Wearing a dress always looks more put together than it feels. Essentially when I don't want to deal with waistbands, ironing, or finding two things that look good together, I'll wear a dress! Sometimes it turns a regular day into fancy dress day and I feel like a proper adult! I'm in the process of going thru my closet with a more critical eye because the amount of STUFF is overwhelming me at this point! But, that deserves it's own post. This dress is one of the things that will definitely be staying. I can't think of one item of clothing I've purchased lately that feels more like me than this dress!
worn{carnaby street}
For whatever reason, these pants give me a very London 1960s vibe. Perhaps it's the groovy pattern or the union jack color palette. Whatever the reason, they are one of those things I've pulled out of the donate pile several times, unable to let them go.
We've also reached the stage of summer where it is unbearably hot! I don't want to deal with the flat iron so the big hair is back! And I can't go out naked so I wear whatever I want!
For some reason, I've also been itching for a big change! I think it probably has a lot to do with my rapidly approaching birthday and the heat. It's a scientific fact that those two things have been known to make a girl do the unexpected! I guess you'll just have to stick around and see exactly what that means.
Worn {of the same stripe}
It's finally here! The never-ending winter has bid us farewell and spring is FINALLY here! I hope. I'm taking full advantage of these longer and warmer days by diving into my closet and digging out all of my favorite dresses. This was one of the offerings from the Victoria Beckham|Target collab. I managed to wear it a grand total of one time last year. Womp. Womp. I love it so I'm not sure why it's been passed over so many times. I think sometimes I get caught up on how I think something should look instead of considering how it should be styled to fit into my everyday life
So today, it's back to the basics. Flat sandals are a requirement for chasing down lightning quick little ones. And, a glittery belt because on Wednesdays-and any other day- we wear glitter!
"whatcha doin' wit da camera mama? say cheese!" Cute little photobomber!
Worn{as time goes by}
I remember in the early days of my blogging, there was this endless need to have it first. I suppose in many ways that hasn't really changed be it fashion bloggers, lifestyle bloggers or mommy bloggers. The endless pursuit of the "new" will always be there. As I took a step back and focused on other things, I realized that most of the things I treasured in my closet or found myself reaching for time and time again weren't necessarily my newest goodies, they were the timeless pieces that made me feel confident when I was dressed.
And while my need to stuff my closet with fancy skirts and dresses has slowed because my lifestyle has changed in the last four years, I decided to indulge myself during a big sale this past January. This dress is so pretty and I can see grabbing it on those occasions where I want to feel a little bit sexy without having to worry too much about it. The coat is at least ten years old from the days when I shopped at the Banana Republic faithfully and because cute, closed toe, and comfortable heels are hard to come by, these shoes remain a favorite!
Worn{winter florals}
How is it that February is the shortest month of the year but feels like it is literally 800 days long?! It must be the combination of post-holiday hangover, the cold, and another month of days when what little sun we have makes itself scarce at 5 o'clock! To be perfectly honest, February was a rough month emotionally. I think it was for lots of people. I'm still processing a lot of what happened both personally and globally. I suspect I will be for months to come.
My word of the year is C O M M I T. Committing to caring for myself is a huge part of that. It is so easy for me to fall into a cycle where I let anxiety control me, refuse to leave the house and spend days in my pajamas. I'm also trying to be more mindful of routines that give me comfort as well as consistency. In February, my goal was to get up and get dressed at least 4 days a week even if we didn't have plans. Going through the motions of getting myself dressed, doing my hair and a quick makeup routine made me feel better. Especially when I was struggling with so many other things. In an effort to be transparent, I didn't always succeed. I tried not to beat myself up too much over falling short of my goal because every little bit kept me from letting my depression spiral into something bigger and less manageable.
Worn{A Little Bit of Love}
Happy New Year! The first full week of the new year has been pretty hectic around here. My daughter and son-in-law were visiting from Virgina, we celebrated my son, Zach's 21st birthday and this weekend I had my first big flower job of the year! And while there is a little bit of post-holiday sadness, it feels great to get back into some sort of routine.
Like most of the country, it's been cold AF(do the kids still say AF?!)here. So unless it's a must do immediately kind of thing, we're staying in! And that means I've essentially been living in flannel pajama pants and t-shirts. This week the temps have reached have a downright balmy 40 degrees! With today promising to be in the 50s, I decided it was time to come out of hibernation and get properly dressed.
This sweater is a new favorite and the boots always make me feel instantly pulled together!
Do you have something in your wardrobe that makes you feel instantly pulled together?
worn{heart of gold}
I've gotten really good at figuring out how well something will work with my wardrobe before buying it. I once read some arbitrary rule that proclaimed you should be able to wear something with at least five existing items in your closet before you consider buying it. I'm not sure where I read it or why it stuck but it seems reasonable. And while I don't treat it as a hard and fast rule, when adding things to my cart if can't pair it with a few things I already own or see me wearing at various everyday activities, I'll pass on it.
And then, there are some things you buy that speak to you on a spiritual level so you click "confirm order" and immediately try to figure out how many things you can pair with them because if loving it is wrong, you don't want to be right! These shoes, in all of their shiny, rose gold glory, are one such purchase. I've been wearing them nonstop since they arrived and mostly with jeans because Mother Nature suddenly remembered that November in Ohio should be cold. How rude?!! I can't wait to wear them with some of my favorite dresses when it warms up a bit.
Today was a quiet day around the house so I'm keeping it simple with a sequined embellished sweater, leather look leggings, and gilded sneakers. You know...wardrobe basics.
worn{fair isle and flares}
There's something about fair isle sweaters and flared jeans that gets me every time. Maybe because it reminds of the glory days of American ready to wear fashion, the 1970s. A decade that had the whole sporty, effortlessly chic thing happening for it. Perhaps it's that on this day, election day. A year to the day that my country broke my heart, I'm longing for the idea of what we used to be instead of the reality of what we are.
worn{date night}
I haven't been on a proper get a babysitter, get dressed up and go into to town night out with my husband in a long time. On a recent and very warm Saturday night, I headed out with the husband.
If I'm being totally honest with you, getting dressed is a struggle. I'm not happy with my body or my weight right now. Putting on a pretty dress and a pair of heels to go out with my husband used to be something that I looked forward to doing several times a month. These days the opportunity to go it is rare and instead of jumping at the chance to do it, I kind of dread it. It's hard for me to feel good in something when I'm uncomfortable in my own skin.
I bought this dress a few years ago at Forever 21 of all places and it's been a go-to ever since. It's short and flirty. The low back is sexy without being too revealing and the shoes, what? Doesn't every girl have a a fur trimmed strappy sandal as one of their wardrobe basics?
The event we attended suggested "street chic" as the attire. For two forty something, suburban parents, I think we nailed it ;)
Skirting the Issue {worn}
I haven't put much effort into myself lately. As my anxiety increases, it becomes very easy to cancel plans and opt to stay home and have "pajama days".
Over the weekend I had some time to myself. The boys went to a birthday party and I got myself dressed and out of the house. It was a gorgeous afternoon and for the first time in a long time, I wore something not for it's practicality but solely because it made me ridulously happy!
This skirt has been a favorite for a few years. It seemed the perfect thing to thing to say goodbye to summer. I love these shoes! They used to something I'd wear every day. I considered them "sensible". Ha! Oh, how times have changed.
I love staying home with Rowan. It's exhausting but I wouldn't trade this season in my life for anything else in this world. But, on this beautiful afternoon, as I sat in the sun reading a book and drinking a glass of rosé, I remembered the person I used to be and she made me smile too.
So, let's toast the changing seasons both literal and metaphorical. Cheers!