The Row (Barneys) | Black Tank Top: Rick Owens (Consignment) | Chelsea Boots: Secondhand
Ripped Jeans: Madewell | Caramel Sweater: The Row (Barneys) | Black Tank Top: Rick Owens (Consignment) | Chelsea Boots: Secondhand

Most of the essays focus on our everyday, mundane clothing decisions, skimming over the more uncomfortable conversations pertaining to religion, culture or subculture. More strangely, some of the stories heap on the saccharine overtones, assigning clothing’s power to a man’s response and reaction to it. (If your most important article of clothing is your wedding ring, congrats — you’ve just written Chapter 3.)

One essay included this nugget: “People normally associate depression with black, but… the truly depressed wear brown.”

I looked down at the sweater I was wearing. It was brown. I felt no depression, but plenty of annoyance.

therow2I suppose I should take this opportunity to tell you about what I’m wearing. The brown sweater (aka the hidden depression diagnosis) was unearthed at the Barneys Warehouse sale. (It was last seen here.)

The pre-ripped jeans are my fifth pair of trousers from Madewell. (My denim allegiances recently shifted from the house of Jessica Simpson to Madewell.) The Rick Owens tank top and Chelsea boots are both secondhand.

It’s one of those prototypical “fall” outfits. The colors mirror the autumnal vistas that will soon slick over with ice and snow. But it’s got a dollop of luxury and edge, thanks to the sweater’s thin cashmere and the tank’s neckline, which reveals a triangle of shoulder.

And more good news? The lab tests just came back on the color brown — there’s no link to depression, so wear with reckless abandon.

Outfit detail. Sweater: The Row | Tank: Rick Owens | Necklace: Vintage
Outfit Detail. Sweater: The Row | Tank: Rick Owens | Necklace: Vintage