I was recently picking an outfit to wear with a funky Michigan Rag Co. windbreaker I thrifted in recent months, and it struck me that the result had a distinct Cabot Cove flavour to it. I enjoyed it tremendously, which is to say that I felt strong “comfortable in my own skin” feelings whilst wearing it. That’s always the signal that I got the outfit right — the clothes make me feel good inside myself, as though they were simply an extension of my body. Anyway, this sent me down a rabbit hole of internet sleuthing, chasing the (unlikely?) style icon that is Jessica B. Fletcher.

I remember watching Murder She Wrote in my late teens; I enjoyed it, unironically, alongside more typical teenage fare like Buffy The Vampire Slayer. Deep down, I think I have always aspired to be like Jessica, but the older I get, the more those aspirations surface. Unfortunately, I have not been able to stream the show in recent years, but I have collected many of the novels and they’ve been feeding my thirst for all things JB Fletcher. As far as I’m concerned, she might just be living my best life: creative work, lovely house in a bucolic town, supportive friends, busy (but not too busy) social life, traveling … oh, and the occasional cozy murder to solve.

I definitely did not view Jessica as a style icon in my teens, but as a 40-something year old knee-deep in 90s nostalgia? That’s another matter. As I dug through various archives (the @murder_she_wore IG account is a goldmine), I kept coming across outfits that made me go “Tweak that and I’d wear it!” If I had to describe her style (on the show), it would be ‘laidback WASPy’ — preppy but not twee, ladylike but not fussy, and above all, sensible. Now, on first blush, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of overlap between this kind of description and my personal aesthetic, but there is a certain vibe in all of this that speaks to my Historian avatar. In the last few years, I’ve described that avatar as the history-professor-who-studies-alchemy-and-might-secretly-be-a-witch (a kind of luxe Dark Academia, not the Hot Topic variety), and it’s a description that still speaks to me — in other words, it helps me to visualize outfits that make me feel like myself. But the casual/weekender side of the Historian … maybe it has something to learn from JB Fletcher.

Here are a few Jessica outfits I’ve saved for inspiration:

And here is that windbreaker outfit that made me feel like I could fit into Cabot Cove’s weekend scene:

For me, the key to interpretation (especially of inspiration that is “historical” in nature, aka vintage to a greater or lesser extent) is to avoid being too literal. I am going to take some of the silhouettes or outfit combinations and use contemporary pieces to recreate the vibe, not the exact look. Or, if I am going to use vintage pieces, I will update the silhouette to something that feels current. The goal is to avoid looking like I am wearing a costume, as that makes me feel self-conscious.

One of my ongoing experiments is to find ways to incorporate scarves and brooches (two Jessica favourites) into outfits in ways that don’t feel like slavish copying. For example, Jessica wears a lot of silky scarves with button down blouses, which isn’t something that translates for my personal aesthetic. But the idea — wearing a scarf as an accessory with or instead of a necklace — intrigues me, and I want to see if there are ways to do it that feel authentic to me. What that means, in practical terms, is that when I am putting together outfits I will ask myself, “would a scarf work here somehow?” Most of the time, the answer will be “no”, but every now and then, something might click. That’s how inspiration works for me — it’s a little nugget tucked away at the back of my mind, which some day might come in handy.

Anyway, here is a scarf outfit that did check all the boxes for me:

It was extra special as the scarf is a Hermes one that used to belong to my mom. As a fellow Murder She Wrote fan, I like to think that she would have appreciated this look.

Details: Equipment blouse (thrifted), Highline vest (thrifted), Vero Moda pants (thrifted)

Thoughts: I loved the colours and silhouette of this outfit. Soothing and laidback respectively. I am very into longline vests and coats (or coatigans) right now, and find them to be a versatile replacement for more traditional toppers like blazers.

Details: Markantoine x Icone hoodie (thrifted), Everlane pants (thrifted), Arnold Churgin boots (thrifted)

Thoughts: I’ve been slowly accumulating more athleisure in my closet, but the truth is that I probably have more than enough given my actual needs (I wear it to lounge at home, and on walks/to the park). However, how could I resists this sequined hoodie? I mean, it’s blue, green and purple — all my favourite colours — and did I mention it’s sequined? Definitely made for someone with a magpie heart like mine.

Details: Jasper Conran bustier (Poshmark), BR belt (thrifted), William Morris x H&M dress (thrifted)

Thoughts: I called this my Maid Marian cosplay, and you know you see it. It was fun. Having fun with clothes is kinda my motto. Anyway, I like to find ways to de-glamify this bustier because it *is* quite dramatic but at the same time, too beautiful to save for a (very rare) special occasion. The design and construction are *chef’s kiss*. I’ve struggled to find “everyday” ways to wear it, but I will continue to try.

Details: Pieces & Co. x BR jacket (thrifted), Wilfred pants (Poshmark), BCBG belt (thrifted)

Thoughts: Mixed up two lovely patterns with a similar colour palette, added shoes in a unifying colour to hold them together, then finished with a pinch of contrast via a yellow belt. Recipe for outfit magic.

