Overalls: Relishing A Fashion Favorite

The past two decades have shown us that fashion trends will more than certainly repeat themselves - and rather quickly too. Just because something goes out of style for a few seasons doesn't mean it's dead. As any adolescent does, I loved wearing so many different things as a kid - even if it didn't make fashion sense. I remember when I was around six or seven years old, I had a favorite purple outfit that I wore as much as I could. But eventually I outgrew it, just as decades eventually outgrow various styles. But one favorite that I have never let go of over my lifetime is overalls. I had a few pairs of overalls throughout my childhood, and I absolutely adored each pair. 

If I had to say why I loved overalls so much, the main reason at the time was obviously convenience. It's a single clothing item that took the brain work out of what to wear and only needed a simple shirt to complete the look. Being a more elaborate pair of jeans, they're durable, casual and cool. Now that I have better defined my sense of style, I can appreciate overalls even more for their versatility. You can wear them with both shoulder straps up, just one strap up, both straps down, with a t-shirt, with a sweatshirt, etc., etc., etc. With this passion for the piece, you can imagine my elation as they've been reborn into style over the past few years!

Taking Overalls On A Date 

When I first arrived in New York back in March, I had taken my first shopping trip to Zara. Upon entering the men's section, I only had to go through a few clothing racks before I discovered this charming pair of overalls. I loved the distressed pant legs, which make them even trendier and chic. Given the price, I had debated whether they were worth getting after an expensive move from Florida - but once I tried them on, I fell in love. Having not had a pair of overalls for several years, I wasn't sure how to dress them. And paired with the crazy hot Summer, I had to keep them on hold until Fall.

Now being in the groove of covering my various looks in these blogs, I'm glad to have found an opportunity to wear them around. I had initially thought about pairing them with a comfy sweatshirt or something - I've seen a few guys wearing that look around town and thought it would be simple enough. But why be basic when you can be brilliant? So I decided the overalls deserved more sophisticated coordination, and proceeded to style them with my lovely thin black sweater from Guess, and luxurious black Chelsea boots from Rodd & Gunn. I sprinkled on some black accessories for finishing touches and wore my new sunglasses from Mango for extra cool factor. 

Elevated Street Wear 

Like I said, overalls make dressing easy. And if you're thoughtful about what to wear underneath them, looking good does not take much effort. One thing that I was uncertain with in wearing overalls is whether or not they would make me look immature, seeing as how the trend is most popular with a younger demo (yes, even younger than me in my late twenties). But I think that's why the sweater and boots were a good choice, because they truly do elevate the overalls and give the overall outfit a more mature touch. If I continue to incorporate overalls into my wardrobe, I think I'll follow this precedent - sweaters/button-downs and boots for the win. I would also be interested in trying to wear a belt with the overalls, since they have loops to accommodate. I tried a few out, but didn't land on a look that I felt was flattering. Still room for opportunity and exploration I guess. 

A Trend Forever Cherished

There you have it folks - yet another article of clothing that I'm low-key obsessed with. As overalls hopefully work their way into being consistent pieces in style and fashion, I'm hoping that designers find ways to reinvent them - I'm always eager to see how clothes can evolve over time. Whether or not they remain, there will no doubt be something else that makes the trendy rounds and captivates us fashion fixated folks. Do you have a favorite piece of clothing from the past that has made a comeback recently, or you're still waiting to see resurface? Would love to hear about your relished styles. You don't know what you have until it's gone - so let's stay true to our beloved fashions, and keep them alive for decades to come!