Shopping My Closet: Creating Outfits with What I Own

Shopping My Closet: Creating Outfits with What I Own

by | Feb 16, 2019 | Slow Fashion | 0 comments

long sleeve tee (similar)  |  jeans (similar)  |  leather jacket (similar)  |  suede heels (similar)

I love this leather jacket… so why don’t I ever wear it? I have so many pins on my Pinterest style board reminding me of how cool I’ll look if I wear a black leather jacket, yet it sits in my closet. I tried it on to see if I could figure out how to wear it. I’m liking it. The jeans are ok. They’re soft and loose fitting. And the heels are probably my favorites. (They have cute like tassels on the backs.)

long sleeve tee (similar)  |  jeans (similar)  |  suede heels (similar)

The outfit sans jacket.

floral blouse (similar)  |  pants (similar)  |  flats (similar)

I’ve had this floral top from LOFT forever. It’s a winner. The much-worn chino/jeans from the Gap are very comfy and flattering. The shoes (and, again, every blog seemed to demand I own them) never get picked. I think they look good here. I liked this outfit so much, I wore it to a speaking engagement later that night.

button down  | pants (similar) |  clogs

The white button down! Everyone says you need one. I don’t think I really do need one, let alone two. It looks rumbled here. I can’t figure it out. The clogs probably aren’t helping. I think a black heel might be better. And a trench coat over top!

short sleeve sweatshirt (similar)  |  jeans  |  ankle strap heels (similar)

I love this Joie tee but haven’t found a reason to wear it. The jeans are new and I LOVE them! I bought them on a trip to the Gap when I had the kids with me and they said, “Those look SO good on you, Mommy” so obviously I bought them. The shoes are Madewell from Poshmark. I think they’ve been waiting for these jeans. This outfit feels very “me” and I feel Très Française in it.

tee shirt  |  jeans  |  ankle strap heels (similar)

The same but with my new favorite white tee!

striped tee (similar)  |  jeans (similar)  |  jean jacket (similar)  |  sandals (similar)

I somehow switched over to summer. Or maybe spring. This is an imitation of an old outfit from Sincerely Jules. Only she wore it with nude flats and I didn’t like how mine looked on me. I do like this J. Crew/St. James t-shirt. But, these white jeans usually get passed over. I have another pair of white pants I like better. I obviously cut them too short. The sandals (Steve Madden, $5 at Famous Footwear!) are my favorite although they’re quite platform-y. And, the jean jacket… I’m supposed to love a jean jacket. This one is flattering but I think I’d wear it more if it were more oversized, you know? It’s not comfy or cozy (and that’s what I look for in a second layer).

striped tee (similar)  |  jeans (similar)  |  sandals (similar)

This is how I’d probably go — jacketless. I tried tying it around my waist and that was a definite no. Maybe this post should be titled, “Why I Don’t Wear a Jacket” or “Layering—I’m Clueless”

tee shirt  |  trousers (similar)  |  heels

Okay, the black trousers. Essential, right? I’m feeling better about them with the plain white tee and of course, these black heels from Banana Republic. Maybe I’ll actually wear them out of the house.

sweater (similar)  |  trousers (similar)  |  sneakers

This look. All. Over. Pinterest. Just add a long menswear coat and crossbody bag. How I wish I liked these sneakers. I think they’re too clunky. I don’t know. The sweater is good. Very good. A black turtleneck truly is a must-have, for me.

sweater (similar)  |  trousers (similar)  |  heels (similar)

I’m liking this much more. All black and one other color. A heel looks way better to me, makes my legs seem longer.

sweater (similar)  |  trousers (similar)  |  boots (similar)

This is good too. I stole this look from Style This Life. I call it, “Black-Black-Brown.”

That’s it! I had a lot of fun putting together outfits. And enjoyed reconnecting with and appreciating my clothes more. Every time I do this I get a little closer to knowing what I like and being okay with just being me. It’s nice.

#ClogLife

#ClogLife

by | Oct 24, 2018 | I Feel Pretty, Slow Fashion | 2 comments

The shoes of my dreams arrived on October 18, 2018. They traveled all the way from Skövde, Sweden to Eastern Pennsylvania in the USofA. Sweden. Clogs from actual Sweden. I feel like my whole life has led up to this moment. Like when you meet your true love, you don’t mind that it took so long and they play “At Last” at your wedding and you’re like, you’re not kidding, at last. That’s how I feel about these shoes.