Details: Vince dress (thrifted), Noul coat (thrifted), Doc Marten’s shoes (swap), Liz Claiborne bag (thrifted)

Thoughts: This was a style experiment inspired by necessity. I put away all my winter shoes without checking the weather forecast and, of course, it dumped snow the very next day. These boots were my only readily accessible option, so I tried to build a somewhat “avante-garde” (for me) outfit around them. I’m still getting used to the dress+chunky boot formula, but it was fun to try.

Details: RACHEL Rachel Roy dress (thrifted), Kimchi Blue pants (thrifted), Rebel Sugar turtleneck (gift)

Thoughts: Tunic (or dress) over pants is another favourite formula of mine at the moment, and this iteration works very well due to the draping on the dress; it gives the outfit “movement” even when stationary. I also ended up layering a couple of necklace for extra drama.

I have quite a few much-beloved pieces of clothing in my closet, but while they all bring me a lot of joy, they don’t necessarily form the backbone of my wardrobe. I could rhapsodize at length about my favourite pieces, but it might be more useful to talk about something slightly different: to wit, the most versatile items in my wardrobe. Even if your style is nothing like mine, you might find some inspiration from seeing the potential represented in these pieces.

Of course, this is still a subjective exercise – as anything fashion-related always is. Don’t take those “Ten Must-Have Items For Every Wardrobe” articles literally; there is no such thing. Clothing needs are never universal unless we are talking generalities like “pants” and “shoes”. And even “pants” are debatable (says the woman who wears skirts and dresses 80% of the time).

With that being said … here’s my list.

1. Zara crop top/vest

I’ve had this top since 2018, I think, and it’s certainly one of my most worn clothing items. It can be worn as a top, as a vest, or as a general layering piece. The faux leather front panel give a bit of edge to outfits, often creating a nice juxtaposition with more luxe materials. It can be dressed up or down, and work with anything from glam to rock ‘n roll to witchy styles.

2. Kimchi Blue side zip ponte culottes

This is a bit more subjective a choice, because not everyone likes wide-leg cropped pants. As someone with an almost-petite length inseam, I find that cropped pants work best for me; a modest wide leg feels like a more current cut than the old cigarette style I used to wear. But regardless of silhouette, the key details here are (1) the side zipper, and (2) ponte knit material. The side zipper helps to streamline the fit, eliminating extra bulkiness around the waist, which in turn makes it possible to wear these pants under dresses or tunics, hence increasing their versatility (if that kind of layering is your jam). A thicker ponte material helps to give the pants some structure but also stretch – great for comfort.

3. Mesh turtleneck

This is probably most worn layering piece. It works so well for transitional weather, adding some extra coverage without bulk. It’s also great if your style skews a bit goth/dark romantic/witchy.

4. Topshop polka dot pinafore

Pinafore style dresses are inherently quite versatile because they can be worn alone or over any number of different tops – it’s like a new dress each time. I am very partial to this particular dress because I find the cut to be very flattering but also comfortable, and because the black-and-white geometric pattern is very easy to mix and match with both solid colours and other patterns – minimalist or maximalist, whatever your preference.

5. Re/Done tee

This is a cliché, but a good graphic t-shirt can be super versatile. You can dress it up with a pencil skirt, dress it down with jeans, and lots of other things in between. I love the retro vibes and colours of this Re/Done tee, but the choices here are endless. I do recommend picking a design with a colour palette that complements the rest of your wardrobe.

6. BCBG peplum belt

I find belts to be an easy way to change up the silhouette of an outfit, particularly anything involving dresses. I initially got this belt because of the shape (reads designer even though it isn’t) and was a bit hesitant about the colour. Turns out, the colour is a huge part of its appeal and versatility. Black is a common default “accessory” colour, but I’ve discovered that white can be equally versatile whether your colour palette is monochromatic or rainbow (like mine).

7. Cartonnier fur collar jacket

This piece is a little more niche, but in looking back over my outfits of the past 3-4 years, this jacket crops up again and again. It’s a moto-style jacket, but it’s slightly more unusual being a knit material (not leather) and having a faux fur collar. Again, it’s an item that has served me well as transitional outerwear in a variety of outfits, from preppy to boho to punk-lite.

8. J. Crew check vest

I love vests as “completer piece” in outfits. Vest are inherently versatile; you can wear them with pants, with skirts, and even with dresses. Of all my vests, this J. Crew is probably the most versatile. The neutral colour works well with a variety of other colours, while the subtle pattern adds visual interest without pulling too much attention to itself.

9. Gap striped sweater

Patterns are not for everyone, and stripes are certainly not my favourite type of pattern, but this particular sweater somehow manages to work for almost everyone. I’m pretty sure I’ve managed to “sell” this sweater to at least a dozen people in the last 3 or 4 years, which is definitely my most successful “influencer” achievement. It’s a colourful sweater but not so colourful that it overwhelms. I find that it works equally well with monochromatic outfits as with more colourful ones. And being a relatively lightweight knit, it can even be layered.

10. Poncho

This one came out of left field, so to speak — surprising me with its versatility. I had never paid much attention to ponchos in the past, but I bought this one because the colours attracted me. Turns out, it’s a great “3rd piece” to throw on whenever in doubt; it works with pants, skirts, dresses, you name it. I think the key is finding one that has a nice weight and drape to it, and a colour palette that complements the rest of your wardrobe. The warm tones of this one works well as a contrast to the cool colours in my wardrobe (green, blue) and complements the warm ones nicely.