If you live in the Midwest ( or really, any state that's not touching Mexico or bordering the Gulf of Mexico ), chances are you're complaining about the weather as you read this. I think we're all over this winter / spring of brutal cold + polar vortexes. Mother nature can totally suck it.

If we're practicing optimism however, the frigid temperatures have given me the perfect reason to rationalize summer shopping. I know I said I was trying to reduce my closet, and the good news is I am. It's just that my haphazard wardrobe was completely devoid of good summer basics, so I spent hours and hours scouring the internet for solid summer pieces from the warmth + coziness of my tiny studio apartment. Why willingly go outside when you can shop WHILE wearing flannel pajama pants + slippers? No brainer.

This nine-square collection is my official summer 2014 purchases. A nice, thick striped tee. A few basic tank tops. Slim-fit boyfriend jeans in a light wash. A summery chambray dress. A lightweight gray sweater. A basic navy blue skirt scored on major sale. Comfy nude heels. An effing amazing one-piece swimsuit*. Pink + leopard sunnies. I already have a few basic tees from Everlane, pairs of shorts + sandals, so all I need now is a big bottle of SPF + gigantic margarita in my hand.

Bring it on summer, if you ever choose to come.

*Way too expensive, purchased after one too many glasses of wine...oops!

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striped tee  |  tanks  |  jeans  |  dress ( on sale! )  |  sweater  |  skirt  |  swimsuit  |  sunglasses

For some reason, 29 feels grown up.

I entered into this holy-shit-I'm-almost-30 year just last month surrounded by brunch, bloody marys and friends. It's the only way to enter into any new year, if you ask me. It's not that I am scared of being 30. That's not it, not at all. I hear from so many women that their 30s were the best years. Years that uncovered new-found levels of acceptance, intolerance for bullshit, peace of mind and a genuine love for oneself.

It IS that I fear my wardrobe is stuck in my early 20s. A time when I bought by the trends, on the cheap and with no thought whatsoever into building a functional wardrobe. There is a reason I banned Forever21 from my closet, as the memory of that awful hi-low skirt is too much to bear. For a long time, my closet didn't really feel like me. It felt like me trying to be me when in reality...none of it was me. Rather, it was that annoying girl who actually looks cute in hi-low skirts.

One of my 2014 goals is to build a minimalist wardrobe. Over the past six months, I've donated more than half my wardrobe and cleaned out my clothes / accessories / shoes to the things that I absolutely love. The things that feel like me. That means I have a good foundation of jeans, v-neck tees ( Everlane tees are a fave ), ballet flats, chambray shirts, stripes, polka dots and a few LBDs.

There are a lot of holes to fill.

Luckily, I've been consulting a few minimalist wardrobe style guides as well as a bunch of Pinterest pins for help with the process. Because it is exactly that, a process.

An interesting one, at that. Since I have mentioned this 2014 goal to my woman friends, I've had a lot interest from them on this topic. I think we all get a little lost in the fashion hype cycle, which constantly changes trends and what's hot to sell, sell, sell. So, I hope to give a few updates through the year on my process to share my transformation into a fashionable grown-up.

Or rather, the transformation to at least looking like one.

P.S. So far, I've purchased the trousers, boots and tote ( all above ) along with a plaid button-up, two sweaters and a spring military parka.

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trousers  |  tee  |  boots  |  sweater  |  dress  |  tote  |  watch  |  chambray  |  blazer