shopping – Page 69 – Investment Piece

The Fairest of Them All // Polka Dots are a Neutral

Investment Piece: Polka Dots as a Neutral

Once upon a time…

We all know how the story goes. And maybe we don’t love fairy tales (but I do), you can’t argue that they stick! Or as Albert Einstein said “fairy tales make us intelligent and let us know that dragons can be slayed”. I paraphrased. I also may have combined some quotes, but the meaning is the same. Fairy tales speak to us, and I know I (personally) can’t help but go back to them over and over again. Who doesn’t want to be the fairest of them all?

We know that I love a great graphic tee. And now, you know that I love fairy tales. So, I couldn’t resist the combination of the two. A graphic tee that tells a classic story? Maybe that’s the fairest of them all.

But wanna know a secret? Sleeping Beauty is my favorite.

Investment Piece: Polka Dots as a Neutral

I tell you that many things are a neutral. Including leopard, actual neutrals, and other patterns. Now, I’m about to tell you that polka dots are a neutral. Am I lying? OR (hear me out) am I bringing your awareness to the next level?

Personally, I think it’s the second option. Polka Dots are a neutral.

Don’t believe me? Think about it, most polka dots are in shades of neutral, and are a bit subtle. (This statement may not apply to sequin, neon polka dots, but every theory has an outlier.) So, why not pair them with anything? Here, they go great with this graphic tee (and yes, see above for a fairy tale). The secret? Just match some of the base colors. Or don’t, and see what happens.

But, let’s think about it–is there something that wouldn’t go with a great polka dot?

I couldn’t think of anything. Graphic tee, blouses, stripes–they all go with a polka dot. And I love the combination. After all, the more neutral we have, the more options we have, right?

I’ve linked similar items below. And for you- how do you feel about fairy tales? And being the fairest of them all? Polka dots as a neutral?

It’s lot, right? Or is it?
🙂

XO RA

Note: This post does contain affiliate links. While this does not affect the price for you, I may earn commission from them. Thank you for your support.

Investment Piece: Polka Dots as a Neutral

How to Make it Your Own

Investment Piece: How to Make it Your Own

One of the most often used phrases in fashion? Just make it your own!

But, how do you make it your own? What does that even mean?

Cause we’re all smart. We get that the “idea” is to take the fashion that we’re offered 4 or so times a year and make our own style out of that. But, again, how?

Does that simply mean wear what you like, what makes you feel good, what fits your life? What if there’s more to it than that?

What if in the “how to to make it your own” conversation, it was a little about choosing what looks great on you and makes you feel good, and we also have the freedom to change things into what we really want.

Investment Piece: how to make it your own

How to make it your own:

We know that I love kimonos (and all things PJ dressing and the like). But, who says I have to wear a kimono just like everyone else?

Step 1 to make it my own:
Wear it backwards. (Actually, this works with so many pieces). Here, I love how the collar comes up high and it looks like a mock turtleneck. And because it’s backwards, the back is now open! And how great is that?!? A little structured, a little sexy, a little making it my own.

Step 2 to make it my own:
I slit the sides. You know, because a bare back wasn’t enough. How? I simply cut along the seam on the side (on this kimono there was an extra wide inset, so I simply removed it. Depending on what you’re cutting (as I am a fan of making things your own) the seam will vary. Cut as you see fit). I just thought that this short little jacket would look great with a little movement on the sides. I think I’m right.

And I love it balanced with the flares.

And it still looks great forwards (and as a robe!)

The moral? Making something your own is something you should try. And if you have to alter something to make it your own, I’m a fan. There’s nothing wrong with that! The best news about making something your own? It will work in all the ways you want it to, and isn’t that the point?

This kimono is vintage (the jeans are not), and I’ve linked similar pieces below. Go out and make them your own!

XO RA

Investment Piece: How to make it your own — Make it your own

She Works Hard for Her Money

Investment Piece: She Works Hard for Her Money

She works hard for her money. So do you, so do I.

Being a CEO and running my own company has been one of the most amazing things I’ve ever done. And one of the hardest. I am in love with the fact that I get to pursue and share my passions, be myself, set my own hours and boundaries, and get paid for it. There are times when it might be easier to work for someone else (Ask anyone who know who works for themselves about how they have to chase their checks); however, being the boss is something that I just love!

The other good news? The type of CEO I am doesn’t mean that I have to wear a suit to work. There are times when “work” is writing on the couch in sweats. Maybe there’s wine, but that’s not the point. Point: I don’t have a strict workwear dress code.

