Sunday Snack: The Earl Earl Hall of Fame

Oh man, this week felt very long. I’m half Venezuelan, and we have a ton of family in Caracas (they’re safe). The recent history in the country is so awful, but this is so obviously about the oil and not about the people. It gives me a real pit in my stomach and a feeling of dread that a totally fucked up situation is only going to get worse. It feels bleak, but hopefully I’ll be proven wrong. My heart is with Venezuela right now.

It’s been raining nonstop in LA, and I’m both feeling very ready to have my kids back in school and unsure of how I’m going to deal with not being able to squeeze and kiss them whenever I feel like it.

I did, however, have an appointment at the store on Friday with a friend, and it felt great to be back to work. We’re getting TONS of new things in this coming week, if you’re in town, come say hi.

I also wrote about the best luxury sales this week and what I’d buy, go peruse, the discounts are only getting deeper.

A few weeks ago in one of my letters I mentioned an Earl hall of fame for the very best things. I can’t remember which, but it was kind of a passing thing, but then it made me think about what are the hall of fame items I wore the most or wrote about the most this year? Here’s my best attempt at rounding them up.

1: WRANGLER & MADEWELL JEANS

I must have linked to and talked about my favorite Wrangler and favorite Madewell jeans in every single post. This is obviously subjective, my body is shaped like a stick of gum (according to my fellow gum-shaped friend Deborah) which means straight up and down on the sides, but kind of broad, then flat from the side. No ass. These jeans give me the illusion of a butt, and I love that they’re not expensive. These are my favorites from Wrangler, and this pair and this pair (I’m actually buying a backup of these) from Madewell.

I have a whole philosophy on denim, and if you want to hear the entire deal, read this:

Jeans That Won't Age You: Looking Current, Not Trendy

Laurel Pantin · September 26, 2025

Ok, so first of all, we don’t call them “jeans” anymore - they’re denim. Like, your bluejeans? That’s your denim now. I still say jeans, but listen, if we’re trying to stay current in the clothes snob zone, it’s denim. Singular, not plural.

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2: WIDE-LEG PLEAT-FRONT NAVY TROUSERS

I have two recommendations: Polo’s Bacall pant (which I wrote an entire newsletter on) and The Row’s Virgil (so soft, perfect drape, very dark navy almost black, which I love). I’ve been wearing mine in place of jeans and it’s a very easy way to look pulled together without any additional effort.

Wearing "Work Pants" Without Looking Corporate

Laurel Pantin · December 10, 2025

First thing! I shot this one in my store! Woo! I pulled a lot of the tops and all of the bags from the shop, so unlike usual, they aren’t straight out of my closet. But, it’s a little peek into what’s in-stock.

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3: MY FAVORITE BUTTON DOWNS

I wear one almost every day, I can’t live without them, and I have three great recommendations. ...