I can stand the rain... and the wind

Styling the Alex Mill "David" windbreaker 8 different ways

Duffle coat season is, sadly, coming to a close. And if the weather stays consistent—which, let’s be honest, it never does in New York—you might be able to squeeze in a few more wears through early April. But even then, it’ll probably be limited to morning errands or late-night activities. Anything happening between 11 AM and 5 PM is going to require lighter layers.

Consider Yourself A Shopper #37: What comes after the barn jacket?

Spring is when I fall back in love with New York. The city begins to hum again—fresh buds on the trees, parks slowly filling with people, and that perfect stretch of weather where all you really need is a light jacket and a sweater. Dressing during these transitional moments is my favorite kind of challenge. It takes a bit of ingenuity. For a brief window, your entire wardrobe is in play. Unlike winter, where layering is purely functional, these in-between seasons turn it into a kind of sport.

But before we even get into full spring dressing, we need to talk about outerwear. Specifically: what kind makes sense right now? In my mind, there’s really only one answer—the windbreaker.

Alex Mill “David” windbreaker

Yes, the trench coat will always be a classic. It’s the long-reigning champion of spring/summer outerwear. But this season, there’s some serious competition. The truth is, you don’t always want to reach for a trench. Sometimes it feels like a winter holdover—too formal, too structured—when what you really want is something easy, casual, and light.

The windbreaker, sometimes it’s labeled a rain jacket, though depending on who you ask (or which designer you're looking at), the terms are interchangeable. If Prada is calling theirs a rain jacket, I think we can safely say the line is blurry.

Loewe (JWA era, RIP) gold-dipped jeans I bought from TRR. They still pop up here and there (here’s the non-gold version of the jeans), but there’s also this pair—not denim, not pants—but I still think they’d work in the same way. Sunspel sweatshirt made from a fabric developed by JWA himself (the man has range), 6397 coat tied around the waist, and a Cesta Collective “taco tote” bag. It’s the perfect summer bag, though I think something in the same spirit like this might’ve suited this look a bit better.

Another angle of the look—I love the way the tied coat adds some drape to an otherwise casual, pared-down outfit. Ancient Greek Sandals shearling-lined sandals (maybe a bit early to go full bare feet), though if I could redo it, I might’ve added these socks. Alexis Bittar puffy lucite bangle and a Lizzie Fortunato resin bracelet.

Same look, just a bit more pared down this time.

The windbreaker fits right into the growing world of technical outerwear, from anoraks and parkas to shells and anything rain-ready. There’s no shortage of options out there, but in my opinion, the Alex Mill version is the one to beat. It has a late 80s, early 90s silhouette. It features an elastic bungee hem you can cinch as you like, a detachable hood, and comes in either army green or a standout electric blue. Alex Mill has been consistently delivering great blues season after season. For reference, I got mine in a medium, but if you want something less roomy or more tailored, I’d suggest sizing down.  (This isn’t a sponsored post by the way. I was inspired by this to style the jacket a few different ways for a full newsletter.)

Prada Re-Edition criss-cross sandals that I searched high and low for in a EU41—finally tracked them down on Farfetch. Looks like more sizes have started popping up at other stores now too (more options here). Valentino scarf, you can see a little red popping out, that’s my t-shirt that happens to be from Drake’s (good alt), and the ribbed long sleeve is from Everybody World and my pants are VTG military pants from one of the best vintage stores in NYC (well technically it’s in Brooklyn, Front Street General Store.)

Styling the windbreaker is surprisingly intuitive. That’s part of the charm—it doesn’t ask much from the rest of your outfit. Most recently, I wore mine to go look at an apartment. It’s one of those occasions where the journey takes longer than the viewing itself, so you don’t want to get fully dressed up, but you still want to feel pulled together. I threw it on over my favorite cargos and new go-to sandals. I had a few different shirts layered underneath, but mostly kept the windbreaker zipped up and cinched the waist slightly—it gave the outfit a nice shape and curved proportion that played well with the pants.