You may think clogs are not feminine or sexy or cool or whatever and you’re probably right but that’s actually part of the attraction.

Now, I’ve owned clogs before. A funky patchwork pair that was Mia or Steve Madden or something, a pair of black Dansko that had a back. Another pair of Dansko mules in oxblood. And, I wore them a lot, but really just for comfort. I didn’t feel stylish in them and as I became more fashion-y, I would only wear them at home and eventually got rid of them. Over the last few years I dreamed of finding a pair that were comfy/convenient — I love a shoe that’s a little bit of a platform that I can slip on and off — as well as good-looking. Of course my opinion about what looked “good” changed.

I followed a few pro-clog fashion blogs: seasons-and-salt.com  |  stylethislife.com  |  un-fancy.com to name a few, as well as the Instagram account thecloglife which fueled my secret longing for the perfect go-with-everything pair of clogs.

Then one day I came across an article that affirmed that clogs were now cool. I read this article: http://nymag.com/strategist/article/best-clogs-status.html and this article: https://fashionmagazine.com/fashion/clog-life/ both which referenced this article: https://www.newyorker.com/culture/on-and-off-the-avenue/the-life-changing-magic-of-clogs

Apparently clogs were now being worn by celebrities and models and even a part of some high-end designer shoe collections. Now that I was convinced clogs were uber-hip, and my desire was co-signed by the fashion world, the challenge of finding the quintessential pair, that didn’t break the bank, began.

Reference my mom in clogs in Venice Beach in the ’70s:

I looked at No.6, Dansko, Swedish Hasbeens, Bryr, Sandgrens, Sanita, Lotta from Stockholm, Troentorp. Some of these popular brands are more for the sandal-type clog and that’s probably in my future but for now I wanted something more old school and pure.

After literally years of pinning, pining, and excessive deliberating, I finally decided on the Troentorps. They were $99, free shipping, and arrived from Sweden in 6 days (one day after my birthday.) I am wearing them right now and I will probably never take them off.

All the Stores

All the Stores

by | Oct 4, 2018 | Slow Fashion | 0 comments

 

used Although The Mall of America claims to be the biggest mall in America, The King of Prussia Mall states that it is “the largest shopping mall in the United States in terms of gross leasable area, with a gross leasable area of 2,900,000 square feet.” Okay. Why is it called “King of Prussia”? Because it’s in King of Prussia, PA. Why is the town called that? Because it was named after a 18th century inn of the same name, which is named after Frederick the Great.

Anyway.

This is THE mall. Where I live, there’s a little mall, a “big” mall and then there’s KOP which has practically every store there is. Drive time is 15 minutes, 30 minutes and 60 minutes respectively. If I want, I could drive into NYC in about an hour and 45.

So, we are in a place and time where we can buy almost anything online. And I do. But so often I think, I want to see it all, touch it, try it on. I only really like to order online if I get free shipping both ways. I know, I’m spoiled. This is what led me to drive an hour to Philly. I had ordered some things from J. Crew and didn’t want to spend money to ship them back. No, instead I’d spend money to drive really far to return them at what is now the closest J. Crew. We used to have a J. Crew up here but it closed. But, I’d also get to look at some other brands we don’t have here like Madewell. And it was an excuse to get out of the house.

To say that place is overwhelming is an understatement. I logged over 12,000 steps that day! I went into a few places I’d heard about from other bloggers and always wanted to experience in real life but in the end I really didn’t get excited by much that I saw. I was prepared to be a little bit “bad” and spend more money than I should and I actually left empty handed.

Here’s a list of all the stores at King of Prussia (skipping food, men’s and sportswear), divided up by where I’ve shopped, where I want to shop someday and where I’ll pass:

BEEN THERE, BOUGHT THAT

Aerie – used to be my fave for underthings, now it’s GAP

Ann Taylor – A little too “office” for me

Anthropologie – hit or miss for me

Athleta – All the time

Banana Republic – Sadly, my go-to

Clark’s – I’ve had some luck here

Coach – A couple splurges

COS – This was my fave part of my recent visit to KOP!

DSW – I used to live here

GAP – All the basics please

H&M – Fun times!

J. Crew – So much.

LOFT – Too much

Lucky – Less these days

Lululemon – buttery leggings

Madewell – Pretty in love. 

Nordstrom – Dangerous. 

