tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59980108077024055272024-02-10T16:50:19.565-05:00inspirsessionAn exploration of personal style through an eco-conscious lens, with focus on minimal wardrobe construction.inspirsessionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579184262738042591noreply@blogger.comBlogger338125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998010807702405527.post-91100089593154785302023-04-25T13:08:00.001-04:002023-04-25T13:08:23.274-04:00A Day Offline<p>If you follow me on Instagram, you may know that <b>I decided to spend last Saturday (Earth Day) entirely off my personal technology</b>. No phone, no laptop… and I don’t have an Apple watch, but if I did, I would’ve ditched that too.<br /><br />As it happened, I picked up an extra shift that day, so staying busy at the restaurant all afternoon made this process both easier and more pointless. Easier, because I don’t have my phone around me for working hours anyway. Pointless, because as a maitre d’ I do half my work on an iPad anyway. <br /><br />So, was I truly screen-free for the day? No. To do so would've required me to skip work. But I didn’t go on the internet, I didn’t text anyone, and I didn’t access my camera or music account.</p><p></p><p></p><p><br /><b><u>Here’s what happened:</u></b></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The night I turned my phone off, there were several distressing noises outside my apartment. Typically this is the time I would consult the Citizen app on my phone, which helps quell my anxiety that whatever’s going on is being acknowledge and/or handled by the community. Without that coping mechanism, I have to admit I had a really restless few hours of sleep. I found that kind of ironic, considering my phone is usually what I blame for keeping me awake.</li><li>I arrived at work early (!!) because I had to guesstimate when my train would arrive, and in true Rachel fashion, I erred on the side of caution. This felt great. What did not feel so great was at the end of my double shift when I couldn’t consult my subway status app and had to transfer four times due to train outages I didn’t see coming. Longest trip home of my life. </li><li>I READ. I actually finished the book I had started only a day before because I reverted back to this form of entertainment for both my lunch break and my commute both ways. I’m remembering now how I used to be such an avid reader.</li><li>I missed catching up with friends. Not being able to text people whenever I felt like it was something I didn’t realize I would miss in the span of 24-hours — but I did! It reminded me how grateful I am for texting because so many of my loved ones live across the country, and I scarcely have a chance to swap stories with them otherwise.</li><li>I found myself wanting to linger in the silence a little longer. At days end, when I permitted myself to some post-midnight scrolling, I found myself overwhelmed with the idea of reconnecting. I ended up finishing my book on the couch instead, and the next morning was spent fairly quietly as well. The social media posts I had planned for this week also fell by the wayside, and I can’t say I’m feeling much momentum to get back to them. <br /></li></ul><p><br />If you’ve never tried a digital detox or “offline day,” I highly recommend trying it! It’s astounding what you can learn about yourself and your relationship to technology, even just in the span of 24 hours.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYQFk2GDcvp8Xt-nCuABt_5x9a645A8ijQMlwpb_SnZ4Mtv4vFPRo9r_9uxK7lWJW7UMweH_i3P4PfqvIqW1XYG2WsBHXCVExvD7PW7AraoA4YSrFX_dvU7Xm-t7pWwB8lX022OZVI1LJRl3556e86T4RXafAx6wG-fQTaoJZ00mS5-TjYrfstCEm6Iw/s4032/IMG_8385.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYQFk2GDcvp8Xt-nCuABt_5x9a645A8ijQMlwpb_SnZ4Mtv4vFPRo9r_9uxK7lWJW7UMweH_i3P4PfqvIqW1XYG2WsBHXCVExvD7PW7AraoA4YSrFX_dvU7Xm-t7pWwB8lX022OZVI1LJRl3556e86T4RXafAx6wG-fQTaoJZ00mS5-TjYrfstCEm6Iw/s1000/IMG_8385.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"> © copyright LGPQ 2014 – All rights reserved </div>inspirsessionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579184262738042591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998010807702405527.post-3701909967067317662022-07-31T09:00:00.001-04:002022-07-31T09:00:00.175-04:00July Vacation Capsule + A Wardrobe Palette Tip<p>Have you struggled to create a consistent palette for your wardrobe?</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-HqtOalCZR3wBoZOgOmL609ilkD8fbZ4tO2-NIHAPJeNOE3RQ1HSMLgc5FMl5lzmkaM0y9_jNIwT8xE7cWBuB1vPQKQcnF0pDYG8V5cFGQJHqzKEI4z-W4LZo2nPT4YfYQcqhYYjsTlGqe0dXRIhR9SXBdnVS__qQFyTxSN36kC6baZ-cFBJ31XVlw/s2049/IMG_3871.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-HqtOalCZR3wBoZOgOmL609ilkD8fbZ4tO2-NIHAPJeNOE3RQ1HSMLgc5FMl5lzmkaM0y9_jNIwT8xE7cWBuB1vPQKQcnF0pDYG8V5cFGQJHqzKEI4z-W4LZo2nPT4YfYQcqhYYjsTlGqe0dXRIhR9SXBdnVS__qQFyTxSN36kC6baZ-cFBJ31XVlw/s950/IMG_3871.jpeg" /></a></div><p>Whether you’re pursuing a minimal wardrobe or not, having a color palette in mind really helps for ensuring the mixability of your garments. But curating this is easier said than done.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7qzIp6vy6_k2K4DGxAW_JNA8ymLpSLkQJJvXmH5RqIJgkRDIvp5WSGUd5rF5QYMqUNQzYimwWFYitV_kvbCDwDrHgIskH29re_ZNIx0Lfv6meI78mHoFPEJ5XLzVnJHWV_KwrE5UDUO-b2LfLrtE4oFkG02cBU9Amk5YwhhKrNsrYvWhX_mdVHrYtcg/s2731/IMG_4013.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2731" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7qzIp6vy6_k2K4DGxAW_JNA8ymLpSLkQJJvXmH5RqIJgkRDIvp5WSGUd5rF5QYMqUNQzYimwWFYitV_kvbCDwDrHgIskH29re_ZNIx0Lfv6meI78mHoFPEJ5XLzVnJHWV_KwrE5UDUO-b2LfLrtE4oFkG02cBU9Amk5YwhhKrNsrYvWhX_mdVHrYtcg/s1300/IMG_4013.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz9dvEPcjXN5a975GxJux_Eug2OVZ87pDj9AT1qxI2F3Buc84OHyg_zk4c_VZ2kD7Nyt5-pryKLlIStF_TRKnMsGA6T8GpHJjfJ14V8_chrJhMNycqTPU-3t3ms1UocXnLUFsMlKI-MsWeA5SSSaPqGaB7bPn0TOuwVDKdc_SrVlgfjuXY967g7M4SvA/s2048/IMG_4389.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1638" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz9dvEPcjXN5a975GxJux_Eug2OVZ87pDj9AT1qxI2F3Buc84OHyg_zk4c_VZ2kD7Nyt5-pryKLlIStF_TRKnMsGA6T8GpHJjfJ14V8_chrJhMNycqTPU-3t3ms1UocXnLUFsMlKI-MsWeA5SSSaPqGaB7bPn0TOuwVDKdc_SrVlgfjuXY967g7M4SvA/s900/IMG_4389.JPG" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMReY6U1COryrQoC8qFmjR7LDydJtnREZ825VCsyUbl21Cvl2FIPnXLgHEIjTd_wKF99so3Dq0WJ8l_7uBGYxDoWwshN35PMjlBK5bC0SBUqgx3Kn7kZr2XqxBSYt_ZquifWhJrjHfT1jM5MS3riLtGB0ygydWInmrni5yCrFqb4WSDF3uwWmu8eDKnA/s2049/IMG_3943.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMReY6U1COryrQoC8qFmjR7LDydJtnREZ825VCsyUbl21Cvl2FIPnXLgHEIjTd_wKF99so3Dq0WJ8l_7uBGYxDoWwshN35PMjlBK5bC0SBUqgx3Kn7kZr2XqxBSYt_ZquifWhJrjHfT1jM5MS3riLtGB0ygydWInmrni5yCrFqb4WSDF3uwWmu8eDKnA/s950/IMG_3943.jpeg" /></a><br /></p><p><br />I should know — as someone who loves many different combos of color, it’s something I struggled with for years!<br /><br /><b>What I’m learning is, I had it backwards: </b>Rather than letting my closet colors form organically, I tried to shoehorn clothing into a pre-set palette. <br /><br />Only when I let my wardrobe get a little messy did a palette start to take form. First I let myself purchase a few new, seasonal additions based purely on instinct. As I mixed these pieces with what I already owned, I took note of color patterns in those new & old favorites. Then, when I went back to fill in any gaps, I chose additional pieces which I knew would match my new instinct-buys and my old faves.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFxEToBDwpk_QGQzsfjDW9NqBdaxkmGCnfhH5Gvs6fvyniJdlh6iYsOXtcoEOm6I_segKkjsSxqyx5HklVVXzN6_rvMHqlx87jkPxWggv8y5r5NDFUHTljOL4RKWwchBQDmHMoXnWY1Q808oSeXWfTVqgEVJTX-HvcCLGTBe_5fcWXLObBQjAGcUVqbg/s2049/IMG_4098.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFxEToBDwpk_QGQzsfjDW9NqBdaxkmGCnfhH5Gvs6fvyniJdlh6iYsOXtcoEOm6I_segKkjsSxqyx5HklVVXzN6_rvMHqlx87jkPxWggv8y5r5NDFUHTljOL4RKWwchBQDmHMoXnWY1Q808oSeXWfTVqgEVJTX-HvcCLGTBe_5fcWXLObBQjAGcUVqbg/s950/IMG_4098.jpeg" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioCvVUJuCC__c6gJVM6fK21Gnay8XM19vfkK-zlFGAIxAVp5sO16LyxG-3ipIu4eBDeZcyQELMth8nyEpBNs2_HlMvWWEzREHPnS5FxhZc9ZrqoeoCnIlPXQcp7fgMJ4Qh1TIZHglDtqdgGznsCKopPq9VA4ne_umVQjJVX8mEiwB-4Yi1X6b1XhjQFQ/s2049/IMG_3618.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioCvVUJuCC__c6gJVM6fK21Gnay8XM19vfkK-zlFGAIxAVp5sO16LyxG-3ipIu4eBDeZcyQELMth8nyEpBNs2_HlMvWWEzREHPnS5FxhZc9ZrqoeoCnIlPXQcp7fgMJ4Qh1TIZHglDtqdgGznsCKopPq9VA4ne_umVQjJVX8mEiwB-4Yi1X6b1XhjQFQ/s950/IMG_3618.jpeg" /></a><br /></p><p><br />It was through this process that I found my way to the dusty pastels which characterize so much of my summer wardrobe, including the July favorites you see here. Without letting myself experiment, I would never have guessed this palette was even within my wheelhouse.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJcZQRUzo94-dAv7SXX3lb-Xrv0b0P0KAFsYDkxT8N-Y5nFt9TDaVrgyjs2LETKrcJWBU57bPO7N-ssf0VXkyESKCSkEeEQqMmhzetCCYsGYFcYddlxmxUqmf_yesTHxa4lejQVSFzCFgu2xhm6umEeUnAjvatpBLKvtajsUwuLHLEMeZUxX6WHjm9Ng/s1850/IMG_5259.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1850" data-original-width="1125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJcZQRUzo94-dAv7SXX3lb-Xrv0b0P0KAFsYDkxT8N-Y5nFt9TDaVrgyjs2LETKrcJWBU57bPO7N-ssf0VXkyESKCSkEeEQqMmhzetCCYsGYFcYddlxmxUqmf_yesTHxa4lejQVSFzCFgu2xhm6umEeUnAjvatpBLKvtajsUwuLHLEMeZUxX6WHjm9Ng/s1150/IMG_5259.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9XAU8EVi06Bhqzvm71fdpig9RARpmI7820GEN7tW9v8AiBX1D0bsnpw9ssgZRWmwC5ci3KEwPATrbjMG86DCtlFfJiZf245yk6FxKDrruvpRYUZJuUAIVX3WdSPhsVFPHyLiUS6niN3KKU-ZcF2xwfichj75DHdjkBTBLbYeExj1_Hgy11QObu1aMNw/s2029/IMG_3568.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2029" data-original-width="1512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9XAU8EVi06Bhqzvm71fdpig9RARpmI7820GEN7tW9v8AiBX1D0bsnpw9ssgZRWmwC5ci3KEwPATrbjMG86DCtlFfJiZf245yk6FxKDrruvpRYUZJuUAIVX3WdSPhsVFPHyLiUS6niN3KKU-ZcF2xwfichj75DHdjkBTBLbYeExj1_Hgy11QObu1aMNw/s950/IMG_3568.jpeg" /></a></div><p>If you tend to be a planner like me, take this as your invitation to drop the plan and make way for your instinct. You never know what you might discover if you let your guard down from time to time and just wing it!</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"> © copyright LGPQ 2014 – All rights reserved </div>inspirsessionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579184262738042591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998010807702405527.post-68183614961835291032022-07-09T10:00:00.000-04:002022-07-09T10:10:51.758-04:00Little Miss Bossy<div><p>What if it’s not “bossy”; what if it’s “especially good at expressing your own needs”? </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqWo8kAU5FuOhHDKUsb6j0RNxJQQ3mCYAxHH03NERjRi0simg1xaeiNwPiNPqKgML13L7JqfrHvnaimyAdhswkW6Fqkf0CVNC9MJyZeJla8RQ7n0Wl-2HubPvGqbGlSLysBc3TDyRpCAd8HiVxuHh1w48UNgL5_Ixol7ZNrjMTY5rDS9rCo51RWQaJXg/s1977/4FEBBEFD-FE30-458D-862E-9021D961AC0D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1977" data-original-width="1483" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqWo8kAU5FuOhHDKUsb6j0RNxJQQ3mCYAxHH03NERjRi0simg1xaeiNwPiNPqKgML13L7JqfrHvnaimyAdhswkW6Fqkf0CVNC9MJyZeJla8RQ7n0Wl-2HubPvGqbGlSLysBc3TDyRpCAd8HiVxuHh1w48UNgL5_Ixol7ZNrjMTY5rDS9rCo51RWQaJXg/s1000/4FEBBEFD-FE30-458D-862E-9021D961AC0D.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9wQ_hKec51QAP3bhHobFt-7-TkdgCxqClqSsOqqN4akRIcCCKwU08nctWbYAcaLGzng4cVhdpTH4TVJjM2tFVGc2sxRDOS3NJajIY7o1jgYA7yXqA43nvfDCTGi6bf3dmxrFdjLiH_Xdt2N5ww7Elvug8YDcrzlCG5k_O1hvAvCENaWDcTk_Ro20WQ/s1916/C56B15B1-E64D-44C6-BF3A-96050DC106D3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1916" data-original-width="1436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9wQ_hKec51QAP3bhHobFt-7-TkdgCxqClqSsOqqN4akRIcCCKwU08nctWbYAcaLGzng4cVhdpTH4TVJjM2tFVGc2sxRDOS3NJajIY7o1jgYA7yXqA43nvfDCTGi6bf3dmxrFdjLiH_Xdt2N5ww7Elvug8YDcrzlCG5k_O1hvAvCENaWDcTk_Ro20WQ/s1000/C56B15B1-E64D-44C6-BF3A-96050DC106D3.jpg" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRuERE8AsEHlD-B-7BhhrfOfcYbt22bHLBFWSBrsfSltkYPkArQfpzgxk3otZMog6GVs8fRE-6Oc0uv-gkDQJ_cmtN2Dd-2iNxvys4dIYWj_6w2IIY6q2atDb4e6zTv0eiV87i0F5iXGgbTOV275UcTLlrPaDEYIWKMtLUvCY3SxwW7rIyoB997KrouA/s2041/IMG_8020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2041" data-original-width="1531" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRuERE8AsEHlD-B-7BhhrfOfcYbt22bHLBFWSBrsfSltkYPkArQfpzgxk3otZMog6GVs8fRE-6Oc0uv-gkDQJ_cmtN2Dd-2iNxvys4dIYWj_6w2IIY6q2atDb4e6zTv0eiV87i0F5iXGgbTOV275UcTLlrPaDEYIWKMtLUvCY3SxwW7rIyoB997KrouA/s1000/IMG_8020.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p>For many years of my life I dreaded being called bossy. It’s something certain family members called me as something of a term of endearment, but in the real world it felt anything but.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNHlF4dEq8lY5XQ6CvMbEDPpqXrzBZhS3HJTc8AQQkWijuWkluXpFmqOk450-aciAODqQNcYf5ef_JwPEN3O7i8W6zFJovW6zt-nQkr94MSQb50iAvWDfVg9WsNXnUgF-hAUNPyuKcj3Sjk1ZVOySkmxx7zNbqX1jDvzNpCW6NKONLH52euEYjUdUotA/s1959/7B6222DD-2C51-42DE-8119-A7D79E785EF5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1959" data-original-width="1469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNHlF4dEq8lY5XQ6CvMbEDPpqXrzBZhS3HJTc8AQQkWijuWkluXpFmqOk450-aciAODqQNcYf5ef_JwPEN3O7i8W6zFJovW6zt-nQkr94MSQb50iAvWDfVg9WsNXnUgF-hAUNPyuKcj3Sjk1ZVOySkmxx7zNbqX1jDvzNpCW6NKONLH52euEYjUdUotA/s1000/7B6222DD-2C51-42DE-8119-A7D79E785EF5.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Fuk4t0bpWtvVJnp8koyj_VXFT8PXYc0VlWSFOE2hBk02MfbRi1lll2tbJ3_OYJz4tjmjrkQOUBio9JgawYclEQeyoKFB9S6fgiF7in05AT9uGZzJkvX2aMcyyVDjv44YtowW5NIZ8WMEaKxrCzyfYtg6ERgUdsBKMq-e9qVUznH9QeXGgWkpwgHaTQ/s1971/27C9E29E-1C04-4241-8E2C-493CF02E8008.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1971" data-original-width="1479" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Fuk4t0bpWtvVJnp8koyj_VXFT8PXYc0VlWSFOE2hBk02MfbRi1lll2tbJ3_OYJz4tjmjrkQOUBio9JgawYclEQeyoKFB9S6fgiF7in05AT9uGZzJkvX2aMcyyVDjv44YtowW5NIZ8WMEaKxrCzyfYtg6ERgUdsBKMq-e9qVUznH9QeXGgWkpwgHaTQ/s1000/27C9E29E-1C04-4241-8E2C-493CF02E8008.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p>Where being “a boss,” suggests a kind of know-how and professional prowess, being “bossy” — particularly a bossy *woman* — connotes difficulty in personality; sassiness, a lack of humor, or even selfishness. </p><p>If I simply felt uncomfortable with being called “bossy” as a kid and then eventually grew out of that discomfort, I wouldn’t be so hung up on the matter today. But in fact, I’ve never really crawled out from under the shame of the term. This reality has never been more evident than in moments of my adulthood wherein opportunities for greater leadership presented themselves, and I shied away from them for fear of reinforcing that childhood stereotype. God forbid I become someone’s boss; What if they found me “bossy”?? <br /></p><p>You can see the irony. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS7D0uHNlpslMvluUrEm7-h3n7wqLcsV0ZJKVVMTwbvI-7wBeYBHdNVAGY6P7K9fESeZKp3XNBlFQyKjAuXNhwKD1gSQGLy8hq6UwlPDNViT_XhQ76-y-_NLkDEFuLPLm8JKv2kAM_aW-CKWNsDarYisvkv-IC7JC8RGq7QM2KMjAzXYf7BPVmjKwtNQ/s1232/IMG_0561.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1232" data-original-width="924" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS7D0uHNlpslMvluUrEm7-h3n7wqLcsV0ZJKVVMTwbvI-7wBeYBHdNVAGY6P7K9fESeZKp3XNBlFQyKjAuXNhwKD1gSQGLy8hq6UwlPDNViT_XhQ76-y-_NLkDEFuLPLm8JKv2kAM_aW-CKWNsDarYisvkv-IC7JC8RGq7QM2KMjAzXYf7BPVmjKwtNQ/s1000/IMG_0561.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkeA83ZonF62WDR2_jf6FfeaNOfZBUc6_a4Yw-zmI30eN2RuLGYBGPBYohy_ZmsJtEYiTuk5RcX-2sqV7w0YHcC48JyQKLAJdaHC_v1fDj8hOzO6f8dJ4md9ymkeRG-NrC5XaPhwNmaSyBr1hYStqsze0L5qrQS3ioXDAohB1wWEcGRH7J2205T8euRQ/s2049/IMG_9480.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1537" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkeA83ZonF62WDR2_jf6FfeaNOfZBUc6_a4Yw-zmI30eN2RuLGYBGPBYohy_ZmsJtEYiTuk5RcX-2sqV7w0YHcC48JyQKLAJdaHC_v1fDj8hOzO6f8dJ4md9ymkeRG-NrC5XaPhwNmaSyBr1hYStqsze0L5qrQS3ioXDAohB1wWEcGRH7J2205T8euRQ/s1000/IMG_9480.JPG" /></a></div><p></p><p>Today while washing dishes, I had the thought that I’ve always been quite aware of my personal boundaries, needs, and, yes, *occasionally selfish* desires. I’ve been that way ever since I was a kid. And I’m proud of that. It’s something many folks are saddled with learning much later on, maybe only with the help of therapy. </p><p>I suspect it’s this very quality that makes me such a bossy Boss. Reframing this idea for myself brought a level of contentment — and I hope, if you’ve ever felt likewise squeamish at the term “bossy” yourself, that it does for you too.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMUFPiMFz3aIHT3dfCM_uTM1MU_HQJqJNOLH9WPlb93lT85NsoFL6jWC9_czWS8a8OIyMDemsPgWO-x9R3jBIq5MNWY3Xt2ho7a6Q270l1g4Vc8ekWG--E1q2nCodkmUaH0bCdTEM4erpIAlcSzlbew4wfvJ1d5TD7XIsiF0OoovrndZdzUOmtIMkOKg/s1978/IMG_1952.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1978" data-original-width="1483" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMUFPiMFz3aIHT3dfCM_uTM1MU_HQJqJNOLH9WPlb93lT85NsoFL6jWC9_czWS8a8OIyMDemsPgWO-x9R3jBIq5MNWY3Xt2ho7a6Q270l1g4Vc8ekWG--E1q2nCodkmUaH0bCdTEM4erpIAlcSzlbew4wfvJ1d5TD7XIsiF0OoovrndZdzUOmtIMkOKg/s1000/IMG_1952.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgImFqabRuxvi2jVT5I-apcZltDGOZcYkhXiU_U7lI5B5iNt20E65h-eLKKmC84l0Lj7kG3FSFWgFhNnOlQdq2rIK5AQ8l-gRDbzUOc44j1ed7d4Z6m6PrexXBoYRRgDNyAsR8JaUJQV4OHH018I9Q-f99t11ANkNwIJ3e_CpkmTZz5HqeLAce3oFVyCg/s1975/IMG_2069.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1975" data-original-width="1481" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgImFqabRuxvi2jVT5I-apcZltDGOZcYkhXiU_U7lI5B5iNt20E65h-eLKKmC84l0Lj7kG3FSFWgFhNnOlQdq2rIK5AQ8l-gRDbzUOc44j1ed7d4Z6m6PrexXBoYRRgDNyAsR8JaUJQV4OHH018I9Q-f99t11ANkNwIJ3e_CpkmTZz5HqeLAce3oFVyCg/s1000/IMG_2069.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAjq8KrHETp_NT_mTc2Fd2pAoKMi4QZVowEKSzAhbT9louAzoRhxz9q25MEB9DUO8xWGTLLFpVL2pvH6Du2qMl8Anu3QWOdZH7LgWv9_bPUs-kexDU2oclNAWwbHWaqFXd5h9-c4-0RuasmrAQW3vORw_nsxVon5uj1Q78J3W6yU7KwdpBmNgXONPVgg/s2048/E273D175-75EB-42F6-9372-C1241A14B0E1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1537" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAjq8KrHETp_NT_mTc2Fd2pAoKMi4QZVowEKSzAhbT9louAzoRhxz9q25MEB9DUO8xWGTLLFpVL2pvH6Du2qMl8Anu3QWOdZH7LgWv9_bPUs-kexDU2oclNAWwbHWaqFXd5h9-c4-0RuasmrAQW3vORw_nsxVon5uj1Q78J3W6yU7KwdpBmNgXONPVgg/s1000/E273D175-75EB-42F6-9372-C1241A14B0E1.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAjq8KrHETp_NT_mTc2Fd2pAoKMi4QZVowEKSzAhbT9louAzoRhxz9q25MEB9DUO8xWGTLLFpVL2pvH6Du2qMl8Anu3QWOdZH7LgWv9_bPUs-kexDU2oclNAWwbHWaqFXd5h9-c4-0RuasmrAQW3vORw_nsxVon5uj1Q78J3W6yU7KwdpBmNgXONPVgg/s2048/E273D175-75EB-42F6-9372-C1241A14B0E1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br /> <br /><p></p><p> <br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"> © copyright LGPQ 2014 – All rights reserved </div>inspirsessionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579184262738042591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998010807702405527.post-58591849576100254242021-04-06T17:52:00.003-04:002021-04-06T18:11:30.522-04:00a white shirt (#twinningwithhexekami)<p> Sometimes it's the simplest things in life which are the most beautiful...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W8pO_n9Q3EU/YGzcNNzwbtI/AAAAAAAAY3A/yN40iB1l_WcCydH1_ghDh-iK5LWtmmxaACLcBGAsYHQ/s1500/follow%2Bmy%2Bgirl...%25282%2529.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W8pO_n9Q3EU/YGzcNNzwbtI/AAAAAAAAY3A/yN40iB1l_WcCydH1_ghDh-iK5LWtmmxaACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/follow%2Bmy%2Bgirl...%25282%2529.png" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"> © copyright LGPQ 2014 – All rights reserved </div>inspirsessionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579184262738042591noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998010807702405527.post-47798747561543792982021-03-30T21:36:00.009-04:002021-03-30T21:51:18.357-04:00black + pastels (#mismatchmarch IG challenge)<p>Welcome to my new format for OOTD posts! I'm sorry to admit I fell behind in cataloging my March outfits, but if I can find time I'll try to do a back-dated photo-dump on a future occasion. For now, I'm excited to be playing around with some basic graphic design to keep this space updated more regularly. </p><p> Hope you enjoy the look!<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z2l4bC0MzbE/YGPQuai0OWI/AAAAAAAAY14/SIqId0YLEe4oKgpR6bPhYG8IEYu-oTNqwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1500/follow%2Bmy%2Bgirl...%25281%2529.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z2l4bC0MzbE/YGPQuai0OWI/AAAAAAAAY14/SIqId0YLEe4oKgpR6bPhYG8IEYu-oTNqwCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/follow%2Bmy%2Bgirl...%25281%2529.png" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"> © copyright LGPQ 2014 – All rights reserved </div>inspirsessionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579184262738042591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998010807702405527.post-35375048612151887672021-03-03T16:08:00.001-05:002021-03-06T16:30:56.179-05:00February 2021 #wearitlike_challenge Outfits (Part 2)<p>This post is coming to you a bit late because I wanted to hit the ground running after my style challenge without missing a beat. I'm also still readjusting to my work schedule and owning a new KITTEN, so real life sort of swept me away this past week!<br /></p><p>The <b>#wearitlike_challenge</b> continued to inspire me through the doldrums of winter, which are usually when my style is at its least interesting. Permitting myself the adventure of disappearing into different characters every day was thrilling, and best of all I made some new friends through Instagram along the way!</p><p>A personal highlight of this experience was definitely the <b>Andie Walsh</b> (Pretty in Pink) day, during which I made a three-outfit reel and photo post which, by way of some magic, was seen by <b>Marilyn Vance</b>. Vance is the original costume designer for the movie (she also costumed The Breakfast Club and Pretty Women, from which you'll see characters here as well), and her work has inspired me since I was a teenager. It was totally thrilling that she encountered my stylings, let alone complimented them. I'll be living on that birthday present for the next ten years at least.<br /></p><p>Following are <b>the final ten character-inspired looks </b>from the challenge. To see the first half, check out the previous post. And if you happen to read this, let me know which one is your favorite!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMuIC4TGgwcnnN7g6ncrAGZbd9rtThw6_6tFcU6YGutyhhYtJdS22jDcthWMpAzO9h634DeGD_oYa5lmsXhaz7lY2F7aKEkjEBU_9maCV9u-qIJLjgchlhOoB68hbnl_EDbrAR6SODe7U/s2049/3F383F97-0670-437F-BA3D-8D6E342D880B.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1537" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMuIC4TGgwcnnN7g6ncrAGZbd9rtThw6_6tFcU6YGutyhhYtJdS22jDcthWMpAzO9h634DeGD_oYa5lmsXhaz7lY2F7aKEkjEBU_9maCV9u-qIJLjgchlhOoB68hbnl_EDbrAR6SODe7U/s900/3F383F97-0670-437F-BA3D-8D6E342D880B.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">02.15.2021: Vivian Ward (Pretty Woman)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited">dress: brown dotted / Nanette Lepore (gift)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited">shoes: cream & black ballet flats / Banana Republic / (gift)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited">hat: brown wide-brim / unknown (thrifted) </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited">belt: chocolate double-buckle / BCBG (gift)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited">gloves: white / unknown (hand-me-down)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aultvmEWUH8/YEPqO_AWzMI/AAAAAAAAYd0/N5rTN4ejPHEcfILbZKshvXHaNz8b-Vv3QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2049/7A16A440-0C8A-4ED2-8262-FC17981F41A7.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1537" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aultvmEWUH8/YEPqO_AWzMI/AAAAAAAAYd0/N5rTN4ejPHEcfILbZKshvXHaNz8b-Vv3QCLcBGAsYHQ/s900/7A16A440-0C8A-4ED2-8262-FC17981F41A7.