Summer Capsule 2016 - Lookbook Video

Well, I finally carved out some time to film, edit, and post my next capsule lookbook... and here it is!



Making the transition from spring to summer (my first in NYC) was not easy. In Seattle I could get away with wearing a few of my favorite things -- knee boots, skinny jeans, and leather jackets -- almost year-round. While you'll see a few of those items featured in this video, they haven't made too many journeys out of my closet since June. I'm considering this capsule somewhat of an experiment, and next year I'll be better prepared to stock up on shorts, sleeveless dresses, and sandals. At any rate, I'm thoroughly enjoying my latest, most surprising new accessory: a suntan!!

Summer has never been my favorite season. Even during the school years I was the introvert tucked away in her bedroom with a stack of library books, counting down the hours til the first day of class. New York has allowed for a lot more spontaneous social occasions, and because my worklife no longer revolves around an office, I'm actually spending more of my day in the sun. Still, I have to admit my focus for this capsule centered less on fashion and more on function. The real name of the game here was: What Will a) Help Me Escape A Flash Thunderstorm and b) Cause The Least Amount Of Subway-Sweat?

You'll notice that many pieces from my spring capsule carried over into this season. The rest of the 24 items were pre-owned (or swapped) pieces pulled from storage, with the exception of my denim jacket and the gray sequined stripe tee featured at the end of this video. In accordance with my oft-referenced goal to refrain from brand-new purchases this year, these two extras were acquired secondhand.

One thing I wanted to focus on this year was truly wearing out the clothing I already own. At this point I honestly can't say which is more exciting: finding an acquiescent hole in an item I've been wanting to replace or discovering how well my favorite garments have held up over the year. The denim cut-offs, for instance, were fashioned from a pair of jeans purchased by my mom in the early 90s. The denim from that time was far more durable, and I'm happy to report they've survived the washing machine for two summers now. With any luck, I'll enjoy them for many more to come!

Again, I had a blast making this video. I really hope you enjoy it!

Book Review: "Wear No Evil" by Greta Eagan

Hi everyone! Today I have a little something different for you... It's a review of one of my new favorite books: Greta Eagan's Wear No Evil.

This is an excellent style manual for anyone looking to improve the ethicality of their wardrobe. Rather than just focusing on the problems we're facing in today's fashion world, Eagan presents a personalized approach to making eco-conscious, socially responsible choices within your own style guidelines and budget. In addition to outlining the various social and environmental initiatives surrounding eco-fashion, she explains how to assess the sustainability of a given garment according to your own set of standards. Her book is chock full of useful charts (a total treat for my inner nerd!) featuring standard wardrobe staples and their ethical alternatives, so you can work within your budget and replace items at your own pace.

Whether you're ready to jump in whole-hog or just curious enough to get your feet wet, Eagan's book is a can't-miss for anyone interested in the future of clothing production and style.

Summer Playlist 2016

Hello! And apologies for going MIA for more than a month here. Between several out-of-town guests, overdue catch-ups with local friends, and planning a few summer getaways of my own, I've been, well, too social to look after my social media! But that's really the circumstance we're all striving for here, right?

At long last, I finally sat down to research some new tunes, and once again Spotify's Discover Weekly playlists did not let me down. Tucked between a smattering of new-to-me songs by familiar favorites, Scavenger Hunt and Lady Lamb are among these newer intrigues. And although I've featured them before, I had to toss in some extra selections from each of Wet, BØRNS, and the bird and the bee, since I can't seem to get enough of them.

That said, my fascination with these tracks simply pales in comparison to Andy Hull & Robert McDowell's breathtaking tracks from Swiss Army Man (which itself was equivalently life-changing, by the way -- GO SEE IT. NOW.) The entire soundtrack, which features Paul Dano & Daniel Radcliffe throughout, has had a Hamilton-esque effect on my commuting soundtrack preferences; somehow whenever it's over I just want to listen to it again -- and about twenty more times after that. I hope you find a similar sense of joy in these selections, which in essence form the framework of the playlist itself.

Something about the euphoric energy of "Montage" reminded me of MIKA's 2007 joy-ballad "Grace Kelly," so that explains his somewhat random presence here. It also doesn't hurt that I've recently gone head-over-heels for The Good Wife, which features one of his older songs in an immensely satisfying way. It was fun digging through his Spotify archives and seeing what he's been up to since then -- after all, the last time he featured heavily in my life, he was blaring through parents' minivan speakers on the way to musical rehearsal.

My god, that was almost a decade ago. What?!

Happy Summer, everyone!