Old Navy – Just for the kids, and PJs

Steve Madden – Many shoes have I owned

Urban Outfitters – A bit young, but still good. 

Vans – Sk8rgrl

Zara – Once or twice. 

IN MY DREAMS

Bloomingdale’s

Burberry

Cartier

Carolina Herrera

Diane Von Furstenberg

GUCCI

Hermes

Jimmy Choo

Kate Spade

Longchamp

Lord & Taylor – THE department store when I was growing up in DC

Neiman Marcus

Rag & Bone – Want!

Saint Laurent

Tiffany & Co.

Tory Burch

Vince – bought a jacket from a thrift store in NYC

THANKS, I’LL PASS

Abercrombie & Fitch

Aéropostale

American Eagle

BCBGMAXAZRIA

Bottega Venetta

Brooks Brothers – I bought one pair of used chinos that I love

BVLGARI

Calvin Klein Underwear

Chico’s

Club Monaco

David Yurman

Diesel

Ecco

Eddie Bauer

Eileen Fisher

Everything But Water

Express – not since the 90s

Fendi

Forever 21

Francesca’s

Free People – kind of cool

G-Star RAW

Garage

Guess

Hanna Andersen

Hollister

Icing

Intimissi

J. Jill

Johnny Was

Johnston & Murphy

Joie – I did take a look…

L.L Bean

Lane Bryant

Lily Pulitzer

Loro Piana

Louis Vuitton

Macy’s

Michael Kors

New York & Co.

Nick + Zoe – I checked it out this trip

Omega

PacSun

Pink

Ralph Lauren

Salvatore Ferragamo

Soma

Spanx

Talbots

Ted Baker

Timberland

Tommy Bahama

True Religion

UGG

Untuckit

Vera Bradley

Victoria Secret

Vineyard Vines

White House Black Market

HONESTLY, NO CLUE

AAO

Altar’d State

Brighton

Calzedonia

Ermenegildo Zegna

Dynamite

Henig Furs

Henri Bendal

Marc Cain

Marmot

MCM

Paula Hian

Philipp Plein

Primark

Rigby & Peller

Robert Grant

South Moon Under

St John

Superdry

Tadashi Shoji

Thomas Pink

Torrid

Tumi

Villa

Wolford

Zuminez

 

That’s it. Let me know if there are any brands you know and love. Do you think I should I rethink any of these? The great thing is I realized I am not missing out. Also, I now know what they have at KOP and that it’s not that far. I might have to go again soon for the Shake Shack alone!

A Year of Shopping Responsibly

by | Sep 28, 2018 | Slow Fashion | 0 comments

[Updated to include the entire year and notes on whether or not I made good choices]

Last year around this time I turned over the finances to my husband. In 14 years of marriage I have aways managed the money but a new level of soul searching and letting go led me to “try” something new. We don’t have an unusual amount of conflict around spending—just the normal amount. 😉 But when we look at where we’ve been overspending it’s almost always the same: clothing, dining and recreation. We set a budget and go over that budget. And, honestly, the clothing category is all me. So, all this to say, I had to start being “good.” For the last year I was given a monthly cash allowance of roughly what I should have been spending all along. Allowance is for anything outside of the budget. Oh yeah, “Clothing” ceased to be a category. My “mad money” was to pay for clothing, make up, hair, nails, etc. But, it gets tricky when ordering things on-line. I have to use a Credit card and then pay it back with cash. It got pretty confusing and so I kind of gave up keeping track. I honestly didn’t know if I had been good. I mean, I kind of knew I wasn’t when the Nordstrom sale came around in the Spring. (Stitch Fix also contributed to my downfall.) A lot of what I bought has been underwear and workout-wear which I don’t think should count toward “additions to my closet” but whatev. I’ll also mention that I justified overspending by selling clothes on Poshmark. I made about $225 from Postmark sales.

The following is what I added to my wardrobe this year:

January $143

Gap – bras & undies $94 – Excellent additions!

J. Crew – Shirt-jacket in buffalo check $43 – I LOVE this jacket and get lots of complements!

Stitch Fix – Mavi jeans $6 (w/ giftcard) – Mistake, have since donated them.

February $174

Old Navy – gray hoodie $28 – I wear this ALL THE TIME.

Old Navy – gingham shirt $20 – Never wear.

LOFT – boho print dress $36 – Mistake, wore twice. Donated.

DSW – Puma sneakers $50 – Great purchase.