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited">02.16.2021: Andie Walsh (Pretty in Pink)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNvjDBja90bwEatAqVClR-E9tYoXyPTz69hdCSTupZJpbvHOXiAvP9lSRzd62c3bkhLZNTxXIbovVU4DFAY28Oj_6U9MOU0UQoeY8wuPLo1cl55-PvknF4ZPx9_Z7yLoPXMVIYlq7MHgM/s2049/5DE37961-3430-4002-93A2-4C3F60F087D6.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1537" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNvjDBja90bwEatAqVClR-E9tYoXyPTz69hdCSTupZJpbvHOXiAvP9lSRzd62c3bkhLZNTxXIbovVU4DFAY28Oj_6U9MOU0UQoeY8wuPLo1cl55-PvknF4ZPx9_Z7yLoPXMVIYlq7MHgM/s900/5DE37961-3430-4002-93A2-4C3F60F087D6.JPG" /></a></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"><br /></span><span title="Edited"><i><span title="Edited"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LPVc7WcmpBY/YEPqO5S7hVI/AAAAAAAAYd8/CAXjB4HKjRUXb0Q5fzsR7XLDn-Gg2_F3wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2049/18C5E61E-EEE7-4283-B2ED-2CE1A40197BF.JPG"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1537" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LPVc7WcmpBY/YEPqO5S7hVI/AAAAAAAAYd8/CAXjB4HKjRUXb0Q5fzsR7XLDn-Gg2_F3wCLcBGAsYHQ/s900/18C5E61E-EEE7-4283-B2ED-2CE1A40197BF.JPG" /></a></span> <br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"><i> </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"><i>LOOK 1</i><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;">inner: pink tank blouse / Uniqlo (thrifted)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited">outer 1: white beaded cardigan / B.Altman (thrifted vintage)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited">outer 2: </span><span title="Edited">aqua men’s suit jacket / ASOS (hand-me-down; local buy-nothing group)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited">bottom: leopard print leggings / Hard Tail (hand-me-down)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited">shoes: tan combat boots / Lucky (thrifted) </span><br /><span title="Edited"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited">hat: black wide-brim / Halston III (hand-me-down vintage) </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited">scarf: black & red floral silk / unknown (thrifted) <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">jewelry: all gifted<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"> </span><br /><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><i>LOOK 2</i><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited">dress: white elephant print / unknown (thrifted)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited">outer 1: pink assymetrical tunic / Top Shop (swapped)<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited">outer 2: white ribbed cardigan / unknown (new 2020)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited">shoes: cognac brogues / Coach / (thrifted)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited">scarf: brown floral silk / unknown (swapped) <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited">belt: </span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited">cognac & gold wide / unknown (thrifted) </span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited">tights:</span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"> taupe / Hue (thrifted)</span></span></div><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"></span></span></div><span title="Edited">socks: red glitter / Bombas (gift)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited">earrings: cameo / unknown (hand-me-down) <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">hair clips: pink rose duo / H&M (old)<br /></div><span title="Edited"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><i>LOOK 3</i><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;">inner 1: <span title="Edited">pink ribbed turtleneck / Free People (hand-me-down)</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;">inner 2: sage floral tank / Old Navy (hand-me-down)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited">inner 3: </span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited">cream lace tee / Abound (new 2020)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">outer: cream floral denim jacket / Highway (thrifted)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">bottom: <span title="Edited">black ponte pants / DKNY (gift)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited">shoes: </span><span title="Edited">tan ankle boots / </span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited">Børn</span></span></span></span> (hand-me-down)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited">glasses: </span><span title="Edited">cognac d-frames / Persol (found)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited">scarf (as belt): </span><span title="Edited">light blue silk square / unknown (thrifted)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited">necklace: turquoise gemstone / unknown (thrifted)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P9N7qzk5hNc/YEPvPqut6iI/AAAAAAAAYeI/cN7QYVpkqjA2sn8-xoScGu9kDZrZhiofwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2049/20BD26E8-C251-4F92-945F-413320697E08.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1537" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P9N7qzk5hNc/YEPvPqut6iI/AAAAAAAAYeI/cN7QYVpkqjA2sn8-xoScGu9kDZrZhiofwCLcBGAsYHQ/s900/20BD26E8-C251-4F92-945F-413320697E08.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">02.18.2021: Roxy Ryan (New York Minute)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"><span> <br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"><span>inner: charcoal waffle tee / unknown (hand-me-down)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"><span>outer: black graphic tee / unknown via Poshmark (thrifted)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"><span>bottom: flare jeans / Lucky Brand (new)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"><span>shoes: black low-tops / Converse (found)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"><span>hat: brown newsboy / August (gift)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"><span> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"><span> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"><span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xPjW7osOdt8/YEPvzTrBVWI/AAAAAAAAYeQ/9A_TnLw0PVkg9rb9fNO41ppU_tkqfie8wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/08DD1804-9697-4DDB-B4A5-CF88FD06C682.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xPjW7osOdt8/YEPvzTrBVWI/AAAAAAAAYeQ/9A_TnLw0PVkg9rb9fNO41ppU_tkqfie8wCLcBGAsYHQ/s900/08DD1804-9697-4DDB-B4A5-CF88FD06C682.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">02.19.2021: Shirley (Mad Men)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"><span><span title="Edited">dress: blue floral mini / H&M (gift)</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"><span><span title="Edited">tights: taupe / Hue (thrifted)</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"><span><span title="Edited">shoes: chocolate knee boots / Frye (thrifted)</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"><span><span title="Edited"> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"><span><span title="Edited"> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"><span><span title="Edited"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TWbKHZa08hA/YEPwBEavYyI/AAAAAAAAYeU/AkaDSQosOVc5F-KX6Jq2zlNveVSkmUrkgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2049/34DB9919-9655-4F94-85FF-B9DB0C0D5F24.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1537" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TWbKHZa08hA/YEPwBEavYyI/AAAAAAAAYeU/AkaDSQosOVc5F-KX6Jq2zlNveVSkmUrkgCLcBGAsYHQ/s900/34DB9919-9655-4F94-85FF-B9DB0C0D5F24.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">02.20.2021: Summer Finn (500 Days of Summer)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"><span><span title="Edited"></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"><span><span title="Edited"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"><span><span title="Edited"> </span></span></span><span title="Edited"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited">dress: blue silk shirtdress / Club Monaco (thrifted)</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited">tights: black / DKNY (new)</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited">shoes: black oxfords / Børn (new)</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited">scarf: pale blue print silk / unknown (thrifted)</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IVPqWTsM1-8/YEPwXXjajDI/AAAAAAAAYeg/dxnD3O5TxMITfGoig768_uOxKCmT9C9wgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2049/2475AF75-4285-4225-BDFC-D1998E6A3931.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1537" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IVPqWTsM1-8/YEPwXXjajDI/AAAAAAAAYeg/dxnD3O5TxMITfGoig768_uOxKCmT9C9wgCLcBGAsYHQ/s900/2475AF75-4285-4225-BDFC-D1998E6A3931.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">02.22.2021: Evelyn Carnahan (The Mummy)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> </span></span></span></span><span title="Edited">top: yellow striped shirt / Banana Republic (thrifted)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited">bottom: cream linen joggers / Uniqlo (thrifted)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited">shoes: chocolate knee boots / Frye (thrifted)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited">scarf: black silk / unknown (hand-me-down vintage)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"><span> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"><span> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"><span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gPcItUjNKqc/YEPw5YjBqCI/AAAAAAAAYeo/CT_UE04ks2IDQ7lXwEMwvm6AN0sRLdyPACLcBGAsYHQ/s2049/E452B746-9935-4593-9E2D-FC7DF863E13E.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1537" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gPcItUjNKqc/YEPw5YjBqCI/AAAAAAAAYeo/CT_UE04ks2IDQ7lXwEMwvm6AN0sRLdyPACLcBGAsYHQ/s900/E452B746-9935-4593-9E2D-FC7DF863E13E.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">02.23.2021: Lelaina Pierce (Reality Bites)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> </span></span><span title="Edited">inner: charcoal longline tank / Old Navy (hand-me-down)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited">outer: cargo jacket / Old Navy (thrifted)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited">bottom: black skinny jeans / J.Brand (new)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited">shoes: brown combat boots / Täōs (gift)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"><span> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"><span> </span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oByAJVxKmGI/YEPxNc1MXoI/AAAAAAAAYew/pQaPNNLmon861Xp7vtTkZzRSUNvIuHGWACLcBGAsYHQ/s2049/C2E3BE6D-E67C-4F6B-A85A-49FA3FEF93E3.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oByAJVxKmGI/YEPxNc1MXoI/AAAAAAAAYew/pQaPNNLmon861Xp7vtTkZzRSUNvIuHGWACLcBGAsYHQ/s900/C2E3BE6D-E67C-4F6B-A85A-49FA3FEF93E3.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">02.25.2021: Beth Harmon (The Queen's Gambit)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"><span> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"><span><span title="Edited"><span><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZRnFROvqDpk/YEPxNUswhrI/AAAAAAAAYe4/AKW9bLBXaN4TJnrQUgwYf3GvxmVWsCUUACLcBGAsYHQ/s2049/58D8F3E7-04ED-44A5-AF2F-EC7B07688B41.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZRnFROvqDpk/YEPxNUswhrI/AAAAAAAAYe4/AKW9bLBXaN4TJnrQUgwYf3GvxmVWsCUUACLcBGAsYHQ/s900/58D8F3E7-04ED-44A5-AF2F-EC7B07688B41.JPG" /></a></span></span> <br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"><span> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"><span><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0WoqGNzR4jc/YEPxNYdi3MI/AAAAAAAAYe0/h76uHkt2NeoEJ2UQ1W8Wl-lkHYiUyI_nACLcBGAsYHQ/s2049/2C9F9B6D-2C96-4739-9B1D-8F94644702BC.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1537" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0WoqGNzR4jc/YEPxNYdi3MI/AAAAAAAAYe0/h76uHkt2NeoEJ2UQ1W8Wl-lkHYiUyI_nACLcBGAsYHQ/s900/2C9F9B6D-2C96-4739-9B1D-8F94644702BC.JPG" /></a><span title="Edited"><span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"><span><span title="Edited"><i>LOOK 1</i><br /></span></span></span><span>dress: black & cream pleated dress / Rachel Roy (thrifted)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span>shoes: black & cream ballet flats / Banana Republic (gift)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span> </span><span title="Edited"> </span><br /><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><i>LOOK 2</i><br /></span></span><span>top: periwinkle puff-sleeve sweater / Banana Republic (gift)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span>bottom: burgundy a-line skirt / Loft (new)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span>shoes: black oxfords / Børn (new)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span>sunglasses: black Wayfarers / Ray-Ban (new) </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span>scarf: brown floral silk / unknown (swapped)</span><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"> </span></div><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><i>LOOK 3</i><br /></span></span><span>top: white cable-knit sweater / Banana Republic (gift)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span>bottom: houndstooth trousers / Banana Republic (gift)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span>shoes: cognac brogues / Coach (thrifted)</span><span title="Edited"><span> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"><span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"><span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EvKT5wsz_tg/YEPx5prDTRI/AAAAAAAAYfE/rrQJEhWC7_Egvzrqzmc5sm4bD9-fR1FEwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2049/17FF2C11-6137-40E7-BAEE-AB48B87314CD.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1537" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EvKT5wsz_tg/YEPx5prDTRI/AAAAAAAAYfE/rrQJEhWC7_Egvzrqzmc5sm4bD9-fR1FEwCLcBGAsYHQ/s900/17FF2C11-6137-40E7-BAEE-AB48B87314CD.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">02.26.2021: John Bender (The Breakfast Club)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span title="Edited"><span><span title="Edited">inner: white ribbed keyhole tee / American Apparel (thrifted)<br />outer 1: denim jacket / Silver (thrifted)<br />outer 2: charcoal tweed belted coat / Fashionbilt (vintage) <br />bottom: black skinny jeans / J-Brand (new)<br />shoes: brown combat boots / Täōs (gift)<br />scarf: red plaid / unknown (new)<br />gloves: gray wool / unknown (gift, then remade)<br />sunglasses: black Wayfarers / Ray-Bans (new)</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"><span><span title="Edited"> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"><span><span title="Edited"> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"><span><span title="Edited"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kgF3TkxRLZw/YEPyOoeQW0I/AAAAAAAAYfM/ktSAcP7PUogrlXlkpdhaEJ-bUreEK0u_ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2049/0ABB74DC-4975-4E02-9F24-D7DEB062E4B7.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1537" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kgF3TkxRLZw/YEPyOoeQW0I/AAAAAAAAYfM/ktSAcP7PUogrlXlkpdhaEJ-bUreEK0u_ACLcBGAsYHQ/s900/0ABB74DC-4975-4E02-9F24-D7DEB062E4B7.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">02.27.2021: Andy Sachs (The Devil Wears Prada)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <br /></span></span></span></div></span></span></div><span title="Edited">inner: white puff-sleeve blouse / Banana Republic (thrifted) <br />outer: black boatneck tee / H&M (hand-me-down)<br />bottom: black pinstripe trousers / Cambridge (new)<br />shoes: black suede booties / Frye (thrifted)<br />hat: brown newsboy / August (gift)<br />necklace 1: pearl strand / Rachel (new)<br />necklace 2: glass bead strand / unknown (gift)<br />brooch: black floral / unknown (gift)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"> </span><span title="Edited"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span title="Edited">I hope everyone had a splendid February! I'll be back in mid-March (beware the ides!) to share the first half of my outfits of the day. Until then, stay safe and stay stylish.<br /></span></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"> © copyright LGPQ 2014 – All rights reserved </div>inspirsessionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579184262738042591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998010807702405527.post-68645568093292070672021-02-15T19:53:00.003-05:002021-02-15T19:53:36.840-05:00February 2021 #wearitlike_challenge Outfits (Part 1)<div><p>Happy post-Valentine's Day everyone! This is usually a busy time for me, what with Val Day just a week after my partner's birthday, then my own after that. Occasionally family visits during the long weekend. Usually Restaurant Week is happening as well, and it also happens to be the shortest month of the year to top it off! Somehow, even not having returned to restaurant life yet and with the pandemic keeping me around the apartment, I'm *still* busy during this time. So I'm taking my typical 2/15 breather to enjoy a slice of cake and get all my ducks in a row for the remainder of the month. Including sharing these photos with you!</p><p>The <b>#wearitlike_challenge</b> was born from an idea I saw on Reddit, to research and dress like favorite television characters on one's birthday month. I expanded this out to include movie characters, made a list, and refined it all through January. At the start of the month, I opened up the challenge to my IG community, encouraging others to "wear it like" the character of the day, and while there's definitely been more observation than participation, I'm having a blast living out all my fashion icon fantasies! For a few characters I couldn't help myself and created more than one look.<br /></p><p>Below you'll see the <b>first ten characters </b>of the challenge, and I'll be back with the remaining ten at month's end. If style challenges are something that interest you, check out my Instagram profile for more details! (Specifically under the "Challenge" button in my highlights.)</p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y9qJoyIqrzk/YCsLxU2eYVI/AAAAAAAAYGk/rbvvrS_YIX0pWfKYJzQbGEpl1sgGCQ3MACLcBGAsYHQ/s2049/0A3AEE69-D63F-4F48-86AB-59D599EE1D66.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1537" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y9qJoyIqrzk/YCsLxU2eYVI/AAAAAAAAYGk/rbvvrS_YIX0pWfKYJzQbGEpl1sgGCQ3MACLcBGAsYHQ/s900/0A3AEE69-D63F-4F48-86AB-59D599EE1D66.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">02.01.2021: Jenna Rink (13 Going on 30)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span></span><p></p></div><div style="text-align: center;">inner: cream slip / unknown (hand-me-down vintage)<br />outer: beige topcoat / Kenneth Cole (new)<br />shoes: black stiletto sandals / Guess (gift)<br />necklace: peach gemstone bib / unknown </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YmFIUVh1yw8/YCsNuevbIdI/AAAAAAAAYG0/niHngV7eUYEUUMycKx4a56zmB_nTR1UXwCPcBGAYYCw/s2049/9B52BE7D-D2CC-4B23-920B-F4AB5297F494.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1537" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YmFIUVh1yw8/YCsNuevbIdI/AAAAAAAAYG0/niHngV7eUYEUUMycKx4a56zmB_nTR1UXwCPcBGAYYCw/s900/9B52BE7D-D2CC-4B23-920B-F4AB5297F494.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">02.02.2021: Midge Maisel (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> dress: green floral print / H&M (new)</div><div style="text-align: center;">cardigan: white beaded / B.Altman's (thrifted vintage)</div><div style="text-align: center;">shoes: black pumps / Ravel (hand-me-down-vintage)</div><div style="text-align: center;">gloves: unknown (hand-me-down)</div><div style="text-align: center;">purse: black clutch / BP (new)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n2wpGMXYtjE/YCsOjR6JMAI/AAAAAAAAYHA/VXxzFzVfjXAOhT2gHeiVh3dwumC-4x59wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2049/1F00B4AB-F55A-45D6-9856-0ADD4DA9BA30.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1537" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n2wpGMXYtjE/YCsOjR6JMAI/AAAAAAAAYHA/VXxzFzVfjXAOhT2gHeiVh3dwumC-4x59wCLcBGAsYHQ/s900/1F00B4AB-F55A-45D6-9856-0ADD4DA9BA30.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">02.04.2021: David Rose (Schitt's Creek)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JE1kQwMXkds/YCsOj2--fwI/AAAAAAAAYHI/KAeoAUBphrwkwh0TZlHbg_wsAO2Hu2cgwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2049/D52E72B4-7288-4714-8F97-E2C498C11B44.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1537" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JE1kQwMXkds/YCsOj2--fwI/AAAAAAAAYHI/KAeoAUBphrwkwh0TZlHbg_wsAO2Hu2cgwCLcBGAsYHQ/s900/D52E72B4-7288-4714-8F97-E2C498C11B44.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3h5ruAFPjhQ/YCsOjtJGfAI/AAAAAAAAYHE/7eAPakWYt6IzX3bbjvXYhhip7xMRV1WEQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2049/C10BD2F0-007D-4BFB-BB67-774E7E71E6E5.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1538" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3h5ruAFPjhQ/YCsOjtJGfAI/AAAAAAAAYHE/7eAPakWYt6IzX3bbjvXYhhip7xMRV1WEQCLcBGAsYHQ/s900/C10BD2F0-007D-4BFB-BB67-774E7E71E6E5.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cA8xCNG9c34/YCsOjZoqagI/AAAAAAAAYG8/C4-5MCw45YU4X0eWDbtzIzgG8ifTBv5DgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2049/AF345106-6589-4DCE-A890-E9D81E679E7E.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1537" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cA8xCNG9c34/YCsOjZoqagI/AAAAAAAAYG8/C4-5MCw45YU4X0eWDbtzIzgG8ifTBv5DgCLcBGAsYHQ/s900/AF345106-6589-4DCE-A890-E9D81E679E7E.JPG" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fFqrgzPKbtE/YCsOjBf3ejI/AAAAAAAAYG4/cJHNs3LX0uYwPd9K60LGrtE1TK5yB-a7ACPcBGAYYCw/s2049/920EB405-9909-4102-93A8-6E925608B0F3.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1537" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fFqrgzPKbtE/YCsOjBf3ejI/AAAAAAAAYG4/cJHNs3LX0uYwPd9K60LGrtE1TK5yB-a7ACPcBGAYYCw/s900/920EB405-9909-4102-93A8-6E925608B0F3.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span>LOOK 1</span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span>inner: black tee / H&M (hand-me-down)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span>outer: black & white vestigan / Sans Souchi (hand-me-down)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span>bottom: black joggers / Old Navy (gift)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span>shoes: black platform sneakers / Janet Sport (new)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><br /><i><b>LOOK 2</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span>inner: black & white striped sweater / Scotland Cashmere (thrifted)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span>bottom: black skinny jeans / J.Brand (new)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span><br />LOOK 3</span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span>inner: white blouse / Banana Republic (thrifted)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span>outer: black merino sweater / APC (thrifted)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span>bottom: houndstooth trousers / Banana Republic (new)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span>shoes: black brogues / Born (new)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><br /><i><b>LOOK 4</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span>dress: black hi-lo / Yala (thrifted)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span>outer: black blazer / J.Crew (hand-me-down)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><br /><i><b>LOOK 5</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span>inner: black cashmere sweater / Brooks Brothers (thrifted)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span>bottom: black skirt / H&M (swapped) & black pants / DKNY (gift)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span>shoes: black sneakers / Converse</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span>sunglasses: Ray-Ban (new)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span>scarf: black cashmere / Nordstrom (gift)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bYmQ48bxzwk/YCsP7ei3AWI/AAAAAAAAYHg/p0pZExiy2jETNwHU6tqK3f9KHpZEukXIQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2049/7F42C506-2AE7-4930-915C-D56E9C8EB001.