Investment Piece – Page 33 – Everyday Editorial

Nautical Summer

a woman in a cropped cardigan in a 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

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

Altered State

a woman in a purple dress with red flowers on it in a garden

This post could easily be about how I love the color purple (see here, here, and here for starters). Or I could tell you about how this weekend I was my mom’s date to her 50th College Reunion, where I not only had a great time but realized I’m at the age where graduations make me cry. But what this post is really about is making an outfit your own.

And when we talk about that, it usually means that the styling is very you. However, this time I made this dress my own when I altered it on the fly! Yep! I did!

a woman in a lavender dress with red flowers

You’ve seen this dress before here, it’s a sweet homemade number from the 1970s that’s always made me smile. Yet, as easy as it is to throw on and go, the top kept fitting me oddly. Not TOO big, but a little off.
a woman in a lavender dress with red flowers
It didn’t bother me at first, but over the night it began to be a little obvious (to me) that the fit of the dress would improve if the straps were a little shorter/tighter. The issue could have been solved with a safety pin, or even a paper clip, but I didn’t have one on me. As I was my mom’s date I didn’t want to make a scene, but was beginning to worry that my fit might turn into a fashion emergency. While sitting through a presentation with my uncle, I happened to ask him if he had a pocket knife (desperate times, desperate measures), but he had something even better- scissors.

a close up of scissors in a woman's hand

I discreetly slipped out to the restroom, cut the straps of the dress, and tied them in a halter around my neck. (I tied the ends in slight knots till I have a chance to hem those!) My look and my night was saved – all by a slight alteration!

a woman in a lavender dress with red flowers

While altering the state of your outfit on the fly can be risky- sometimes it’s needed. And if it makes you feel best in the look, isn’t that what counts? Have you ever altered your outfit on the fly? From cutting straps to taping hems, I want to know all about it!

This dress is vintage, but I found you some similar ones- hopefully you don’t have to alter them on the fly!
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!

Never Gets Old

I love getting new outfits and playing with them- but I love my wardrobe. A friend of mine (Mrs Emily, whose skirts you’ve seen here and here) often chats about how when we’re building our wardrobes, it’s important to pick pieces that fit our life, that we love, and that love us back. I know that so much of blogs like this one, IG, etc are about always getting new (and I do LOVE shopping) but having a closet full of pieces that make you feel good is truly the goal. My favorite things? I love rewearing them, restyling them, and throwing them on for whatever the days throw at me.

When you really love a fashion piece, it never really gets out. Repeat outfits? They’re like having brunch with your best friends. In honor of that, here are a few of my favorite repeats, that never get old. What do you think about repeat outfits? How are you building your wardrobe?

a woman in a wrap dress with a star print
woman in a black and white sheath dress with a star warp dress over it
This DVF wrap dress is a go to on it’s own, but I’ve also loved layering it over a dress!

a woman in a lavender dress

This lavender dress is such a stunner, I can change my shoes, throw a blazer over it, it always works!

a woman in a denim dress

Another go to? The best chambray dress!

And of course: the strapless swimsuit I wear as a body suit with EVERYTHING:
a woman in a black swimsuit and brown silk skirt
a woman in black strapless top, black pants and leopard corset in front of a rock formation
a woman in white shorts and blazer with a black straless bathing suit and heels in front of green trees

I can’t wait to hear about your go-tos! I’m also excited to add to my go-to’s this season!
XO RA

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

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

Happy Birthday to Me!