Poshmark – J Brand army shorts $14 – Meh.

Poshmark – Gap jeans in black $26 – Great purchase!

March $119

Gap – Sports Bras in black & gray $24 ea. – Wear all the time.

Gap – Workout tank in white $16 – It’s okay.

Asics – workout tank $13 – Have worn a few times.

Poshmark – J. Crew straw market tote $26 – Perfection.

Poshmark – NB workout tank $16 – Never wear. Donated.

April $106

DSW – nude ballet flats $40 – Not sure I needed these.

Poshmark – Madewell heels $66 – I like but rarely wear.

May $415

Banana Republic – Camisole $25 – Don’t wear much but think it was a good purchase.

Banana Republic – Striped tank $25 – Wore SO MUCH this summer.

Stitch Fix – Joie tee $148 – I don’t wear it much but don’t regret it. It’s lovely.

Nordstrom – Amour Vert long sleeve striped tee $88 – Excellent addition!!!

Nordstrom – Vince Camuto sandals in red $53 – They were my go-to all summer.

Nordstrom – Topshop cigarette pants $38 – The jury is still out…

Poshmark – Gap workout leggings $19 – Good choice.

Poshmark – Madewell tank $19 – Mistake.

June $139

J. Crew – denim shorts $56 – THE PERFECT CUT-OFF JEAN SHORTS. Why am I shouting?

Gap – long sleeve striped tees in gray/white & navy/white $11 ea. – Probably the best staples in my closet.

Gap – tank top in gray $15 – Yes!

Gap – undies $16 – Yes.

Athleta – bikini top $30 – So pretty!

July $100

Famous Footwear – Nikes $75 – Absolutely great choice/needed addition.

DSW – Roxy flip flops $25 – Essential.

August $45

Athleta – bikini bottom $21 – Love it.

Snap back hat – $24 – Needed it. Love it.

September $152

Nordstrom Rack – Steve Madden flats in black $50 – Not sure I needed these.

Banana Republic – A-line skirt in olive $39 – Nice. Can’t seem to choose skirts over jeans.

J. Crew – A-line midi sweater skirt $63 – Never worn, but not sure I regret it.

October $125

Gap – Vintage Wash Short Sleeve Tee in “Glass of Water” blue $10 – I wear this more than any other tee.

Troentorp – Da Vinci Clogs in dark blue $99 – I have to force myself to not wear these every day.

J. Crew – High-Rise Jegging in blue indigo wash $16 – Great choice!

November $129

Lucky Jeans – Hayden High Rise Skinny Jean in Farolito $129 – I bought to replace the jeggings and then kept both. Look great. Kind of tight.

December $0

So that’s the extent of it. I know that may seem like a lot to spend to some people (or very little to others) and I hesitated to include prices but for me it’s important to drag it out into the light of day. To be true to myself. Throughout the year I bought and returned quite a few items. I knew they weren’t right, that I wouldn’t wear them. Some of what I bought (and kept) turned out to be great decisions, and others were not. Live and learn, I guess. It makes me see that I can stand to be a lot more intentional in my buying process. To my credit, I tend to pin things to a wish list board and then wait a while before pulling the trigger.

My ultimate goal is to enjoy what I wear, how I look and then get on with it. You know? I hope somebody somewhere gets some inspiration from this, on how to have fun with clothes, but, like in a grown-up-y way.

 

What I Got at the Nordstrom Sale

What I Got at the Nordstrom Sale

by | Jun 6, 2018 | Slow Fashion | 1 comment

I love Nordstom… “à la distance.” There’s no store near me but since they offer free shipping both ways and were having a sale, I thought, why not order a bunch of stuff online? I won’t keep any of it, I’ll just try it on, from the comfort of my bedroom.

None of these items were impulse buys. They were carefully selected over months of pinning and researching and waiting. I’ve curbed my clothing purchases this year partly due to a new family budget and because I “don’t need another thing.”