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1537" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bYmQ48bxzwk/YCsP7ei3AWI/AAAAAAAAYHg/p0pZExiy2jETNwHU6tqK3f9KHpZEukXIQCLcBGAsYHQ/s900/7F42C506-2AE7-4930-915C-D56E9C8EB001.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">02.05.2021: Jessa Johansson (Girls)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span> </span><span><span title="Edited">dress: maroon floral maxi / Maurice’s (thrifted)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span title="Edited">outer: ivory cable-knit cardigan / Banana Republic (found)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span title="Edited">bralette: white lace / Free People (thrifted)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span title="Edited">shoes: cream espadrilles / Soludos (thrifted)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span title="Edited">all jewelry: unknown (gifts)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span title="Edited"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span title="Edited"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span title="Edited"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fr-MDk7iTFc/YCsQUgX6NFI/AAAAAAAAYHo/EgxOq3y_Ed0LQfSCuHBQCOwI4fH86uf9ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1921/C8E413D3-93C7-4936-9ADC-C1B741038CF4.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1921" data-original-width="1537" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fr-MDk7iTFc/YCsQUgX6NFI/AAAAAAAAYHo/EgxOq3y_Ed0LQfSCuHBQCOwI4fH86uf9ACLcBGAsYHQ/s900/C8E413D3-93C7-4936-9ADC-C1B741038CF4.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">02.06.2021: Denise Huxtable (The Cosby Show)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited">inner 1: leopard print mock neck tank / unknown (gift) </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited">inner 2: taupe pinstripe tee blouse / Jones New York (new)</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited">outer: cognac houndstooth blazer / Sabrina’s (thrifted vintage)</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited">bottom: black high-waist trousers / Wilfred (thrifted)</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited">socks: burgundy glitter / Bombas (gift)</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited">scarf: brown silk print / unknown (swapped)</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited">belt: unknown (hand-me-down vintage)</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited">bracelets: friendship (handmade), brown leather (gift)</span> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span title="Edited"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span title="Edited"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span title="Edited"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FKgdICklP1E/YCsQzRdmbeI/AAAAAAAAYHw/gDpRmFeVO6g8Z5ZUUfou6vsFXvARxgw-wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2049/EDA163CC-CADA-4DCC-8D5B-0C13A402D542.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1537" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FKgdICklP1E/YCsQzRdmbeI/AAAAAAAAYHw/gDpRmFeVO6g8Z5ZUUfou6vsFXvARxgw-wCLcBGAsYHQ/s900/EDA163CC-CADA-4DCC-8D5B-0C13A402D542.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">02.08.2021: Allison Reynolds (The Breakfast Club)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited">inner 1 (not pictured): white eyelet cropped tank blouse / Old Navy (new, upcycled) </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited">inner 2 (not pictured): navy & chocolate striped tee / Theory (thrifted </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited">inner 3: forest green men’s sweater / Eddie Bauer (hand-me-down)</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited">outer: drab olive parka / Chinese Laundry (hand-me-down)</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited">bottom 1: black a-line skirt / H&M (swapped)</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited">bottom 2: charcoal leggings / matty m (new)</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited">socks: cashmere knit / unknown (gift)</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited">scarf: blue silk printed / unknown (thrifted)</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited">shoes: black low-tops / Converse (found)</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S2vPmZ7Gtyk/YCsTp7-T59I/AAAAAAAAYIo/CQvl7zpc0UgBLsw3LTfWWf9TTRJSSywwACLcBGAsYHQ/s2049/B7D89459-2CDD-4781-9B57-D17A8890106C.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1537" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S2vPmZ7Gtyk/YCsTp7-T59I/AAAAAAAAYIo/CQvl7zpc0UgBLsw3LTfWWf9TTRJSSywwACLcBGAsYHQ/s900/B7D89459-2CDD-4781-9B57-D17A8890106C.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">02.09.2021: Josie Packard (Twin Peaks)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"> </span></span></span><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited">dress: black tuxedo / New Classics (gift, vintage)</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited">tights: black floral net / Hue (new)</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited">shoes: black pumps / Ravel (hand-me-down vintage)</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hXKqFSxxhMs/YCsUExu0IdI/AAAAAAAAYIw/LAyVMwbZTyMCqc1tlc_Y_oAWH12DRCHrQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2049/5A3D66DD-29DC-4E1F-9955-B9F746221A82.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1537" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hXKqFSxxhMs/YCsUExu0IdI/AAAAAAAAYIw/LAyVMwbZTyMCqc1tlc_Y_oAWH12DRCHrQCLcBGAsYHQ/s900/5A3D66DD-29DC-4E1F-9955-B9F746221A82.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">02.11.2021: Nancy Wheeler (Stranger Things)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span></span></span><br /><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited">inner: pink tank blouse / Uniqlo (thrifted)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited">outer: beige cardigan / J.Crew (thrifted)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited">bottom: pale blue mesh skirt / Zara (hand-me-down)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited">tights: taupe / Hue (thrifted)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited">shoes: cognac oxfords / Coach (thrifted)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited">bag: brown satchel / Fossil (thrifted)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"> </span></span></span></span></span> </span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aUBNbSLEkuY/YCsRfOp-xFI/AAAAAAAAYH8/dyXbC9lX3hwyKq9-c0MBo4MOUCSfsBXQwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2049/98E00F89-61D9-4D93-AFC4-36F4465BC7EA.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1537" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aUBNbSLEkuY/YCsRfOp-xFI/AAAAAAAAYH8/dyXbC9lX3hwyKq9-c0MBo4MOUCSfsBXQwCLcBGAsYHQ/s900/98E00F89-61D9-4D93-AFC4-36F4465BC7EA.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">02.12.2021: Rachel Green (Friends)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NbMd9xNKXyo/YCsRfFJDQTI/AAAAAAAAYIE/OIhmzUpcgS4uahw_nYkbsNvHTSQgtANHgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2049/430EFFEF-1075-42DC-B209-CCD867B06D23.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1537" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NbMd9xNKXyo/YCsRfFJDQTI/AAAAAAAAYIE/OIhmzUpcgS4uahw_nYkbsNvHTSQgtANHgCLcBGAsYHQ/s900/430EFFEF-1075-42DC-B209-CCD867B06D23.JPG" /></a></div></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZZwN5yLtSfE/YCsRgMrNjzI/AAAAAAAAYIM/ky-cSCojTIAtoHaYDBb3rR92HmruirT7wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2049/D56E1833-9E12-4755-804A-35651A0A9376.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1537" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZZwN5yLtSfE/YCsRgMrNjzI/AAAAAAAAYIM/ky-cSCojTIAtoHaYDBb3rR92HmruirT7wCLcBGAsYHQ/s900/D56E1833-9E12-4755-804A-35651A0A9376.JPG" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span title="Edited"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span title="Edited"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qm2_c-xy8Hc/YCsRgQwQbSI/AAAAAAAAYIQ/rrvyQdFI0p4OAfphSZVUY-glhjnfVKvHgCPcBGAYYCw/s2049/E574B3D4-F9F3-477A-A54E-98E87CE926AF.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1537" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qm2_c-xy8Hc/YCsRgQwQbSI/AAAAAAAAYIQ/rrvyQdFI0p4OAfphSZVUY-glhjnfVKvHgCPcBGAYYCw/s900/E574B3D4-F9F3-477A-A54E-98E87CE926AF.JPG" /></a></span></span><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><br /> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--_IzsZ9nZqk/YCsRfo-RKrI/AAAAAAAAYIc/zRiXsgpChnk0Q-8gID5IHwum3KXHVT3UQCPcBGAYYCw/s1922/C300F817-08FE-4477-A7BB-2DC60617B091.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1922" data-original-width="1537" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--_IzsZ9nZqk/YCsRfo-RKrI/AAAAAAAAYIc/zRiXsgpChnk0Q-8gID5IHwum3KXHVT3UQCPcBGAYYCw/s900/C300F817-08FE-4477-A7BB-2DC60617B091.JPG" /></a></span></span></span></span><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"> </span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--2fbU6_TkUY/YCsRfCDOpWI/AAAAAAAAYIU/ei2Inmfa_c80H0AI8gNdyvDBNPwmF3giQCPcBGAYYCw/s2049/1475B41D-67EC-4BA3-9145-26F390104A64.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1537" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--2fbU6_TkUY/YCsRfCDOpWI/AAAAAAAAYIU/ei2Inmfa_c80H0AI8gNdyvDBNPwmF3giQCPcBGAYYCw/s900/1475B41D-67EC-4BA3-9145-26F390104A64.JPG" /></a></div></span><br /><i><b><span><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span>LOOK 1</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span>top: black turtleneck / Cuddlduds (new)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span>bottom: sky blue mini skirt / Divided (thrifted)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span>shoes: black suede boots / Frye (thrifted)<br /><i><b>LOOK 2</b></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span>inner: white crop tee / Express (new)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span>outer: navy plaid tunic / Zara (thrifted)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span>bottom: ligh</span><span>kinny cargos / Loft (swapped)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span>shoes: black cork wedges / Børn (new)<br /><i><b>LOOK</b><b> 5</b></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span>top: light blue button-up / Old Navy (new)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span>bottom: black pinstripe trousers / unknown (hand-me-down)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span>shoes: (same from 1)<br /><i><b>LOOK 6</b></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span>top: cream floral blouse / American Eagle (gift)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span>bottom: charcoal skirt / unknown (thrifted)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span>shoes: chocolate knee boots / Frye (thrifted)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tquYC8MRFAg/YCsUg2nhksI/AAAAAAAAYI4/93lZt1108U03I3putDwz_5LyBQBu0nLeQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2049/95F8F1B7-89C1-41F7-8743-0909F5F9825F.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1537" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tquYC8MRFAg/YCsUg2nhksI/AAAAAAAAYI4/93lZt1108U03I3putDwz_5LyBQBu0nLeQCLcBGAsYHQ/s900/95F8F1B7-89C1-41F7-8743-0909F5F9825F.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">02.13.2021: Lisa Carol Fremont (Rear Window)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span><span title="Edited">inner: black silky tank / Banana Republic (hand-me-down)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span><span title="Edited"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span><span title="Edited">outer: green tweed jacket / Ralph Lauren (thrifted)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span><span title="Edited"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span><span title="Edited">bottom: charcoal pencil skirt / unknown (thrifted)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span><span title="Edited"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span><span title="Edited">shoes: black pumps / Ravel (hand-me-down vintage)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span><span title="Edited"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span><span title="Edited">scarf: black silk / unknown (hand-me-down vintage)</span> </span> </span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"> </span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"><span title="Edited"> </span></span></span></span></span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"> © copyright LGPQ 2014 – All rights reserved </div>inspirsessionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579184262738042591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998010807702405527.post-65602684820887979052021-01-31T19:44:00.001-05:002021-01-31T19:44:13.841-05:00January 2021 Outfit Roundup (Part 2)<div style="text-align: left;"> Happy Sunday, everyone! It's time for Part 2 of January's daily outfits. Ready? Let's go!</div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uaBQYWZ05Zg/YBdGMBd121I/AAAAAAAAYEc/ruseCA1C5CgmVj_7Sp6XvNwp7zhRFv9JgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2139/IMG_6641.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2139" data-original-width="1440" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uaBQYWZ05Zg/YBdGMBd121I/AAAAAAAAYEc/ruseCA1C5CgmVj_7Sp6XvNwp7zhRFv9JgCLcBGAsYHQ/s900/IMG_6641.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">01.18.2021</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div style="text-align: center;">inner: inner: pussybow tank blouse / Michael Kors (swapped)</div><div style="text-align: center;">outer: white beaded cardigan / B. Altman (thrifted vintage)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">bottom: rust striped maxi skirt / Bar iii (swapped)</div><div style="text-align: center;">shoes: black suede booties / Frye (thrifted)</div><div style="text-align: center;">eyeglasses: cognac D-frames / Persol (found)<br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"> This look is truly me. Not that I don't usually feel like myself when I get dressed, but sometimes an outfit just really speaks to my soul, and this is one of those outfits. I look like a fun librarian -- quirky, a bit nerdy, enthusiastic about... something or other. Probably likes to knit on weekends, I don't know. Either way, I liked getting to know her.<br /></p><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ta1vb-DZhoI/YBdGVyISbOI/AAAAAAAAYEg/4LulbM8KV8cGHiNbbwtAFUMeou1VH4oyACLcBGAsYHQ/s2104/IMG_6990.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2104" data-original-width="1440" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ta1vb-DZhoI/YBdGVyISbOI/AAAAAAAAYEg/4LulbM8KV8cGHiNbbwtAFUMeou1VH4oyACLcBGAsYHQ/s900/IMG_6990.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">01.19.2021</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">inner: leopard print mock neck tank / unknown (new)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">outer: white puff-sleeve blouse / Banana Republic (thrifted)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">bottom: black high-waist trousers / Wilfred (thrifted)</div><div style="text-align: center;">shoes: black suede booties / Frye (thrifted)</div><div style="text-align: center;">socks: green pizza print / Socksmith (gift)</div><div style="text-align: center;">scarf: brown print silk / unknown (swapped)</div><div style="text-align: center;">belt: cognac carved leather / unknown (hand-me-down vintage)</div><div style="text-align: center;">purse: black cross-body / unknown (hand-me-down)</div><div style="text-align: center;">sunglasses: black wayfarers / Ray-Ban (new)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This outfit was developed for a challenge, with a prompt to take inspiration from someone with a similar body type to mine. I chose Abby from @abbyontheinternet (formerly clothesandpizza) who is an excellent print-mixer and always looks cutting-edge, yet not unapproachably so. I love that I'm able to wear outfits I'd typically wear in the spring right now, simply by adding a few extra layers, i.e. the socks and the mockneck. Plus, unexpected prints are so fun.</div><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C9DovBuywis/YBdGgWG-AMI/AAAAAAAAYE0/9nLSuSJDGuwglU5DhHyfwjfpSZgmBKjrACLcBGAsYHQ/s2005/IMG_7678.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2005" data-original-width="1440" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C9DovBuywis/YBdGgWG-AMI/AAAAAAAAYE0/9nLSuSJDGuwglU5DhHyfwjfpSZgmBKjrACLcBGAsYHQ/s850/IMG_7678.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">01.21.2021</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">inner: black turtleneck / Cuddlduds (new)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">outer: gray sequin stripe tee / Banana Republic (thrifted)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">vest: black & white knit vestigan / Sans Souchi (hand-me-down)</div><div style="text-align: center;">shoes: black & white trainers / Asics (new)</div><div style="text-align: center;">bag: black backpack / Tutilo (gift)</div><div style="text-align: center;">hat: black wide-brim hat / Halston III (hand-me-down vintage)</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">This was the first day I ventured beyond our neighborhood to run some errands in the city in nearly a month, so it called for comfy layers! I love what a hat can do to a simple outfit like this. Instant level-up, as far as I'm concerned.<br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XZhizXF3qxk/YBdGgwULKzI/AAAAAAAAYE4/cR-1lrTlFc0UxP65sxZwHXqit2wKY-QywCLcBGAsYHQ/s2248/IMG_8175.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2248" data-original-width="1440" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XZhizXF3qxk/YBdGgwULKzI/AAAAAAAAYE4/cR-1lrTlFc0UxP65sxZwHXqit2wKY-QywCLcBGAsYHQ/s950/IMG_8175.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">01.22.2021<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div style="text-align: center;">inner: cream lace tee / Abound (new)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">outer: aqua men's suit jacket / ASOS (hand-me-down, local buy-nothing group)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">bottom: black high-waist trousers / Wilfred (thrifted)</div><div style="text-align: center;">scarf: silk burgundy & black floral / unknown (thrifted)</div><div style="text-align: center;">belt: chocolate & tan weave / unknown (thrifted)</div><p style="text-align: left;">Another challenge outfit! I was recreating a fellow style Instagrammer's here, and having a grand old time doing so, as you can see! I'm still figuring out what to do with this men's jacket I claimed via our Buy-Nothing market. It doesn't quite fit me, but isn't the color lovely?<br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zkIdDX9ZubI/YBdGhTn1eHI/AAAAAAAAYE8/SzljCkNhmtYdBewEkI21ZtCBR1ekGGx-wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2331/IMG_8647.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2331" data-original-width="1440" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zkIdDX9ZubI/YBdGhTn1eHI/AAAAAAAAYE8/SzljCkNhmtYdBewEkI21ZtCBR1ekGGx-wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/IMG_8647.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">01.23.2021</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div style="text-align: center;">inner: black lace silk top / Equipment (thrifted)</div><div style="text-align: center;">outer: black moto jacket / Zara (thrifted)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">bottom: light-wash boyfriend jeans / Express (hand-me-down)</div><div style="text-align: center;">scarf: red plaid / street vendor (new)</div><div style="text-align: center;">belt: brown leather / Gap (thrifted)</div><div style="text-align: center;">purse: cream clutch / Kate Spade (gift)</div><div style="text-align: center;">shoes: black low-tops / Converse (found)</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">It's a power 'fit! Done casual-style. Nothing adds a bit of oomph like a black leather jacket and red lipstick. I've been wearing my lipstick exclusively around the apartment these days, considering it just smudges and can't be appreciated beneath the mask. It still puts me in a cheerful mood when I catch my reflection.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjOWyO4eAquR07Xhov4mlYVflz_7kY9BcjLRfc1XNl_sZisf998Ky0b8W0YZH5prVI59WLFvsVJuBbTOY0Fkb-WQ44FfOz8POkvb_2oqMERAzPAwORgW6DnD89SCrnDKqAe3aLNhg7cVc/s1920/IMG_9147.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjOWyO4eAquR07Xhov4mlYVflz_7kY9BcjLRfc1XNl_sZisf998Ky0b8W0YZH5prVI59WLFvsVJuBbTOY0Fkb-WQ44FfOz8POkvb_2oqMERAzPAwORgW6DnD89SCrnDKqAe3aLNhg7cVc/s825/IMG_9147.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">01.25.2021</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">inner: charcoal longline tank / Old Navy (hand-me-down)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">outer: ivory cable-knit cardigan / Banana Republic (found)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">bottom: leopard-print leggings / Hard Tail (hand-me-down)</div><div style="text-align: center;">shoes: black platform sneakers / Janet Sport (new)</div><div style="text-align: center;">necklace: tiered chain / Lucky Brand (new)</div><p style="text-align: left;"> I've been dealing with some bouts of insomnia this month, and this Monday outfit was borne from feeling laaaaaaazy. Similarly to my errands-in-the-city outfit, I amped this one up with some layers (a tiered necklace, a chunky cardigan) and some kicks. I'm convinced there's nothing these David Rose-esque platform sneakers can't do. They're simply the best. ;)</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Px6I5LZPn3s/YBdGibMNEpI/AAAAAAAAYFE/AKfXbQZvu7AaucKnyNwJ4fhj-3accWoYgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2378/IMG_9723.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2378" data-original-width="1440" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Px6I5LZPn3s/YBdGibMNEpI/AAAAAAAAYFE/AKfXbQZvu7AaucKnyNwJ4fhj-3accWoYgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/IMG_9723.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">01.26.2021</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">inner: rust waffle tee / Uniqlo (new)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">outer: charcoal tweed belted coat / Fashionbilt (vintage)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">bottom: burgundy a-line skirt / Loft (new)</div><div style="text-align: center;">shoes: chocolate knee boots / Frye (thrifted)</div><div style="text-align: center;">tights: chocolate / Hue (new)</div><div style="text-align: center;">scarf: brown printed silk / unknown (swapped)</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">*Trumpet noise* Introducing my new-to-me genuine '80s vintage belted tweed John Bender dream coat!! This is the first piece of vintage I've ever bought off the internet and the first anything I've bought a direct result of Instagram's algorithm. I'm happy to report it did not disappoint. Hopefully it won't be too warm again by the time it's safe enough to take her out on the town...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxeckeRabu1EiZQWJ39mSxer5Pyw94dNHarz-A1z5Qi7MXIbavrHiCoyQM4WRlWVVoW68J2-0y1b9u_vC5_FAtYJn-CQrDRjEmRa47WcCD1-wAJJy1YflacRUd2NNibEWpqhTbnl9HJRk/s2036/IMG_0521.