Inside the Closet of a Zwirner Curator Who Owns 50 Black T-Shirts
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First reported inSecret Strategist, we noticed Ebony L. Haynes,David Zwirner’s global head of curatorial projects, tends to dress, strikingly, all in black (with the occasional blue jeans). We reached out to her to talk about the Gildan sweatshirts she buys in bulk, the $120 tuxedo pants she’s been buying for eight years, and the biggest collection of black T-shirts we’ve seen so far.
“I’m the type of person who thinks,This emerald-green blouse looks so great on, and I can see it in an outfit but will never leave the house in it. About ten years ago, I realized that the things that looked good and made me feel good leaving the house were a black T-shirt; then, when it was colder, a black crew neck; and then, when it was much colder, a black jacket over those things. It wasn’t an attempt to create a uniform initially, but as my career got busier, I started almost resenting feeling like it was taking time in the morning to pick something. You know, like,I’m late and I’ve changed my pants three times.This has really helped me.
I love a black T-shirt. I have — last time I counted, there were 50 of them, give or take. I am a little obsessed with looking atblack T-shirtswhen I go into a store, even online. It’s kind of become a fun game in which I buy a black T-shirt online sight unseen, and I think,This could be the new favorite.So I will go through phases of new favorites, and for a long time it was COS’s.”
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“I also loved Uniqlo’s, but they had to be themen’s crew neck; they just feel better on my shoulders. When I sayobsession, I will buy a dozen of those shirts in black.”
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“For a long time, I loved — especially the material and especially in hotter seasons — these Universal Thread T-shirts from Target: just a great basic, long torso, wears well, washes well. I could buy ten and it would cost less than $100.”
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“I have six pairs of the same tuxedo pant that are different cuts, like boot or slim.”
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“I’ve worn those for eight years. You’ll still see me pictured in a tuxedo pant, and that’s because they’re black, comfortable, they’re long enough for me — I’m almost five-foot-11, and I know I don’t have to get these tailored and that they fit my inseam. I bought two from this company online; I liked them and I realized I should get more.
I love a crew-neck sweatshirt also, just plain. I bought 20 Gildan black crewnecks from a bulk-basics website, and it ended up coming out to $3.15 a unit. Depending on the quality, I have to stop wearing them sooner than I would like, only because the color fades so much. If I like it, I’m going to buy it in bulk.”
“I have a hard time spending a lot of money on clothing. I dream of a closet full of Prada T-shirts and Rick Owens boots, but instead I have Uniqlo shirts and Dr. Martens boots. I can’t bring myself to spend $200 on a T-shirt — there’s just something in me that likes the idea of it more. My jeans are similar: I like the idea of designer jeans, or jeans that would probably fit me better, but instead, one of my favorite pairs of jeans I bought off Instagram from a Banana Republic ad, and they’re my go-to wide-leg jeans right now.”
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“I likeOld Navy jeans(there are so many options; I’ve probably had some version of most styles). Mostly because they’re so affordable, and for my height, I’ll probably find something that fits my inseam, my waist, my proportions. I have three of these Banana Republic jeans, three or four different cuts of Old Navy jeans.”
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“One of my newer repurchases is fromMuji. I’m going to London; I have a suitcase in my office, and it has three Muji T-shirts in it.”
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“I don’t feel super-loyal toDocs— there are a lot of other boots that I think look good — but I know which size I am; I can get multiple styles in that brand. I usually get a new Doc a year. It’s not my only shoe, but I always need a solid black boot. I don’t even need to try them on.”
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