The bad news?

I love suits. And pencils skirts. And vintage suitcases. And heels that scream “CEO”. And there are times when I wish that I had a reason to dress up for work. I work hard for my money, so I should get to dress like it, right?

The best news? I do. I still rock suits, and I love pairing anything and everything with pencil skirts.
Here? I love a great graphic tee. I love art. This shirt, by Monogram Studios (my new favorite graphic tee company), combines not only both but is elevated to CEO status with this Balmain pencil skirt. (I got the skirt designer resale). It’s the perfect combo (with the heels!) for a day at work, or an evening out. Chilly? Grab a jacket. Have things to carry? I recommend a vintage briefcase (this one is Gucci and I got it on Etsy).

Could I dress like this all day every day? Probably not. Maybe that’s why I’m so attracted to suits? But, as the CEO who works hard for her money, I get to make the dress code rules. I’m thrilled that I get to wear things like this, and then change into sweats!

What do you wear to work? I’d love to talk all things workwear with you!
XO RA

I’ve linked similar items below!

Note: This post contains affiliate links. While I may earn commission from them, it does not affect the price for you. Thank you for the support!

Investment Piece: She Works Hard for Her Money — She Works Hard for Her Money

What if Sequins are the Answer?

Investment Piece: What if Sequins are the answers?

We get in the habit of saving for things. We save up for big purchases (nothing wrong with that). The saving I have an issue with is when we save things “for special occasions” and miss out on all the things we can be enjoying now. How many times have you done it? Bought something you loved, and then put it away for a special occasion? You may have thought “It’s too nice to wear on just any day”, “I’ll just wait to wear this”, or “Something like this needs a special occasion”.

Loves, what if that special occasion is just any day?
What if sequins are the answer?

Investment Piece: What if Sequins are the Answer?

Sequins are one of those things that we tend to think of as “dressy” or special occasion. You just don’t see a lot of sequins at the grocery store, you know? But, is that a reason not to wear them? Sequins can be special. They can also be just another pattern, embellishment, or way to cheer up a day. What if sequins are the answer?

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I think one of the powers that fashion has is that it can change how you feel. Do you want to feel like sequins? If not, why? I’m all for dressing special on special occasions, but I also believe that any day can be special. There is no wrong day to wear something that makes you feel great. There is no reason to put off a great outfit. You like sequins and you have something you want to wear? What if sequins are the answer?

** Note, I’m such a big believer in wearing something special whenever you want that I love the look of sequins and bare feet. However, if you need a bit more structure in your sequins, dresses like this one would look great with black boots, strappy sandals, or Adidias. You could wear this to a dinner, drinks, meetings, etc. Feel more comfortable dressing down your sequins? Try wearing them with a jean jacket or a sweater. There’s still a great chance sequins are the answer.

Where wouldn’t you wear them?

I’ve linked similar and more sequins for all your questions.

XO RA

And you can also rent your sequins:

Note: This post does contain some affiliate links. While I may earn commission from them, it does affect the price for you. Thank you for your support!

Investment Piece: What if Sequins are the Answer?

Fashion in the Wild: Date Night Looks

This is the month of “date nights”. (Though I really hope this isn’t the only month you have a date night) But, with the focus of Valentine’s Day and love on date nights, we (or I) can’t help but think about what to wear on a date night.

Real talk? I don’t think there’s just one kind of date night, and I believe there’s no right or wrong thing to wear on a date night. Be it with your friends, yourself, or your honey, any event can be a date night. Movie by yourself? Drinks with friends? Dinner? Dancing? Why can’t anything you enjoy with people you enjoy be a date night? In my world, it is.

So, what do we wear on date nights? I’m a huge fan of wearing dresses, but they are by no means your only option. Jeans and a top, pants with a blazer, sweats on the couch. In my view the most important part of a date night outfit is that you feel amazing in it.

Below are some of my favorite combinations for date nights. I’d love to know: what do you rock for date night?

XO RA

I hope this month and in the months to come that every date night is a blast and one of the things you love is your outfit!

Note: This post does contain some affiliate links. While I may earn some commission from them, it does not affect the price for you. Thank you for your support!

President’s Day Sales!

Loves! Real talk? It’s the part of winter that feels like it will never end. It’s grey outside. It’s cold. I’m searching for fashion inspiration anywhere I can find it (have you seen some of the looks from fashion week? And the street style?). So, maybe it’s good that we have a little break. A little holiday to ease us into a more colorful state of mind? I hope that this weekend has found you with some downtime. That you got to be with people you love. Maybe a Netflix binge or a long brunch? Whatever you’re up to, I hope that it’s let you rest a bit–because when we’re rested we can shop!