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2036" data-original-width="1440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxeckeRabu1EiZQWJ39mSxer5Pyw94dNHarz-A1z5Qi7MXIbavrHiCoyQM4WRlWVVoW68J2-0y1b9u_vC5_FAtYJn-CQrDRjEmRa47WcCD1-wAJJy1YflacRUd2NNibEWpqhTbnl9HJRk/s850/IMG_0521.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">01.28.2021</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div style="text-align: center;">top: gray marled sweater / Xhilaration (hand-me-down)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">bottom: black ponte pants / DKNY (gift)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">shoes: black suede boots / Frye (thrifted)</div><div style="text-align: center;">necklace: loose pearl / Banana Republic (new)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Another cozy outfit! Sometimes it's just coffee-and-a-sweater day, right? </div><div style="text-align: center;">And an I'm-not-wearing-makeup day. </div><div style="text-align: center;">And an I'm-letting-my-hair-air-dry day.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rLSLAYGt4yc/YBdGgDBTsLI/AAAAAAAAYEs/8DwW5tM4FAMOovGYbRaAaIhcGDvPTSTwQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1920/IMG_0925.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1440" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rLSLAYGt4yc/YBdGgDBTsLI/AAAAAAAAYEs/8DwW5tM4FAMOovGYbRaAaIhcGDvPTSTwQCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/IMG_0925.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">01.29.2021</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div style="text-align: center;">top: blue heathered turtleneck / Free People (gift)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">bottom: charcoal pencil skirt / unknown (thrifted)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">shoes: navy suede pumps / Franco Sarto (new)</div><div style="text-align: center;">necklace: turquoise gemstone bib / unknown (thrifted)</div><div style="text-align: center;">scarf: light blue printed silk / unknown (thrifted)</div><div style="text-align: center;">tights: navy / Land's End (new)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The '80s made me do it. The tights with pumps, the blue eyeshadow, the waistband scarf -- all of it. Robert Palmer specifically. I can't help myself as soon as I'm in the '80s mindset. It's a one-way ticket to Glam Town.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k-edMyqlua8/YBdGgPPSo7I/AAAAAAAAYEw/nJC34bz04zwouSZq2nE-NUlkKibj5D8AQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2560/IMG_1788.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1440" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k-edMyqlua8/YBdGgPPSo7I/AAAAAAAAYEw/nJC34bz04zwouSZq2nE-NUlkKibj5D8AQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1100/IMG_1788.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">01.30.2021</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">top: olive cashmere sweater / TSE cashmere (thrifted)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">dress: russet corduroy jumper / F21 (thrifted)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">shoes: olive snow-boots / Sorel (new)</div><div style="text-align: center;">hat: faux-fur hunting cap / Collectioneighteen (new)</div><div style="text-align: center;">tights: taupe / Hue (thrifted)</div><div style="text-align: center;">socks: cream chunky-knit / unknown (gift)</div></div><p style="text-align: center;">Can you tell I'm eager for a woodsy adventure? I've perched myself like a little chipmunk atop this stool! Here's a clever hack for summer-worthy dresses: put a sweater over them. Don't even think about whether or not it looks good; we're just in it for the layers. Add some boots and tights and a fabulous hat and you're basically ready for cabin life.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">That's it for my first month back! Whew, what a whirlwind of learning the new ins-and-outs of Instagram, stealing my husband's phone camera while I prepare to upgrade my own, and meeting new style friends! Thank you for following along, and stay tuned for February: I've decided to host a month-long STYLE CHALLENGE! Five days a week, I'm basing my outfit around one of my favorite screen icons, from TV or film. I'll be back mid-month to share the looks here, but you can follow along daily on Instagram.</p><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"> © copyright LGPQ 2014 – All rights reserved </div>inspirsessionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579184262738042591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998010807702405527.post-15604607534358729422021-01-23T11:10:00.000-05:002021-01-23T11:10:07.304-05:00January 2021 Outfit Roundup (Part 1)<div><p>Hello all! I'm diving back in to sharing <b>outfit photos</b> again! This is exciting for me, as I haven't brought attention to this area of my creative life since late 2017. Of course, during that time, I've still been getting dressed; I'm still thrifting primarily and avoiding fast-fashion as best I can. But sharing it here, beyond my day-to-day, always brings me extra joy, and over the years, I found myself missing this outlet a great deal. These outfits are posted on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/inspirsession/"><b>Instagram</b></a> (<b>@inspirsession</b>) daily, but I also wanted to share them here for those who choose not to engage with social media platforms.</p><p>You can expect to see <b>two outfit posts per month</b>, one for the first half and one for the second. The first half of this particular month is shifted slightly, as I came up somewhat short in terms of content. This is due to my taking a pause for a few days in light of the attempted coup at the US Capitol. I've spent the majority of my time on this blog ignoring current events in favor of escaping into my creative outlets. While I consider such moments of escape somewhat necessary -- particularly in the midst of the past four years -- I am coming to realize the inherent privilege in "escaping" from circumstances that to other people are everyday realities. 2020 offered us a reckoning in so many ways, and I'm glad for the time to reflect on my <b>personal values & responsibilities</b> in the midst of my creative efforts.</p><p>Below each photo you'll find a little blurb about the <b>outfit contents and/or their inspiration</b>. This is may include prompts and origin-credits for IG-hosted outfit challenges or just space for me to wax poetic about a newly thrifted garment. (You know me!) On a personal level, these notes help me continually evaluate my wardrobe in terms of its <b>sustainability factor</b> -- am I putting my money where my mouth is and avoiding buying new fast fashion? Are the majority of my pieces secondhand? Am I accepting too many gifts? (A word on "gift" items -- these are not sponsored, company-provided products, but rather actual gifts from friends and family members -- mostly my mom!) This space has never run on sponsorship, and you'll certainly know when and if it ever does.</p><p>Finally, you'll see pieces repeated here quite often, as I strive to keep a <b>moderately substantial yet frequently-worn closet</b>. I'm not operating under the monthly or four-season capsule wardrobe structure any longer, but I am currently keeping about a third of my clothes in storage, to be swapped out in mid-spring. The other two-thirds include my fall/winter pieces and my year-round basics, both of which are currently in rotation.<br /></p><p>Without further adieu, I hope you enjoy this little review of my January wardrobe, part one!</p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DGKZURmJZNg/YAw7vPluu0I/AAAAAAAAX_o/6LZQmaoToUITjfn9xTP3Y-ka2gWo7QFEgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1248/50AC98DB-B727-470B-8B2B-C9A48DB70977.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1248" data-original-width="936" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DGKZURmJZNg/YAw7vPluu0I/AAAAAAAAX_o/6LZQmaoToUITjfn9xTP3Y-ka2gWo7QFEgCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/50AC98DB-B727-470B-8B2B-C9A48DB70977.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">01.01.2021</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: center;">inner: Stranger Things graphic tee / Target (new) / 100% cotton</div><div style="text-align: center;">outer: brown longline ribbed cardigan / Max Studio (gift) / 100% merino wool</div><div style="text-align: center;">bottom: black high-waist trousers / Wilfred (thrifted)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I hmm-ed and haw-ed a long while over the perfect graphic tee. Mostly I couldn't decide what I loved enough to essentially advertise on my own body. (I'd be a horrible candidate for a tattoo.) I'm glad to see more retailers like Target eschewing polyester blends in favor of full cotton, but it doesn't excuse the fact that this was a fast-fashion indulgence. Later I found an alternative graphic tee option on Poshmark, which I'm sure you'll see on here later. It was a good reminder to live by my own mantra: "secondhand first"!</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PdchL82kqk8/YAw7wlMPCmI/AAAAAAAAYAQ/vefAj3h21JgWKm0UIdzOhk13b3v_O36agCPcBGAYYCw/s1170/AF572D52-4E3D-4B33-A6E1-44118ADC8645.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="936" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PdchL82kqk8/YAw7wlMPCmI/AAAAAAAAYAQ/vefAj3h21JgWKm0UIdzOhk13b3v_O36agCPcBGAYYCw/s800/AF572D52-4E3D-4B33-A6E1-44118ADC8645.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">01.02.2021</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">top: puff-sleeve tee blouse / Banana Republic (thrifted)</div><div style="text-align: center;">bottom: navy floral skirt / unknown (thrifted)</div><div style="text-align: center;">shoes: Russian Pointe (new)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">You can't see them in this pic, but I wore my pointe shoes for this whimsical shot! It's always a bittersweet experience re-discovering something you loved but no longer practice. I have dreams of taking a dance class again, post-pandemic. </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fDWifR5V8Aw/YAw7w3t6DhI/AAAAAAAAYAU/qYDVE9PKhnIK7itBpNb7DxOky-reSorfwCPcBGAYYCw/s1170/C2B3C63E-7C27-4284-8B65-F29E2F2E1B79.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="936" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fDWifR5V8Aw/YAw7w3t6DhI/AAAAAAAAYAU/qYDVE9PKhnIK7itBpNb7DxOky-reSorfwCPcBGAYYCw/s800/C2B3C63E-7C27-4284-8B65-F29E2F2E1B79.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">01.03.2021</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">dress: russet corduroy jumper / Forever 21 (thrifted)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">top: mustard ribbed tee / Uniqlo (thrifted)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">shoes: brown combat boot / Täōs (gift)<br /></div><p style="text-align: center;">I just love how this look turned out! Long live 60s style! (P.S. Did anyone else run out and buy a newsboy cap as soon as they saw one on Mimi in Rent? Yes, I am that mid-00s-era theater kid. And yes, I've had this hat half my life!)<br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4D2_BhcE_Ec/YAw7u2mkq6I/AAAAAAAAYAM/Wi3N2TJiqT0s5oJyejQcxHark8P6S20ZwCPcBGAYYCw/s1280/09B0E481-F110-4E8F-B847-7D87CC661117.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4D2_BhcE_Ec/YAw7u2mkq6I/AAAAAAAAYAM/Wi3N2TJiqT0s5oJyejQcxHark8P6S20ZwCPcBGAYYCw/s800/09B0E481-F110-4E8F-B847-7D87CC661117.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">01.04.2021</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">top: olive crop sweater / TSE Cashmere (thrifted)</div><div style="text-align: center;">bottom: houndstooth ankle trousers / Banana Republic (gift)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">glasses: cognac d-frames / Persol (found)<br /></div><p style="text-align: center;">This medium-weight cropped cashmere sweater has been an absolute staple since I purchased it 3-4 years ago. If you're seeking a "perfect" sweater of your own, I guess my guidelines would be: somewhat oversized, in a quality fabric (wool, cashmere, sturdy cotton, etc. - nothing synthetic), in a shade that matches your eye color!</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6SyvlgRvVphMjXkYGnyNhhCfxA9KM4cCFYIqnAB3-oJG2-38sMHeipDAI3to6bftyub1ngQYxB0ZSxAQuf_Koze_EuxXNlCElHV0l_paJklqiexg-OBntGX_-Y5TH1wuB2eft-rNDX44/s1248/8F166DE8-CE97-4A28-A324-6E9372633798.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1248" data-original-width="936" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6SyvlgRvVphMjXkYGnyNhhCfxA9KM4cCFYIqnAB3-oJG2-38sMHeipDAI3to6bftyub1ngQYxB0ZSxAQuf_Koze_EuxXNlCElHV0l_paJklqiexg-OBntGX_-Y5TH1wuB2eft-rNDX44/s800/8F166DE8-CE97-4A28-A324-6E9372633798.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">01.05.2021</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"> inner: brown striped tee / Theory (thrifted)<div style="text-align: center;">outer: navy plaid tunic / Zara (thrifted)</div>bottom: beige wide-leg pants / Old Navy (swapped) / cotton-linen blend</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">For those of us spending a lot of time hunched over the computer at home these days, a comfortable waistband is essential. This look was my compromise between getting dressed and staying in my pjs.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mDJzeqx5RUE/YAw7xMjAhFI/AAAAAAAAYAY/97rNVo9rAxkM6jO33NoisnWESA-Ns66_QCPcBGAYYCw/s1170/D1579876-C361-44D4-8BFC-2BAD4AF24DE5.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="936" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mDJzeqx5RUE/YAw7xMjAhFI/AAAAAAAAYAY/97rNVo9rAxkM6jO33NoisnWESA-Ns66_QCPcBGAYYCw/s800/D1579876-C361-44D4-8BFC-2BAD4AF24DE5.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">01.11.2021</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">dress: coral wrap / Pact (new) / 100% organic cotton, fair-trade</div><div style="text-align: center;">socks: Fair Isle knee-highs / Pact (gift) / 100% organic cotton, fair-trade<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">shoes: chocolate knee boots / Frye (thrifted)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">After the events at the Capitol, I was feeling inspired to wear something truly humanitarian. I challenged myself to style up a fully fair-trade outfit, and it was eye-opening to see how far I still have to go in prioritizing sustainable brands. Luckily, Pact came through! I mostly rely on them for underwear and socks, but I can't speak highly enough of their commitment to fair-trade and organic cotton production.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z8tT_gocENg/YAw7vgffDZI/AAAAAAAAYAM/MIzKEGC3DwMEhlbcPymXFhLcPGbzGS-qACPcBGAYYCw/s1248/7F2579E8-3ABA-42F6-BDA9-D7A6F74D1227.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1248" data-original-width="936" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z8tT_gocENg/YAw7vgffDZI/AAAAAAAAYAM/MIzKEGC3DwMEhlbcPymXFhLcPGbzGS-qACPcBGAYYCw/s800/7F2579E8-3ABA-42F6-BDA9-D7A6F74D1227.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">01.12.2021</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">dress: russet polka-dot midi / Nanette (gift) </div><div style="text-align: center;">outer: ivory cable-knit cardigan / Banana Republic (found) / 100% wool<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">shoes: brown combat boot / Täōs (gift) <br /></div><p style="text-align: center;">This outfit was inspired by one of my newly-discovered Instagram follows, @acjarrett. She coined the hashtag #grungegrandma to describe this look, and I was more than happy to participate. Grunge-grandma is very much part of my aesthetic!</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I44-2ZCvI9o/YAw7wb-s6JI/AAAAAAAAYAY/sVRJ8WL2SlErH0Xa-P1CnpC338vKHnY_QCPcBGAYYCw/s1268/9A573CE3-F266-4A4E-B52E-587960CB91E1.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1268" data-original-width="936" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I44-2ZCvI9o/YAw7wb-s6JI/AAAAAAAAYAY/sVRJ8WL2SlErH0Xa-P1CnpC338vKHnY_QCPcBGAYYCw/s800/9A573CE3-F266-4A4E-B52E-587960CB91E1.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">01.14.2021</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">inner: cream lace tee / Abound (new)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">outer: crop chambray shirt / Alice & Olivia (thrifted)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">bottom: ice blue mesh skirt / Zara (hand-me-down)</div><div style="text-align: center;">tights: taupe / Hue (thrifted)</div><div style="text-align: center;">socks: blue pattern / Pendleton (gifted)</div><div style="text-align: center;">shoes: tan ankle boots / Born (hand-me-down)</div><div style="text-align: center;">belt: cognac & gold wide / unknown (thrifted)</div><div style="text-align: center;">scarf: light blue silk / unknown (thrifted) <br /></div><p style="text-align: center;">I called this look "Cowboy Cinderella." It came together quite organically. I wondered if the blue shirt and skirt would fly together. They certainly did.</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfDmlWjncuV22RRPrvx2_2oVJoCGLdnyOXyrB1Z7DT1iLaiaOf4bIRDYSsW76WIC175P0L7iKRW_hqTCzlNEAduZsUfS7VtELJZV2geGcdhCg9KmSvkH_Rf58W6MXK2dGYzkP0LvCRsmc/s1248/01476FA6-F97A-43F0-968F-4AE8426FD8D3.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1248" data-original-width="936" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfDmlWjncuV22RRPrvx2_2oVJoCGLdnyOXyrB1Z7DT1iLaiaOf4bIRDYSsW76WIC175P0L7iKRW_hqTCzlNEAduZsUfS7VtELJZV2geGcdhCg9KmSvkH_Rf58W6MXK2dGYzkP0LvCRsmc/s800/01476FA6-F97A-43F0-968F-4AE8426FD8D3.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">01.15.2021</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">inner: taupe pinstripe tee blouse / Jones New York (new)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">outer: soft green herringbone jacket / Ralph Lauren (thrifted)</div><div style="text-align: center;">bottom: army green skinny jeans / Loft (swapped) <br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">shoes: tan ankle boots / Born (hand-me-down) <br /></div></div><p style="text-align: center;">This was another "I wonder if these two greens will go together..." concept. I'm absolutely in love with this jacket, even though it's admittedly a touch too big for me.</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N3or7oubSLg/YAw7vg42NDI/AAAAAAAAYAY/y_psuyq85146V_0rZnzOkX3l1-zx40FbACPcBGAYYCw/s1312/64A8E588-6E29-4D71-A85F-8452A30C64E2.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1312" data-original-width="936" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N3or7oubSLg/YAw7vg42NDI/AAAAAAAAYAY/y_psuyq85146V_0rZnzOkX3l1-zx40FbACPcBGAYYCw/s800/64A8E588-6E29-4D71-A85F-8452A30C64E2.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">01.16.2021</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">inner: pink turtleneck / Free People (hand-me-down)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">dress: maroon maxi wrap dress / Maurice's (thrifted)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">stockings: cognac / unknown (upcycled tights)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">shoes: brown combat boot / Täōs (gift)</div><div style="text-align: center;">hat: brown felt / unknown (thrifted) <br /></div></div><p style="text-align: center;">As someone who really digs a true color match, I feel like this look would be been enhanced with a turtleneck on the same shade of blue as the flowers on the dress. Especially since the stockings are such a straight match with other elements of the floral pattern. But as far as winterizing a warm-weather dress, this got the job done!</p><h3 style="text-align: center;">See you soon for January Part 2!<br /></h3></div><div><p></p><p><br /></p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"> © copyright LGPQ 2014 – All rights reserved </div>inspirsessionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579184262738042591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998010807702405527.post-59941222988961338532021-01-19T20:42:00.007-05:002021-01-19T20:42:54.821-05:00A Return<p>Well, hello, everyone! It's been... well, it's been a couple years, which is a hard thing to admit. I didn't intentionally take a step back from Inspirsession -- it sort of just happened. With the movement within the style community from blogs to other forms of social media like Instagram and TikTok, I wasn't sure whether updates would continue to reach an audience. I also decided to redirect some energy toward my acting career. Ironically, just about the time I gained a bit of focus in that area, some family health issues arose, then an engagement, and then a worldwide pandemic. Life comes out of nowhere sometimes, and things get shelved and then start gathering dust before you know it.</p><p>With this great pause, however, comes a new breath of life into my <b>personal style journey</b> and the desire to share it! I continue to call it my "journey," because I think just like our personalities our styles are ever-evolving. That said, in some ways I feel I have finally "arrived" at what I always hoped to achieve: <b>I have a closet which which I feel, for the most part, content.</b> I wear what I own, even while living the unemployed life at home. I've taken a step back from the perfectionist fantasy of a minimalist capsule wardrobe, but held onto the structural guidelines. Here's a <b>short update</b> on what's new since my last posting:</p><p>I did not return to <b>Rent the Runway</b> after my free trial (the last thing posted on this blog before my break.) While it was plenty of fun, it was also expensive, and I didn't like the reliance on dry-cleaning.</p><p>I have continued to prioritize <b>secondhand shopping</b>, but in a way that feels more intuitive and less proscribed to a capsule checklist.</p><p>I have considered taking another <b>year-long shopping break</b>, because thrifting, while certainly a more sustainable practice than fast-fashion shopping, can easily get out of hand.</p><p>Speaking of <b>fast-fashion</b>, I have fallen off the wagon somewhat with my avoidance of it. It's a slippery slope -- especially when you don't have much cash to spare. It's also easy to become jaded with the "I'm just one person in a messed up society" train of thought. In an effort to recommit myself to buying new only from sustainable outlets, I am rereading Greta Egan's "Wear No Evil." In the context of <b>education</b>, I am also delving into more human-rights and anti-racist based reading (specifically the history of garment production within colonized societies) to better understand the roots of my passion, inconvenient and otherwise.<br /></p><p>For the forseeable future, <b>I have decided to post my daily outfits to Instagram</b>, complete with short reels (videos a la TikTok) which breakdown the behind-the-scenes of it all. Stay tuned here, if this is the space you prefer, as I intend to do a <b>monthly review</b> of all the looks. If videos are more your thing, I encourage you to check out my Instagram <b>@inspirsession</b> -- and do follow if you like what you see. :)</p><p>For now, I hope we're entering a year of good ch-ch-ch-changes -- for our international health, for the planet, and for ourselves. We'll see what tomorrow holds. More soon.</p><p>Love, R.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"> © copyright LGPQ 2014 – All rights reserved </div>inspirsessionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579184262738042591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998010807702405527.post-42480645052929010692019-03-05T10:00:00.000-05:002019-03-06T10:06:17.401-05:00Rent The Runway Unlimited: In-Depth ReviewHELLO and thanks for tuning back in! Since the completion of last year's <a href="http://www.inspirsession.com/p/blog-page.html#.XH3LQNF8-LI">sampler wardrobe project</a>, I've been thinking a lot about how I'd like my styling to evolve going forward. In particular, I've been seeking opportunities to refresh my creativity within a minimal, capsule-like structure. Today I'm excited to present a review of something which helped to shake up that creativity: my one-month trial subscription to Rent The Runway Unlimited!
