Category: shopping

Too Late?

a woman in a white leather and black mesh pleated dress in front of a open stone wall with a black tote clutch and black peep toe heels
a woman in a white leather and black mesh pleated dress in front of a open stone wall with a black tote clutch and black peep toe heels
a woman in a white leather and black mesh pleated dress in front of a open stone wall with a black tote clutch and black peep toe heels
a woman in a white leather and black mesh pleated dress in front of a open stone wall with a black tote clutch and black peep toe heels
a woman in a white leather and black mesh pleated dress in front of a open stone wall with a black tote clutch and black peep toe heels

Classic and smart, shopping advice will tell you that you shop ahead (aka for the coming season not the one you’re in), shop sales (again, which may mean out of season), and always shop classics. I agree with this kind of advice. And yet, the issue with this kind of shopping (it’s not that only kind I do- insert winky face) is that sometimes you find pieces you LOVE that may be just out of season- it may be just too late to wear.

Take, for example, this stunning leather and mesh pleated dress I recently found (for a steal!) on eBay. It has cut outs, sleeveless and isn’t a true winter dress. Yet. The temps aren’t supposed to be below 100 this week, the event I wore this dress to was hot, even with tents and a breeze, and I’m not 100% sure that this dress is a summer dress. Though that didn’t stop me from wearing it. Too late for the dress? Or too early? Either way, when you find pieces you love that are just a bit off for the season you’re in how do we balance wearing something you love now?

a woman in a white leather and black mesh pleated dress in front of a open stone wall with a black tote clutch and black peep toe heels

At this day out I ran into some amazing women who complimented the dress, the neckline, etc- and when I mentioned that the leather was perhaps the wrong choice, one of them just shrugged and said: ” Eh. Those are the sacrifices we make for great outfits”. They were clearly my people.

Perhaps that’s the answer to the too late question. We sacrifice, we plan for the perfect times, and when we can’t wait to wear our prized pieces we pray for ac, breezes, and carry fans. While I can’t bear to go wear TOO far out of season- aka you will not catch me in a wool sweater right now- there are times I cannot be patient with great pieces. I have to wear them, even if it is a bit too late. So. we adjust. And plan on how we will re wear when the time is right!

This dress is Simkhai (quickly becoming one of my favorite modern designers, you can shop and read about him here) and I’ve linked similar dresses and some current favorite Simkhai pieces. I’ve also linked these exact (updated) shoes- they are some of my go-tos and beyond perfect. This bag is vintage Coach, and I’ve found you the modern version!

What have you bought lately that might be too late to wear and what are you doing about it?
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!

a woman in a white leather and black mesh pleated dress in front of a open stone wall with a black tote clutch and black peep toe heels

Now And Then: Denim Skirt

A woman in a black long sleeve leotard and a button up midi denim skirt leans against a huge planter

Denim (for our purposes) is a staple in our closets. that doesn’t mean we don’t update our denim collection on occasion. On trend currently? A denim skirt! And I am a fan of denim skirts- they go with anything from tees and tanks to leotards and knits and blouses. Wear them with sandals, sneakers, heels, boots- or bare feet. Denim skirts looks amazing over your swim as a cover up, or with other denim. This season you can find the denim skirt of your dreams- from mini to midi to maxi, with a slit or not. And the even better news?

Denim skirts are also something you can find vintage- still on trend, often in the same styles, but perhaps a bit more budget friendly, and buying vintage is a form of recycling! Below I’ve linked some of my favorite denim skirts- both from now and then- for your shopping pleasure!

How do you wear a denim skirt? And which is your favorite? From now or from then?
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!

Here are a few of my current favorite denim skirts. From midi to mini, and a few with a slit- any of these will serve you well for years to come!

And here are some of my favorite denim skirts from then. Several of them are similar to ones you can find now- so again, an investment in these is one that will last for years!

There is no right or wrong with a denim skirt, there is no now or then that is better. Find a denim skirt that you love- wear it! I’ll be wearing mine!

a woman in a light denim destroyed skirt with a white shirt and brown heels

Unfinished…

a woman in a strapless black top and black pants with a sheer black cape over wearing black mules
a woman in a strapless black top and black pants with a black sheer cape over and black mules
a woman in a strapless black top and black pants with a black sheer cape over it and black mules
a woman in a strapless black top, black pants with black sheer cape over it and black mules

Like many of you, way back in February I paid attention to Fashion Month (yes, I’m so behind we’ve now also had cruise shows!), and since then I have been wanting to talk about runway shows. About how they can not only show us trends and fashion to buy, but how they can inspire us. How we can often take details from certain shows, or looks in shows, and even if you never wear the “runway” look you could wear your version of the runway.