It’s my birthday! And while I love being with you, please excuse me while I take today off. I may be out sipping champagne, or reading while in the pool. Massages, long lunches, shopping, and pampering are all on the menu. I’m excited for the year to come, and I’m so proud of all that we’ve built together. Below are some of my favorite past looks. I can’t wait to share more with you!
XO RA

a woman in a white tux pant suit
A woman in a tee that says Hands Off, a black blazer and jeans
a woman in a gold short set and skirt in front of a fountain
a woman hula hooping in white pants, black pants and a metallic top
A woman in a navy and white polka dot short set with a skirt over it
A woman in an off the shoulder black midi dress and wedges
a woman in a strapless black top and Gucci logo skirt and flat black sandals
a woman in a blue silk short set with a scarf in her hair sits on an iron bench with her feet up in front of a brick house and a red door

for Mom

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

close up of snake wedges and a white skirt

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

Birthday Wishlist

A woman in a gold sequin midi dress with long sleeves and black heels walks down a street

My birthday is next week. A week from today in fact! And I know, as adults, we aren’t supposed to make a big deal of birthdays, but I think they are a big deal. (though full disclosure I’ve forgotten the blog’s birthday for a few years now, even though I do think it’s a big deal!) We all get holidays, but birthdays are the one day we really get to celebrate ourselves. And while this post is about my wishlist (for the season and my coming year), I think about birthday wishlists being not only about the physical things we want (which I usually do have a lot of), but a way of making a wishlist of who we want to be in our next year. Yes, the wishlist can be about a dress or a suit, but it’s also about how we want to spend our time- the gym, at events, in dance class, on the pickle ball court, or in flattering jeans. I take my celebrations as not only day off- which I fully intend to take (full disclosure, I have no big plans and the grief and gratitude I have for being as old as I am are weirdly intertwined and probably not for this post- I’m still working those feelings out!), but a time to really set intentions for what I want to create.

As you know, I truly believe that our fashion is important as it’s a way for us to tell our stories, and our stories are important. So, what stories do I want to tell for the year that starts next Wednesday? I want to get out there again- from events (I do love a party dress) to dance class to finding joy in daily dressing. I’m love with 3 piece suits, and while I would technically never have the need for one- where could I wear one regularly? I have a list of casual dresses to throw on to my my errands chic, an update to summer sandals, and I’m looking for chic jeans. And a pair of great trousers. The new year is full of possibilities, and I’m still flushing out exactly which ones I’ll start pursuing, who exactly I want to be in the next year. It’s an exciting time. And I know that any and all of these amazing pieces will make the new me in the new coming year better. (I also hope that they inspire you and I give you permission to use my birthday as a reset for you too!)

Here’s what I’m shopping for my birthday- I can’t wait to spend the next year with you!
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!

And here is the link to one of my current wishlists (which doubles as a birthday wishlist!)
Shop here

a woman in a gold sequin midi dress and black heels

Tonally Sheer

a woman in a cream sheer skirt with short under and a cream halter top and snakeskin sandals

I have a thing for sheer. It was one of my very first blog posts (see here: Is Sheer A Thing We’re Doing? note: I still have most of these sheer pieces and still wear them!), and I’ve also chatted this season about the sheer trend (see here. And this sheer pencil skirt is high on my spring wish list!)
Sheer is something I’m constantly drawn to- and when I think about it, it’s probably because sheer gives you the power to choose what you show, and what you reveal.

With wearing sheer you can show it all- or you can play hide and seek. A new favorite tip I got for wearing sheer is to put tonal leggings (or in this case biker shorts) underneath. It gives the illusion of being completely sheer, and yet, you’re completely covered.
(I also don’t judge if you show more with your sheer-there have been times when I have! But I love this tip as it’s a work and “proper” way of wearing sheer that leads to the illusion that you’re showing more than you might be!)