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<a href="http://www.renttherunway.com/" target="_blank">Rent The Runway*</a> is a fantastic service which lets you borrow designer brand pieces for a monthly fixed price. It started as a way to rent clothing for specific occasions -- i.e. a bridesmaid dress for a wedding. Since then, it's expanded to two monthly plan options: <b><i>Update</i></b>, which includes four fixed pieces per month, and <b><i>Unlimited</i></b>, offering four pieces at a time, but with endless exchanges. I was able to try the Unlimited option free for one month and in that time managed to test out <i>eighteen unique pieces</i>. The cost to purchase all these items at their retail price would have set me back approximately $6500. By comparison, the Unlimited subscription is $159/mo; so even at the usual rate it's a steal for anyone with a taste for designer fashion.<br />
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In spite of the minimal winter light in my apartment, I was able to photograph most of my trial pieces (except for a few that didn't fit properly or which I kept for under 24 hours.) I've shared the results below along with various pros and cons I encountered during my service trial, to give you a full perspective of the experience. Ready? Let's dive in!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6oG13UMajrw/XHyrJ2YYygI/AAAAAAAAORQ/jQRUh97B0eER4b4Z9Mw5aZBp3PdFzNTxgCKgBGAs/s1600/DSC_0811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1072" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6oG13UMajrw/XHyrJ2YYygI/AAAAAAAAORQ/jQRUh97B0eER4b4Z9Mw5aZBp3PdFzNTxgCKgBGAs/s1000/DSC_0811.JPG" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Floral Francine Dress by Rebecca Taylor </i></span></div>
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<h3>
PRO: Experiment With Unique Styles</h3>
One reason I leapt at
the chance to try this service is I've always been fascinated with runway fashion. Designer
clothing does tend to be of a higher stitch quality -- though not
always -- and usually fits better. It's also just more fun! This dress
by Sea is a perfect example of something I would have drooled over in Vogue but shied away from actually trying myself. As a
petite, I've been cautioned against midi-lengths or any bright patterns
and colors that might overwhelm me. This dress threatened to do both,
but look at the results! I felt like a mermaid-turned-human. It was so
good I wore it twice: once to the theater and once to work. While it may
not be a style I'd keep in my closet forever, it was so fun to shake
things up for the time I had it. And it taught me not to be so fearful
of venturing out of my comfort zone.<br />
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<img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KqgmVBqDMzU/XHq3vEbIylI/AAAAAAAAOFk/CbxfsjvzlEcILksIqE1YcHJb13D6VORPQCKgBGAs/s1100/DSC_0608.JPG" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1%; width: 47%;" /><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7viNcyg9U-8/XHq3vA_dyFI/AAAAAAAAOFk/hrU_0rX1uUort_aYtKqbvpSWKdqdEHfNwCKgBGAs/s1100/DSC_0632.JPG" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1%; width: 47%;" /><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Lola Lace Dress by Sea New York</i></span><br />
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<h3>
PRO: Try Out Trends On The Cheap</h3>
The moment I saw this
pink blouse I knew I wanted to wear it. I'd been looking for some light-colored,
"feminine" pieces to wear to my light-colored, "feminine" restaurant. At
the same time, I wondered if it would be practical to invest in
something with such wide sleeves and dangling ribbons. I also wondered
about the polyester material being too warm. As it turned out, I loved
how the top looked on me as much as I thought I would -- but I was also
right about the other stuff. Had I purchased it off looks alone, I would
have been disappointed with the cumbersome
sleeves and synthetic sweat-trap. I probably would
have avoided wearing it to work again for these reasons. In this situation, though, I was
simply able to return it, thank it for the fun, and carry on with my
search for a top that better suited my lifestyle. (How cute, though?!)<br />
<br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgkU8ypl7ygJLy4pZGVqSYZQPlq9fifo4rXAJpzcxlxldEcURHqUjk5PNeemR-dY4FCBxMgUgF-guARX8aDF7bUXqzD66Pojd0a8sN0H54S6d4BIkHPr0MyYlkMArMCnsRlCuSi5r4byk/s1100/DSC_0422.JPG" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1%; width: 47%;" /><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9eav-fYRYuI/XHq9LK7lHyI/AAAAAAAAOF8/0B3K5LWDYCwR4KfB99-Mt2Q31LaskIjZwCKgBGAs/s1100/DSC_0424.JPG" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1%; width: 47%;" /><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Pink Elva Lace Top by Unitedwood</i></span><br />
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<br />
<h3>
CON: (Some) Planning Required</h3>
There are worse problems to have
than finding yourself in the company of four designer dresses with no
occasion for which to wear them. Nevertheless, advance-planning outfits
became a definite priority in my mission to maximize the Unlimited
service trial. Much of my time was saved by making returns directly to
the RTR flagship store, which happened to be on my work route through
Manhattan. This meant I could swap out items within minutes, rather than waiting the 2 - 4 days between UPS shipments. That said,
the store obviously has less inventory than online, and sometimes I
would arrive with high hopes for a blouse-and-trouser pairing only to
find nothing but cocktail dresses in my size. In the case of this maxi
dress, a series of bad-fit orders meant I wore it to work twice, when
I'd actually intended it as a weekend piece. To get the most bang for
your buck, it's ideal if you structure your outfit game plan about a
week ahead of time. This sort of planning is my bread and butter, but
even I was glad for a break from it by month's end.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mEmeyuxkAp8/XHxIHt_beJI/AAAAAAAAONc/8j-rZmU1uJ8Ovv-sUNAFgw2vt9u9w1Y-QCKgBGAs/s1600/DSC_0754.JPG" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1%; width: 47%;" /><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c-4Bnde-WT0/XHxIHqr_vaI/AAAAAAAAONc/n3bKS-7J5KUPNErrbDObHu1XlO8JIVcBwCKgBGAs/s1600/DSC_0761.JPG" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1%; width: 47%;" /><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Floral Attire Midi Dress by BB Dakota</i></span><br />
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<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
PRO: Keep Favorites As Long As You Like </h3>
One of the best aspects
of the Unlimited rental plan is the permission to keep a garment as long
as you like (so long as you're a member, that is.) Of course a dress like this one will eventually require laundering, but in the
case of coats, jewelry, or handbags -- which are all available to rent
as well -- this is a perfect option. As it happened, I wore this Mara
Hoffman dress on a weekend, loved it, and wanted to wear it again. But I
had to wait five days for my next day off. No problem. I just swapped
out the other garments I'd rented, held onto this one, and ordered three
more instead of four. The next weekend, I was delighted to be able to
don it again!<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i> </i></span>
<br />
<img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E-JdRb6EgX4/XHrABPkL7nI/AAAAAAAAOGM/_zXghOSC9kcjnS_jLhnBFQQ4SUyoNZO4QCKgBGAs/s1600/DSC_0520.JPG" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1%; width: 47%;" /><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JTufXlL-RlA/XHrABO1A85I/AAAAAAAAOGM/oXgp6Zo7eeMNunQeHTODskiJRk04j5p3QCKgBGAs/s1600/DSC_0524.JPG" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1%; width: 47%;" /><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Brown Gwyneth Knit Dress by Mara Hoffman</i></span><br />
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<br />
<h3>
PRO: Buy What You Love </h3>
This Milly dress was one of the first things that caught my eye while scrolling through the RTR app. I had such a good feeling about it, I immediately saved it to my favorites and made a mental note to order it for my birthday. When it arrived a few weeks later, I fell head over heels. Not only was the fit comfortable and curiously flattering, it had major twirl potential -- which if you know me is pretty essential to my general mode of being. After my birthday, I found myself wishing it could stick around for my next special occasion. The RTR app seemed determined to grant my wish: While plotting my next order, I noticed a "purchase now" option was listed alongside each of my current rentals, at varying discounted prices. In other words, I could forever-home my dear dress for 80% off the retail price. As secondhand scores are the sunshine of my life, I decided it was worth treating myself for my birthday. As an added bonus, immediately after I purchased the dress, I was able to rent something new. Score!<br />
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<img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k6QWqMlSJP8/XHw7QO2qfQI/AAAAAAAAOLI/o17ABsj4Nsgq-BFwupt7Bgai9AC177naQCKgBGAs/s1100/DSC_0453.JPG" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1%; width: 47%;" /><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-To1B4gii9W0/XHw7QDQ4h9I/AAAAAAAAOLI/Q3errNJ1LvcrFHO_3sFRTVTZeqVIYPbEwCKgBGAs/s1100/DSC_0464.JPG" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1%; width: 47%;" /><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Corded Lace Aria Dress by Milly</i></span><br />
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<br />
<h3>
CON: Fit Can Be Hit Or Miss</h3>
The try-on experience of my first four items completely spoiled me. Same with the fifth item. And the sixth. In fact, thanks to the app's plentiful and thorough customer reviews, I skated by on perfect fits until item #9, when I got cocky, pulled something I liked off the rack, and didn't bother to try it on before taking it home. After that, I hit a wasteland of bad luck: a dress with a too-roomy chest, a pair of too-tight trousers, and a blazer which made me look like a teapot. Again, this is a situation where I was thankful for flagship store access, which allowed for fit-by-brand research and faster turnarounds on my no-go pieces. For members planning outfits for specific events and waiting on UPS processing, this could be more of a frustration. Overall though, the best prevention for this is reading the reviews submitted by other users. With the exception of the teapot jacket, they were spot on!<br />
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<img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Du4gyERDKX0/XHxbkAnumOI/AAAAAAAAOO8/AVNlW5x8eLw98dSMVXb9IKZq5VTeaQOrgCKgBGAs/s1600/DSC_0446.JPG" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1%; width: 47%;" /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR19bK1YojecrXkHAp_GnocKW3VrOOt-zvaLTOahAwiThvO1KCbD7oKPb2tllCN4S2t1nN_Y7VLyFh6WaoDXodtPGOMZYF96jbWCwxKiEfS5Y4kHd56B9mHjAoGydvqV021NK0mWFEFYc/s1600/DSC_0437.JPG" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1%; width: 47%;" /><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Blue Abstract Floral Dress by Slate & Willow</i></span><br />
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<br />
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
PRO: Prompt Customer Service</h3>
While trusting postal carriers with anything valuable can always be a little nerve-racking (further thoughts on that below), I can only report one panic-inducing incident during the month's eight deliveries. It involved the dress pictured below. I received the usual app notification informing me that my garment had been delivered, but when it was nowhere to be found in our postal room I immediately assumed the worst. First I started an online chat through the RTR app, then called their customer service line for good measure. Both elicited prompt responses from cheerful staff members who clarified and resolved the issue by sending me an alternate item of my choice within 24 hours. (As it happened, this was an internal mistake by UPS, who
somehow rerouted the garment back to RTR before it ever passed through
my hands.) Later, I made a bit of a fuss about not having had an opportunity to actually wear the dress I wanted (I mean, can you blame me? Look at that dress!!) Within three days, my "stylist" reached out to me via email, confirming the original dress was back in stock and on its way to me. This was one of my favorite pieces, and I'm so grateful to the staff members who ensured I had the opportunity to enjoy it!<br />
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnAdLLLwV6k0tJ6rHvps91jPUcOPH0MI13qN7mwNTh3ldzgoM_WBl9gYM8ztS05-LCMYRyU9eZHLCiXh26LtIMH9bv1Kl_Atay7fpd9ofzcbcF72musF50drCAI0yPAfOnzB0TKnLmOSo/s1600/DSC_0683.JPG" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1%; width: 47%;" /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9wWeNi_GENSTOB9NkAihQMTCdHa-0EXuC56oLtTAEb8STssfsvLVdatwvLZ8YqnVzlWiTjFP6Nr1YfQnQJ_XDdhk_dE1nR_snG3uyIqFgbjj7zZpCg6jeb776-kleD_Fy5RBw-0TQUCE/s1600/DSC_0668.JPG" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1%; width: 47%;" /><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Floral Clusters Carti Dress by Tanya Taylor</i></span><br />
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<h3>
PRO: Extra-Special Special Occasions</h3>
<h3>
</h3>
Special Occasions. Holidays. Weddings. We've all been there, staring into our closets and wishing we had something <i>new</i> to wear -- something novel and fresh, like Cinderella. Once I knew I'd be spending Valentine's Day at the restaurant, I got straight to work planning an outfit that would transport me beyond the stressful reality of 100+ guests all competing for the "most romantic table." This number by Marchesa Notte immediately caught my attention on the app, and once in it I drifted onto a splendid cloud of princess-y ecstacy (princesstacy?) Those Aurora sleeves, that lace detail, the double-zipper back--! Forgive me while I swoon over my own style choices. But truly: it would have been worth signing up for the chance to wear this dress on this one day alone.<br />
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<img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cd29pWJeME4/XHxe2cS9bbI/AAAAAAAAOPc/SfMEwIlUSaQ3E_a7Md2cJ5HBl529-5MXACKgBGAs/s1600/DSC_0689.JPG" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1%; width: 47%;" /><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2fEOkE5M5tc/XHxe2QpyH9I/AAAAAAAAOPc/Zjt2UKfc3Agw2N-in63L8WQ6Ywl5U3SmQCKgBGAs/s1600/DSC_0692.JPG" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1%; width: 47%;" /><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Wine Cuipare Dress by Marchesa Notte</i></span><br />
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<h3>
CON: Potential Delivery Risks</h3>
Shipping packages is one of those things that seems like no big deal -- until it is. We've probably all experienced the terror that comes with lost mail, when holiday gifts or treasured letters randomly disappear into the blackhole that is the US postal system. Imagine now that you're waiting for a $525 dress to fall on your doorstep. In a fairly identifiable garment bag protected only by zippers. In the middle of a workday afternoon. I had the luxury of a doorman receiving my rentals, and I know other renters who skirt the issue by delivering their items to work. But there's no way around it: packages can and do get lost or stolen, and if you're one of the unfortunate ones, you not only owe the price of the lost item -- but <i>double it's retail value!</i> This scared me <i>a lot </i>and may have steered me from the service trial entirely were it not for the comfort of my doorman for deliveries and proximity to the flagship store for returns. My snafu with the red dress ended up costing me nothing, but it was enough to make me think twice before ordering anything beyond what my savings could cover!<br />
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<img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0rWAo58JGLw/XHxUwuoKqrI/AAAAAAAAOOo/dKbdDcc8JngDyQ1AcOjw08oS9yTPmV4VQCKgBGAs/s1600/DSC_0550.JPG" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1%; width: 47%;" /><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X63pZPwXoUg/XHxUwkLlugI/AAAAAAAAOOo/qCzEzHi6rWwFJF78xHJISV9gCde8wE7SQCKgBGAs/s1600/DSC_0588.JPG" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1%; width: 47%;" /><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Red Floral Embroidered Dress by Badgley Mischka</i></span><br />
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<h3>
PRO: Dry-Cleaning</h3>
<h3>
</h3>
What's the number one obstacle that prevents me from thrifting designer pieces? These three words: Dry Clean Only. Really, <i>who</i> has the time or money to dry clean? Not this girl. With natural fabrics, it's usually worth risking a handwash, but when it comes to certain synthetics, embroidery, beading, velvet, and printed silks, there's no denying it's best left to the professionals -- and most of these beautiful pieces involved one or more of those elements. It was nice to relive myself of the burden of caring for such precious garments. Plus, even my weird laundry-loving self enjoyed time off from doing my own washing.<br />
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<img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NkGz3A3Fd3c/XHxga0rWZmI/AAAAAAAAOP8/AbYkMJcDxos4IIiwYXkNu_kMrTfigZ2AACKgBGAs/s1600/DSC_0427.JPG" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1%; width: 47%;" /><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IE8Q2FIccDA/XHxga44BkvI/AAAAAAAAOP8/fma8IWJ29VMldUV_WqLki0uTxQD9fH5ggCKgBGAs/s1600/DSC_0431.JPG" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1%; width: 47%;" /><br />
<h3>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Red Imperial Garden Sheath by Carmen Marc Valvo</i></span><br />
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<h3>
CON: Dry-Cleaning</h3>
<h3>
</h3>
On the other hand... You know what's really terrible for the environment? Dry-cleaning. It's also pretty terrible for us humans. The most common dry-cleaning solvent perchloroethylene or "perc" is identified by the <a href="https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/tetrachlorethylene-perchloroethylene.html">American Cancer Society</a> as a probable carcinogen. While RTR's <a href="https://www.renttherunway.com/sustainable-fashion?action_type=footer_link">website</a> claims to refrain from using this particular chemical, it's unclear exactly what their solvent of choice is -- and therefore difficult to evaluate its eco-friendliness. Just about any chemical can leach into surrounding air and water sources, causing non-direct risks as well. While I strongly support the reduce/reuse aspect of RTR, I'm still troubled by these cleaning practices. As someone who typically dry-cleans one garment yearly (a winter coat), it's unsettling to learn you've contributed toward a rotational cleaning average of <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/3036876/inside-rent-the-runways-secret-dry-cleaning-empire">30 garments per hour</a>. That aside, the company does try to pull its weight in other areas of sustainability. Their shipping bags are reusable (though each comes with two doses of plastic: the protective garment bag(s) and a single-use zipper lock for security upon return.) They accept and encourage return of the plastic bags and hangers for recycling and reuse. And there's certainly something to be said for inspiring folks to borrow more and buy less.<br />
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<img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ihuUur63130/XHxgyRkSJYI/AAAAAAAAOQE/akAfoPzMeJI3HBOBFRUlCquUjAlKl3kawCKgBGAs/s1600/DSC_0789.JPG" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1%; width: 47%;" /><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7NwUVVlWneU/XHxgyXK6FkI/AAAAAAAAOQE/oHYY7f46KMwFPlCb0VTxioYZzucz-pq0ACKgBGAs/s1600/DSC_0799.JPG" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1%; width: 47%;" /><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Taber Dress by Shoshanna</i></span><br />
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<h3>
PRO: Try Before You Buy</h3>
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</h3>
Since I thrift the majority of my clothes, it's rare I have the safety net of returnability. This often makes shopping decisions all the more stressful. While thrifting, it's not uncommon to find me guarding my loot under one arm while desperately trying to price-compare on eBay without overstaying my welcome in front of the shop's sole mirror. Secondhand stores these days are not guaranteed to be cheap -- especially when you're seeking quality brands in New York City -- and for a gal on a budget like me, it's easy to worry about making an expensively wrong decision. Once I chose to purchase my Milly dress, I got clever about using the service not just for fashion, but for <i>research</i>. What had I been coveting lately? High-waist gray skinny jeans from Rag & Bone and a colorful, quality handbag. Oh, look what I found... <br />
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<img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BCrZWXJNaLs/XHxlUDAJQEI/AAAAAAAAOQs/Y2E2k_PjYBQiPxWJw5w04s36jmfZggmlACKgBGAs/s1600/IMG_7140.JPG" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1%; width: 47%;" /><img imageanchor="1" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GycyC1XCsQg/XHxlNXi0EtI/AAAAAAAAOQo/wizfR-pWPp4EpEm2ySPkWyduwpEuHsFBACKgBGAs/s1600/IMG_7130.JPG" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1%; width: 47%;" /><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Gray High-Rise Ankle Skinny Jeans by Rag & Bone // Ocean Keeley Satchel by Mackage</i></span>
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While these pieces were too far beyond my budget to keep (even with the discount), I now know exactly what size and style to look for on secondhand websites and can eventually go forth and purchase with more confidence.<br />
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By the end of my trial period, I was nowhere near through all my saved "likes", and it was hard to bid farewell to the pieces I hadn't had an opportunity to try. I'm still considering the idea of paying for the service just for a month or two -- specifically once wedding season starts up again -- and in the end I did choose to "pause" my membership for a period while I mull over that cost.<br />
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Overall, having Unlimited access to all these beautiful garments reminded me of three things:<br />
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1) I'm ready to reawaken the <b>wacky fashion urges</b> which first inspired my personal style journey. <br />
2) It's worth investing in <b>high quality garments</b> for better construction and fit.<br />
3) When you present your best self, it generates<b> a special kind of confidence</b> -- and it radiates to those around you! <br />
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On that last point -- you needn't rely on expensive or even high-quality garments to be the best version of yourself. Just giving yourself permission to play, explore, risk a bit, and therein cultivate your unique personal style can have a curious effect on your confidence. For me, Rent The Runway helped me crawl back out of a rut I was in, but for you it might simply mean wearing a different color, going vintage shopping, or giving yourself leeway to buy something fun instead of practical.<br />
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With that, I wish everyone a very happy spring! <br />
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">*This post is not sponsored by Rent The Runway. All views expressed are my own.</span></i><br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"> © copyright LGPQ 2014 – All rights reserved </div>inspirsessionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579184262738042591noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998010807702405527.post-16382035064971621142018-09-30T10:00:00.000-04:002018-09-30T10:00:00.198-04:0014 Outfits for September 2018Happy Autumn, everyone! It's bittersweet to announce that this is my twelfth and <b>final sampler wardrobe outfit post</b>. I've kept up the process for exactly <b>one year</b> (see <a href="http://www.inspirsession.com/p/blog-page.html">this page</a> for the archives!), and while I intend to continue exploring wardrobe construction and personal style, to post another series of lookbook photos would soon prove redundant. After all, the purpose of this whole process was to <b>wear less, more often</b>. Especially in the case of my work wardrobe, which has really become a true capsule now, you've seen just about every outfit combination I've come up with!<br />
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Employing and fine-tuning this method of wardrobe minimizing was so
fun for me. I learned a great deal about what <b>shapes & fabrics</b> I love, what kind of
<b>uniforms</b> I gravitate toward, and what <b>color</b> <b>palettes</b> already exist in my
closet. The great thing is, now I have a full year's worth of photos to use in
further analysis and discussion! So expect to see future posts detailing<b> what I learned </b>throughout the sampler process.<br />
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Without further adieu, let's dive into my September wardrobe!<br />
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As you may be able to tell from these shadowy photos, our daylight is quickly fading -- a clue that<b> cooler weather </b>is finally upon us! We New Yorkers have been patiently (and sometimes not-so-patiently) waiting for the humidty to die down, and in the past two weeks our dreams finally became a reality. I felt pretty clever outsmarting my own autumn-obsessed brain, reminding myself that <b>sleeveless options</b> still take precedence over cozy cover-ups in city-September. But when I woke to a 65-degree morning last week, I was grateful for the sole <b>jacket</b> I'd included!<br />
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Stepping out of summer meant banishing white from my wardrobe -- not because I care about all that Labor Day mumbo-jumbo, but because it was necessary to make room for <i>all the black.</i> Devotion to this non-color runs back about three generations of women in my family, and try as I might I've never been able to abandon it entirely. In summer, I avoid <b>black</b> for obvious reasons, so when it comes to <b>lighter transitional items</b> (i.e. the crochet-sleeve boho blouse, black shorts, and military button jacket), I have to make the most of them during this brief period.<br />
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One thing that's been really exciting about the sampler process overall is mastering how to identify & maintain a <b>palette</b>. I've never had much success subscribing to set colors in the past, but I finally feel like I've hit upon the secret (which I'll share in a future post.) With the exception of that pop of blue in my work wardrobe (hello, summer holdover!), I've got a nice mostly-neutral thing going here: <b>black, taupe, olive, and cream</b>, plus some <b>orange-y accents </b>for interest. Mmmm... fall.<br />
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A mere <b>24 garments</b> made up this month's capsule, which I believe is my record for the year. It's satisfying to think that in this last week I was still jotting down <b>new outfit combos</b> to parade around before month's end. That's the beauty of mindful limitation -- it often serves your creativity even more than boundless freedom!<br />
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I hope that the<b> sampler wardrobe</b> experiment has been useful to some of you on your own style journey. As mentioned, check back soon for future tips and analysis on the sampler year as a whole. Thanks for tuning in! <br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"> © copyright LGPQ 2014 – All rights reserved </div>inspirsessionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579184262738042591noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998010807702405527.post-65965583088412002442018-08-31T10:00:00.000-04:002018-08-31T10:00:04.188-04:0015 Outfits for August 2018Dear Reader, I hope you can't tell how absolutely over it I was when I took this batch of photos. It was "<b>the hottest day in August</b>," as the song goes, and between posing, changing, and running back and forth between my tripod, it's a wonder the main feature of this spread wasn't my shiny, sweaty brow! I got so lazy by the end, I phoned it in on two work staples and used previously shot images. To be fair, I've photographed these particular items about five times now and am running out of innovative ways to style them. Without further adieu, here is my <a href="http://www.inspirsession.com/search?q=sampler+wardrobe"><b>sampler wardrobe</b></a> for the month of August, which up until this mini <b>heatwave</b> has been practically perfect in every way.<br />
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As predicted in my<a href="http://www.inspirsession.com/2018/07/15-outfits-for-july-2018.html#.W4jCjX58-LI"> last post</a>, the <b>work portion</b> of my wardrobe stayed the same as it has since summer started. I'm happy to report that rather than getting bored with my pieces, the constancy has blessed me with much <b>peace of mind</b>. My getting-ready process is essentially figuring out which top I wore least recently, rotating my bottom pieces the same way, and accessorizing as the mood strikes me. I'll be happy to see my cooler weather pieces again, but in truth I could probably wear these for the rest of the year and be pretty satisfied. Conclusion: A rotating capsule wardrobe is ideal for the day job portion of my life.<br />
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Meanwhile, over in the creative sector, I've been incorporating two lovely <b>new pieces</b>, both of which were generously handed down to me from two stylish ladies in my life. One, the <b>white sweater</b> (pictured here with white denim shorts), is made from the floatiest, loveliest material -- cool enough to be worn on an 80-degree day -- and has cheeky little buttons down the back. Two people (men, naturally) have already speculated I have it on backwards, which elevates it to "statement piece" status as far as I'm concerned. The other piece is this dreamy <b>pale blue tulle skirt</b>, something I never would have thought to purchase for myself but immediately fell in love with as soon as I put it on. It's got me feeling like <b>Ballerina-Cinderella</b>, which is really my main goal in life. <br />
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Constructing my wardrobe this month was pretty straightforward; I stuck with the exact same number and mostly same ratio of items. The <b>summer work trouser</b> I was seeking seduced me into H&M for the first time in ages, but I couldn't justify the purchase value-wise*, particularly outside of their conscious collection. So I'll just have to hope I come across them in a thrift shop one day.</div>
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While September will no doubt remain very warm, I'm thrilled to be inching closer to <b>long sleeves </b>and <b>cozy knits </b>again. Scrolling through Instagram, I envy my PNW friends, who are already donning <b>beanies and jeans</b> while I cower beneath the sweaty arm of a fellow train passenger and pray the AC doesn't break down mid-commute. Sigh. At least I look like Cinderella. Maybe I can befriend some of New York's finest subway rats...</div>
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'Til fall! </div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">*Value-wise meaning captial-V values, not cost-value. H&M is of course quite affordable.</span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer"> © copyright LGPQ 2014 – All rights reserved </div>inspirsessionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579184262738042591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998010807702405527.post-79091848880848003712018-07-30T09:46:00.000-04:002018-08-30T23:28:44.530-04:0015 Outfits for July 2018For me, July was a month of <b>travel</b> and <b>special events</b>, both of which called for unique considerations outfit-wise. While I admittedly have two cocktail dresses which I keep specially for formal occasions (i.e. the <b>wedding</b> I attended this month), there were several casual events to take into account while planning this month's <a href="http://www.inspirsession.com/search?q=sampler#.WzbU4S2ZO34">sampler wardrobe</a>; among them a <b>rehearsal dinner</b>, two fancy <b>brunches</b>, an Independence Day<b> soiree</b>, and my <b>high school reunion</b>, for which I shamelessly wanted to look my best. I also had to ensure I pulled enough travel wear to get me through two long <b>plane rides</b> and both east and west coast summer climates. Between all that casual-wear planning, I decided it would be best to leave my work wardrobe as-is, so you may notice those pieces are exactly the same as July's -- just styled differently in the photos below!<br />
