Fun fact: the name of this blog is kind of a joke. As in, my mom is an accountant and very number oriented. I. Am. not. And if you’ve done your research, you know that certain fashion items (looking at you Chanel and Hermes bags) actually INCREASE in value. Maybe I’m on to something?
But. Does that mean that every investment piece is a designer bag or a big deal? I don’t think so! For me, an investment piece is an outfit item (accessories too!) that you need in your life, that you use all the time, that adds value to your life. Maybe you’re into your workouts- you need great *non-see-through* leggings. A lot of them. Big wig in a corp job? Probably need suits. Go to a lot of events? You need party dresses.
I absolutely think that for everything you need it’s best to go for quality over quantity. But it’s not a needed thing to break the bank for every purchase. What do you need? What do you wear? What makes you happy? Let’s start there. And buy pieces that fit our lives- that are great quality.
By your definition, what is an investment piece? And what are you investing in?
Let’s chat about it!
I would really love to hear your thoughts and what you’re shopping right now!
Since November I have been needing/wanting/planning to switch my closet from summer to winter.
As mentioned in so many precious posts- the work on the house (and to be fair, all the trauma and big feelings and moves and etc) made that go on that back burner.
Then this weekend- in part of need, but also wanting to help those affected by the fires- I intended to start again. Then we had meeting with contractors, and our reconstruction starts today.
Tell God your plans and make him laugh?
And yet? In the midst of all the crazy– I intend to clean out, switch out, and redo my closet. To give to those who need it. And to help me. So, once again I am looking over my own old advice- taking heed, and will be making adjustments as needed. (You know I will keep you updated!)
In challenging myself to not only dress chicly in the cold (and yes! It’s still cold here!), I am not only thinking of “really” getting dressed (aka not layering sweats), but I am thinking of color. And texture. Not only in winter, but when we think of chic, we think black. I have nothing against black! It is a go-to and so easy to do monotone and is chic! Add to that, black is easy in the winter, as it hides everything from snow stains to bulk. Yet. What if there were more colors in winter? And what if instead of hiding away our winter texture, we embraced it?
Admittedly, I don’t know that I went out with those fully formed thoughts, or looking for that– but when I found these mint mohair separates– I not only knew that I had to have them, I knew that this twist on winter dressing was something I wanted to play with! And wear. And be chic and cozy in!
I also admit- while mohair is absolutely a winter staple. Fluffy and warm and chic. The mint? A bit of a shock for me. I associate mint, and pastels and perhaps lighter colors in general, with spring. So, to have a usually springy color in a fabric (texture) that is decidedly winter? Chic. Cozy but with a twist. Minty and Fluffy not only feels as if it’s a breath of fresh air (and will be a great transitional outfit!) but lends itself to so many winter/chic stylings…
Here, I love it with boots (in suede, patterned) but these pieces would be great with tights and heels, riding boots, non patterned boots, mules and oh so much more. AND! It’s a set- and we all know what I am going to say next- the great thing about a set is that you can wear together or separately!
Does this make it seem as if I analyzed and overthought this outfit (even before buying)? Well. I hate to tell you — I fell in love and bought on pure desire. The color felt happy. Who doesn’t love fluffy? In getting it for myself that was the only thought- and honestly, I bought before Christmas so it was even before thinking of winter chic even crossed my mind. A great coincidence? Yes- sometimes things fall into place. This outfit just feels good- from the color to the cozy. Minty and Fluffy- everything I didn’t know I needed.
What are your go-to winter colors? Thoughts on mohair? Your most unexpected winter outfits? I would love to hear about them all!
These boots are vintage Dolce from years ago, as is the necklace. BUT I have this exact minty and fluffy set linked for you below! XO RA
Note: This post does contain affiliate links. While that does not affect the price for you, I may earn commission from them. Thank you for your support!
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On Friday I not only mentioned that the LA Fires are breaking my heart, I listed some vetted resources where you can help. My heart? Still breaking. Not only was LA home for oh-so-many-years, and is still home in so many ways, my loved ones are still there. From afar, I know Hollywood and LA seems glitz and glam, full of celebrities- but the neighborhoods getting burned are not only people you see on TV (who may not be as rich as you think), but regular people with dreams and families. The thought of not only losing a house, but everything inside and all the memories? I am still having problems being productive because the images and thoughts and worries upset me so. It’s that thing where I am desperate to follow all the news and yet attempting to distract myself as well.
In short, for all of us I think it’s an emotional and difficult time. And that’s from afar. Like me, you might be desperate to help but unsure of how to start. There are so many organizations and go-fund me’s out there. But. Here we do fashion. And I can only imagine how devastating losing my closet would be-so I am using that as fuel for how to help.
There are so many brands who are making care packages, or are donating profits to recovery efforts. Some I love: ClareV has a “Los Angeles Je T’aime” collection with proceeds going to relief.
