a cut + color success story.

I discovered my new brand obsession, Everlane, a few months ago. Since then I’ve had the compulsive urge to buy one of everything they sell [don’t worry I’ve practiced constraint]. I always want to diversify. Something about too many things in the same color gives me a little anxiety [it doesn’t take much to rattle this cage sometimes], but lately I’ve been very drawn to a new navy-gray-sun-faded hybrid. Everlane calls it Antique. I call it love.

The awesome fit, quality and shape of my new Box Cut Tee is love too [made in the USA!]. I can’t stop wearing it and because it washes and dries so well I don’t have to. I feel so comfortable in a tee that fits me in the shoulders and compliments my shape without fitting skin tight to my stomach. It creates a perfect mix of “borrowed-from-the-boys” and “feminine-sexy.” I purchased an extra-small, but I think a size small would work too [TTS, but order up if you’re unsure]. Break out of your V-neck tee shirt comfort zone and try it for yourself. Did I mention it was only $15? I recommend Antique.

I’m tempted to expand my horizons to the color Everlane actually calls Navy Blue. Stay tuned.

C

closet feelings.

How does your closet make you feel?

I am currently facing some indecision and upset when I think of mine. I am wholly inspired by the well-made basics out there (such as Everlane & Emerson Fry) and the beautiful “fewer, better things” mantra of Cuyana. I have really made good progress toward intentional buying and eliminating clutter (this includes several donations and several goodie bags to friends, cousins and sister-in-law). That being said, I do have a wealth of positive feelings that come from having items that make me feel comfortable and confident, but right now there are just some things that I cannot see past.

I want to own fewer things, but I just can’t part with some items I never wear. I make lists on sticky notes and page corners listing items I can sell online and items I can stand to give away. I know someone SHOULD be making use of these items and on a good day I can get that someone to pay for them (usually eBay). Like a walking “closet case,” if you will, I find myself standing in elevators or staring out train windows thinking about the convoluted list to follow.

I tend to become emotionally attached to items because of nostalgic reasons, or when I may have worn them (Ralph Lauren oversized shirtdress, Sorrento, Italy 2010), because of who gave them to me (mostly items from mom), or for no other reason than the crazy length of time I’ve owned them (college jeans). The worst is when all of these scenarios join up to create an impenetrable, un-donate-able force as seen with the Gap cardigan that mom bought me for picture day sophomore year of high school. It still fits, it has no real damage or wear and mint green may come back. Did I mention it’s from my mom?

The item has consistency and quality that is almost impossible to find these days in a world full of poly-blends and acrylic sweaters. I love the idea of it, the feel of it, and even the style, but it just doesn’t fit right and I don’t reach for it when I’m getting dressed in the morning. Yes, everyone needs comfy clothes that are really only good for lounging around the house or grocery shopping, but when you have more of these clothes than there are weekends to wear them something’s got to give.

Lastly, hooded sweatshirts can become a problem. We all have them. They are from high schools and colleges, sports teams and vacations spots. They belonged to a high school boyfriend, a college roommate or someone left it in your car and you like to tell people that. Regardless of where they are from, no one needs thirteen of them, and I have thirteen of them.

So what is the solution to having too many things, and having an emotional attachment to them that literally brings on slight feelings of anxiety? Thus far my plan of attack has been to take these items, put them in a bin and out of sight. If over the course of the season I look for them to complete an outfit or occasion then they are re-promoted to drawer or closet status. And if I don’t reach for them? Well, fortunately I have a wealth of attic space. Ha. Stay tuned for the ACTUAL solution to these closet purging road blocks…

C

Pictured: Everlane Slim Zip Wallet in Whiskey

this tee shirt.

Contrary to the title, this is not about the  tee shirt. It’s soft and crisp and just the right balance of opaque and sheer, but it’s not the star of this show. The star of this show is yours truly. It’s slightly self absorbed, but I’m a firm believer that if you do something you’re proud of and it makes you feel good you should tell anyone who will listen.

I received my J. Crew Rewards in the mail about a week ago. My unhealthy thought process (or the lavishly accessorized devil on my shoulder) leads me to see this little treat as a “discount.” I can now justify just about any purchase because it’s $25 less than even the lowest mark down. What the little devil in Mona Pumps successfully minimizes is the bottom line. I’m still spending.