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For all these constraints, I'm proud with how this sampler turned out. With just <b>24 articles</b> of clothing, I kept things fresh by mixing in accessories and rotating separates. A distinct <b>color palette </b>emerged almost by accident, and I correctly anticipated what little interest I'd have in sleeves this month. Incredibly, I'm not yet bored by my rollover work wardrobe, and while I am still seeking a lighter-toned trouser or skirt, you may see most of these pieces remixed a third time for August!<br />
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To my delight, I had a chance to <b>put my wardrobe organization studies into practice</b> when I visited my parents. <b>My mom</b>, who shares my fondness for a variety of clothing styles, felt overdue for a closet purge, and I set to work making room for more space, order, and "her-ness" within her current collection. We spent five fun-filled hours together, pairing like with like and creating a series of <b>new looks </b>she felt excited about. It was a joy to see my mother exercising her panache for creative problem-solving with pieces she'd been uncertain about before; I've always admired her willingness to embrace change. If I can figure out her secret to doing this, I'll consider myself twice blessed! <br />
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It's always hard after vacation to rev up the engines again; to put in motion all those hopes you dreamed up while away from reality. The reunion provided a good chance to check in on what I've been doing (and not doing) in the ten years since I left home. Presently, I'm doing my best not to get swept up again in the current that is New York City; to keep my head above water and my feet kicking forward, my breath level and my eyes on the silhouette possibilities that I chased here, rather than the distractions which lie around every corner, however delightful they are. It feels quite grown-up to think in that way, and I believe I'm finally ready to let myself grow up a little bit more.<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"> © copyright LGPQ 2014 – All rights reserved </div>inspirsessionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579184262738042591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998010807702405527.post-3724048490840607802018-06-30T11:00:00.000-04:002018-06-30T13:16:28.417-04:0016 Outfits for June 2018Whew! It's been a full day of sorting through and editing this <b>outfit spread</b>, as there was lots to feature this month. June's <a href="http://www.inspirsession.com/search?q=sampler#.WzbU4S2ZO34">sampler</a> was packed with tops (for reasons I'll explain further on), which of course meant taking more photos to feature them properly. The summer foliage on the tree outside our apartment means natural lighting is more difficult to come by these days. And of course the infamous humidity is starting to creep in as well. Needless to say I'm a little nervous for my July & August shoots! Good thing ballet taught me how to smile through a whole lot of sweat.<br />
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Can I get personal for a moment? <b>This season has been somewhat of a turning point for me in my attitude toward the future.</b> I'm finally coming head to head with some thought patterns that have been present my whole life but which have never served me. I'm doing a lot of thinking about <b>where I've come from and where I'd like to go from here</b>. Particularly, I'm willing myself to let the past remain in the past; to finally <b>let myself move forward</b> from habits, expectations, relationships, and dreams which no longer resonate or bring joy to my life. I'm doing my best to siphon the good memories and avoid tossing the baby with the bathwater, but as someone with a truly sentimental soul, who's always been guilty of nostalgia, I'm realizing it's better for me to focus on what's ahead, rather than obsessing over the lessons left behind. Most of all, I'm hopeful that things like <b>exercise, mental health, and goal-setting </b>are going to reclaim their seats as my shotgun navigators. In the past three years, I feel like I've taken one detour after another, exploring to my heart's content and letting my whims take the wheel -- but now I'm ready to merge back onto the freeway and make some serious mileage.<br />
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What does any of that have to do with my wardrobe? Why, <b>getting out of my comfort zone</b>, bien sur! Personal style is an excellent way to experiment with your own boundaries. While they feel like extensions of my soul now, some past examples of such tests exist in the <b>peach babydoll dress </b>(<i>Am I this girly?)</i>, the <b>white crop tee</b> <i>(Do I need a toned stomach?)</i>, and my beloved <b>vintage denim cut-offs</b> <i>(Is a mom jean too "mom" if it actually <u>belonged</u> to your mom?) </i>These pieces were obviously worth branching out for, as they're all still here, being paraded across my blog. It's so satisfying to try something you're not sure about and wind up feeling really great in it. So give yourself the permission to <b>shake things up</b> every once in a while. Especially when something calls to you in a thrift shop, where there's usually little monetary risk involved.<br />
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I've also made a point to embrace those aspects of <b>my body</b> I don't typically feel comfortable displaying. Crop tops, high-waisted jeans, short shorts, and even flat shoes all pose potential problems on my <b>short figure</b>, but I'm training myself to ignore such style scripture. You may be struggling with your own personal hang-ups, but if there's one thing I've learned about personal style, it's that <b>you can (and should!) dictate your own rules</b>. So long as <i>you</i> feel comfortable, who really gives a damn? I care A WHOLE LOT about my wardrobe, but we should all remember: at the end of the day, it's just fabric!<br />
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All in all, I only increased my item count slightly this month from the last, but I have two good reasons for it:<br />
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<ol>
<li><b>Adventures in Subway-ing.</b> While I'll happily lay around the apartment in a camisole and boxers, I naturally want to look more presentable for my commute. Getting to and from work means about 30 mins of walking in the sunshine / summer-storm / sticky evening air, waiting 5-15 mins in the sultry subway, and at least 1.5 hours on the train itself -- the interior of which can range anywhere from refrigerator-esque to hot-yoga humid, pending on the AC situation. While my workwear requirements remain fairly consistent through the seasons, those to-and-fro 'fits have to be adaptable. Hence the variety of outerwear and sleeve lengths in this month's casual stock.</li>
<li><b>More Laundry, More Problems.</b> It doesn't take a genius to figure out wearing two tops per work day translates to an increase in laundry, one way or another. Since I'm far more interested in having additional outfits than doing additional chores, I chose to balance my wardrobe accordingly and schlep larger loads on my usual laundry days.</li>
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While my ice-cold winter heart will always be faithful to the cold seasons, I have to say I'm melting a bit toward enjoying <b>warm-weather dressing</b>. In all fairness, NYC hasn't reached its full heatwave potential just yet, so take that admission with a grain of salt. For now, there's a certain element of fun in trying to anticipate what the day will call for -- like whether I can get away with <b>long sleeves and bare legs</b>. I live for these narrow windows of Goldilocks temperatures!<br />
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A lot of you are probably taking trips out of town for the summer. I'm pleased to report this little wardrobe held up perfectly for a family <b>vacation</b> to Colorado. For four days of travel, I managed to fly with just a small backpack and a lunch tote -- probably my most minimalist pack to date! Everything I wore felt comfortable and stylish, I did NOT wear pajamas on the plane, and no money was spent on overpriced airplane food. (Am I radiating enough smugness here??) I'm just rearing to go for next month's challenge: <b>a ten-day trip to the west coast</b>, with three <b>special events</b> to boot! Bring it on, July!</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"> © copyright LGPQ 2014 – All rights reserved </div>inspirsessionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579184262738042591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998010807702405527.post-39961863908804503042018-05-30T14:19:00.001-04:002018-05-30T14:21:12.030-04:0015 Outfits for May 2018<div>
Remember back in grade school when you defined yourself and all
your friends by your <b>favorite colors</b>? Akin to inquiring “What’s your
sign?” this served as a perfectly adequate way to pigeonhole one another
— distinguishing the pinks personalities from the purples. My own best friend at that
time loved blue — particularly the lightest, softest shades — and I, in
my typical over-enthusiasm, declared a devotion to yellow. This
preference lasted until I painted my bedroom walls lime green, and then a
new obsession was born. In recent years, I’ve shied away from the
pale yellows of my youth, figuring they make me look babyish (or worse:
sickly!) </div>
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But there’s nothing so delicate
about <b>bright yellow</b>! In fact, I noticed that wearing this shade really <b>boosts my confidence</b>. Pairing it with shades of <b>denim</b> lent the essence of a
sun-filled sky to even the chilliest, dreariest storm day. I adore how
these colors pop in this month's photo spread — especially alongside my
more sober-toned work outfits. Between all the navy and black, I included some lighter blouses and dresses, but I do intend to find at least one warm-toned professional trouser or skirt before summer's end.<br />
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While storing pieces at the end of my <a href="http://www.inspirsession.com/2018/04/12-outfits-for-april.html#.Ww7HPal89ok">April sampler</a>, I decided to take a full closet inventory categorized<i> by season</i>. As it turns out, I have an ideal number of warm-weather pieces, some room for expansion in my cold-weather category, and waaaaaaaay too many <b>transition pieces</b> for the brief spring and fall periods which characterize New York. As mentioned in <a href="http://www.inspirsession.com/2018/03/12-outfits-for-march-2018.html#.Ww7Jd6l89ol">March</a>, this is likely due to holdover from Seattle, the climate of which necessitated such pieces about 80% of the year.<br />
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Spring and fall are difficult seasons to resist shopping, as this is when stores roll our their new inventory, but I did my best to <b>redirect my attention</b> away from the abundance and instead toward anticipating key summer items in need of replacement. I'm glad to have taken this approach, because surely the $50 required to resole my singular pair of sandals would have quickly been spent on a novelty dress with an irresistible print — or three. Ergo, my main takeaway tip for you this month: <b><i>Understand your city's unique division of seasons,</i> <i>and stock your wardrobe accordingly.</i></b><br />
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Another obstacle I ran into this month: <b>redundancy</b>. In addition to the
pieces listed above, I had also included an additional tunic-style tank
blouse and another pair of skinny jeans. They worked well together, but when their rotation came up I found myself reaching for something else, and my error was realized. Three pairs of jeans was, of course, overkill for the
casual section of my wardrobe — especially while trying to get the most wear out of my favorite transitional dresses. The featured white
floral maxi and peach babydoll are two of my most favorite pieces, but their fabrics call for ideal weather conditions to make them truly wearable. So, second tip for sampler wardrobe-ing: <i><b>Identify your seasonal favorites and make room to wear them as much as possible.</b></i><br />
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Style-wise, I would happily wear this wardrobe another month if I could. Transitional seasons are my favorite because they provide the opportunity to play with <b>layering and quirky pairings</b> without winter coats or summer sweat obscuring the fun. Unfortunately for me, we've already soared into the 80s a few times here, and a portion of my casual wear will need to be swapped out to accommodate the <b>rising heat</b>. That said, my work basics are here to stay; <b>continual air-conditioning </b>means longer sleeves and pants are not only possible, but essential. It also means increasing my casual wear options, as I'll soon have<b> commuting outfits</b> to consider alongside my regular off days'. If that seems excessive, I invite you to try boarding a crowded subway car with broken A/C in an outfit selected for several hours of standing below a chilly vent... NYC humidity DGAF about your best silk work blouse.<br />
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But let's hope we still have a few weeks of spring left to celebrate before all that.<br />
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See you in June!
<div class="blogger-post-footer"> © copyright LGPQ 2014 – All rights reserved </div>inspirsessionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579184262738042591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998010807702405527.post-72309388167371173422018-04-30T09:00:00.000-04:002018-05-30T14:25:37.784-04:0012 Outfits for April 2018April was a trying month for me. Whether it was Mercury in retrograde or the <b>unpredictabile weather patterns</b> of the Northeast Winter That Would Never End, my moods have been up and down, my self-confidence kicked around, and my general enthusiasm for dressing up gone out the window along with my energy.<br />
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Here in NYC, we spent the first week of April freezing through the forties, then in the second week we sporadically plunged into sunshine. Excited to spend my day off outside for the first time in ages, I donned my newly-thrifted <b>leather jacket</b>, <b>converse</b>, and a breezy<b> jumpsuit</b>, then thought twice and packed a lightweight<b> </b>wool<b> cardigan </b>and<b> scarf </b>too. They never came out of my bag. Thermometers hit 80 degrees and my leather jacket was quickly stuffed away with them. Hail the sunshine!<br />
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Within 48 hours it was windy, raining, and miserable again.<br />
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Just when it seemed we'd never level out, this week brought a string of tentatively warm days which I hope signal<b> the end of winter-spring and the start of spring-summer</b>. (There is no official, straight spring here, I'm convinced; it's a phenomenon that exists only in singular, sublime hours when you happen to be trapped inside at work.) Anyway, I'm not exactly satisfied with the practicality of this sampler. But I'm also not altogether sure how I would've fixed it under the circumstances.<br />
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One thing that did cheer me up significantly were two fabulous <b>thrift scores</b> at the Housing Works Best of Spring sale. Both make an appearance above. The first, while you can't see the texture very well, is a <b>black v-neck sweater</b> which just so happens to be made of the softest, most comforting <b>cashmere</b> I've ever been blessed enough to own. This sweater became my security blanket through the darkest of days, the dimmest of evenings, and the longest of subway rides. The second piece, a <b>lemon print skirt by Kate Spade</b> (scored with tags at nearly 80% off its initial price) is a springtime dream! Until playing with the flowers in <a href="http://www.inspirsession.com/2018/03/12-outfits-for-march-2018.html">last month's post</a>, I'd never imagined bright yellow being part of my closet. So I decided to employ <b>the waiting game</b> for about a week, giving myself time to mull over how it would function in my wardrobe and how badly I wanted it -- and hoping against hope no one would find my treasure in the meantime. When I came back to the shop and found it waiting for me, I took it as a sign and made lemonade, so to speak.<br />
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For those of you still suffering through the land of Is-It-Winter-Is-It-Spring, here's what did work this month:<br />
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<i>-<b>Keep Out The Winter Jacket: </b></i>While I've stored my wool toggle coat, this parka was the most worn outerwear of my whole stock -- proof that April in New York is still chilly as can be! Don't abandon ship early; wait til May to stuff it away.<br />
<i>-<b>But Also, Layers: </b></i>For those days that do reach the 60s, especially when there's sunshine, layers will clearly come in handy. I focused on lightweight-yet-warm fabrics like merino and leather, which could be paired with one another for additional heat.<br />
<i>-<b>One Kick-Around Sweater, One Work Sweater:</b> </i>Sweaters are also still a necessity right now, and while I always have some kind of casual cozy knit to get me through any season, having a nicer one for work was also useful. If your workplace is like mine, people are starting to play the cooling vs. heating game, and there's nothing like a blast of AC to make you regret breaking out your spring silks. Looks like I'll be sticking with long sleeves at work til the humidity rolls in.<br />
<i>-<b>April Showers Bring... Skirts!</b></i>: Nothing beats kicking up your rainboots under a cute skirt while you parade fearlessly through rain puddles. Black tights will conceal mudspray, and bold ones can be paired with high boots for a cheeky pop of color.<br />
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Onto (true) <i><u><b>SPRING</b></u></i>, guys! I feel like I've been sitting on two months of expectation now. It's time to let the sunshine in at last.<br />
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"> © copyright LGPQ 2014 – All rights reserved </div>inspirsessionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579184262738042591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998010807702405527.post-76028459680950680162018-03-30T09:40:00.000-04:002018-03-30T09:40:54.787-04:0012 Outfits for March 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We've reached the end of March! As you will see in this month's outfit photos, I am celebrating the <b>end of winter</b> with bundles of bright, sunny<b> </b>flowers. While I'm one of those rare oddballs who actually loves winter, I don't think I've ever been so restless for spring. This season's felt colder, longer, and fuller of personal reflection than any I can remember -- and now I'm rearing to go outside, get moving, and take action!</div>
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Lucky for me, my March <a href="http://www.inspirsession.com/search?q=sampler+wardrobe#.WpWNEYJG1ok">sampler wardrobe</a> did not disappoint. Beyond the overhasty storage of my wool coat, I was pleased with its mixability and overall <b>boho-chic</b>
look. It's immensely satisfying to finally discover the perfect blend
of basics and statement pieces. I've been pendulum-ing between those two
extremes for a long time.<br />
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When I planned this sampler at the end of last month, I was struck by an instinct to lunge for my skirts and sundresses. I'd already identified my spring inspirations and made a shopping list for the warmer months ahead -- fare-thee-well, winter! I've always thought of March as marking the start of spring and, calendar-wise, that's true. But nowhere I've lived has spring actually ever started when it's "supposed" to do so. In New York, spring is the shortest season after fall, lasting about 2/3 as long as winter. It makes up for the lack of sunshine during its miserably long summers, but essentially nullifies the<b> transitional basics</b> acquired during my time in Seattle. My favorite long sleeve dresses, light sweaters, and down vest seem to lie constantly in waiting. <br />
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What did work during transition time:<br />
<ul>
<li><i><b>Choosing a palette and sticking to it.</b></i> With the exception of my lightwash jeans and floral dress, everything in this wardrobe fell into the category of a neutral (black, white, gray, and beige) or a green. Palettes aren't a requirement for maintaining small wardrobes, but they do allow for maximizing a limited collection. When everything goes with everything, you can mix and match to your heart's content! It also creates a lovely harmony in your personal presentation, which suggests a certain reliability of character.</li>
<li><b><i>Focusing on duality, not transition.</i> </b>Winter and spring can coexist in the same wardrobe, but as mentioned above, unless you live in a truly temperate climate, weather fluctuations are going to demand one season at a time. If you're struggling with adjusting to temperatures changes, you may consider including both wool sweaters and light tees in the same collection, as opposed to relying on spring jackets which will likely prove too cool for wintry days and be cast off in the sunshine.</li>
<li><i><b>Rejoicing in the power of accessories.</b> </i>Another troubling aspect to season transition is that it seems like the wrong time to buy anything. On the one hand, it can feel risky to invest early in warm-weather styles and nonsensical to buy cooler pieces just to store them in a few week's time. This is when I turn my attention to those necklaces, scarves, hats, bags, and tights which haven't journeyed beyond my bedroom in awhile. I'm super pleased by the mileage I got from my bejeweled collar necklace, afghan scarf, and leather backpack this month -- and it's nice to know they feel loved in return.</li>
</ul>
Additionally, completing my <b><a href="https://anuschkarees.com/blog?category=Define%20your%20Personal%20Style">bi-annual personal style overhaul</a> </b>was rewarding as ever. This process gave me time to reflect on last year's wants and purchases and served as an invitation to pour over a cast-off Vogue with tea and cookies, which is always a welcome treat. It came together just in time for the
Housing Works sales, and it was comforting to know I was shopping on more than just impulse. I can't wait
to share the new treasures I found in future samplers! <br />
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What else is on the horizon for <b>spring</b>? The annual stream of fair-weather <b>visitors</b> is arriving, and I couldn't be happier to have an excuse to tromp around the city with my out-of-town pals. (Always a fun time to plan some new outfits!) Daylight savings time has brought brighter light to the restaurant, which has in turn brought more attention to the state of my work garments and necessary <b>repairs</b> therein. Sporadic <b>nannying </b>opportunities require having one or two kid-proof outfits on hand. And if I can get over whatever hump's been looming before me, <b>auditioning</b> will start to take more of a front seat in my life again. In preparation for the warmer weather, I'll also be giving my winter items a final <b>laundering</b> before storage, including multiple-wear pieces like coats and hefty handwashables, like my merino sweaters. Gotta harness those last days of radiator heating!<br />
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Until April, everyone.<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"> © copyright LGPQ 2014 – All rights reserved </div>inspirsessionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579184262738042591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998010807702405527.post-72803613331312303502018-02-27T12:09:00.001-05:002018-02-27T12:09:56.128-05:0012 Outfits for February 2018Welcome to the end of February, friends! I really enjoyed structuring my <a href="http://www.inspirsession.com/search?q=sampler+wardrobe#.WpWNEYJG1ok">sampler wardrobe</a> for this month. My <b>birthday</b> falls in February, so naturally it's always been one of my favorites. I've never had qualms about sending out all the love on Valentine's Day, cheesy or not, so I made an effort to select garments that reflected my love for, well, <b>love</b>! As a result you'll see splashes of <b>reds and berries </b>alongside my usual neutrals of gray, black, white and denim. I also tried to focus on <b>lace, ruffle, and bow details</b>, which speak to the prototypical "feminine" aspect of this occasion. But of course you'll never catch me getting <i>too</i> cutesy; there's still plenty of tomboy influence tempering out these additional frills.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-plu7i6B9tKw/WpLuNwzlUBI/AAAAAAAAHRM/5IIawyO7aBAmvrV-2vfilxOuIte9zC-gACLcBGAs/s1600/12%2BOutfits%2Bfor%2BFebruary%2B2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-plu7i6B9tKw/WpLuNwzlUBI/AAAAAAAAHRM/5IIawyO7aBAmvrV-2vfilxOuIte9zC-gACLcBGAs/s1100/12%2BOutfits%2Bfor%2BFebruary%2B2018.jpg" /></a></div>
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Glancing over the looks above, you may detect a noticeable <b>outlier</b> in the bunch, and that's the sage blouse + rust/black maxi skirt combination. Ironically, this outfit is probably my most favorite! (The first time I wore it, I felt like I'd finally unlocked my own version of <a href="http://www.inspirsession.com/2014/10/fashion-revamp-breakfast-club.html#.WpWJf4JG1ok">Molly Ringwald's <i>Breakfast Club </i>ensemble</a>.) While sorting through my <a href="http://www.inspirsession.com/2018/01/14-outfits-for-january-2018.html#.WpWJ3YJG1ok">January wardrobe</a> selections, deciding what to pull forward vs. what to put back in storage, I found I'd shied away from giving the skirt much airplay, possibly out of bashfulness at how bold it is. For February, I decided I'd challenge myself to embrace its attitude, and once I got over my own hesitations it turned out to be surprisingly versatile. So I'm glad to have kept it in rotation, even if it didn't perfectly fit the rest of the chosen palette. A good reminder not to get too hung up on following "the rules," for<b> it's these spontaneous gut-instincts that unearth our truest style!</b><br />
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Speaking of discovering style, it's odd that as my fashion <i>type</i> becomes less definable (while the influences are there, I don't think you could label these looks altogether classic, urban, or bohemian), my sense of <i>personal style</i> is becoming more and more clear to me. It's pretty easy to enter a shop now and know what's worth taking home. I spend far less time in the dressing room than I once did, because I know what I like, and I know what fits me. While I can still be indecisive about whether something is worth the cost, that gut voice has gotten louder, and I'm letting myself trust it more.<br />
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<b>For those of you struggling with any aspect of defining your style, I can only suggest spending more time with what you already own.</b> Ask yourself what you wear most often and why. Take notes on which fabrics you're drawn to and which ones drive you crazy. Put on some music, mix up some outfits, and admire your creations in the mirror. Styling can be its own form of self-care, and in the month of romancing, it's just as important to give some love to yourself! <br />
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Looking ahead, I anticipate March in New York will be chilly as ever, so I'll be styling for <b>another month of winter</b> rather than pulling springtime pieces. That said, my favorite Housing Works' Best of Spring sale starts next week, so I'm jump-starting my <b>bi-yearly closet analysis</b> to come with a game-plan in hand. For those of you interested, the guidelines I use for this process are outlined in <b>Anuschka Rees'</b> <b><i>The Curated Closet</i> </b>-- which, as I mentioned last month, is pretty much my style bible. If you're looking for a fail-safe way to build a versatile, compact wardrobe, this is a perfect resource.</div>
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More soon, lovelies! Best of luck as we wander toward the greens of spring.</div>
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"> © copyright LGPQ 2014 – All rights reserved </div>inspirsessionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579184262738042591noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998010807702405527.post-33486531789445521402018-01-30T09:30:00.000-05:002018-01-30T09:30:11.617-05:0014 Outfits for January 2018With full intentions to post my December <b>sampler wardrobe</b> as usual, between holiday season at the restaurant, traveling home for Christmas, and two bouts of winter colds (I am now battling a low-grade flu, and having just recovered from those colds, it hardly seems fair!), life just ate up any opportunities for personal photo-shoots. Hopefully this post is a welcome reintroduction to the <a href="http://www.inspirsession.com/2017/06/introducing-sampler-wardrobe-cure-for.html#.Wm9VlUtG2t8">sampler process</a>, detailing how you can build <b>a variety of unique outfits</b> from even the smallest of wardrobes.<br />
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Here in NYC, January marks our transition into true winter weather. Per the advice of my wardrobe-building guru <a href="https://anuschkarees.com/">Anuschka Rees</a>, I performed just <b>a <i>minor </i>closet assessment</b> during this season change. Rather than seeking out new styles or silhouettes, I turned my attention to <b>cold-weather additions</b> that would help me get through those single-digit days. Upon this assessment, I found myself fairly well-equipped for weekends, what with my inability to resist (and afterward ever part with) loose-fitting knitwear. When it came to winter-proofing my work attire against our front-of-house freezing winds, however, I was stumped. Finally, I settled on a simple<b> black turtleneck</b>, which has already proven itself to be a real wardrobe MVP. Pairing my usual <b>silk blouses </b>beneath <b>more tailored sweaters</b> has also been a godsend through single-digit dinner shifts.</div>
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After five days of work in those nicer garments, crawling between the folds of a<b> chunky sweater </b>or <b>broken-in jeans</b> feels almost indulgent, and I basically lived in this combination on the weekends. Typically I'm not much for the "uniform" approach, but a variety of sweater shapes and two different styles of jeans was enough to keep me from ever feeling bored.</div>
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My winter outerwear<b> </b>pieces are not featured in the photos, but of course I have a few on rotation. One is a cozy neutrally-colored <b>parka</b> and the other a slightly fancier black <b>wool toggle coat</b>. My <b>down layer </b>has
also featured heavily due to the freezing temperatures we experienced
at the start of the month. Those three options, layered with my
knitwear, have seen me through even the chilliest temperatures without
complaint. Having hauled enough elephantine Canada Goose parkas to and
from coat check, I'm very much over the idea of burdening myself (or
anyone else for that matter) with something heavier. </div>
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One hurdle I have yet to overcome in developing a more conscious closet is how to balance my sustainable standards alongside an appetite for creative spontaneity. I'm not bothered by the structure my sustainability journey has imposed -- an over-thinker by nature, I feel much better making choices within a set of guidelines -- but what drew me toward styling in the first place was the potential for <b>new discoveries</b>. So this month I loosened the reigns enough to "impulse-buy" a pair of <b>black platform hightops</b> (featured above.) While I'd typically go for a more practical look, these took me straight back to my high school obsession with all things 80s (<i>Goonies</i>, anyone?)<i> </i>Once I confirmed their comfort and affordability, I was happy to indulge that gut-reaction.</div>
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Come springtime, it will be time for a more in-depth <b>style overhaul</b>, perhaps exploring some new directions for the warmer half of the year.
