January 31, 2015Comments are off for this post.

MADEWELL SPRING ’15

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Can we please take a break from our regularly scheduled programming to discuss how I would like to buy one of everything from Madewell's Spring 2015 collection? It's a modern-boho-stripey-menswear-inspired bricolage, and I want it all. Even the short overalls! ( ahem, shorteralls? )

I'm still working on curating my wardrobe ( more to come on that soon ), and I think a few choice pieces from this collection would be welcome additions to my closet.

High-waisted, 70's-style flares? Purchased.

Comfy chic patterned dresses? Buying this one now.

Birkenstocks, mules and cute Keds-inspired sneakers? Gimme these shoes.

Plus, it doesn't hurt that the photography and styling of the entire spring lookbook is beyond impeccable. UGH... Madewell has a chokehold on my wallet, and they totally know it.

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[ photos courtesy of Madewell ]

October 20, 2014Comments are off for this post.

CLOSET MINIMALISM / 02

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Between life, work and my last semester of school ( !!! ), this whole closet minimalist quest has gotten a bit off track. What started at the beginning of the year with good intentions to makeover my closet has lead to a series of impulse buys + online shopping excursions, which I repeatedly turn to when I want an excuse to feel better or procrastinate things like homework. The result of it hurts to me say, but I've spent too much money this year on clothes that I do not wear.

I started step one—culling—so well! I rid myself of clothes that I didn't like and that didn't fit or weren't ever worn. But I totally lost it on step two—defining my style. I started filling my closet with clothing basics before taking time to analyze my personal style, lifestyle and daily fashion habits. I didn't realize how important these things were for determining my needs.

Luckily, mistakes have a way of providing clarity just as much as self-analyzation. I know my style is casual, simple and a bit quirky, but that doesn't mean I should buy every piece of clothing that fits those parameters. My impulse buying has gifted me frequent opportunities for learning what I actually wear vs. what I think I want to wear. Making this distinction has been, by far, the hardest part about curating a smaller, functional wardrobe.

The process of minimalism is tough. Everyone's definition of 'minimalism' is different, but to me it means reducing my life to only the best and necessary of things. That shit takes serious thought. With a bit of troubleshooting ( and heck, a few glasses of wine ) however, here's how I'm getting back on track towards achieving just that:


WHAT'S NOT WORKING

So...you're probably wondering what I bought that didn't work, huh? That would be a blazer, nude heels ( see here ), a super trendy dress, a pair of ill-fitting jogger pants + a few others I cannot remember because I already rid myself of them. And now I know that if I think of buying any of these again, I need to think long and hard before handing over the plastic.


GO-TO OUTFITS

Once I realized my impulse buys were not doing it for me, I began by asking myself : what is my go-to outfit? Skinny jeans, a slouchy tee, an oversized cardigan + flats—the answer was so simple! My back-up answer came just as simply. A dress, tights, boots + a jacket. Once my outfits get more complicated than that ( think lots of layers + styling ), I don't wear them.

Simple is best for me. And simple can be both chic + easy with well-made clothes, a cohesive color palette + a fabulous lipstick. Lipstick, I am learning, is the great equalizer.


CAPSULE WARDROBE

Thanks to Unfancy + the prodding of a good friend, I've embarked on a new project—the capsule wardrobe. A capsule wardrobe is a mini 37-piece wardrobe made up of thought-out, versatile pieces that make it easy to get dressed AND love what you're wearing. I *think* this might be a great solution for me. Thus far, I've realized that the sweet spot of what works for me is wearing pieces with both a masculine + feminine edge. Think Red Wing work boots + a lacy white dress. A men's winter hat + delicate gold jewelry. A flannel-inset jacket + a bold red lip.

I hope curating my wardrobe seasonally will give me a true sense of which clothes I wear and curb those dang online shopping impulses. One of Unfancy's guidelines is limiting periods of shopping, so dear God, here's hoping it helps.

And if that doesn't work, my grandma taught me there's always lipstick and wine.

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August 11, 2014Comments are off for this post.

CLOSET MINIMALISM / 01

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Apparently, 2014 is the year of closet minimalism. Since I posted about my minimal wardrobe quest, I've heard from / seen / read / pinned / discovered countless others who are also looking to reduce their closets to a high-quality, functional and trés cute wardrobe. I believe owning less stuff is a good thing, so I am totally jazzed about this trend ( and hope it sticks around ).

After getting rid of more than half my clothes, I've been slowly rebuilding my wardrobe this year with the help of a few key sources: Wide Eyed LeglessInto Mind + Unfancy. While I've been far from perfect, these blogs, along with a hefty dose of self-analyzation, have been helping me create a wardrobe that feels like ME. It began with defining what I wear ( besides yoga pants + my "chos before hoes" t-shirt ), what my clothing needs are + what my personal style is.

Doing this, however, is much harder than just talking about it. That's why I started the process by breaking it down into the three steps that my minimalist fashion gurus all agreed upon :


01.     CULL

This is the hardest part. Don't think too hard about it or overthink it. Just get rid of anything that doesn't fit, is damaged / stained or you haven't worn in six months. Trust me, you won't miss it.


02.     DEFINE YOUR STYLE

Take a look at what's left in your closet. Chances are, patterns have emerged that will give you insight into your personal style. For me, I found myself with a collection of denim, stripes, dresses and tees in mostly neutral colors along with pops of mustard yellow + red. It helped me realize that my style is casual, slightly graphic and simple....with a bit of quirk.


03.    GET THE BASICS

The beginning of any wardrobe requires a basic set of essentials that will pair with most other pieces in your wardrobe. This part takes a little research. After scouring Pinterest and one-too-many "Dress Like A French Woman" guides, I channeled my inner Tim Gunn and began with the basics. Luckily, I already had a few LBDs, a good spring / winter coat, pants + shoes. What I lacked were sweaters, tops + dresses—both casual and dressy. In addition, I needed statement accessories that would bring my wardrobe together, including a signature lip color ( because the French women say so ) + gold jewelry.

So that's what I've been working on lately, my friends. And so far...so good. I've nailed down that sig lip color—a cheap yet long-lasting matte orangey-red from Tarjay—as well as a few new sweaters, a striped dress + a credit card that desperately needs to be paid.

[  skinnies  /  tee  /  scarf  /  top  /  flats  /  dress  /  chambray  /  jeans  /  lip  /  sweater  /  boots  ]