Have I mentioned how much I love costumes? Maybe it’s the theater in me, maybe it’s the fashion, but there’s something about planning my fashion Halloween costume that brings me such joy.
I also love seeing your costumes. Yes, it’s the beginning of the month/season. But, please, feel free to share.
This year? I’m excited about all the costumes I’m planning, I’m also thinking of all the costumes past. Let’s be real- If your goal is “fashion Halloween” there are many ways you can go about it. Wear a gown and call it a day. (You could say you’re a kind of Princess) Go all out and order a costume (one of my faves year after year is Catwoman, and I’m not sorry). So, what kind of fashion Halloween should we be this year?
I’ve been Cleopatra Betty Draper
And Lady MacBeth
What do I have up my stilettos for this year? Stay tuned! In the meantime, let’s enjoy the past fashion Halloweens!
I’d love to hear your costume thoughts, plans, or suggestions!
Xo RA
Guilty (or not so guilty) pleasure? I LOVE the movie Hocus Pocus. I’m one of those people excited that we can watch it starting all day today through Halloween. If you haven’t seen it, please change that ASAP. You won’t regret it.
Another not-so guilty pleasure? The month of October. It’s the ultimate “fall” month. And as a bonus, we get Halloween. Do I love the cooler temps, all the pumpkins, the football, and the cozy factor? Yes. Do I love costume planning and wearing, the fun and the spookiness? Yes.
October definitely has a spell, and I for one, am glad to be under it.
Another spell I’m under?
Fall outfits like this, built on small details.
Knit pants? Think dressy sweats. All the comfort, yet, the piping, the structure, the pockets can make them a go-to. Cozy enough for a Hocus-Pocus marathon, and dressy enough for those fall dates, I live in these during the fall.
(Note: I recommend dry cleaning as washing can lead to piling, though of course that varies by composition. These also look great with sneakers)
Snakeskin shoes? On trend
Devil Headband? I couldn’t resist.
Wildfox theme shirt? Another spell I’m happy to be under. Cheeky enough, comfy enough, and on theme enough. Wildfox has shirts like these year around, but their Halloween offerings are always my favorite.
(They can also double as a last minute costume if you need them to!)
Spell binding? Absolutely.
Variations on this outfit can take you through the whole month, and if that’s not something to make you say “I put a spell on you”, I don’t know what will.
See the movie. Please
I’ve linked similar items below including my current favorite Wildfox items!
What puts a spell on you?
Xo RA
Note: this post does contain some affiliate links. While this does not affect the price for you, I may earn commission from them. Thank you for your support!
It’s Ex-Files, where I share horror stories from the front lines of dating! This series has been part of my way of coping with dates and relationships that were less than ideal, because if we can’t laugh at ridiculous men, what are we doing here? Some of my favorite stories that I’ve shared with you are Tinder on an Airplane, The One Who Asked for his Money Back, and Ghosting. I had a great story this month, about a guy who took me to dinner to let me know non-stop how much he hated his mother. But then. This week happened.
I know many of us have been triggered by the events and testimony this week. No matter what your policital views, as a woman (or a man), there’s no way that your life hasn’t been touched by sexual assault, even if it’s not openly talked about. Like many of you I’m tired. I’m angry. I’m hurt. And the last thing I wanted to do was dive into a story about dating, even if it was for humor purposes.
There’s something to be said after a week like this one, much like after a bad break up, that a little self care is needed. Not the romanticized and cliche self care, but the real, you may be hurting and need some time to heal self care. Which leaves us with the question, what does self care look like on a week like this?
I vary from needing to be with people to needing to be alone, from needing activity to needing rest, and I think any combination of these types of self care are valid. Actually, any kind of self care you need (as long as it’s not self harm) is valid. Below is a small list of things I like to do for myself in the name of self care:
Take the afternoon off and see a matinee
Stay in with a book
Dinner/drinks with a friend
Spending the day in bed reading trashy magazines
Cleaning out my closet
Shopping or planning outfits
A spa day either at home or at an actual spa
Planning and cooking a great meal
Ordering in
A hard workout
A long walk
Spending time with family
Spending time alone
A bubble bath with wine
Therapy
A massage
Working hard on forgiving others, myself, and walking with kindness and compassion.
I don’t think there’s a way to do self care wrong. It comes down to what we need, and how we can give it to ourselves. I hope that this week, as long and as hard as it was had moments of laughter and care. I hope you know you’re loved and supported.
If you need it, the Sexual Abuse Hotline is 1-800-656-4673. Also, if you need it, you can register to vote here.
I’d love to know what your favorite form of self care is. If you need a listening ear, this community is here for you. I’d love for us all to remember we’re in this together.
