James Beard award-winning food writer Tarajia Morrell lives in Manhattan with her five-year-old daughter, Viva. “When I get dressed, Viva will point to a very colorful, feminine piece, saying, ‘Wear that,’” says Tarajia. “She would have me in high heels every day if she could.” Here, Tarajia shares five outfits she wears in a week…
Coat: vintage. Blouse: Sézane. Purse: “from an ex-boyfriend,” similar. Jeans: “my mother’s.” Ballet flats: French Sole. Lipstick: Merit.
“I found this silk jacket at a flea market 20 years ago. It’s one of those pieces that magically looks great with everything. I’ve worn it with jeans, and I’ve worn it with gowns to weddings. And this blouse is floppy but still has a bit of formality — it makes me feel like a Shakespearean painter.”
“My glasses are from Jimmy Fairly, a reasonably priced French line. I have a weird personal preference that my glasses need to cover my eyebrows when they’re sitting on my nose. Now large glasses have become my signature.”
“I’ve also had this vintage dress for 20 years. It’s made of Italian silk, and it’s comfy enough for running errands. You can’t tell in the photos, but at this point it’s almost in tatters. I wear my clothes to death, which is a habit I picked up from my mother. When I look at photos of her from the ’70s, I always ask ‘Where is that outfit?’ and she always responds with ‘Tarajia, I wore things until they fell apart.’”
Clutch and heels: vintage.
“My mother has a totally classic American look. She’s always reaching for cotton turtlenecks and layering them under sweater vests. It’s a bit like Annie Hall, but she always looks put together. She was the kind of mom that put on lipstick to walk me to the school bus. I have a bit of that in me, as well.”
“These are actually square-dancing shoes! I found them at a vintage store in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Even though they have a heel, they’re the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever worn.”
Turtleneck: vintage, similar. Skirt: vintage, similar. Tote: vintage. Boots: vintage, similar.
“I always wanted to be a mom. At 37, I tried to buy myself time and peace of mind by attempting to freeze my eggs. It didn’t work, and the doctor was not encouraging of my prospects to someday conceive through IVF. The grief at letting go of that dream felt debilitating.”
“Then, at 40, I discovered I’d gotten pregnant the old-fashioned way — I share more about it in my memoir — and I was rendered speechless! It felt too implausible to remain real, but I was overcome with joy to even know the feeling of being pregnant for an instant. It turned out to be more than an instant, and now my daughter is five. Being a single parent is hard, but I’m still overcome with joy every day.”
Striped shirt: Old Navy, similar. Knit sweater: vintage, similar. Trousers: vintage. Shoes: Converse.
“Friendship has played an enormous role as I’ve parented on my own. My friends show up for me in every way imaginable, including bringing groceries to cook at my place while I put the baby to bed. Without my friends letting me lean on them, I don’t know how I’d do it. Women have made my life as a mom not just possible but incredibly happy.”
“These are real sailor pants! I found them on eBay, and they’re 100% wool. The only problem is that they have 13 buttons, so they’re not quick to put on! For vintage shopping, I’ve learned that the key to know your measurements. That way, while shopping online, you’ll immediately know whether something will fit or not.”
“I work full-time as a food writer and the communications director for hotels, but I’d always wanted to write a book. All my book writing had to be done in the margins, like after my daughter went to bed. My memoir talks about food and growing up in New York, but I also open up about my parenting journey and the inherited identities we both embrace and try to avoid. Viva will really know who her mom is after she reads it!”
Blazer: vintage Ralph Lauren, similar. Jeans: “from my mother.” Sneakers: Keds.
“Two of my favorite New York restaurants right now are Saint Denis — it’s so warm and stylish — and Thai Diner for the creative food and great vibes.”
“I’ve lived in New York all of my life and one of my favorite things about this city is how many people — especially older women — get dressed up just to grocery shopping. A dramatic coat; headscarves and sunglasses; always lipstick. Will I someday be like these women? I think I already am.”
Thank you, Tarajia. You can order her book here, if you’d like.
P.S. More people share their week of outfits, including a non-binary artist who loves J.Crew heels, and a marketing director who dresses colorfully even though she’s grieving her dad. Plus, 10 single moms by choice share their experiences.
(Photos by Yumi Matsuo for Cup of Jo.)
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