Finally, I can dress just like Mr. Rogers.

I’ve been thinking about Mr. Rogers a lot lately. I grew up watching his show and never gave what he said much thought as a child. But after watching the HBO documentary about him, what he said in every episode feels newly profound: “I like you just the way you are.”

So much of why we like to wear what we wear has to do with what we associate them with. And well, this sweater makes me feel like I have a part of Mr. Rogers around me, and that’s why I like it.

I feel protected from cold and 100% me in it. The pockets are strong; they don’t bend out of shape too much when I place my phone in it. And I love that my messy hair can be tucked away under the bulky shawled collar.

It’s my first alpaca garment. There is a percentage of nylon mixed in to the blend as well. I’m not too worried about that because I’m not going to wash it for as long as I can. On a scale of 1-10 for itchiness, with 10 being the itchy-est wool I’ve ever felt, I’d rate this a 3 (just slightly itchy, but I am particularly sensitive to the itch factor).

I’m also wearing flats by the brand Camper, that replaced my Everlane day flats that were worn out after many wears. I like the high vamp cut of these shoes and the slightly square toes. They run a half size smaller. Camper is known for their unusual, quirky colorful styles. It’s really hit or miss with them; mostly misses if you ask me, but this shoe is an exception.

These “pull on” pants with an elastic waistband from B.R. really surprised me. I bought them out of desperation after the move, and didn’t expect to wear them very much but have actually gravitated to them a lot, wearing them at least once per week. They look professional with tops that cover the waistband (most of what I wear).

In the morning, they are so easy to throw on quickly and make going to the bathroom during a busy work day a breeze. I’ve been impressed by how they’ve retained their shape really well; I never have to iron them and the vertical crease is still there despite multiple washes. The elastic waistband is a little too loose now but I think that’s because I’ve lost a few pounds. To extend its life, I’m going to bring them to the tailor to get the waist taken in an inch.

There are similar pants still available at BR, but not in colors that I like; I’m not sure if they are made of the same exact fabric. I don’t want to encourage shopping at BR anyway, so I won’t bother linking to it.

I’m talking about my pants but I don’t necessarily want you to go out and buy them. I’d feel better if you didn’t actually, unless of course they would add value to your life. The point is to share why I like to wear what I like to wear. Learning the reasons why, has probably led to the biggest transformation in my clothing habits.