As for tonal? Tone on tone is so so chic- and yet adds to the mystery of sheer. Really isn’t that all that sheer is – a mystery or an illusion?

a woman in a cream sheer skirt with shorts under and a cream halter top with snake skin heels

Perhaps my attraction to sheer is that it can be anything you need it to be. Sheer. Opaque. Classic. A bit more un-classic. I know you know that I truly believe that fashion is a way in which we tell our stories, and sheer gives us so much power over that. And sheer keeps changing over the seasons (we do too). It makes sense to me to keep playing with what we show, what we keep hidden, what sheers we wear and how we work them into our lives.

a woman in a cream sheer skirt and shorts under with a cream halter top and snake heels

This skirt and this top are both years and years old. The shoes are resale – but I’ve found you similar for all! Here I’ve worn nude Spanx under the skirt- but there are so many other nude options, as well as leggings in all of the shades of the rainbow for all of your sheers! If you need help styling your sheer- both tonally and a bit more risqué- I would love to help! In the meantime I’ve linked options for this look for your shopping pleasure 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 cream sheer skirt with shorts under and a cream halter top with snake heels

Ex Files: I’m the Problem

a white and black and red name tag reading " It's Me, Hi! I'm the Problem It's me

We’re back!! That’s right it’s Ex Files, dating horror stories, my final attempt to live my life a la Carrie Bradshaw. (And let’s not pretend horror only lives in fiction. Some of my ex files: The Ghosting, Tinder on an Airplane, The One Who Wouldn’t Take No, and of course The One Who Asked for his Money Back. More can be found under “Ex Files” in the search bar).

This is usually the part where I state (correctly I think) that if people want you to write (or remember or talk about them) warmly, they should behave better- but, what happens when it’s you that should have behaved better? OR more succinctly (and on trend)- it’s me, I’m the problem (in this one instance!).

Complete sidenote- my mom hates when I I quote the song where I got this title (AntiHero by Taylor Swift), but like a lot of people, I sometimes relate a lot to the lyrics, because sometimes we are the problem. The good thing is that we can see it, right?

SO. Recently I was chatting with a girlfriend about ghosting (which again I’ve written about here), and which usually I would agree that ghosting is not the best. However, upon reflection, I realized I recently ghosted someone (that does make me the bad guy). And I got to thinking about ghosting and hard conversations and what we do when we’re the villain.

Normally I would say that there’s not a reason to ghost. That we should all be aok with being honest about not wanting to see someone or seeing the relationship go anywhere or wanting to end things. Of course, like all rules, there are exceptions, and if you’re in danger or dealing with a volatile person I can absolutely get behind silence as the way to communicate. But, what about the times in between? And what do you you do when you catch yourself being the problem?

(Also I’m running out of fake generic names for Ex Files- a me problem- but if you have any suggestions I’m all ears!)

I’ve known Pedro for a few years. We’re not friends, and not quite colleagues, but run into each other at a side hustle I occasionally do, as well as on errands. He’s not a bad guy- but I have to say he’s not someone I would seek out to spend time with. Pedro has never made me uncomfortable, but there’s just something – I don’t see us being close. However, on this side hustle gig, Pedro does (sort of) have some power over me. A few months ago, I went to work a shift for this side hustle gig and there was not enough product for me to complete my shift- meaning I got to go home with full pay. Pedro was the one who signed off on this. Completely normal and happens. I was asked to leave my cell number with Pedro-JIC- which I was happy to do! Then, I started getting texts. Nothing creepy, nothing awful – mainly just wishing me a good day and asking generic questions. At first, I didn’t mind the banter back and forth.

Then, he started calling me beautiful a bit much (I like compliments as much as the next person but it felt like a bit much). And I started getting questions like: “What’s your address?” Which I don’t answer. These, of course, were mixed in with other comments, etc. But. I just stopped responding. At first, it was an honest mistake – I got a late text that I simply forgot about, but then he texted again. And again. I still haven’t answered.

I completely own that I could have just set my boundaries (no address, I’m not really interested, etc), but once I let a text go- it was just easy to let them all go. It’s me, hi, I’m the problem, it’s me. This is not me asking for understanding- I get what I did- and am still a bit nervous about running into Pedro again! Sometimes we are the villain, the problem, the one who will be written about- and I’m dealing with that.

How do you deal with being the problem when you recognize you are? Do you have great tips on setting boundaries so you don’t have to ghost? I’m open to hearing it all!
XO RA