Attersee jersey tee that used to be called the “Beach” tee (consider this my official campaign for Isabel to bring it back). Until then, maybe go for something like this. Leset deep V sweater, Partow shorts, Martiniano heels, Valentino gloves, though you could easily find a similar pair on Etsy.

The perfect bag for carrying your number one rain essential.

A windbreaker adds just enough structure without feeling stiff, and there’s something about the swish of the fabric that gives a look movement, a little energy. It’s a silhouette that works with your day rather than against it. It’s the kind of jacket you can throw on without much thought, but it still finishes the look. It’s not trying too hard—and that’s kind of the point.

Polo Ralph Lauren shirt and hat, Husband’s shirt tied around the waist, and corduroys (alts for both here and here). Bally suede boat shoes, Olympia Le-Tan clutch, and a scarf.

Dries Van Noten cropped blazer, short-sleeve cashmere shirt from the Linnea Lund x Laura Reilly collab (similar alt), and Veronica de Piante corduroy pants (here they are in a camel and on sale for $597. For reference I’m wearing an IT42.). Normally I reserve cords for fall and winter, but lately I’ve been into them as the weather warms up—especially when they’ve got a little flare or an easy, looser fit. Gold jazz shoes by Renate Jacob (If you are an 8 it’s your lucky day.)—and the sunglasses I keep reaching for, which are from this newsletter.

Blue’s an interesting color because, in many ways, it functions like a neutral—it pairs well with just about everything. The Charvet belt is one I picked up in Paris, though I recently realized you can find them on Mr. Porter too. The bag (a few options: here, here, and here). You can’t see it, but I clipped a bracelet to the handle—it was too small to wear, so now it lives on as a bag charm. The umbrella is one of two I bought in London. It was supposed to rain that day, but it didn’t—so it ended up being more of an accessory than anything else.

Of course, I’d be remiss not to mention the influx of rain-adjacent pieces we saw on the runway this season. Whether it was rain jackets, anoraks, or the way these utilitarian pieces were styled over party dresses and eveningwear, it all fed into the growing “wrong jacket theory.” The idea being: the piece that technically doesn’t belong with the rest of your look might actually be the thing that makes it work. There’s practicality in it, yes—but also a sense of ease, and even elegance.

The "Wrong Jacket" Theory

Arts & Science dress I picked up while in London (here’s a version of it in deep violet). We’re heading into peak nightgown season. I have one from Eileen West that I love, and pieces like this are the kind you can often score on Etsy too. The boxers are from Turnbull & Asser, Polo Ralph Lauren oxfords (though I’m still into these). De Vera coin earrings (similar options here and here), James Banks bracelet and a Christina Carsuo one too.

Dodiee swinging fringe dress that honestly made me feel snug in the best way, Roger Vivier crystal buckle platforms, Gigi Burris traditional pillbox hat (though I’m also partial to this one), fingerless opera-length gloves that are perfect for everything but the opera, and Nina Runsdorf “Archive” collection earrings—with nice emerald cut brown topaz—and necklace. As you all probably know by now, I’m not a huge silver person (though I’m slowly warming up to it), but there are a few brands I think make it look good: Tiffany’s, Eliburch, and now Nina Runsdorf, who usually only works in gold. The collection is very ’70s, which—as we know—is part of the moment right now.

Bottega Veneta SS20 knit set—I tried to stay somewhat true to the runway styling and layered a white tank underneath. Mine’s from Hanes, and I think the key to layering tanks is starting with one on the thinner side, like the Hanes or even this one, then layering the heavier one on top. These are my sunglasses, but here’s a similar pair. Underwater Weaving basket, a vintage coin choker (alts here and here), and a Don’t Let Disco choker I customized with a few charms that I attached to a 14k safety pin.

Doddie belt with a charm attached.

So as much as I hate having to put away my duffle, I’m ready for the seasonal switch. Spring in New York is fleeting, unpredictable, and a little messy. But that’s also what makes it exciting. The days get longer, the layers get lighter, and suddenly getting dressed feels less like survival and more like play. And if you’re looking for one piece to carry you through the unpredictability of it all, let it be the windbreaker.

Talk soon!

xx

JJ

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