President’s Day Sales are some of the best part of this long weekend, and I’ve rounded up some of my fave picks! Shoes to bags to great looks to classics, there’s something on sale for you, and now that you’re rested you can get to shopping!

XO RA

President’s Day Sales for going out (gala anyone?) and the last bits (hopefully) of cold weather :

President’s Day Sales for Work and a little Play:

Whatever you’re shopping I hope that it’s a great deal and that you’re getting exactly what you need this President’s Day!
XO RA

Notes: This post does contain some affiliate links. While I may earn commission from them, it does not affect the price for you. Thank you for your support!

Also a great place for President’s Day Shopping:

#Revisisted

Investment Piece: #Revisited

One of the questions I get asked the most is “Do you re-wear the outfits you shoot?” The answer is of course!

Ok, there are some exceptions, but those are very far and few between.

What I wear on site is 99% my closet. What I wear. What I love. These outfits are favorites that I love, or new ideas for us all to play with. Yes, I re-wear clothes. I also revisit outfit ideas.

Investment Piece: #revisited

We chat outfit formulas a lot. There are just some combinations that we can’t help but revisit.
For me? This outfit was one of them (and very randomly, I LOVE the first set of pictures. Why? They are just some that I keep going back to!) Here I love the combo of “dress pants” with a sweatshirt. It looks pulled together (the monochromatic helps), and yet I know I have a sweatshirt on (and isn’t that what counts?)

I have a thing for the color grey (or gray, as you will). I have a thing for wearing one color. And, believe it or not, I have a thing for going back to outfits that work for me. Including this one.

(I also have a thing for putting together new outfits but that’s another post. We’re revisiting today.)

Investment Piece: #revisited

The great thing about revisited outfits? You don’t have to follow them EXCATLY. This time I switched up my shoes–added some sequins (because who couldn’t use some sequins?). This outfit lends itself to more than one type of shoe (most do) and when you have a great base, it’s a bit fun to go back and tweak.

Side note: clear heels are in this season, and there’s a pair for everyone. Love the look of sequin socks? You can always get yourself a pair of sequin socks (yes, they sell those) and wear them with your favorite shoes.

The even better thing about revisiting? You don’t have to tweak. You can rock the original.

Investment Piece: #revisited

I’d love to know: what outfits do you keep revisiting?

I’ve linked similar items (and some of those shoes) below!
XO RA

Investment Piece: #revisited

What is an Investment Piece?

A question that I get asked often: Why name your blog “Investment Piece”? What does that mean? I think about that a lot. What is an investment piece, what is worth investing in? It also occurs to me that we are still in the “getting to know you” phase of the blog. We’re still figuring each other out. So, let’s chat. Let’s figure out what we think an Investment Piece is, and let’s share some of our fashion philophies theories. I’ll do my part, you in? You can look forward to me sharing more of my “fashion thoughts” and practices. For starters? This piece I did on investment pieces. I still agree with this list, what about you?
XO RA

You may have caught onto the fact that I spend money on my closet–that I consider some pieces an investment. Or as the saying goes, “I like my money where I can see it, hanging in my closet”. This is not a call to blow your budget on shopping–another post but yes, I do believe in saving and budgets and all of those adult things. However, I do believe that there are clothing items that are worth spending money on; that you may need to have certain items in your closet–and that spending money on certain fashion items is worthwhile.

So what is an investment piece? In real estate and various markets an investment piece is something that will make you money–it will grow in value, you can sell it for more than you paid–or at least make back what you spent. I cannot promise you that any fashion piece you buy will make you money, but there are pieces that can get you your money’s worth.

1. Shoes/Bags/Belts

These are items that take a lot of wear and tear–you walk on them, bang them around, stretch them. The more well made an item is, the more it can take this wear and tear in stride–let’s be honest, nothing ruins your day like a shoe/purse/belt falling apart. These items are often what pulls an outfit together–and can make you look more expensive. A $5 t-shirt looks great with $800 shoes –believe me, I know.

2. Coats

I spend my time mainly in TX and CA–not places where I need a heavy coat; however, I still think they’re a worthwhile investment. Choose the right one and it will never go out of style–and between travel and the changing climates you’re going to need one!

3. Your “Suit”

Not all of us work a 9-5 job, but all of us have an outfit type that we reach for over and over again for work–even if it is sweatpants. Just like you want the best suit possible for your 9-5 job, you want the best “suit” for your life. If that means a real suit, jeans and blouse, or yoga pants investing in high quality will help you make the best impression possible and can often make you feel better.

