Week 1
Putting this series together made me realize a few things, so far:
I am essentially a walking J.Crew catalog
I should think about purchasing more shoes because I wear literally the same ones all the time
I should also probably have more than two pair of jeans
These days, my rules for “curating” my closet revolves around simplicity. I’d rather spend more on pieces that are versatile (such as the tan sweater-blazer from J.Crew that I wear at least 3x per week), and pieces that are made well (like the Frances loafers from Madewell that I wear also, on a regular basis). I actually own two pairs of jeans - one that is dark, super durable, and fits me perfectly from J.Crew, and one that has some tears that is more casual from Sam Edelman (via Stitch Fix - which I rarely wear but would like to wear more). I also have exactly one watch that I wear all the time, and I usually rotate between two earrings and three necklaces. I also lean more towards classic cuts and more classic patterns (except for my collection of animal sweaters), so that everything is less “trendy” but more “timeless.” My current pet peeve is those “off the shoulders” tops - I personally don’t like them and I don’t think that they are as versatile, but they are pretty fun.
It’s also about price per wear. For example, the green utility jacket from J.Crew is $148. I bought it on sale (40% off) at $89, almost 3 years ago. Since then, I’ve worn it at the very least, 2 times per week during fall and spring (so let’s say, so far, 144 times in the last 3 years). This breaks down to $89/144, so that’s roughly $.62 per wear. Not bad, considering it’s still in great shape and I will still wear it over and over again! Most of my clothes that I have now are at least 2-3 years old, while I have a few items that I still wear since 2012.
Monday
Jacket: J.Crew (50% off!) | Sweater: Banana Republic (40% off!) | Pants: Boogaloos (old, about 4 years) | Sunglasses: Madewell (recent impulse purchase) | Shoes: Madewell loafers (from last Spring)
It’s been much easier to wake up and want to get dressed these days because of the cooler weather. Putting this outfit together was relatively easy - mostly because I wore this similar combo to see Downton Abbey the night before. I spent most of my morning doing my hair, gave Sandy an extra long walk.
I’d say that my wardrobe leans more conservative and maybe even slightly old-school. I love late 50’s-60’s fashion, with simple feminine shapes and structures and beautiful mod colors. I think pairing this classic style with today’s modern pieces is the summation of my closet - and this outfit.
Tuesday
Sweater: Zara (from maybe 8 years ago) | Skirt: Stitch Fix | Shoes: Madewell loafers
A couple of months ago, I decided to give Stitch Fix a try. So far, it’s been a fun experience. I’m on the bi-monthly plan which I found affordable. It’s exposing me to items I typically wouldn’t pick out for myself in stores, such as this corduroy burgundy skirt. It has a light fray at the hem, and it is so comfortable. I also love the length - it makes my legs look longer but still office-appropriate.
I paired this with a short-sleeve super-soft sweater I bought from Zara in college. It’s a great basic, and yes - I know Zara has had its slew of problems, but I bought this as a poor college student during a sale.
Wednesday
Jacket: J.Crew | Turtleneck: J.Crew Factory (old) | Bandana: from Inman Park Fest | Pants": Target (old) | Shoes: Madewell loafers
By mid-week, I usually start losing motivation to put something together. At this point, I go to my most reliable combo: stripes and jeans. Only, my only pair of jeans without holes or tears were nowhere to be found - Navy corduroys it is! These aren’t my favorite pants, but they were $20-something from Target and I’ve had them for years. They’re starting to lose structure, though, so it may be time to replace them.
My jacket here is another go-to light jacket. It’s an investment purchase from J.Crew and I’ve had this jacket for years and I wear them constantly. It’s one of my favorite, versatile pieces and it’s durable. I also have a collection of bandanas, neck scarves and regular scarves, so as often as I can, I like to throw one on as a fun accessory.
Thursday
Cardigan: Abercrombie & Fitch (old) | T-shirt: Madewell | Jeans: J.Crew | Shoes: Keds
You may have noticed at this point that I wear the same shoes almost everyday. I wear a pair of camel-colored leather loafers as if it’s a part of a required uniform. These are my only “everyday” shoes (I’m working on getting a few more of these everyday shoes, in different colors or styles) and they are worth every penny. Realizing this monotony, I decided to break things up by wearing my Keds. I also found my jeans and decided to pair this burnt orange t-shirt with this blush mohair cardigan. This burnt-orange/blush color combo is actually something I’ve had in mind for a couple of weeks, when I was testing paint colors for a project I worked on.
Friday
Turtleneck: French Connection (eBay) | Jeans: J.Crew | Boots: Vince Camuto (hand-me-down from my sister) | Bandana: Madewell
I work at the office four times per week, and on Fridays, I work from home - which I love. My outfit for the day usually hinges on my schedule, but for the most part, it’s leggings, a comfortable t-shirt, or a bathrobe. However, on the schedule today is a coffee meeting for another holiday project that I’m working on, supply-shopping, dropping Sandy at the groomer’s, and working from home for the rest of the day. It’s an unusually busy Friday for me.
Saturday
Rain jacket: Marmot (old) | Turtleneck: J.Crew | Rain boots: Hunter | Bandana: Madewell | Jeans: J.Crew
We’re headed to Athens to watch the UGA v. Kentucky game today. While I’m not a raging football fan, I do enjoy gameday festivities! Today’s outfit is really centered around comfort and being waterproof since it is forecasted to rain all day.