And you can find a comprehensive list of what brands are doing what (yes, some brands are giving money- but if you see your faves here it’s another reason to shop with them!) here and here.
January is a time where most of us clean out our closets. I am no exception- I’ve had it on my list to switch my closet from summer to winter for a while, and was going to use that to do a clean sweep. Now, I am especially motivated as I will take my clothes and contact SecondsMarket– they will pair you with someone in need and help with shipping or drop offs.
(Please note, no matter where you are I have seen so many stores organize clothing drives, so look into your local stores as well for places to donate!)
Another way to give fashion?
Well Cloth’d is partnering with @ShopQuirkLA to collect clothing and essential items. They’ve created an Amazon wish list for those who would like to send new items directly. They’re also collecting gently used items. You can also help by donating via their Venmo (@wellclothd) to help with shipping costs.
Also, Baby2Baby are donating baby supplies (including diapers and formula) to those in need. You can donate at the link.
I know charity links and ways to help are being updated all over your feeds and the news. Disaster on this scale can be overwhelming – and I know this isn’t the only thing happening in the world. The way we get through this- and anything – is each other. Even if we can only give a little, even if we only can only help one person- anything we do in love, in community, for each other helps. We save each other.
I hope that you will join me, in however feels best for you, to giving and helping what we can.
Wishing us all a week of no fires and amazing shoes! XO
On Monday I wrote about staying chic (and warm!) while the weather turns cold….(get refreshed here)…and maybe I tempted the weather? We are experiencing our first real cold snap, and weather, and I have to be honest- I haven’t always looked chic while praying for snow and dealing with freezing rain. This look above? I love it (though let’s be honest- I would really need tights as cold as it is right now!) But I do believe that staying warm doesn’t necessarily mean we can’t be chic….or at least I am trying to convince myself of that and change out of sweats!
Wish me luck on that!
Lucky one of you! I found some one these exact boots in a size 38.5! I do find Miu Miu runs a bit tight so these might be best for an 8- but they are comfy and I can promise compliments!
Please note: this is an affiliate link and while that doesn’t affect the price for you, I may earn commission from them. Thank you for your support!
And here’s the part where I say (beyond the cold), I haven’t done much since Tues/Wed as my heart has been breaking watching my beloved LA be ravaged by fires. LA made me who I am, was home for years, and is still a part of me. To watch places I love and go, watch friends lose everything, worry about evacuations, and grieve for all the animals and history— I truly have been paralyzed and grieving. Below are links to organizations on the ground and state wide that are working to get supplies and help to the people and animals that need it. (Also, if you want a more personal gift but don’t want to go the Go-Fund-Me route, if you google Los Angeles restaurants and animal shelters may are taking donations!). We are all a tragedy away from losing everything– and I don’t know what the secret to life is– but I know the most persistent question that life asks us is “Are you your brother’s keeper?” I think we are- we are here to love our neighbors (all of them, even the four legged kind) and take care of each other. Our neighbors need our love right now and I hope you join me in giving what we can.
What’s your first reaction when we chat shoulder pads? Power Suits? The 1980s in general? Good? Bad? Politics? There are so many ways to think about, and use, shoulder pads (if you google you will be told the modern shoulder pad comes from the late 1800s when it was designed for football, but if we go back through history a version of shoulder pads have been with us since at least the 1400s) to make statements and outfits.
As someone who was a child in the 1980s (a YOUNG child), I have long associated shoulder pads with over the top outfits. And as I got older, and became a little self conscious about my body, I would cut them out of many a blazer and a dress to make myself look smaller. Irony? A great shoulder pad can actually help make your waist look smaller. The older I’ve gotten, the more in love I’ve fallen with fashion, and the more appreciation I have grown for fashion, my stance on my once hated shoulder pad has changed. I have come to actually love shoulder pads: the shapes that they can take, the way that they can shape us, and the political power we can weld in them.
For the purposes of this discussion, we need to agree on a few things:
-Usually, when we (as women) talk about flattering we are usually talking about clothes that make us look as if we are conforming to the current beauty standard. But flattering can also mean a pleasing outfit- and sometimes that means that the outfit itself makes a shape (that may not conform) or is interesting or in general takes up space. Yet, looking at dresses from the past and even power suits, the shapes are incredibly interesting- and again, ironically a wider shoulder with a nipped waist often makes you look smaller. Or conforms to the “usual beauty standard”. A long way to say that shoulder pads can be flattering even if they make our shoulders stand out a bit!
