Long black wool coat over a cream knit and straight jeans

The coat does the work here: a long black wool coat, straight and unbelted, cut to the calf with a narrow notched lapel and a soft shoulder. Under it, a cream ribbed knit sweater with a crew neck, worn loose and sitting just over the waistband of mid-wash straight-leg jeans. The jeans are high-waisted with a clean, slightly faded front and a full-length hem that breaks on a black leather ankle boot with a pointed toe.

This is the day-off formula: one long dark layer, one pale knit, denim that is neither tight nor wide. Autumn and winter, pavement and cafe chairs, hands in pockets. The cuffs are pushed back just enough to show the sleeves of ink and the watch; the coat stays open so the cream knit breaks up the black. Swap the boots for loafers when the ground is dry.

I own one pair of jeans. They get photographed more than most of my gowns.