Studio Fits
A curation of ideal wardrobe items for someone who spends their days covered in clay dust.
I’ve always been fascinated by what artists choose to wear on a daily basis. In 2017 I visited the Georgia O’Keeffe: Living Modern exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum, where they displayed a variety of her outfits. The fabrics were thoughtful, the shapes…so sharp. Lately I’ve been thinking about her collection of creamy silks:
I’d like to develop my own version of a studio uniform, something that I’ll put on and feel ready to work. Silk might not be the best fabric to wear while building things, but O’Keefe’s dedication to the monochromatic fit will definitely inform my vision board. I’ve compiled a list of practical yet elegant items which adhere to my three main requirements:
Light colors: white clay dust will blend in better
Sturdy fabric: a well-constructed garment can endure daily use
Comfortable: making sculptures requires the ability to move freely
Read on to discover some items that make the cut.
IJJI Canvas Work Suit
IJJI offers canvas work jackets and pants in timeless cuts. The straight lines hit at all the right lengths and the sturdy Japanese cotton canvas is breezy enough to wear on a kiln firing day. I have a pair of pants that grow softer with every wear, but still maintain their crisp tailoring. BIG pockets ensure you can carry around all your tools and maybe even a bottle of kombucha. IJJI does have sales quite often if you’re looking for a bargain!
Meals Clothing Blue Cheese Suit
Meals Clothing has a true sense of humor—hard to find in the fashion world. Inspired by the messy vibrancy of food, they’ve cooked up some delicious looks. Blue Cheese might be my favorite matching set because I’ve really never considered cheese veins as a wearable pattern. This is true textile innovation! Neon green buttons add an unexpected pop of color to the suit. The cut is generous enough to contort into a variety of sculpting poses.
Po-em Utile Sandstripe Set
Po-em creates super comfortable clothing using hand-spun and handwoven natural textiles. Their hand-spun cotton drapes with a pleasant weight and the texture is unbeatable. This shortsleeved set would be perfect for summer or for when the kiln is firing at two thousand degrees.
Black Crane Culotte Jumpsuit
Maybe you’re planning to work in the studio all day and then attend an art opening right after. Black Crane creates the best outfits for this occasion. This creamy cotton twill culotte jumpsuit is versatile enough for wedging clay and for enjoying a glass of gallery boxed wine.
Olderbrother Wax Panel Suit
Olderbrother layers organic textiles to create texturally rich garments. I’m inexplicably drawn to the sci-fi sanitation worker vibes this suit gives off. The waxed sleeves (created with gardening in mind) seem like the perfect armor for a battle against an unruly bucket of glaze.
Story mfg. Ecru Scatter Patch Suit
Story mfg. crafts wearable masterpieces out of non-toxic dyes and materials. If I had to choose only one brand to wear for the rest of my life, it would probably be this one. I’ve always been a sucker for patches and I love the visual balance they’ve achieved with the Scatter Patch garments. The full suit captures so many of my favorite colors and hangs with just enough ~laidback visionary~ energy.
Pansy Short Socks
I slowly replaced all my socks with Pansy organic cotton socks and I’ve never looked back. I’m a picky sock purchaser and these bad(good?) boys deliver! Bless your feet with the perfect weave weight and ideal stretch. Introducing a colorful sock to an otherwise monochromatic outfit is my favorite way to keep my (non-existent) haters guessing.
Merrell Jungle Slide Cozy
I’m partial to any product that includes the word “cozy” in the description. As someone who has suffered from bunions—and even bunionettes— since early childhood, Merrells occupy a permanent space in my closet. I’ve got my eyes on this pair next. They’re easy to slip on, lined with sherpa for the upcoming winter months, and have a cushiony sole for pottering around the concrete studio floors.
Lauren’s All Purpose Salve
My hands have been dry for as long as I can remember. Shout out to my mom for smothering my tender toddler hands in vaseline and covering them with a sock every night. In adulthood, I’ve turned to Lauren’s All Purpose Salve. A nourishing blend of shea butter, coconut oil, hemp seed oil, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, lavender, peppermint, patchouli, and burdock root, it smells as good as it works.
That’s all for today, but I’m headed to Santa Fe on Thursday so keep an eye out for a New Mexico post next week! Please post any further studio fit recommendations in the comments. Thanks for being here :-)