Here’s what I got:

VINCE CAMUTO CARRAN PLATFORM SANDAL (IN HOT AND SPICY LEATHER)

I picked these sandals because I have been wanting a comfy slide forEVER. I love a platform and I love a shoe I can just slip on and off and honestly that’s what I’m going to pick all summer. I can only wear my two dollar Old Navy flip flops so much. I chose red (very unusual for me) because it compliments all the blue in my wardrobe, but these come in a few great colors/patterns. The straps are leather, the insole is leather (bonus) and they have espadrille-style soles. I love them! The only con is the straps have a manmade lining that smells like a pool raft. I had to get them as my best friend Joan told me to. VERDICT: KEEP

J. CREW EVIE BALLET FLAT (IN BLACK)

I don’t know why but I didn’t take a pic in these. These ballet flats are perfect in every way. They tick all the boxes. Classic. Black. Comfortable. Leather. Well constructed. No weird embellishments. And they were on sale! And yet, when I searched deep into my heart of hearts I knew…they just aren’t me. After years of searching for the perfect classic ballet flat I realized I don’t need a classic ballet flat. VERDICT: RETURN

HINGE JERSEY TANK (IN HEATHER STEEL)

One needs a gray tank top. If you haven’t gone hunting for one recently, there are so many versions. Many of them have some weird detail: twist front, twist back, tie front/back, lace, high-low hem, etc. I tried this very basic option and sized up from my usual medium to a large and you can see it’s a very unflatteringly skin-tight. Grrr. VERDICT: RETURN

BTW, I think I ought to change my name to “Heather Steel.”

MADEWELL HIGH RISE CUFFED DENIM SHORTS (IN GLEN OAKS)

I have been obsessed about finding a really good pair of jean shorts—more polished than the above pictured cut offs. It’s not easy, but nothing in life really is. Although these look pretty good to me now, I thought the size 30 I got was a little too big. I think a high rise short should be fitted not loose. I could have tried my usual 29 size but not sure I wanted a tight jean short? I really liked the stretch and the look but I couldn’t get comfortable with them being up high on the waist and on the thigh. Sad face. VERDICT: RETURN

TOP SHOP HIGH WAIST CIGARETTE TROUSERS

My favorite J. Crew Martie pants were starting to show their age and were quite tight on the booty (not in a good way) so I’ve been on the hunt for a new pair of cropped, tapered trousers that are stretchy and slimming. I’ve never owed anything from Top Shop (I know, “gasp”) and the price made me skeptical. I loved them the second I tried them on. I’ve been moving away from low rise pants and really love the rise on these. The fabric isn’t too thick. They’re machine wash/line dry and look great from the back. Yay. VERDICT: KEEP

AMOUR VERT FRANCOISE STRIPE TOP (IN MARINE STRIPE)

This shirt was the last to arrive and I was sure it would go right back. The day it arrived I had just gone to the Gap to look for shorts and got two long sleeve striped shirts that were beautiful and on sale. I didn’t need another striped shirt! When I took it out of the package I realized it was slinky and I read the fabric content and saw it was modal. I am not a fan of modal. I like a plain ol’ cotton. Then I tried it on and fell in love. I mean, I’ll let you know when I wash it… but, sigh, I had to keep it. It feels so good, drapes so good, looks so good. I’m in love. Green love. Amour Vert is one of those brands I keep hearing about for their sustainability. Read more at amourvert.com. VERDICT: KEEP

So, my just trying on/not buying plan clearly didn’t work very well. Damn you Nordstrom! Why are you so awesome?!

In other news, I have been cleaning out my closet consistently. I donate to friends and the local thrift store and I have sold quite a lot on POSHMARK. You can check out my closet here.

 

Winter 10×10

Winter 10×10

by | Jan 30, 2018 | Slow Fashion | 0 comments

The Pieces

The Outfits

My Thoughts

I decided to jump on the bandwagon this time around. I love reading blogs like stylebee.ca, un-fancy.com, seasons-and-salt.com and stylethislife.com

I’d never done the 10×10 challenge and I guess I thought I wouldn’t get much out of it. It’s funny how different it is to do something in your head versus in reality. This is what I learned from doing it:

  1. A capsule wardrobe makes picking out an outfit lightning fast! In this case, I had 3 bottoms and 5 tops (and 2 pairs of shoes) and a goal to not repeat combinations.
  2. I really prefer jeans to skirts.
  3. It’s okay to wear only your favorite items—on repeat.
  4. I became more accepting of myself. I realized it’s okay to be really casual or not even wear makeup.
  5. I gave myself permission to be cozy and warm. Layered as needed.
  6. Wearing Birks with socks indoors is my new fave.
  7. I have clothes in my closet that I rarely wear that I really like!
  8. I DO NOT need more clothes.

That’s it. I really enjoyed participating in the challenge with amazing women all over the world. Check it out if you want more inspiration: https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/winter10x10/