Wishing us a week of light and amazing shoes! Xo RA
Loves! It’s the time of month where we go into our closets to see what stories live there. This month? I was lucky enough to chat with Lauren from Timeless Vixen about her Ossie Clark collection. It’s amazing. And I can’t wait to get back into her closet and really play. Also –I’d love to come play in your closet! What do you collect?
In the meantime, let’s enjoy my convo with Lauren about her 109 pieces of Ossie Clark (yes, her closet is #goals)
I got to spend some time this week with one of my loves, Timeless Vixen, chatting all things Ossie Clark, this shade of red, and the things we keep in our closets. I can’t wait to share our conversation with you! In the meantime, I can’t stop thinking about this dress. Ever get the feeling that you may have to wear something? Yes, I do. Until I break this holiday red number out, let’s relieve this post. Updated shopping options below! Xo RA
Holiday Red: it’s the color of the season, but that doesn’t mean it has to be cliche. Your holiday red can be classic, modern, or come with a twist. In fact, let your holiday red be the red that they didn’t see coming; be it a dress, skirt, pantsuit, or top. Let your red celebrate the holiday and you. Holiday Red? Let’s do it!
My Holiday Red? Classic with some dramatic details. I love that it’s old Holiday glam look; I feel like a complete movie star in it. Yet, the details are a bit modern and shocking. The cut out in the back, the slit in the front, the apron wrap all make this vintage dress feel modern. We know that I love anything that combines vintage and modern, has juxatipositons, and feels amazing to be in. This holiday red? It does all three.
This holiday red is my first Ossie Clark, so it’s very special to me. (You can read about Ossie Clark here.) While I love all the “new” pieces in my closet, when I get the chance to add a piece that’s “new to me”, but carries with it such a history, I love it! I found this dress on etsy, and I couldn’t pass up a chance to own my own Ossie! The fact that this dress is holiday red and perfect for the season is just a bonus!
Holiday Red, in all its forms, is perfect for any party, family event, or just when your mood needs a boost. Wear it simply with a great pair of heels (I love red with black and gold) or add statements (the right red dress and lots of sparkly jewelry), holiday red can be as much about you as it is about the holiday. In fact, holiday red doesn’t have to only come out at the holidays. Wear red all year long, and celebrate anything you want–even if it’s just a Monday!
I’ve linked similar dresses and reds that I love below. I’d love to know: How are you doing holiday red this season?
XO RA
Note: This post does contain some affiliate links. While I do receive commission off of these links, this does not affect the price for you.
I have a history with my hair (you can read all about it here). All summer long, I’ve been dying to get my hair done, change it up a bit, and feel different. You could say I’ve been courting change. Which is new for me. However, I’ve been craving the kind of change that’s complete, the wake up and your life is DIFFERENT. (I can’t be the only one who thinks there are events from birthdays to holidays where you will wake up changed)
And what better immediate change to make you feel like your life is different than to change your hair?
Here’s what I’ve learned about change: it doesn’t always follow our guide lines. Sometimes change happens fast. Sometimes, the change is slow. And even when you want it, change isn’t always easy and there’s not always some big “aha” moment where you wake up different.
I finally got to have my hair done. And I love it. I do feel lighter, and am so appreciative if you reached out on Instagram to let me know that you like it. But did I wake up completely different? No. Should I have? A week ago I might have said yes, explained that making a change like hair is one way to shake things up. And while a big hair change is always a great way to shake it up, I realized after getting my hair done that the change wasn’t my hair, but me. The hair change was simply an outside look at change that had happened on the inside.
This summer was a season of change for me. Some sudden, some slow, some wanted and some not. I didn’t have any big “aha” moment, and some of the change I’m still craving in my life is in the process. But, I’m different. We all are, if we think about it–and isn’t that a good thing? (If you say no, ask yourself if you want to be in the same place in 5 years. Do you want what’s here? Or do you want better?) Maybe the point isn’t to have these moments where the change is so overwhelming that we wake up different, but to be so comfortable with our change that we’re not afraid to show it.
For the first time in my life, I’m thinking my hair might need to be a little bit shorter. That’s huge change I’m happy to share with you; even if there was never a time I woke up different.
I’d love to hear about or see your change!
Wishing us all a week of change and amazing shoes! Xo RA
On Monday we chatted about the trends that we have to work with this fall (get caught up here). But as you know, I think trends are only a part of the story. I got to thinking about what I want to wear this fall, from classics to trends to updates. And while my Wishlist will often get updated, these are the items that I’m currently craving right now:
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!