As you can tell, I was going to start with the sheer cape (seen in February at Fendi, but there was a Gucci version in ’11 and a Valentino version a few years ago). While I am forever a cape girl (see here, here, and here to start!) I couldn’t help but fall in love with the sheer cape. And yes, I love it over this cropped pant- and yes that’s a bathing suit as a bodysuit! I also had plans to pair the cape over a dress, as a top with a skirt (a la runway), over shorts, and perhaps even be a (bit) daring and wear the cape over a bathing suit.

It’s been in my calendar (since February!) to shoot these looks. A video maybe? To write in detail about my love of this cape and how I love being inspired by the runway (and all the ways you can do that!). Yet. Life has happened. Other looks have happened. I’ve been inspired by other things since February. My best laid runway Inso? It’s been unfinished. Sometimes, when I’m unfinished with something, I decide to just let it go. I figure it’s for the best and move on- let the unfinished lay. However, I just couldn’t let this be unfinished. Perhaps it was because I couldn’t stop thinking about the cape, and styling it in my head. Or maybe it’s the constant realization of how I get inspiration from so many places and make it a bit my own. Whatever it was, I am a bit determined to finish this.

So, you’ll probably see this look again, in various ways. You’ll see this cape with a dress and with a skirt, and we’ll chat about runway inspiration and how to take a detail and run with it, how to take a detail and wear it in so many ways. We’ll finish this. In the meantime, I hope this brief look inspires you! I’ve found similar pieces to these (note-this black swimsuit and pants are my go-tos for so many looks and this cape has been so versatile!)

What’s something that you’ve left unfinished – and if it’s an outfit how can we finish it?
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!

here

a woman in black pants with a black sheer cape and black mules

Vintage as Modern

a woman in a blue and white floral slip dress with pink feather shoes and a brown clutch bag
a woman in a blue and white floral slip dress with pink feather shoes and brown clutch
a woman in a blue and white slip dress with a brown clutch
a woman in a blue and white floral slip dress with pink feather shoes and brown leather clutch
a woman in a blue and white floral slip dress with pink feather shoes and a brown leather clutch
a woman in a blue and white floral slip dress with pink feather shoes and a brown leather clutch

I have a thing for vintage clothes. I have a thing for modern clothes. But perhaps my most favorite? Clothes that are so classic that they could be either. For example, this 1930s night gown (yes, a night gown!). A bias cut, meaning that it is a very traditional vintage, but as this is the ultimate flattering cut, it’s also incredibly modern. Add to the both timeless feel, bedroom drama, etc are feather shoes (who doesn’t love a feather?) and a vintage Bottega clutch.

I wore this look to a fashion party and was lucky enough to have my dear friend @pheobephillofan (follow her on IG!) shoot me. It was incredibly fun to get to play with a friend, and from feathers to a sheer like night gown that reads as a modern slip dress, it was fun to play with the mix of vintage and modern. What’s a recent outfit you wore that you just love? While this number is vintage (along with the bag), I’ve linked similar options 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!

a black and white shot of a woman in a blue and white slip dress with feather shoes and a clutch

Seasonal Swim

a woman in board shorts and a strapless top and sandals on a chair by a pool

It’s no secret that I love wearing swim with EVERYTHING. Yes, part of my swim suit collection is full of swim that will never see the water as I wear them as bodysuits. (Also, there are swimsuits I have that manage both water and fashion and I love to invest in those!) However, what may come as a surprise to everyone is that I really, really love swimsuit season. Partially because I love the fashion options that come with swimsuits, but also because I love the water.

Swimsuits are not only a staple of my closet, but a season I try to lean into every year.

Investment Piece: Vintage Swim
a woman in a vintage Pucci swimsuit and bathing cap on the beach

Investment Piece: Design in the Wild
a woman in a net and black stripe one shoulder one piece swim suit and jeans in a mirror

a woman in a cropped cardigan in BLUE AND WHITE stripe and white pants
a woman in a striped swim cardigan and white pants!

Every swim season I try to update my swim closet in these 3 categories: swim that I will use as bodysuits, swim that I will wear out, and swim to keep. Pieces vary, I mix and match, but between fashion, the pool, the ocean and rivers, and just everyday swim I weed out and replenish every year. I also try to update my cover ups, my hats, and my sandals accordingly. Below I’m linking all the swim, and more, I’m currently loving this season.

Investment Piece: For the Birds
a woman in a long blue and white print swim cover up over white pants

Also included in my swim round up? Cover Ups. I love how the sheer trend can be useful here- but I also love crochet, big hats and more as well as your fashion picks over all swim!

How do you feel about seasonal swim? And swimsuits in general? As well as cover ups or my habit of wearing swim with fashion? Any questions? I would love to hear about any and all of it!