-By taking up space, changing the shape of our bodies, shoulder pads are inherently political. And with politics comes power. (This is where we agree that the idea of women taking up space is a form of power). If you go back to the first popular modern era of the shoulder pad (the 30s-40s), shoulder pads were not only used to shape the body in interesting and exaggerated ways, but as women entered more into the workforce in WWII the shoulder pad was used to make women a bit more masculine. The power suit of the 1980s? Part of the popularity is that the ’80s were when women were (perhaps more in mass) moving up the corporate ladder and shoulder pads were literally used to take up space. Make it seem as if women belonged in male dominated spaces and could dress the part. Fashion not only tells our stories, but it is a social language and at its very base, shoulder pads take up space- and that is political.
(SideNote: There is an interesting NYTimes article about the shoulder pads both candidates wore in the most recent US election, but I can’t find a free version of it– but you should google it!)
That being said, there are a ton of articles I read, knowing that I wanted to talk about shoulder pads, by people who are smarter than I on this topic that I think are worth a glance!
Wikipedia has a great timeline of shoulder pads in fashion with vintage examples to swoon over!
I love the Style Historian’s take on not only shoulder pads in vintage clothes but how to deal with them if you don’t love them : Evolution of Shoulder Pads
And a look at some modern shoulder pads on current runways and editorials: Oversized Shoulders
I am the first to admit that I used to hate shoulder pads (though- I truly thought that I would hate barrel jeans and I love them! And they have some of the “flattering issue”. Perhaps that issue is worth an in depth convo on its own). The weird thing about that? I have always loved 1930s/40s fashion- and when we look those periods are chock! full of shoulder pads (and exaggerated shapes!). As I age, I have become more open to them (maybe a bit more comfortable in my body) and don’t rush to cut them out of everything. Perhaps, it’s truly that I am more comfortable taking up space. Now, from vintage to modern, when I come across shoulder pads in my clothes I can’t help but think about what shape I’m making, how interesting that is, and how much space I am taking up- and what all that means.
What are your true feelings on shoulder pads? Love them? Hate them? Cut them out? How has your opinion on them changed?
I truly would love to hear any and all things about you and shoulder pads (and bonus if you have amazing 1980s pictures to show us!
XO RA
I am one of those people who always longs and wishes for cold weather. (I also idolize snow- though the one time I ever have seen a ton of it we lost power for days- I am convinced snow can be beautiful and you can stay warm. And I still wish for it each year!) Sweaters and coats and scarves and all the like- I love them, and dream about how to layer them. Chic winter looks? Forever on my Inspo boards. In my heart, I want to believe that winter chic, cold weather GLAM, whatever you want to call it, is something that I can pull off.
Then. The temps drop. (Fun fact, by the time you read this it will be 29 degrees here!). And when it gets really cold- all my dreams of winter chic, cold weather glam get thrown out of the window. I find myself in sweats- sometimes layers of sweats!- and all I care about is being warm. This is never something I am proud of — but it happens like clockwork every year.
This year? I know the cold is coming. (Cut to me mentally prepared to be freezing). Yet- this year I am determined to live out my cold weather GLAM fantasies. Yes, it will be cold- but BABY it is going to be GLAM outside.
I am starting with layering cashmere and faux fur. Pairing socks (cashmere again) with heels. Staying warm while staying chic? It is in my forecast.
Let’s take a minute for details- because one of my thoughts is that if I HAVE to get in sweats, I can keep up the glam with accessories. Such as heels (I do love them with socks! I am also not above wearing tights or long socks under anything!), jewelry (anything that sparkles), and of course chic jackets (yes, the faux fur counts as both my GLAM and as a back up. It would look chic over sweats too!
There are many ways to layer for Baby it’s GLAM outside cold- from tights under your pants to double sweaters to jackets on jackets or a wrap over it all. I am trying to imagine a world where I can stay warm- but look chic. If I believe in snow that much, I figure this has to be possible! For a starter outfit- this one was so fun! And easy- the jeans are so comfy (linking the exact ones- no stretch so size up but the cuff is so chic!), and the layers didn’t feel overwhelming– and I did stay warm!
Here’s hoping my Baby, it’s GLAM outside crusade lasts through the low temps.
What do you wear when it’s cold outside? How do you deal with wanting to look your best and staying warm?
I would love to hear all about it! XO RA
Please note: this post does contain affiliate links. While that does not affect the price for you, I may earn commission from them. Thank you for your support!
It’s the time of year when (most of us) set goals, think about what we want from the year, and make plans to go after it. In other words, make resolutions. There are much better sources on how to make and keep your resolutions, and how to deal with all of the things that come up while trying to change your habits. As I’m right in there with you, I don’t know that I am in any authoritative position to dole out advice.
But. The past few years have been – difficult in some ways to say the least. And I know that there are goals that I am determined to make progress on this year- and things I’m determined to get back to. I’ve been thinking a lot about goals and resolutions, and how to best achieve them and I have 2 main thoughts that are helping me.