4. A Classic Black Outfit

For spontaneous somber and joyous occasions you need something in your closet you don’t have to think about, in extreme states of emotions great shopping rarely happens. The good news is that there is a black outfit for everyone; even better news champagne in the fridge counts as a joyous occasion in my book!

5. Something Fun

Bag, jewelry, shoes–whatever makes you happy I believe we all deserve one statement piece that is just for us. Yes, I think you should stay within budget–but I can tell you how great it feels to save up and get that one big thing you want. And if you need a place to wear it–remember you have that champagne in the fridge!

Honorable Mentions: A White Tshirt (goes with everything), Jean Jacket (basic) and Lingerie (because a great bra can change your life).

I’d love to know–what do you consider an Investment Piece?

XO RA

Shop some of my picks for investment pieces below:

#bombshell

Investment Piece: #bombshell

If there is a day to feel like a bombshell this is it. And if you want to dress like a bombshell, this is totally the day. You are a bombshell, and I hope you feel like one. I hope that you believe that you are, and I hope that you are a bombshell for you.

This skirt (which I simply couldn’t resist), made me feel like a bombshell. Is it because a bombshell is on it? We’ll never know. I can’t stop wearing it with this leotard that I’ve had since I was 15. The stirrup tights? I LOVE them. They take me back to my dance days, and I like to think that they just add something to every outfit that I pair them with. (Yes, you will see them again). I did the whole look around this feeling of bombshell- big, curly hair. Winged eyeliner (I need tape to do it, if you can wing it {yes, that was a mom joke} you are a better bombshell than I). These kitten heels are tiny but mighty (even I am surprised at how bombshell they make me feel).

It’s no secret that Valentine’s Day is not my favorite day. BUT. I hope that today you’re wearing something that makes you feel like the bombshell you are. I hope that you’re feeling how amazing you are. I hope that you do something that makes you feel loved (by you). And if someone else is involved in that, I hope that it’s just icing on the cake.

Go out there and rule the day you bombshell!

I’ve linked this skirt (ON SALE) as well as other similar items below. I love you and I’m so glad you stopped by my little corner of the Internet today!

XO RA

This post does contain affiliate links. I may earn comission off of these links, but this does not affect the price for you. Thank you for your support, bombshells!

Investment Piece : #bombshell

#comfortfood

Investment Piece: #comfortfood, another cape

Or another cape.

Have you ever had a great idea? Were so excited to tell everyone, and then realized that you had had the idea before. And then you get all worried that people don’t want to hear the idea, you know, because it’s been done before?

That’s where we are. Heres the thing. I can’t quit capes. They’re chic, comfy, and classic. They add a little something to an outfit. How do I know? Let’s see : here, here, here, here, here, here, and maybe a half point for here. I have a thing for capes. I wish that I could say it won’t happen again, but it probably will.

Then I could go on about wearing all black, as it’s one of the best things you can do, but you might be busy looking at all those capes. And here I gave you another cape. What can I say? I like comfort food?

Investment Piece: #comfortfood, another cape

If we can’t chat capes and we won’t talk wearing all black, what are we going to chat about?

What about fashion formulas? Or, as I like to call them, comfort foods? Real talk? We all have a fashion combo that we go back to, when we’re running late, when we don’t know what else to wear, when we need a boost. There’s nothing wrong with it. In fact, I present a theory: fashion comfort food is sometimes the best.

The outfits that we wear over and over again (for me perhaps it’s capes), they’re great. Really, they are. Even if it’s just jeans and a t-shirt (one of the best comfort foods I know of). And if it’s a combo that you keep going back to, what does that mean? Is it simply the comfort? Is it that that comfort food gets you compliments?

And most importantly: does it matter? There are outfit combos, fashion comfort foods, that just work. That make you feel good. I get that as a fashion blogger it’s my job to maybe push your fashion boundaries, to introduce you to new and exciting outfits. Today, I’m advocating for the comfort food. I’m saying that sometimes an outfit you know and love is perfect. That the cape, or whatever your comfort food is, works. Embrace that. It’s Monday. Let’s let one thing be easy.

I’ve linked similar items to this amazing vintage, velvet cape and these go-to black pants. Pro tip? You need a great black turtleneck and some amazing heels. For comfort food.

XO RA

Another great place to get a great cape (or any sort of comfort food):

Investment Piece: #comfortfood, another cape