For now, I'm just focusing on <b>gathering inspiration</b> -- like a little
chipmunk hoarding seeds! -- so I'll have plenty of material to draw from
once March rolls around.<br />
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Springtime. It sounds lovely right now, doesn't it? Birds chirping, the scent of fresh flowers, sunshine peeking through the budding trees... I try not to get ahead of myself, but on days like these it's hard not to dream. For now, as I shiver along these city streets, I remind myself that once the July humidity comes rolling in, I'll be dreaming of winter all over again.<br />
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xoxo,<br />
R <br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer"> © copyright LGPQ 2014 – All rights reserved </div>inspirsessionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579184262738042591noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998010807702405527.post-71853610591392165142018-01-19T10:33:00.000-05:002018-01-19T10:33:00.351-05:002017 Wardrobe Purchases & EvaluationHappy (belated) New Year to all! If you are reading this, I appreciate your loyal interest in what has been a rather neglected space this year. While I'm not making any promises I can't keep, I do hope 2018 holds more space for creative pursuits, and as always, <i>Inspirsession</i> will remain at the top of my list of preferred outlets.<br />
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Each January I like to reflect on the past year's style in some form, and this year I thought it might be productive to <b>review my wardrobe purchases</b> with you. Having yet to take inventory as I type this now, I'm slightly anxious to see how I fared in terms of quality over quantity. After all, <a href="http://www.inspirsession.com/2017/03/a-year-without-new-clothes.html">I spent the entirety of 2017 abstaining from "buying new."</a> Hopefully I continued to foster good shopping habits!<br />
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While I did purchase both <b>used and new items</b> this year, I strove to find secondhand options whenever available. There's little excuse in New York to shop new (well-stocked thrift stores, fashionable friends, a never-ending scroll of Craigslist moving sales... the options are boundless) -- but temptation also lurks around every corner. When I set foot inside Banana Republic for the first time in almost two years this holiday season, I almost lost my mind. So many choices, yet so little satisfaction at the end of it all! It reinforced my commitment to seeking out <b>more localized, ethical options</b> when supporting brands.<br />
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Below you'll find a list of each acquisition, along with comments regarding my overall satisfaction with the item since its purchase. As countless selfies abound on my phone, I've also thrown in some photos of these pieces in action. <b>Whether your style runs parallel to mine or not, hopefully it will encourage similar pondering on your own habits and acquisitions.</b><br />
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Here's a little nudge:</div>
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▻Which items served you on a daily basis and which were just occasionally fun?</div>
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▻What brands proved worth their salt?</div>
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▻Could anything you purchased have been borrowed instead?</div>
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▻What piece still gives you butterflies when you take it in your hands?</div>
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and of course we musn't forget the most delicious (and dangerous) of questions -- <i> </i></div>
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<i> ▻What's still missing? </i></div>
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Graphic-Print Bikini <span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">• Athleta</span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM62ZE4zOTqPPlWs3yBVSa93ScjVGEDUM4Kq0VtkTjuOrkppK-A9QrFxKcEmOPGkNk5szDdxa5twA90PH-ZkBlr3i_S3v5h6bmt8tLaXfd3cJiQcjtHTc1Xp_2lhAXrNs2wHyjCvN7rrk/s1600/Marrakesh+Twister+Bikini+-+Athleta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="693" data-original-width="520" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM62ZE4zOTqPPlWs3yBVSa93ScjVGEDUM4Kq0VtkTjuOrkppK-A9QrFxKcEmOPGkNk5szDdxa5twA90PH-ZkBlr3i_S3v5h6bmt8tLaXfd3cJiQcjtHTc1Xp_2lhAXrNs2wHyjCvN7rrk/s320/Marrakesh+Twister+Bikini+-+Athleta.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Full disclosure -- The last time I bought a bikini before this one was in <u><i>2008</i></u>. In case you can't do the math, here's a bit of perspective: the first person who saw me in that bikini was a high school boyfriend. Needless to say, it was time to find a replacement.<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"> While I usually aim for all-natural fibers in my clothing, modern swimsuits by their nature require synthetics. Plus, I figure if I continue to swim as infrequently as I do now, then maybe this bikini will last me <i>two</i> decades, at which point I'm sure I'll be ready to throw in the towel (pun intended) and... well, go nude!</span><br />
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<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b>Frequency Worn:</b> That once-in-a-blue-moon summer vacation.</span><br />
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b>Would Buy Again:</b> So far, so good. </span><br />
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Cotton Boyshorts (2pk) <span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">• Pact</span></h3>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J5a0KGKJ1Rw/Wl_aOlZgWoI/AAAAAAAAHI8/G1207_y3kGc-tKRbdfm-eq_lT1zdxBXCQCLcBGAs/s1600/Pact%2BBoy%2BShorts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="990" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J5a0KGKJ1Rw/Wl_aOlZgWoI/AAAAAAAAHI8/G1207_y3kGc-tKRbdfm-eq_lT1zdxBXCQCLcBGAs/s320/Pact%2BBoy%2BShorts.jpg" width="264" /></a><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hzgm2oNyThk/Wl_aO3Rm2nI/AAAAAAAAHJA/OP3cju7AYdwEC8LA6-9TsjCh6ppNtzLQwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Pact%2BBoy%2BShorts%2B-%2Bback.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="990" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hzgm2oNyThk/Wl_aO3Rm2nI/AAAAAAAAHJA/OP3cju7AYdwEC8LA6-9TsjCh6ppNtzLQwCEwYBhgL/s320/Pact%2BBoy%2BShorts%2B-%2Bback.jpg" width="264" /></a><span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"> <span id="goog_18727260"></span><span id="goog_18727261"></span> </span></div>
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Victoria's Secret had been sounding its siren call across 5th Avenue for long as I'd been in need of replacement underwear. However, having heard about Pact -- with their fair-trade policy, organic cotton, and eco-focused production practices<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"> -- how could I justify pushing money toward anything less, all in the name of a cute ass-shielding print? As it turns out, Pact's options are still cute, and their underwear is some of the comfiest I've ever worn in my life. Boyshorts without wandering hems are nowhere to be found at Victoria's Secret, and it feels good to know I'm supporting a company who respects both their workers and the environment.</span><br />
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<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b>Frequency:</b> Every laundry cycle.</span><br />
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b>Would Buy Again:</b> 100%.</span><br />
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<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">Cotton Lace-Waist Thong (2pk) </span><span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">• Pact</span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0okLrE7OhY_4FJsERdoGMRpv0Lq56SZj5belSpXPR1qKv8yp2feLOUSCygdx5ZSZ352mek7EI_SR8l9tjgLNBGOl4JMZvv-xxJ-AiK_EcEIToc1IirVqplFVUlwQMGmHym5KDiha1V0/s1600/Pact+Lace-Waist+Thong+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="990" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0okLrE7OhY_4FJsERdoGMRpv0Lq56SZj5belSpXPR1qKv8yp2feLOUSCygdx5ZSZ352mek7EI_SR8l9tjgLNBGOl4JMZvv-xxJ-AiK_EcEIToc1IirVqplFVUlwQMGmHym5KDiha1V0/s320/Pact+Lace-Waist+Thong+.jpg" width="264" /></a></div>
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Another round of applause for Pact: The first pair of unmentionables I purchased (before the boyshorts) just weren't quite the right fit for me, and because their policy cited a satisfaction guarantee, I asked about exchanging for another style. In the interest of saving on shipping costs (for me as well as the planet), Pact let me keep the first order, shipped my replacement free of charge, and also sent me a free pair of socks. Guys, <i>this</i> is how you build a brand.<br />
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<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b>Frequency:</b> (see above)</span><br />
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b>Would Buy Again:</b> (see above)</span><br />
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<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">Ribbed Cotton Socks (3pk) • Merona</span></h3>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XLBgoKLWN1U/Wl_bL49ZdyI/AAAAAAAAHJU/IZiNGclEU9M1qC8rDPaDj_i7C5DA9_x5ACLcBGAs/s1600/Merona%2BRibbed%2BSocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1296" data-original-width="1600" height="259" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XLBgoKLWN1U/Wl_bL49ZdyI/AAAAAAAAHJU/IZiNGclEU9M1qC8rDPaDj_i7C5DA9_x5ACLcBGAs/s320/Merona%2BRibbed%2BSocks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Not much to say here. These are socks I got at Target. I tried to not get socks at Target, and I tried to get 100% cotton socks, but apparently that isn't a thing anymore. I've already lost the black pair. Sigh.<br />
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<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b>Frequency:</b> Less often than I would have thought. Apparently I wear all black much more than I realized...</span><br />
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b>Would Buy Again: </b>While not the cheapest alternative, I'm so satisfied with the aformentioned complimentary Pact socks, I'd probably consider their options next time </span><br />
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<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">Black Contour Bra • Natori</span><span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"> </span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJkiE3WyBeVdEbkcKomUP2XyALi5ARLdBMkyCvU9zkGRsy0ypK7bdZbIHpttMvY-wCibQA1nIayCvtCB9uFensbbw8yNA3XK8cOCO908_ENSdjAh_K2XJGF-VWGbJBHrt8_PDxPsK9Ys/s1600/Natori+Feathers+Bra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1020" data-original-width="880" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJkiE3WyBeVdEbkcKomUP2XyALi5ARLdBMkyCvU9zkGRsy0ypK7bdZbIHpttMvY-wCibQA1nIayCvtCB9uFensbbw8yNA3XK8cOCO908_ENSdjAh_K2XJGF-VWGbJBHrt8_PDxPsK9Ys/s320/Natori+Feathers+Bra.jpg" width="276" /></a></div>
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><span id="goog_18727287"></span><span id="goog_18727288"></span> </span><br />
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I <i>love</i> this bra. Bras, like swimsuits, can be pretty hard to purchase ethically. (That is unless you have itsy-bitsy breasts, in which case, please enjoy those lovely drapey triangles for the rest of us, mmkay?) This bra passed because a) it came in my small-around-the-ribs-except-for-these-lady-lumps-right-here size and b) it's sexy without being fussy. Win.<br />
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<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b>Frequency: </b>Like, every work day. </span><br />
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b>Would Buy Again:</b> I want all the colors.</span><br />
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<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">Nude & Lace Convertible Bralette </span><span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">• Wacoal</span></h3>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GyCQ9ebRKHc/Wl_b300wWfI/AAAAAAAAHJg/sK5qYvnY7yw4GOTbmXcvCxceFO0x8AgOACLcBGAs/s1600/Wacoal%2BEmbrace%2BLace%2BBralette.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GyCQ9ebRKHc/Wl_b300wWfI/AAAAAAAAHJg/sK5qYvnY7yw4GOTbmXcvCxceFO0x8AgOACLcBGAs/s320/Wacoal%2BEmbrace%2BLace%2BBralette.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">SING HALLLLLLELUJAH, BECAUSE THE BRALETTE GODS HAVE FINALLY SMILED DOWN ON MY GRAVITY-BOUND TA-TAS!!! This bralette is so comfortable, yet still somehow it remains supportive without any wiring at all. (I think the secret's in the seams?) It can also be converted into a racer-back style, which lets the lace peek out a bit more. </span><br />
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b> </b></span><br />
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b>Frequency: </b>Like, every non-work day. </span><br />
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b>Would Buy Again:</b> Definitely.</span><br />
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<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">Reversible Camisole </span><span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">• Old Navy</span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8abtVpCi3AsXxfGHT91imCNf9beoZDZ9PnBFnkE28K6-Uc7Mw02YKX7waDIfgryvaFKRG5tK8YTZZ6jQvD07d1YRO_cSyfBtxEVCgy2kv6tXLlQGjMhcfEptjK2FDJ7VAg3iEcNN-9T8/s1600/DSC_0530edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1535" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8abtVpCi3AsXxfGHT91imCNf9beoZDZ9PnBFnkE28K6-Uc7Mw02YKX7waDIfgryvaFKRG5tK8YTZZ6jQvD07d1YRO_cSyfBtxEVCgy2kv6tXLlQGjMhcfEptjK2FDJ7VAg3iEcNN-9T8/s350/DSC_0530edit.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">I don't have a very good picture of this camisole, because I typically wear it under sweaters and sometimes to bed, but it is COMMMMFFFFYYY. I'm trying very hard to avoid Old Navy and its fast-fashion sisters these days, but you really can't argue a good basic when it's $3. And verrrrrry soft modal. I mean, I'm only human.</span><br />
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b> </b></span><br />
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b>Frequency: </b>Weekly or bi-weekly.</span><br />
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b>Would Buy Again:</b> As long as I feel I can't afford Pact's more ethical options. (This is becoming a trend...)</span><br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">Rose-Pattern Crop Swing Tank </span><span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">• Free People (secondhand)</span></h3>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-huD-xErl_SM/Wl_zxYloNTI/AAAAAAAAHLk/JfclzXCsocg4DO419DBy4em4VKRuJ7ZwACEwYBhgL/s1600/Floral-Pattern%2BTank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="973" data-original-width="656" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-huD-xErl_SM/Wl_zxYloNTI/AAAAAAAAHLk/JfclzXCsocg4DO419DBy4em4VKRuJ7ZwACEwYBhgL/s500/Floral-Pattern%2BTank.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">Randomly thrifted for $8 at a Buffalo Exchange in Brooklyn. This is the perfect style top for those terrible NYC summer days when you can no longer fathom the idea of clothing.</span><br />
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b> </b></span><br />
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b>Frequency: </b>At least twice a month for the summer months.</span><br />
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b>Would Buy Again: </b>Yep!</span><br />
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<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">Striped Banana Crop Tee • Topshop (secondhand)</span></h3>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QweGMZ2Xnx8/Wl_zssB6bqI/AAAAAAAAHLQ/m5vh4KHpDXY0mEUE5gIIB16qzHxs1ds2ACEwYBhgL/s1600/Banana%2BTee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1116" data-original-width="1116" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QweGMZ2Xnx8/Wl_zssB6bqI/AAAAAAAAHLQ/m5vh4KHpDXY0mEUE5gIIB16qzHxs1ds2ACEwYBhgL/s350/Banana%2BTee.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">I justified buying this shirt while I was a nanny, because I figured it was the type of thing the kids would adore. Turns out, funny graphics on crewnecks are nothing new to children, and they were unmoved. I'm still glad I found it, because it's certainly <i>appealing</i> to me. (You're welcome for that.)</span><br />
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b> </b></span><br />
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b>Frequency: </b>About twice a month in the warmer months.</span><br />
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b>Would Buy Again:</b> Everyone and no one needs a banana shirt.</span><br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">"Misfit" Oversized Tee • Rebel Yell (secondhand)</span></h3>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i3PwokIptQ4/WmAAm_bFOrI/AAAAAAAAHL4/y8jWRE5GZBcpeOxezHByQo6DkI4RhTLWQCLcBGAs/s1600/Misfit%2Btee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1142" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i3PwokIptQ4/WmAAm_bFOrI/AAAAAAAAHL4/y8jWRE5GZBcpeOxezHByQo6DkI4RhTLWQCLcBGAs/s450/Misfit%2Btee.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">Apologies for this moody, flip-flopped, and slightly scandalous dressing room shot, but this is photographic evidence of love at first sight. (Yep, that's my "love" face.) I don't remember how much this tee was -- certainly less than $10 -- but I do remember immediately falling for its effortless draping, softness, and lingering scent of someone else's detergent. Nothing I tried on that day fit me better than this, so the ironic misnomer was just icing on the cake.<b> </b></span><br />
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<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b>Frequency: </b>To bed, and often.</span><br />
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b>Would Buy Again:</b> Over and over again.</span><br />
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<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">Silk Hi-Lo Blouse </span><span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">• Vince (secondhand)</span></h3>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RJezY3LERtQ/Wl_zvwZixII/AAAAAAAAHLE/YhH_faSYg9AZKGy3vj470oVu_6cUalwmQCEwYBhgL/s1600/DSC_0680edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1072" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RJezY3LERtQ/Wl_zvwZixII/AAAAAAAAHLE/YhH_faSYg9AZKGy3vj470oVu_6cUalwmQCEwYBhgL/s500/DSC_0680edit.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">A silky score at Housing Works' Best of Fall sale this year. There's nothing to complain about here, and I do <i>love</i> that evergreen color, but this blouse isn't exactly winning any creativity awards. It just gets the job done at, well, the job.<b> </b></span><br />
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<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b>Frequency: </b>Once a laundry cycle.</span><br />
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b>Would Buy Again: </b>Despite my lack of enthusiasm here, it's a great basic. Would buy again.</span><br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">Crop Chambray Blouse </span><span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">• Alice & Olivia (</span>secondhand)<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"> </span></h3>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n6VsArnqtIM/WmFAcRriSwI/AAAAAAAAHMk/EE2eIMOeri4NLyHF3xHiVmpslogAnzCAwCLcBGAs/s1600/A%2526O%2BCropped%2BChambray%2B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n6VsArnqtIM/WmFAcRriSwI/AAAAAAAAHMk/EE2eIMOeri4NLyHF3xHiVmpslogAnzCAwCLcBGAs/s450/A%2526O%2BCropped%2BChambray%2B.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">This blouse has been a treasure, albeit a fussy one. A "dry clean only" (ha-ha) linen-tencel mix, it's like the Pomeranian of blouses, requiring watchful hand-washing and careful drying. Still, she's versatile, and I love her. Woof-woof. <b> </b></span><br />
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<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b>Frequency: </b>A bit too hot for summer and a bit too cold for winter, this is decidedly a transition piece. Just a few weeks' wear, but well worth it!</span><br />
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b>Would Buy Again:</b> For a basic, I'd probably seek out something a bit easier to care for, but I do love the structure lent by the linen.</span><br />
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<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">Thermal Turtleneck • Cuddl Duds</span></h3>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lJwmSAAXafg/Wl_z3wZTeiI/AAAAAAAAHLk/c6UIW8cINnYKzry3c9JrBZAEJKglAgl1gCEwYBhgL/s1600/Turtleneck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1410" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lJwmSAAXafg/Wl_z3wZTeiI/AAAAAAAAHLk/c6UIW8cINnYKzry3c9JrBZAEJKglAgl1gCEwYBhgL/s450/Turtleneck.jpg" /></a><span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"> </span></div>
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<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">Never underestimate the power of a simple black turtleneck. (Audrey knew.) This little number has saved me from many a night of single-digit winds through the restaurant door. Plus, it makes me feel classy AF.</span><br />
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b> </b></span><br />
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b>Frequency: </b>I'd probably wear this to work every day of winter if I could.</span><br />
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b>Would Buy Again:</b> Yes. It's machine washable (though I baby it and don't tumble dry), and it's held up really well so far. Plus, Cuddl Duds will probably be around forever, so it should be easy to replace when the time comes.</span><br />
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<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">Cashmere-Blend Striped Sweater </span><span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">• New Scotland (secondhand)</span></h3>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V7DUarHkNpk/Wl_z2LlsEoI/AAAAAAAAHLk/354JP_Mg_HYTpMOQbwO-oZjwnd-S5NUnwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Striped%2BSweater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V7DUarHkNpk/Wl_z2LlsEoI/AAAAAAAAHLk/354JP_Mg_HYTpMOQbwO-oZjwnd-S5NUnwCEwYBhgL/s350/Striped%2BSweater.jpg" /></a><span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"> </span></div>
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<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">This sweater is apparently so fun it made me want to blow yellow rose petals toward my phone in jovial excitement! A cashmere-linen blend, it's another piece that requires careful washing, but has proven a worthwhile basic for transition months. It's no great secret that stripes can help to jazz up an otherwise basic or monochromatic wardrobe. So if you're getting a little bored with your closet, get thee to a Bretonery!<b> </b></span><br />
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<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b>Frequency: </b>Regularly... every other wash cycle or so?</span><br />
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b>Would Buy Again: </b>Yes. </span><br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">Merino Side-Button Sweater</span><span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"> • A.P.C. (secondhand) </span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">Touch-Screen Gloves </span><span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">• The North Face (secondhand)</span></h3>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DPu0opOehg4/Wl_z0RNmJXI/AAAAAAAAHLM/CIzkqGV-838ORkce99Rlka-FYDblqxIugCEwYBhgL/s1600/NF%2BGloves%2B%2526%2BMerino%2BSweater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DPu0opOehg4/Wl_z0RNmJXI/AAAAAAAAHLM/CIzkqGV-838ORkce99Rlka-FYDblqxIugCEwYBhgL/s350/NF%2BGloves%2B%2526%2BMerino%2BSweater.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">I thrifted both of these items on the same chilly fall day, anticipating the cold winter to come. Turns out it was the right choice. The North Face gloves are touch-screen compatible and have held up much better than their preceding wool alternatives (which always developed holes in the first season of wear.) A.P.C. is one of those brands I've slobbered through the windows at on my walks through the West Village, so I'm excited for the opportunity to test-run one of their pieces without taking out a small loan.</span><br />
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b> </b></span><br />
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b>Frequency: </b>Seasonally-speaking, daily for the gloves and every so often for the sweater -- I'll admit it's is a bit unimaginative for my everyday taste.</span><br />
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b>Would Buy Again:</b> Yes to both -- The glove for practicality. The sweater for pride.</span><br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">Chambray Shirtdress </span><span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">• Old Navy</span><span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"> </span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb7WxAIyzrPBxNfk7NXq61HFzJ3bicJ2-uRnluGUxWLXC8pbiQLBisU15YMSbegyLNzcumhyphenhyphenlZALWm129nYh8KncODocdOc_rUd_XSbKHYw3AtW2swQNNeH-iLeFugdJBIIlPnyoOr9b4/s1600/DSC_0808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1072" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb7WxAIyzrPBxNfk7NXq61HFzJ3bicJ2-uRnluGUxWLXC8pbiQLBisU15YMSbegyLNzcumhyphenhyphenlZALWm129nYh8KncODocdOc_rUd_XSbKHYw3AtW2swQNNeH-iLeFugdJBIIlPnyoOr9b4/s500/DSC_0808.JPG" /></a></div>
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While this dress is nothing to write home about, it has served me well this year as a steadfast go-to on those "what-the-heck-do-I-wear-today" days. Since my nannying came to an end, it's been worn less regularly, but it's been fun figuring out new ways to mix it for weekend interest.<br />
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<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b>Frequency: </b>Since it's seasonally fluid, this dress stays in rotation for most of the year. So while I gravitate toward it less regularly than other items, it's still gotten a fair amount of wear.</span><br />
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b>Would Buy Again:</b> If I ever again found myself in need of casual basics, then yes. </span><br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Boho Babydoll Dress <span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">• Free People (</span>secondhand)</h3>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G3LKe3N2yuY/Wl_zxoy1zII/AAAAAAAAHLQ/RYSWsooZPpYBLZJZPjnejNKn3o46PMLCACEwYBhgL/s1600/Free%2BPeople%2BBoho%2BBabydoll%2BDress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G3LKe3N2yuY/Wl_zxoy1zII/AAAAAAAAHLQ/RYSWsooZPpYBLZJZPjnejNKn3o46PMLCACEwYBhgL/s500/Free%2BPeople%2BBoho%2BBabydoll%2BDress.jpg" /></a></div>
