I Can Do That Vol. 4
From Pinterest, Insta, and TikTok to Real Life.
It’s that time! What better way to round out 2025 than with another installment of my favorite, and inconsistently published series, I Can Do That. The exercise where I take outfits culled from being chronically online and turn them into IRL looks using items from my closet. If you want a refresher on the previous posts, you can read Vol. 1, Vol. 2, and Vol. 3.
Yes, it’s also that time, but I don’t think I can say one more thing about the holidays after creating weeks of content on the subject, all while being in full Santa mode.
As I shared last week, I’m feeling some creative burnout, so this felt like the perfect exercise to reignite my fashion mojo with minimal effort. I’ve had good luck unlocking new-to-me outfit formulas - I’m never not learning - including one of my signatures, Breezy + Breezy + Structured. None of the looks below are holiday related, they’re just good, solid, interesting ‘fits that I’ve gathered over the last few months. Reminder that I don’t shop to recreate these outfits, but sometimes a new item arrives into my closet just in time.
I know I mentioned making this series a paid subscriber exclusive, but upon reflection is just doesn’t feel right. The benefit of putting this popular, if inconsistent, series behind a paywall doesn’t outweigh the fun of all of my readers getting to participate in the discussion these posts generate. I may change my mind later, but I’ll continue with this as a free monthly-ish (heavy on the ish) post for now. You’re still more than welcome to become a paid subscriber though! Those monthly payments help support the hours of work I put into each post, help with the algo, and generally add to the good vibes I’m trying to create here.
Full disclosure, I started this post at least a month ago and hated the first outfit I recreated so much that I pivoted to another post with the plan to revisit this post the following week. It’s been 8 weeks.
Okay, let’s get dressed!
Look 1: Soft + Fuzzy + Denim + Shine
First of all, who are all these girls who have people taking their pics? Are they friends, partners, employees??? Unlucky for me, my husband is not that skilled with a iPhone camera, although he’s improving, and my 8 year old lifestyle photographer/son does have to go to school from time to time. So, just imagine that I’m nonchalantly drinking coffee on a bench, rather than standing/sitting in my living room using the selfie camera and timer, okay?
I’ve had this image on my phone for months now, long before I purchased my Soeur vest, and knew I wanted to recreate it one way or another. I originally wanted to use said vest, but recently pulled out (i.e. remembered) the one pictured. Much more fun, if I may say so but maybe a little much for a Saturday of holiday errands.
Joesfien’s loafers provide the shine, so I pulled out my shiniest pair from J.Crew (the excellent but now defunct Academy style, plentiful on Poshmark, but if you don’t feel like searching, I like these, these, and these1). They’re black rather than brown, but I prefer the almond shaped toe with this combination. My brown Freda’s and their round toe felt too casual; a reminder that small details really do matter.
In all honesty, I’m fighting for my life in these pic, following a night of dancing and drinking in semi-formal attire at our annual holiday dinner dance. But Santa must persevere. I ended up swapping the vests out and adding a coat for my afternoon of errands. Does this count as a groutfit Tina Boetto?
Look 2: Stripes + Leopard + Khaki + A Coordinated Pop of Color
I’d forgotten that I saved the outfit above, and have a renewed obsession. The volume of the pants! The matching stripes and sweater, with the tucked collar and the sleeves pushed up just so! The leopard shoes! The gold cuff! Her smile! I initially saved the image in the fall, and it’s definitely a warmer weather look, but theres nothing a good coat, and maybe a hat, can’t fix.
At first I worried that my interpretation wouldn’t be as successful as I don’t have a red striped button up shirt, and I think the monochrome moment is really a big part of what makes the look. But then I remembered I have a 12 year old who went from a kids XL to Adult L in the span of 18 months and left a trail of holiday hand-me-downs in his wake. I snuck into his hovel, I mean room, while he was at school and snagged his only-worn-once burgundy striped button down in a men’s size medium. A relic from Christmases past, aka last year.
I stacked on my bangles, grabbed my leopard Mary Janes, khakis, and favorite Tercette sweater*, the only thing I didn’t have is a big, slouchy, suede bag.
The weather was grim and the light was terrible when I left the house, turning torrential by midday. I had a holiday breakfast with colleagues followed by some work and then a holiday lunch with friends, and felt just festive enough for both despite not being properly dressed for the weather.
Look 3: Denim + Denim + A Big Sweater aka Dressing Like Your Dad
This outfit that Lucy is wearing is not much different than one I wore and wrote about last week, seen here and here, but it was just different enough. I particularly love the chambray shirt and the low contrast socks - we know I prefer a low contrast sock if I must wear a sock at all - and her chunky hoops peeking out just above her popped collar.
I have but one chambray shirt leftover from their Madewell heyday that’s worn to shreds and hangs in my closet like a preppy talisman, and a 70’s era pearl snap of my dad’s that my mom customized with paisley and ditsy floral patches. A perfect shirt if there ever was one, but not the one for this outfit. Lucky for me, I have an old, perfectly worn but still wearable, J.Crew chambray shirt of my husband’s lying around for just the occasion.
Also lucky for me, I ordered about a gazillion pairs of socks from Uniqlo to spread between my and my husband’s stockings, two of which were grey. So I snagged them out of the bag of stocking stuffers in the basement because Santa can do what she wants.