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!

Here are some of my current fave swim:

Some of my current fave swim coverups and fashions:

And what’s currently in my shopping bags:

If you need me I’ll be by a body of water, in a body of water, or in a swimsuits as a part of a fashion statement. If this weekend is the “unofficial” beginning of summer,I can’t wait to stun all weekend long and get swim to carry me through the season!

Investment Piece: diving in
a woman in a blue sweater with red swimming ladies on it, white pants in front of a lifesaver and no lifeguard signs

Color Blocked Again

a woman in a light blue and red strapless dress with nude heeled sandals in the middle of a road
a woman in a light blue and red strapless dress in the middle of the road
a woman in a light blue and red strapless dress in the middle of the road
a woman in a light blue and red strapless dress with nude high heels on in the middle of the road
a woman in light blue and red strapless dress and nude heeled sandals in the middle of the road

Some time ago, I was on Pinterest and went down a rabbit hole about how mixing the colors light blue and red were infinitely chic. I couldn’t stop thinking about it- or thinking how I could color block that way. (And much after that, even after these pics were taken did I remember that I had played around with a version of this color blocking here. Perhaps great minds think alike?)

Going through my closet, I tried every combo I could find of light blue and red- mixing tops, pants, skirts, shorts, and shoes. But nothing felt 100% right out of my options. Everything felt a bit formal and forced (not my style). Then, by chance, I stumbled upon this vintage dress-colorblocked light blue and red, enough of a party dress to be a fave, but a lot of fun with the scarf like mixing and tie back. I couldn’t resist. And as it’s turned into my go-to for late spring soirées, I can’t help but be reminded why I’m drawn to colorblocking (of all hues), especially when it comes to dresses.

-Color Blocking takes the pressure of styling off you. The mixing of colors, patterns, etc is done. All you have to do is put it on and be chic!
-Color blocking is a bit reasonless. Most color pairings are pretty versatile, so you can wear them throughout the year! In colder months, it would be incredibly easy to throw a blazer or shawl over this dress
-It’s easy. Besides color blocked dresses doing the work for you, there are so many colors that go tougher that color blocking is an easy style hack. No patterns to worry about, but color blocking often feels so fresh that it appears more difficult than it is! Need help pairing colors? I’m all yours- though currently I am partial to this light blue and red!
-The shoe choices become infinite. Match a shade in the dress. Pick a neutral. Go with black. There might not be a wrong answer and I LOVE that for all of us!

a woman in nude high heel sandals and the hem of a red dress in the middle of the road
a close up of my beloved Sarah Flint Perfect sandals

I’m sure it’s a surprise to no one that for this color blocked stunner I chose (and continue to choose) my Sarah Flint Perfect Sandals. Using code SARAHFLINT-BAINVESTMENTPIECE gets you $60 off your first pair!

What have you color blocked recently? How at ease do you feel with color blocking? The above dress is vintage, so while I couldn’t find you this exact one, I did find color blocked dresses that I’m just in love with-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!

a woman in a light blue and red dress

Nautical Summer

a woman in a cropped cardigan in a blue and white stripe and white pants in greenery
a woman in a cropped cardigan in a blue and white stripe with white pants and brown sandals
a woman in a cropped cardigan in BLUE AND WHITE stripe and white pants
a woman in a cropped cardigan in blue and white stripe and white pants in greenery

This post is mostly (partly) about Nautical Summer. My momma loved a great nautical- from sailor dresses to the blue and white stripe theme- and since my childhood I’ve associated nautical (all of the listed above) with summer. And who doesn’t associate summer with a cropped cardigan and white pants? This pairing really screams summer to me. From the stripes and white pants to the greens- this shoot felt like summer to me and not just because it was 100 degrees. Nautical has always meant summer to me (perhaps because nautical always meant on the water)

So Nautical Summer? Doesn’t have to mean on the water, or sailor themed, or blue and white striped. Perhaps it means the hint of all of all those things! AKA outfits that combine a bit of swim (yes, this cropped cardigan is a swim piece! I can’t stop, won’t stop wearing swim suits as outer wear) with a bit of summer. Or perhaps it means wearing all white (or at least white pants or skirts or dresses-all summer like to me as well). Or perhaps nautical summer simply means that you wear all the things that mean summer to you!

a woman in a cropped cardigan in a blue and white stripe and white pants
a woman in a cropped cardigan in blue and white stripe and white crop pants and brown sandals
a woman in a cropped cardigan with a blue and white stripe with white pants

This post is also partly vulnerable. Fun fact? I hate my stomach. Even at my thinnest (which this is not) I hated my stomach. I hated the way it folded, I hated the way it looked. And yet- there was an acting coach I had that said that if you want people (aka your audience) to fall in love with you, you have to show them where you’re vulnerable. Also know as, ask them to fall in love with your flaws. So, maybe this nautical summer is about embracing our flaws – all those things we’re wary of showing- and being brave about showing all of us off.

