You’ve probably heard of “off-duty style,” but have you heard of the “hot girl errands” look? Believe it or not, this social media trend has been going on for months, with Gen Z influencers posting their favorite “sporty and sassy” outfits to take the edge off the boredom of everyday tasks and, of course, rack up views and likes. A popular look is a stretch unitard, worn with an oversized leather jacket and Adidas Gazelles, accessorized with a designer handbag and fully made up. As a finishing touch, the style is conveyed with the pouting indifference of someone who doesn’t really need to do any shopping at all, because short of returning a Zara return or buying a new lip gloss, Mom and Dad are probably still doing it all.
I should know; I have a teenage daughter who can’t refill the ice tray without pleading exhaustion, a modern condition apparently called “message paralysis,” though I like to call it “icy toil.”
But back to the glamorous “message clothes,” which, hot or not, is becoming an increasingly common term in fashion parlance beyond the world of teen internet stars. According to a Fashion video, Kendall Jenner’s favorite outfit for running errands is an all-black jeans-and-T-shirt with a red sweater from luxury label Khaite artfully draped around her shoulders, suggesting that her tasks don’t require the use of her arms.
This sweater would take on a life of its own if I wore it on a day when I was running errands, swung awkwardly around my neck like an unruly snood, continually fell off my body, or worse, punched people in the face when it went back in. position was thrown. On an unflappable A-lister, it’s super chic; on a hot mess like me it would be a mess, like being stuck with an unruly pet all day.
Among midlifers, Gisele Bundchen, 43, is apparently the queen of casual, chore-friendly dressing. The model was recently pictured in New York ‘running errands’ in a (totally impractical) figure-hugging knit dress and tall, high-heeled boots. Try this look when you’re transporting packages to the post office or have a pack of toilet paper in your hand.
According to Elle magazine Lady Gaga makes grocery shopping look ‘chic’ in knee-high boots with mega platform, while American Vogue has described Dakota Johnson’s spring shopping look – a long, fitted floral dress and slippers – as “very recognizable”. And there I thought baggy sweatpants, a soft knit and trainers were fit for purpose.
There’s enough pressure on girls and women to conform to existing feminine beauty ideals, so do we really need another ideal that harkens back to the housewives of the 1950s? No, we certainly don’t, but while I find this sleazy dress code ridiculous and strangely regressive, I’m not averse to the idea of subtly polishing my personal style before my next grocery run, if for no other reason than to do the hard work of it all – the endless queues, the lugging of carrier bags, the delivery, collection and the tiring ticking of boxes, just that little bit more bearable.
Also worth mentioning is the fact that this fashion trend is used almost exclusively to describe feminine dress codes, which, when you think about it, says a lot about how these tasks are perceived (by both genders) when women perform them.
Indeed, it seems necessary to reduce these serious responsibilities that grease the wheels of domestic life and instead present them as fun and frivolous distractions, lightly tackled in 3-inch heels and/or second-skin Lycra. When you’re standing in line for a prescription, wrists ready to snap under the strain of your bulging bag, grocery shopping is as much fun as getting poked in the eye. If you stand next to someone like me who tries to wear a sweater as a scarf, you’ll probably end up with one of those too.
In my pursuit of stylish, easy-care and well-structured workwear – because grocery shopping is hard work when you live in the real world – I was drawn to California-based designer Jesse Kamm, whose elegant utilitarian collections were sold in London. boutique Aimé and through its own website, are designed to make you feel safe, tidy and ready for action, and for good reason.
“I grew up in the country, in a rural farming community, so growing up I was surrounded by a lot of work clothes,” she explains. “My family was always building things on the weekends, and the clothes reflected that. There were overalls, overalls, carpenter pants, jeans, all made of sturdy canvas, twill and denim. These materials and shapes are naturally woven into my work.”
Parenthood also shaped Kamm’s love for practicality, inspired by “skaters, surfers and blue-collar workers” and loved by a bohemian mix of high-profile artists and performers, including actresses Frances McDormand and Emma Stone and filmmakers Maggie Gyllenhaal and Janicza Bravo.
“I no longer had the luxury of time, and I needed a wardrobe that was steady and required no thought; a uniform if you like,” Kamm explains.
I also like the idea of a uniform that is suitable for serious duty doing: something that screams “I deal in solutions”, with a slightly grainy, avant-garde edge. The overalls have, I think, a kind of cool sense of purpose. Top of my wish list is a bespoke heavy cotton Danny overall from East London label LF Markey, available in a range of colors and nicely proportioned for that retro ‘Suzi Quatro at art school’ look, which is sure to liven up a trip to Superdrug.
Finally, it goes without saying that shopping shoes should be comfortable. Adidas Gazelle and Samba styles are still leading the trend, but why run when you can walk in shoes that spread a little (self) love, like Camilla’s Elphick’s Lover Flats, which have a heart shape through crossed straps? The British shoe designer created them especially for women on the go, because she is one herself. “They’re like gloves for your feet and you can really walk in them for hours,” she says.
And I can vouch for that. Plus, when I look down, I feel a little more appreciated and rewarded – not exactly a ‘hot girl’, but warm enough for me.