I added my previously mentioned Freda Salvador loafers, my much loved and worn silver heart hoops - although now that I’m looking at Lucy’s earrings enlarged on my computer screen they appear gold - and my old Rag & Bone fisherman sweater that is quickly becoming a renewed favorite of the season
I’m definitely still dressed like my dad in the 60’s, I’m still not mad about it, and will be wearing this outfit again sooner rather than later, since ultimately I wore this outfit to work from home on Monday.
Look 4: Navy + Black + Brown (Plaid)
I have recently come to the realization that I don’t own a pair of brown boots. I have my tan Mansur boots that are brown adjacent but distinctly not brown; my Blundstones that are brown but are only worn when doing wine biz things because they’re basically a costume for me otherwise; a well loved pair of Isabel Marant Dicker boots that lean more khaki than brown, not to mention the fact that I’m not quite ready to bring them back into the rotation after a many years break; and my burgundy croc embossed Wally boots. For the sake of the look above, I went with my Staud Wallys, but if I were in a buying mood I’d get these, these, or these Substack faves.
I pulled out my new-ish to me black vintage Levi’s that I’ve had some trouble styling, my often worn plaid blazer, and wore my Tercette sweater*, backwards again, as I don’t have a crewneck to steal from my husband just yet. In an unhinged Black Friday moment, I ordered me and my family coordinating - but not matching - monogrammed sweaters in shades of blue for Christmas. Well, technically my husband, my oldest, and I have shades blue with red monograms and my youngest is getting a red sweater (at his request) with a blue monogram. Look out for the photographic evidence on Christmas day.
I LOVED the boots with the black jeans - knee high boots under jeans is my tall girl hack to prevent the dreaded sliver of calf from showing when seated - and I will be repeating that pairing again soon. The look felt a little bare for me, even though I added my bangles and and a necklace. It felt much more me once I added my red sweater around my neck, no surprise there, so I kept it on for most of the day.
I also love the addition of a silver boot with a plaid blazer, shown below, and will be digging out an old Loeffler Randall pair, although these have me drooling and I already know they’re comfortable, for a future outfit.
Look 5: (Faux) Fur + Denim
Taylor is an expat twenty something living in Italy with her husband and dog who I first found on TikTok. She’s got great style that’s heavily influenced by her surroundings that’s, dare I say, ageless. She styles finds from local Italian markets and travels around Europe, and wears her favorite pieces often and in interesting ways.
I knew I wanted to recreate this outfit the minute I saw her post last week. Because, as seen above, I do have a giant furry vest. I also have lug sole boots that feel very similar to hers, but I opted for my suede boots with a slim toe because I wanted to go a little dressier for my workday. My camel sweater felt too oversized - I really liked the balance of her slim sleeve with the voluminous vest - so I wore my new favorite turtleneck instead. I would have preferred sweater in a tone closer to that of the vest for a lower contrast look, but I’m never mad at black and brown, or any neutrals, worn together.
I layered on some gold jewelry and my dad’s aviators that I recently found in a coat pocket, a true Christmas miracle. I don’t have a rope belt, this one is on my wishlist, but I made do with a super skinny belt that I keep around for occasions just like this.
Taylor’s boots definitely help with the mob wife vibes, and I’ll wear mine with the vest in the future, but I loved the final look. I actually felt fucking fantastic if I’m being totally honest.
Things are winding down (or up?) as we approach Christmas. I have two more days of work before clocking out till the new year. As of publication, our elf has finally arrived2, by balloon of course. His tricks include drawing a mustache on my kids with eyeliner - even harder to execute when you’re trying not to laugh - and taking a bath in marshmallows. I have lots of wrapping to do, two dinners to shop and prep for, as well as all the packing for our upcoming trip. I’m excited to make spicy Chex Mix and the easiest cookie recipe I can find with my kids and plan to outsource the gingerbread houses to my mom thanks to a kit I found at the store.
Thank you to everyone who followed me over on IG this week. If you haven’t yet, come join us. I post regular OOTD videos, fit checks, and frequent mini life updates, it’s pretty fun. I’ll be posting consistently there over the coming weeks even if I’m quiet over here.
I have openings starting the second week in January for client work. Give yourself - or someone you love - the gift of a refreshed wardrobe for 2026. Sometimes all it takes is a fresh set of eyes and little bit of direction to help clarify your sartorial POV.
Thank you for reading, liking, commenting, and sharing my posts here. I have one more post before my New Year’s hiatus, the 2025 edition of my 10 Best Things I Bought This Year. It’s still my second most viewed post, almost a year later. This year’s is going to be good one featuring my fave purchases, the gifted items I would actually buy, plus picks from some of my favorite writers, so stay tuned.
I hope you have a lovely holiday week.
Talk soon,
Fanny
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Please note I say finally with all the sarcasm in the world. Elfis arrives the Sunday after school gets out, to ensure as few days of extra work, I mean magical holiday shenanigans, as possible.
I also always wonder who is taking these girls photos out in the wild, like wtf. I’ll just keeping standing in my living room too haha
Your interpretations of the Pinterest outfits are gold!
Also I want to be Taylor, she seems so chic and cool.
Oh I love every look!! Especially the vest!