So this is me showing us all what I’m vulnerable about, and this is an outfit that you can recreate incredibly easily. I’ve linked options below (including swim cardigans!) and if you need help please reach out!
XO RA

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!

a woman in a cropped cardigan in a blue and white stripe with white pants and brown sandals

Size and Fit

There’s a difference between the size of your clothes (the number on the tag that can vary) and the fit (proportions, where it hits on your body, etc) and while both of these things are incredibly different, both of them affect how we look in our clothes. Aka they’re both important. Weirdly, they can also be at odds with each other- for example this great skirt that’s technically my “size” but where it hits my waist, the fit is off. (Don’t worry, there are so many fixes for that- part of why I say that a great tailor is one of the best investments you can have!)

What are your thoughts on fit, and what are some pieces you have where you love the fit?

a woman in a black body suit, brown silk skirt, black kitten heels and a woven clutch
a woman in a black body suit, brown silk skirt, black kitten heels and a woven clutch
a woman in a black body suit, brown silk skirt, black kitten heels and a woven clutch
a woman in a black body suit, brown silk skirt, black kitten heels and a woven clutch

And yes, if you look closely, that is a swimsuit I’m wearing as a bodysuit. Can’t stop, won’t stop!

I’ve linked this exact Prada skirt and similar items for you below! Here’s to the size and fit being perfect!

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!

a woman in a black bodysuit, brown silk skirt and black kitten heels with a brown bag

for Mom

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I promise there is so much exciting, new content headed your way. Birthday weeks are always a little crazy, and always make me a little nostalgic. I can’t help but look back at some of my old looks, and my old celebrations. This post is from a few years ago. I had worn this sheer dress with just a body suit to a fashion event. And though my momma loves me, she doesn’t always love the fashion risks I take. So, that year, for her birthday, I knew that I had to style this dress the way she’d love it!
As I wrote:
My mom is my biggest fan and helper (she’s actually CFO of this little venture). She’s always has my back, always supports me, always is willing to help. And she’s not the biggest fan of all the sheer that I sometimes wear, and that is so on trend this season. Literally her thoughts when she saw thisNote: 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!

Put a Pin in It

an articulated leopard pin holding together a red and white tube top over a white skirt
a woman in a red and white tube top with a leopard brooch and a white skirt and leopard wedges
a woman in a red and white tube top with a leopard brooch and white skirt and snake wedges
close up of snake wedges and a white skirt
a woman in a red and white tube top with a leopard brooch a white skirt and snake wedges

Part of Put a Pin In It is VERY literal. Brooches are coming back. (And I’ve always had a thing for them and the stories they tell! Here’s a fashion stories on infamous brooches that have always inspired me here and here and here) Brooches are such an easy way to add a little something to an outfit. Here I’m literally (yes, literally) holding the top together- yes, it needs to be altered- with a brooch (the same articulated one! It’s just a fave of mine!). And it’s a way to put a pin in it.

Other ways to put a pin it? Revisiting outfits or ideas that didn’t work the first time around. Let’s be honest, not everything fits or works all the time. Is it wrong to wait and try again? Not according to me. Sometimes I think it’s best to let an idea – or outfit or post or writing or etc- lay for a bit if it’s not perfect or doesn’t fit right, etc the first time. With space and time we can come back, make it (all the things) work. Or we come back and make adjustments that make whatever we we were working on better.

The last way I know to put a pin in it? To make something- in this case an outfit your own. White is so chic for the season, but pairing it with wedges are a bit edgy with snake and gold accents? All me. A tube top? You can find one anywhere. Pairing a vintage one with a brooch? All Me. I think the trick is to take any outfit or any outfit formula, and put your own spin on it. That can be so small from your favorite colors to big things like accessories or statement pieces (shoes and brooches are the examples here, but there are so many to be worn!)

I loved pairing these vintage pieces together in a way that felt that was a statement to me. This brooch in this way? New and exciting to me! And yet, a way to make a too big top a fit for me. This outfit would call for sandals but picking ones that are a statement took the outfit from usual to all me. There are so many ways- from sticking to thinking outside the box – put a pin in your outfits. My wish for you this spring and summer is that you find all your own ways to use all the pins. And you need help I’d love to offer mine!

This outfit is made of vintage (skirt, top, brooch) and resell (sandals) pieces, but I’ve linked similar ones for your 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!

a woman in a red and white tube top and a leopard brooch with a white skirt, and snake wedges