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Funny story about this dress... I almost didn't buy it for fear of it parading too far into precious hippie territory. After convincing myself it might well serve to rectify my dashed dreams of being Clara in <i>The Nutcracker</i>, I marched to the register -- and on the way my darling dress collided with a blue-ink Bic monster sticking out of someone's purse. Devastated, I explained what happened to the clerk, who was kind enough to knock a few dollars off for the accident. After a MacGyvered blot test at the register with some Purel and a napkin from my purse, I felt confident I could doctor her back to perfection at home. I'm glad I took the chance; the stain is nonexistent now, and I love every minute I spend in this peachy beauty.<br />
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<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b>Frequency: </b>Seldom, but that's forgivable for a statement piece.</span><br />
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b>Would Buy Again:</b> Pen stain and all.</span><br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Pleated Trapeze Dress <span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">• Rachel Roy (secondhand)</span></h3>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gBt2Vbx9btA/Wl_z0qEMcjI/AAAAAAAAHLQ/lcDXJ29tS8Y9LWfTC_LGcU8zglNp1TL8ACEwYBhgL/s1600/Pleated%2BTrapeze%2BDress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1089" data-original-width="501" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gBt2Vbx9btA/Wl_z0qEMcjI/AAAAAAAAHLQ/lcDXJ29tS8Y9LWfTC_LGcU8zglNp1TL8ACEwYBhgL/s500/Pleated%2BTrapeze%2BDress.jpg" /></a></div>
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This picture was taken for <a href="http://www.inspirsession.com/2017/07/july-2017-sampler-wardrobe-a.html#.WmFeWUtG36Y">croquis reference</a>, so please excuse my bored-to-death face. I've been eagerly waiting the return of this dress, as it's really a spring/summer piece. Not a shape I would typically gravitate toward, but the collar detailing and little pleats at the bottom make it irresistibly cute to wear. Plus, hidden pockets -- always a plus.<br />
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<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b>Frequency: </b>Weekly, once it's in my work rotation.</span><br />
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b>Would Buy Again:</b> Yep! This was a thrift score.</span><br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">Silk Bell-Sleeve Mini Dress </span><span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">• Elizabeth & James (secondhand) </span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">Black Sheer Tights • Hanes</span></h3>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WlvGPU6KIEs/Wl_zsPUwQ6I/AAAAAAAAHLE/2NiRGpRpIrULtM2W_HyvJ1G9ZgsEblxfQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Bell-Sleeve%2BE%2526J%2BDress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WlvGPU6KIEs/Wl_zsPUwQ6I/AAAAAAAAHLE/2NiRGpRpIrULtM2W_HyvJ1G9ZgsEblxfQCEwYBhgL/s500/Bell-Sleeve%2BE%2526J%2BDress.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">Rarely are my monthly inspirations so convivially rewarded by the secondhand shopping gods, but this dress instantly answered my October dreams of a Morticia Addams wardrobe vibe. You might almost suspect there was magic afoot... </span><br />
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b> </b></span><br />
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b>Frequency: </b>Once it was in my work wardrobe rotation, this probably saw a good 5-6 wears last season.</span><br />
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b>Would Buy Again:</b> Um, yeah, have you <i>seen </i>those sleeves?</span><br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">Peg-Leg Trousers </span><span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">• Wilfred (secondhand)</span></h3>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hWQcMc29VqY/Wl_z2TIhqkI/AAAAAAAAHLc/GlRN7prykocBVBj99ad4GaBKsZnNYImtACEwYBhgL/s1600/Tapered%2BTrousers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hWQcMc29VqY/Wl_z2TIhqkI/AAAAAAAAHLc/GlRN7prykocBVBj99ad4GaBKsZnNYImtACEwYBhgL/s500/Tapered%2BTrousers.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
In the Closet Olympics of 2017, these pants would take home the gold. For their versatility, comfort, silhouette,<b> </b>and fit, they have been my favorite purchase of the year. The feel like pajamas, but they lend an air of dignity to just about every shirt I tuck into them -- be it a silky blouse or grungy tee. Granted, as this picture evidences, I'll quickly run that dignity right into the ground.<br />
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b><br /></b></span>
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b>Frequency: </b>As many times as I can get away with before people raise eyebrows at work.</span><br />
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b>Would Buy Again:</b> I'll take three, please.</span><br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Mary-Jane Pumps <span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">• Eurosoft </span></h3>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ya46OK7r5HQ/Wl_Zue5MmtI/AAAAAAAAHIw/EwtwRCw3PT8g6-aaClEsRt324h2gUr-ygCLcBGAs/s1600/Eurosoft%2BBrisa%2BPump.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ya46OK7r5HQ/Wl_Zue5MmtI/AAAAAAAAHIw/EwtwRCw3PT8g6-aaClEsRt324h2gUr-ygCLcBGAs/s400/Eurosoft%2BBrisa%2BPump.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">For a heel, I've been impressed how comfortable this shoe is. I can spend a full dinner shift walking around in these pumps and only feel minor soreness at the end of the night. There's no blister-bound rubbing or uncomfortable squeezing. It's like walking around tip-toe in a particularly comfortable flat. (Something tells me the secret is in the strap...) They are my work godsend.<b> </b></span><br />
<br />
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b>Frequency: </b>Weekly.</span><br />
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><b>Would Buy Again:</b> Yes.</span><br />
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<h3>
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">+REPAIRED: Chelsea Booties • Guess // Snowboots </span><span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">• Sorel (both cobbled at Yakub Shoe Repair)</span> </h3>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k4FtljqMB10/WmFI68KsMpI/AAAAAAAAHM0/k_v4NDolisQSJFHFd9Wg8Uw-wYbLzmEugCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC_0412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k4FtljqMB10/WmFI68KsMpI/AAAAAAAAHM0/k_v4NDolisQSJFHFd9Wg8Uw-wYbLzmEugCLcBGAs/s320/DSC_0412.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HPdrK2r0uy8/WmFI4qOhchI/AAAAAAAAHMw/YfiT2UVeKfUfaQiTmPJxMDxrrPUjZngqACLcBGAs/s1600/Sorels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HPdrK2r0uy8/WmFI4qOhchI/AAAAAAAAHMw/YfiT2UVeKfUfaQiTmPJxMDxrrPUjZngqACLcBGAs/s320/Sorels.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">A couple bonus items... I acquired both of these boots prior to 2017. However, cobbling them still amounted to dollars spent (unlike gifts and swap items, which aren't included in this review.) If
you live in NYC, I can't recommend <b>Yakub's</b> enough. They offered
me a really good deal for these heel fixes, were clear about costs
from the get-go, and made the repairs before my next workday. That's more
than I can say for Sorel themselves who held my boots hostage for almost
three weeks last January (while there was plenty of snow on the ground, mind you)
only to inform me that their warranty wouldn't cover the repair. I paid
$15 in shipping and carefully cleaned and packed them in a priority
mail box; they sent them back to me in a plastic bag. Thanks, Columbia.</span><br />
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"> </span><br /><br />
<br />
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">▻</span><span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">▻</span><span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">▻Well, that's it from me! Now, return to those questions above and <b>consider your own purchases</b>. You may find that reviewing your belongings like this gives you a new sense of appreciation for the job they perform. You might even find you can live without that next "want" item -- or discover something else that could serve a better purpose! </span><br />
<br />
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large">If there's one thing I've learned about personal style this past year, it's this: It's not about finding a perfect number of pieces; it's about bringing <b>mindfulness</b> to those daily interactions -- the shopping, the dressing, the laundering, the <i>living</i> -- which will guide us toward the right wardrobe choices for us.</span><br />
<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><br /></span>
xxxo<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-large"><br /></span><br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"> © copyright LGPQ 2014 – All rights reserved </div>inspirsessionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579184262738042591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998010807702405527.post-23125377318006728102017-11-30T15:41:00.001-05:002017-11-30T15:41:57.623-05:0013 Outfits for November 2017Seasons Greetings, yall!<br />
<br />
With November winding to a close today, it's time to reflect on<b> my lastest sampler wardrobe</b>. November has always been one of my favorite months. There's Thanksgiving to look forward to and, naturally, a lead-in to the rest of the holiday season directly after that. My childlike wonder for this time of year never seems to fade, and you can probably guess which member of our household was guilty of cuing up Christmas tunes and vats of homemade hot chocolate before her Halloween decorations even came down... oops, did I give myself away? ;)<br />
<br />
For my wardrobe this month, I held onto a few of my favorite<b> transition pieces</b> -- the hi-lo maxi dress featured at the top of the graphic, the chambray shirtdress, and most of my work basics for hosting. I was also excited to welcome some newbies to the closet. Adding to my growing collection of <b>secondhand silk scores</b>, I've been loving this versatile green blouse, pictured below with my drop pearls. (I called it "olive" below, but it's really more of an evergreen hue which has my soul aching for PNW pine trees!) Two new cardigans found their way into my life as well: the elegant little gray one with its adorable ballerina-esque tie front, and this amazing, deliciously-chunky cable knit number. Both items were<b> purloined on their way to the trash</b>, so I've started referring to them like <strike>other</strike> normal people refer to their dogs and cats: "Oh, thank you - she's a rescue."<br />
<br />
<b>Remember that thrift stores are wonderful to both shop <i>and</i> donate to this time of year.</b> One person's cast offs could become your new favorite outfit, and giving quality items which you no longer find useful yourself might make a less fortunate someone's holiday a whole lot brighter.<br />
<br />
For my own part, 2017 had me needing the distraction of Christmas about five months early, so I'm breathing sighs of relief that the time has finally come to relax, count my blessings, and look toward action for the year ahead. <br />
<br />
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"> © copyright LGPQ 2014 – All rights reserved </div>inspirsessionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579184262738042591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998010807702405527.post-64879535634747684152017-10-30T10:00:00.000-04:002017-10-30T10:00:01.769-04:0016 Outfits for October 2017Since the start of fall, I've been fretting over how to get
back on top of my <b>outfit posts</b>. Life is still very <i>en l'air </i>at the moment, and it's clear things are no where close to settling down. If I've learned anything, though, identity crises and strict budgets are no
excuse for neglecting one's personal style -- in fact, they offer a perfect opportunity for refining it!<br />
<br />
Instead of returning to my
<a href="http://www.inspirsession.com/2017/07/#.WfZK5oZrz6Y">watercolor croquis</a>, I was inspired this month to revisit self-photography, hearkening back to <a href="http://www.inspirsession.com/2014/09/my-first-capsule-wardrobe-outfit-creation.html#.WfZNWIZrz6Z">my first-ever capsule wardrobe post</a>. Let me just say: It's
shocking how much a brain can forget about DSLRs in the space of
a few years. Even after Internet-jogging my memory on aperture settings,
remote configuration, and manual focus, I still had
the challenge of our dim apartment to contend with. Add that to the slogging process of photo-editing on an overstuffed computer.... This is all to say I may not have saved any time, but stepping back in front of
the camera sure was <i>fun</i>!<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SNGCbZqYfnk/WfY2lFhKv6I/AAAAAAAAHE8/uXiinEjoOWoqMMUASNiDZ4KJ3E4ysoBKQCLcBGAs/s1600/October%2B2017%2BOutfit%2BPost%2B-%2BOutfit%2BPics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SNGCbZqYfnk/WfY2lFhKv6I/AAAAAAAAHE8/uXiinEjoOWoqMMUASNiDZ4KJ3E4ysoBKQCLcBGAs/s1100/October%2B2017%2BOutfit%2BPost%2B-%2BOutfit%2BPics.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Let's talk about how this little wardrobe came together.<br />
<br />
Continuing with my <a href="http://www.inspirsession.com/2017/06/introducing-sampler-wardrobe-cure-for.html#.WfZOPYZrz6Y"><b>monthly sampler concept</b></a>, I started by reserving a selection of items from my September wardrobe -- items I could see myself wearing for at least another month. The remaining September clothes went into storage for next spring, when the weather warms up again. Next, I sorted through my in-storage pieces. I looked for:<br />
<ul>
<li><b>anything that might be useful for the season ahead </b>(like my oversized cotton turtleneck)<b> </b></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>anything I was just "itching" to wear </b>(like my oh-so-Halloweeny lace-sleeve silk blouse)</li>
</ul>
I chose to leave <b>shoes</b> out of the equation, because I don't own many shoes. Between work and city walking, they all get worn fairly equally, and I don't gain much from storing them.<br />
<br />
<br />
Here's what I ended up with:<br />
<br />
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Since a large portion of my clothing is <b>secondhand</b>, my wardrobe is
regularly in need of maintenance; throughout the month, <b>I make notes on
anything requiring mending, cobbling, or replacement.</b> When replacement
time rolls around, I must take care to buy mindfully, as most
secondhand items cannot be returned. So alongside the maintenance notes, <b>I keep track of general inspirations and obvious gaps in my closet contents, to form a clear list of needs </b>before I so much as window shop. This month, for instance, my list went something like this: </div>
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<br /></div>
<ul>
<li><i>COBBLE ALL THE BOOTS</i></li>
<li><i>Morticia Addams = October fashion queen</i></li>
<li><i>ethical tights that don't cost a fortune... is that a thing?</i></li>
<li><i>shop: work-appropriate sweater or turtleneck (likely black) </i></li>
</ul>
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Speaking of shopping, I did acquire a few <b>new-to-me clothes</b> this month, thanks to the Housing Works Best of Fall sale. Most of those items will be featured in November, with the exception of the <b>fabulous bell-sleeve silk dress</b> you see above -- because <i>can you get more Morticia than that?</i></div>
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Happy October, everyone! Enjoy your Halloween!<i> </i> </div>
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"> © copyright LGPQ 2014 – All rights reserved </div>inspirsessionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579184262738042591noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998010807702405527.post-41006808782657965282017-10-12T15:44:00.004-04:002017-10-12T15:46:02.664-04:00Fall Playlist 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
It's always a joy to dive into<b> playlist mode</b> each season. I spend far too much time figuring out how to arrange these tracks on Spotify, but the little <b>quarterly capsules </b>that result are always a pleasing way to mark the time. Sometimes I think I rely more on music than pictures for memories these days.<br />
<br />
This may be the first year I've strayed from my old standbys -- especially the ones liable to come out in fall (The Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, etc.) There's are lots of new bands here, but as usual I've fallen in love with the <b>songs individually</b>, rather than judging them on an album-by-album basis.<br />
<br />
Amongst my <b>standard uplifting pop-rock tracks</b>, I have tunes from The 1975 (not sure I fully like their sound, but I can't resist that background guitar...), Air Traffic Controller (LOVING), MisterWives (best lyrics), and a brilliant Stevie Nicks cover by The Wind & The Wave. Another worthwhile cover I unearthed just a few days before completing this list is Branches' take on The Darkness' hit "I Believe in a Thing Called Love." That <b>banjo</b>, though!<br />
<br />
A <b>coffee shop</b> pulled Ra Ra Riot from the archives of my mind, and it was really exciting to discover "Valerie" again. It occurred to me that this was the track I was actually looking for when I settled for Mika's "Emily" for <a href="http://www.inspirsession.com/2016/10/and-time-has-come-for-another-playlist.html#.Wd_Dh4Zrz6Y">my playlist last fall</a>. It's provoked me to wonder how many pop songs involve men earnestly howling the names of problematic women into the universe.<br />
<br />
Will winter finally bring some chiller songs my way? Lately all I've been interested in are these <b>hand-clapping, foot-stomping, folksy romps</b>. The Oh Hellos track is liable to carry me straight through to Christmas in a state of hippie-happy oblivion. I think I'm content with that.<br />
<br />
Happy fall, folks. <br />
<br />
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/user/22bcrzla4456wyvb2pkezy65a/playlist/2Ut44rUH3MhDne0zsXwYLo" width="300"></iframe><br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"> © copyright LGPQ 2014 – All rights reserved </div>inspirsessionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579184262738042591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998010807702405527.post-39464857422245944522017-09-11T19:32:00.000-04:002017-09-11T21:27:22.226-04:008 Amazing Resources to Inspire a Simpler WardrobeHello everyone, and thank you for bearing with me through my August sojourn -- which has now unfortunately bled into September! <i>*laughs and cries at the same time*</i><br />
<br />
To be perfectly honest, I have not bothered to create or maintain a <a href="http://www.inspirsession.com/search?q=sampler+wardrobe#.WbcjsoqQzVo"><b>sampler wardrobe</b></a> this month because I have yet to figure out what my day-to-day life looks like. As I am no longer nannying, I've been working on sorting through the kid-friendly-casual portion of my wardrobe to determine whether or not those pieces could still be useful to me. This change has also resulted in my taking on more shifts at the restaurant, which means I need to take stock of my hostwear as well. I'm actually sitting here in yoga pants and a grubby t-shirt because some days I can't even <i>pretend</i> that I know what my life is.<br />
<br />
One thing I know for certain: I need to be <b>practical with my time and money</b> right now (aka: use hours off to find my next central source of income), so fall shopping has receded to the back of my brain. It's a bummer, because like most of the blogging world I love autumnal clothing, and a few of my duds are badly in need of replacement. Ain't <a href="http://www.inspirsession.com/2014/02/fashion-budgeting-101-calculating-your.html#.Wbcj-IqQzVo"><b>budgeting</b></a> grand?<br />
<br />
In my absence, though, I wanted to offer a few resources for those of you seeking some <b>fall wardrobe inspiration</b> -- with a minimalist twist, of course! While my brain is craving novelty, I'm nevertheless still firmly on my path toward a <b>sustainable closet</b>. It occurred to me recently that I no longer follow bloggers for outfit inspiration and trends. Rather, I'm <b>focusing on writers who offer perspective into their wardrobe structure and challenge themselves to maintain similarly ethical values. </b>Most of them have been mentioned on Inspirsession before, but I thought it would be useful to document my favorites all in one place. Plus, it gives me an excuse to share this dorky picture I drew:<br />
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<body>
<img alt="Recommendations" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_PDHHr1sUfU/WbcYDJ3vI7I/AAAAAAAAHDA/6R9EC_vq--QPpkYANKFes03Y4d5dLTLUwCLcBGAs/s750/Resource%2BRecommendations.png" usemap="#recommendations" />
</body>
<map name="recommendations">
<area alt="Un-Fancy" coords="42,65,203,203" href="http://www.un-fancy.com" shape="rect" title="Un-Fancy"></area>
<area alt="Into-Mind" coords="287,31,452,185" href="https://anuschkarees.com/" shape="rect" title="Into-Mind"></area>
<area alt="Paris To Go" coords="543,40,732,193" href="http://www.paris-to-go.com/" shape="rect" title="Paris To Go"></area>
<area alt="What I Wore" coords="31,237,192,407" href="http://www.whatiwore.tumblr.com" shape="rect" title="What I Wore"></area>
<area alt="The Minimalists" coords="271,245,466,399" href="http://www.theminimalists.com/" shape="rect" title="The Minimalists"></area>
<area alt="The Vivienne Files" coords="527,262,725,402" href="http://www.theviviennefiles.com" shape="rect" title="The Vivienne Files"></area>
<area alt="The Daily Connoisseur" coords="109,443,333,569" href="https://dailyconnoisseur.blogspot.com/" shape="rect" title="The Daily Connoisseur"></area>
<area alt="Light By Coco" coords="427,471,577,584" href="http://www.lightbycoco.com/" shape="rect" title="Light By Coco"></area>
<area alt="Default" nohref="nohref" shape="default" title="Default"></area>
</map>
</div>
<br />
In the off chance you've come here seeking <b>inspiration and/or guidance</b>, please don't hesitate to check out their sites, podcasts, and channels! Each sketch has a link to their particular corner of the internet. Below, you can also read a brief summary as to why I think they're awesome. Enjoy!<br />
<br />
<h3>
Un-Fancy</h3>
Caroline basically pioneered the on-trend American capsule, in all its denim-and-white-tee glory. She came onto my radar around 2014, and while she no longer blogs as regularly as she did then, I still find myself checking in on her clean, to-the-point posts and pictures. Everything about her presentation is exactly as she promises -- un-fancy -- and I like that I leave her blog feeling calm, joyful, and content, rather than envious of her living room or breakfast. <i>Can't miss: Free Capsule Wardrobe Planner</i><br />
<br />
<h3>
Into-Mind // Anuschka Rees</h3>
Anuschka's blog was one of my earliest introductions to the capsule wardrobe process, and it also served as the direct inspiration to Un-Fancy, according to Caroline. Anuschka has provided <i>the most </i>thorough wardrobe-building process I've found to date, and her infographics are out of this world. Since the publishing of her book, <i>The Curated Closet</i>, she posts less often these days, but her archives are well worth a deep dive. <i>Can't miss: <a href="https://anuschkarees.com/blog/2014/10/15/closet-detox-cheat-sheet">This amazing flow-chart</a></i><br />
<br />
<h3>
Paris to Go</h3>
Ariana is one of the sassiest writers I've come across on the blogosphere. There's something in how she presents her life that gives me the feeling I'm reading an epic novel -- one woman's journey toward ultimate sustainability. Where Caroline is gentle and forgiving, Ariana is frank and cutthroat. I love the contrast, and I really wish she was my friend. <i>Can't miss: Any post where she lists all her possessions. You won't believe how little this woman owns.</i><br />
<br />
<h3>
What I Wore </h3>
Jessica Quirk is OG. Like, had-an-established-blog-before-I-even-knew-the-word OG. Like, her-blog-is-actually-still-on-Tumblr OG. She currently lives in Indiana with two kids and a husband, which is not something I can exactly relate to, but I still use her book, (also entitled <i>What I Wore</i>) and photo archives for outfit-mixing tips. Though I wouldn't consider her process truly sustainable, I love that she mixes her new clothes with thrifted vintage and homemade items. <i>Can't miss: Her book!</i><br />
<br />
<h3>
The Minimalists</h3>
Ahhh, these guys. If you haven't seen their documentary on Netflix, now is the time to open a new tab on your browser and take care of that. I've been listening to their podcast regularly and really enjoy most of what they have to say about what they call "living a more meaningful life." Their work certainly doesn't center on clothing specifically, but all their topics are worth a listen, 'cause everything's connected, really. <i>Can't Miss: Podcast #56-Clothing -- and all the ones on budgeting.</i><br />
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<h3>
The Vivienne Files </h3>
It's not every day you meet a blogger over the age of, well, Had-A-Modcloth-Phase. But this gal not only proudly aligns herself with L.L.Bean and Hermes scarves; she also has a taste for churning out beautiful art-inspired palettes to create functional, minimal wardrobes. And that's fun for all ages, I<i> </i>say. <i>Can't Miss: <a href="http://www.theviviennefiles.com/p/four-by-four-wardrobes.html">Core of Four</a></i><br />
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<h3>
The Daily Connoisseur </h3>
If Emily Post merged with Donna Reed and then simmered down to a grownup version of that cool-yet-levelheaded babysitter you admired in your youth, this would be Jennifer L. Scott, author of <i>The Daily Connoisseur </i>book, vlog, and blog. Her concept may seem over the top to some (wear pearls for your baby, vacuum in your silks, dine daily over your best china), but I think a good question lies at the core of the matter: What "someday" are you saving those precious possessions for, anyway? <i>Can't Miss: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9POGLL0x79I">Her original video on The Ten Item Wardrobe </a></i><br />
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<h3>
Light By Coco</h3>
Coco just recently stopped blogging to focus on her real life/job. While that's fair and all, I already miss her a lot. Also, it took me until just now to realize her blog and channel have been emptied of all their content. So I guess this is a rather sheepish way to end my post. (Oops!) You'll just have to take my word for it that she was pretty cool.<br />
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