Boots
We know that boots are a fall staple and a trend (2 for 1?). And I’m loving the options that this provides. I can’t get enough of these star boots that are on trend:
And these cream boots that are an update on a classic:
Shop similar items:
Houndstooth Pants
Part power suit, part pattern, and all cool, these pants not only scream fall to me, they’re a classic that’s on trend. I want to wear them with everything from graphic tees to sweaters to Blazers to boots.
Shop similar:
SnakePrint Dress
There’s a case to be made this fall that snake print is the new leopard print. (Leopard isn’t going anywhere but, still). I can’t help but love this print that feels neutral, and this classic shape is a go-to. Not that I won’t say no to any pants, skirts, or tops. And shoes!
Get you some snake print:
I’d love to know: what’s on your fall Wishlist? And of course, if you need help shopping, I’m here to help! Email me at racheladelicia@investmentpiece.com and let’s chat!
Loves! NYFW has come and gone. LFW is in process. Paris, Milan, all the fashion weeks are happening, have happened, or will happen. But, the reality is, even though fashion week may be all over your social media, most of us won’t go to fashion week. Some of us won’t even buy the fashion presented there. So, fashion week, what is it good for?
I had some thoughts about it, so I made us a video. (Yes, I ramble and sometimes lose my train of thought. It’s a good time)
I would love to get your take on fashion week! Let me know EVERYTHING!
Xo RA
I’d love for you to join the conversation about fashion week. Have you gone? Are you going? Do you buy runway? Do you think it’s worthwhile?
Loves! It’s mid-September, does it feel like fall yet?
For me? Not quite. Maybe that’s due to the fact that it’s still hot outside, maybe it’s because I’m still processing the fall trends and deciding what I love! (Because CLEARLY fall doesn’t start until we shop for the season).
Here’s the thing: the list below of trends that are presented to you this fall 2018 is by no means final. There are other lists and other trends, take from each what you love. Yes, some trends are call backs from years past (everything comes back), which can be a great excuse to splurge on accessories to update your look. Trends are not the only fall offerings, there will be classic updates, new takes on things, and good pieces that don’t fall into a “trend” category. Take from those what you love.
I’m a big fan of us mixing trends and classics, new and old, and things we love to tell our stories with fashion. These are just a few of the trends and stories you’ll be seeing on me in fall 2018.
Note: This post does contain affiliate links. While I may earn commission from them, that does not affect the price for you. Thank you for your support!
Power Suits
I’m excited about this because I love me a good suit. Chic, elegant, powerful, and customizable, what’s not to love? From bold colors to patterns to details, there’s a suit for everyone. My take? Don’t be afraid to wear the blazer as a top or pair it with a graphic tee. Suits also good great with sneakers!
(Related to this trend is tailoring, but I’m not calling that a trend. I’ll just say that great tailoring makes you look great and you should embrace it at every opprotunty)
Here are some of my suit picks:
Boots
This may be a time when you’re asking yourself: “How can boots, a fall and winter staple, be a trend?”
Loves, have you seen this season’s boots? Fall 2018 gives us everything from combat to western inspired, to cut outs and more. From ankle boots to over the knee, you can get your staples and your trends!
Some of my favorites:
Leather
From accents to outfits, leather is in (was it ever out?). I’m such a fan of great leather pants, skirts, dresses, and jackets. From matte to patent, I don’t think there’s a “wrong” way to wear leather. And I love it when we take something like a leather jacket and wear it in an unexpected way (like a dress).
Here are some of my leather picks:
(Note: this is a great trend to buy in vintage pieces or resale to keep your budget on trend, too!)
Patterns
Again, maybe not the newest trend around, but Fall 2018 offers us patterns in the most luxourious sense of the word. From houndstooth to plaid, from silk to wool, I’m thrilled to not only wear these patterns, but to mix them!
Some of my picks:
Are these trends the only things I’m loving? Nope! There’s so much more, but this is my jumping off point for my Fall 2018 trend shopping.
Bonus/Street Style Pieces that are hot (and I’m loving)right now: neon, prairie dresses, 90s, Peacock colors (blues and greens), all day sequins, sneakers, and more.
I’d love to know: what trends are you looking to add to your story this season?
Xo RA
That’s it. No waxing poetic. I don’t go on and on. This time I won’t even try to tie all sorts of things together. Just florals. Things you know: I love wearing swimsuits with everything. This is no exception. I love a great skirt, and pleats hardly ever steer you wrong. Finding rooms full of beauty are something that I wish for us all, and this shoot was one of my most favorites.
But you know all this. You don’t need me to keep telling you. So, today, we’re letting this be simple.
Florals.
Do what you will with them.
I’ve linked similar pieces for your shopping pleasure below. Happy Shopping!
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!