As I have mentioned in previous posts; I am a new wife in a new house on a new (and shoe-limiting) budget. I truly believe I was made to be a wife. I sport it proudly and I adore the security and confidence that such selfless love can offer. That being said, the cut in unnecessary spending is not so terrible and my over packed closet(s) could use the reprieve.

As I was scrambling around in J. Crew on my lunch break the other day I had a moment. I was holding a very pretty $69.00 wool sweater in my hand. I had been watching the descending price online for a few months now and I was feeling impulsive. Enter: the classically dressed angel on my other shoulder wearing my favorite pair of broken-in jeans. I don’t need this sweater (I have several); its wool so it may pill and it will be a $44 charge on my next J. Crew bill. It was time to wise up and make a not-fun but necessary decision.

I need a white V neck t-shirt that I can wear under a blazer with those broken-in jeans. It has been the item I’ve reached for several times recently and the missing link in a few could-be outfits. This delicate basic is on sale for $24.50. Thanks to my handy student ID I am the proud owner of a white Vintage V-neck Tee (pictured, image directly from jcrew.com). The balance on my reward card was less than $5 so I was given the change in cash. That cash became a wonderful latte on my way back to the office. Glowing with pride from my recent self control and logic I took to writing.

C

a rule breaker.

I commonly refer to myself as a fabric snob. I read labels like an investigator and I embarrass any shopping cohorts by smelling any leather-like item I take interest in. There is no room in my closet for “poly-anything.” [To be very honest there is no room in my closet for anything, period. My hangers reside on a bar shaped more like a smile than the traditional linear shape intended.]

Outlet stores launched by some of my favorite retailers like J.Crew and the Gap often disappoint me. I’m not old enough to use phrases like “in the good old days,” but I think outlets should be the “what’s left” and not the “what’s replicated in poly-blend.” The styles align with the flagship brand accurately in photos and even in the fitting room, but often once you drive it off the lot the quality will not hold up. In the case of a shoe it may not mold to your foot the way it should.

That being said, I broke my most adamant shopping rule this weekend and I would recommend the deed to anyone who will listen (err…read). I am ecstatic about my Factory Emory Flats from the J.Crew Outlet. I slipped them on my feet this weekend to “complete the look” and I was pleasantly surprised.

The shoes in the factory stores are typically (and conveniently) right outside the fitting rooms and in J.Crew I make a habit of asking the associate who is assisting me to make suggestions about coordinating pieces. She had all good things to say about the Emory Flat and was eager to hand them over. I made a decision that I would only allow myself one item this payday, and who knew it would be these little polyurethane imports?!

They bent and arched with such ease as I pranced around the store. I purchased the Bronzed Clay color because they looked fantastic with the red skimmer pants I had on. They will coordinate with just about everything I own, and unless there is snow on the ground I won’t hesitate to sport them. The extra 20% off promotion was the icing on the poly-blend cake.

C

a denim shirt.

Four seasons. Washer AND dryer approved. Gold OR silver jewelry (if you're that girl-I am). So classic. 

You may be thinking "this is not news." I know that Ralph Lauren has been shedding light on this for decades, but I have just taken the plunge (pictured J.Crew Western Denim Shirt in Indigo). As a new home owner, and mortgage payer, I am forced to cut my shopping down dramatically. In this new home my belongings will need to coexist with my fiance's belongings in much more confined quarters. The combination of finances and space have inspired (or forced) me to turn over a new shopping leaf. My intent is to limit my purchases to only a few classic, good quality, versatile pieces per month. If I can't pay it off with my next paycheck I can't have it, AND just because it is on "OMG so cheap" clearance doesn't mean I need it!!

Imagining the possibilities for this shirt is oddly empowering. It is still technically summer, so my first venture will be some bright colored chino shorts, sleeves rolled up, and my beloved MAC Lipglass in Morange.

C

Arizona Muse.

I was caught by her while I was browsing through one of my favorite blog stops, A Piece of Toast. Although the post was of a J.Crew catalog from last year (it wouldn't matter-classic is classic) I was intrigued enough to do some research. I am getting married in a matter of weeks and these images emulate my prospective vision of wife hood. Being 24 and tying the knot has not yet brought out any urges to procreate, but if you remove the beautiful baby and add a Kate Spade serving tray from my registry we are right on point.

Talk about amazing eyebrows. The slender and fair Muse really pulls you in. Vogue Daily uses the perfect string of words to describe what caught me; "an almost cat-that-swallowed-the-canary aura."


C