First: Astrologically and Seasonally the “new year” doesn’t start till March/Spring/Aries Season. That’s not to say that we shouldn’t start changing our habits or going after our goals. It’s a bit of grace to tell ourselves that now, in this first week of January, we don’t have to go all or nothing. We don’t have to get it all done today. If the new year is still a bit away, we can make changes now to enter that season as our best selves- but we don’t have to kill ourselves to change over night.
This thought is helping me when things seem overwhelming or change seems too big. I remind myself that I have time- and that what matters is progress, even if it’s slow and tiny.
Second: I’m reminding myself that it is brave and change only comes when you dare to suck. Daring to suck may sound a little weird. It’s a saying that one of my acting coaches used all the time, and I’ve been hearing lately, meaning that to get good at anything- anything!- you have to be bad at it first. Any change (habit, goal you’re after, skill, etc) usually doesn’t come easily. To do something new well there is almost a guarantee that you will fail at it first. Most of us quit when we fail- it’s hard and brave to not be good at something and keep going till you get good at something.
One of my goals this year is to get back in shape. Cliche, I know. And not a discussion on anyone’s body. Personally, I love a great workout and my body looking a certain way, and this year between illness and injury I haven’t been able to do the physical things I like in the way I like them. Loves, it sucks to not be able to run/spin/dance the way I once could. It’s discouraging to be a bit more out of shape than I would like. Yet, every time I get on the treadmill or bike or sign up for a class, I remind myself that it’s ok to suck at all of that. That each time I do those things I’m getting better; and that sucking at something is a natural place to start. This mindset is keeping me going- and helping me get better. How’s that for ironic?
How are you sticking to your resolutions? Are you daring to suck? Do you believe in that? I would love to hear any and everything you got!
Wishing us all a week of sucking less and amazing shoes! XO RA
I feel as if you’re in 1 of 2 main groups when it comes to resolutions (or goals, or making it your year, etc)-
ALL IN:
You’re making vision boards, plans, writing lists, etc. This even applies if you’re one who thinks the “real” new years is Aries season!
Out:
You’re planning on being the same great person you are, and aren’t letting the “pressure” to be “all new” get to you. Or maybe you think that the years should start being better (and not you)- this is also a valid point!
Honestly, I’m historically a bit of both- having big goals and plans, but not going over board with being all in. Mainly, as I have usually been starting years in shapes (not just my body) that I was mostly happy with- so it was simply building on that. However, last year was a year. We are still dealing with the house repairs- which lead to some illness, a bit of depression, and me not feeling like me. So, my overall goal for the year? Get back to me- or perhaps recreate me. From putting passion back into what I love and makes me happy like (like this! Grow our community again) to getting more consistent in my workouts (I know. Cliche!), there are lists of personal (and professional) goals I am determined to work towards, change, etc. So, from vision boards to being accountable here, these below are just a few that I am becoming this year:
Getting Dressed
I know, that sounds so basic! But with how I felt for a chunk of last year- from physically to mentally to it all- there were days it was hard to get out of bed. Getting dressed at times was an impossibility. Yet, getting dressed, playing in my closet, coming up with outfits that bring me joy and tell a story? I really think it’s part of why I’m here (and not just on the blog). So. I’m getting back to. I know that there are days when it will be hard (I write this in my gym clothes that I haven’t changed out of). But we are getting dressed this year!
Consistent in the Gym/Diet
I know this is oh-so-cliche. BUT. I used to love working out- it helped my mental state, I loved the way I looked, and it was social for me. Due to (waves hands in the direction of it all), I haven’t been consistent- and yes, I will admit I want to lose the few pounds I’ve gained, and tone up again– but I also want to feel better. And I know how I eat and move my body affects that.
Beauty
Beauty as both self care and another way to play, skincare to tools, make up and more- I’m in it all.
Dry January
I also want to crush Dry January- as a little kick off (below I’m linking my fave wine alternatives!)
There are other goals of course- I want a creative hobby (I’m going to try embroidery!), to find some balance, get back to blogging and “influencing” (I kinda of hate that word but that’s another story!), to sleep schedules and more- maybe it’s not “new year, new me”, but it’s a better and more happy me.
What are your thoughts on resolutions and what are yours? I would love to know!
XO
I have rounded up a few things I’m buying or thinking of buying to help kick start these resolutions! Please note: these are affiliate links and while that doesn’t change the price for you, I may earn commission from them. Thank you for your support!
I want to tell you about who cool I am. Or the AMAZING outfits I have to be at a party (or more!).
And I do. I have.
Let me tell you the best way to spend NYE is in. In a slip nightgown that is good for anything younwant to do. Bubbles. (of any kind). And fries. As everything is better with fries. Do I have more exciting outfits? Yes And I will will show them on social media and here- but it is oh so lovely to be at home on this holiday and in something we call chic. I’ve linked my fave current options below.
I am dying to know: how do you love to spend NYE?
XO RA
