Hi My beloveds! Good news/bad news? We have a timeline for the repair and demo due to this huge, unexpected (is there any other kind??). And I am thrilled with some plans and even like the contractor. The bad? We have to be out today (Sunday. For a week. Yes, moving into a hotel with cats. Pray. Send all the vibes!). Which means I have been quiet and frantically packing. While I think we will make it, there has been no time to do anything but prepare for this. I will be shooting and have so much to share. We will be dark till Wednesday and then will resume our regularly schedule! Thank you so much for being patient and being here and your support. I hope that – for me, instead of me- you’re out wearing something fantastic and telling stories. And please tell them to me!!
This season of my life has been— trying- to put it mildly. Getting through the days can somehow take all of me, and as much as I love my fashion I find myself in sweats more often than not. And it’s taking a toll- I yearn for party dresses and fancy shoes and all the things I love (which does include being here with you!). **
** A small house update- we are moving into a hotel (cats and all) next week while demo starts on the parts of the house affected by the leak and mold. That means this week (and last) we have been frantically packing and organizing. Again, it’s been a lot. My hope is that a week away and then the start of house work lets us settling into a routine, and let me get dressed again.
I am struggling right now, not only with all the chaos, but getting into anything looking like a routine, getting dressed for real, and staying consistent here. Honestly, I don’t know what the next few weeks will look like. But. I have things that I want to wear, and share. So- we are working to see what a sustainable schedule here for the next few weeks will look like. I will update you on that- in the meantime you can always shop with me via affiliate links in bio. And I will send out a special newsletter with gift suggestions. (You can also sign up for the newsletter here!).
Back to business? Not in the way that I would like, but we’re getting there. And we are excited to dress the part.
Thank you for staying here with me, your patience, and your support!
XO RA
BTW these “business” (yet fun) pants can be found here (yes, that is an affiliate link. Yes, I may earn commission, but it won’t affect the price for you. As usual, thank you! )
I know, we are taught that we shouldn’t talk politics (though may be we should as then we could work some things out!). And that there are those of us who would love to not be political. However, the truth is, everything is political. Even my beloved fashion.
Women in pants and suits? Political. Hemlines? Political. Slim cut for men? Political. Fashion is a language with which we tell our stories and communicate- which makes it political, and means our outfits can have oh-so-many meanings. You might not like to deal with politics, but politics deal with you.
So, knowing that, here in the States we have a chance tomorrow to get political and vote for the world that we want. I voted early- and am passionate in my beliefs- but even if you don’t agree with me, I hope that you use this chance to be a little political. Our stories and our votes matter- and here’s to a new chapter for both!
This is where I tell you that recently things have been a lot. There’s the house issues (a recap here and and even here), and semi related health issues (aka I haven’t felt great in months, which has affected my work outs and feeling great in my body- which feels so vain to say. But yep), and there are days when just getting up has been a struggle (much less getting dressed. And we know how I LOVE to get dressed!). Just. A Lot over here. (over on IG today I say the thing that I am probably not supposed to say- that this is all depressing to me, which is also affecting me).
And then. On top. Also. Even with all this. I went to my closet today. Even not feeling great in my body. Even being a little down. I was excited to get dressed. To shot. To plan. And it felt all the same.
-This is when we can chat about how sometimes fast fashion and continuous new makes us feel as if we need and need but nothing changes.
-We can chat about ruts and how perhaps we have go-to’s that serve us until they don’t. This is also where I share that I have a great friend who I used to go to sample sales with (we still would but we no longer live in the same town!)- we would shop separately and then share our picks before deciding. I had a habit of collecting grey shirts. Tees. Blouses. Sweatshirts. (I still have that habit!). And while I can tell you the difference between each one, it does lead to having a bit of one thing in your closet. And while there are ALWAYS so many, many ways to style anything – I get being tired of things. -I looked at my closet today and it was all black- and leopard. A lot of the outfits I came up with felt the same.
And it is valid to feel as if much of fashion is the same right now. That’s another conversation in and of itself. Yes, styling and your take on anything can help. But as much as I believe that, there are even times when I get it. I’m with you.
If it is all the same to you to and if it feels all the same to me, how do we get out? How do we change that? How do we make it different?
Right now I am in a season of figuring it out. I truly don’t know the answers. I am still in my closet- playing and switching, working out my life to feel great in that and in my clothes. It is a process. And takes some play. Some adventure. What I do know is that perhaps, in these last few months of the year, we can discover it together. All the same? Let’s chat about how they are different!
I owe you an apology. And an explanation. And to get back to me– and this, our wonderful fashion community here.
As I told you last week, here, we had a massive leak under the dish washer which has lead to the majority of flooring in the downstairs of my house to be replaced. It’s overwhelming on its own- and we are still waiting on insurance and workers to come. What has been happening the past week? Movers and Packers have come- by the way this house is so full of china and books, and things and that’s not even touching my closet– and begun boxing everything up. To sit in your house (that feels as if it’s falling apart) and watch others pack your things is uncomfortable at best. Awful at worst. And there have been issues- things getting packed that we need, the cats being herded (and acting out), our own big feelings about this.
**** Super side note, this has made me even more empathetic to the recent hurricane victims who have lost everything. OR are going through worse clean up than we are. IF you have anything to give I would recommend giving it. I have donated to get formula to babies and to animal rescues trying to take care of all those pets!*******
I know we have been through a lot here- but this all has felt so big and consuming and overwhelming. Days when we couldn’t use the kitchen, all of the above, and this all hitting when I thought I would get out of my slump and “restart”. My reaction? I have shut down. I have down the bare minimum, while still shopping, I have even avoided social media and friends as it was too much. Not. what I am most proud of, but what’s been happening.
The reality? I have no idea when things will get back to normal. We don’t even know when the packers will be done, when the workers will begin taking out and then replacing floors, how anything will look. Most likely for months. And it hit me this week that I can’t spend months avoiding, not getting dressed, just wanting it to be over. As you may know, I believe in our fashion because I believe in our stories. Part of mine right now is chaos. And I can lay down OR I can get comfortable in that. Get dressed during that. Pull myself out of a rut and learn to thrive in that.
Or at least that’s my plan. I don’t want to disappear on you- on us- on myself or my shoes. I am telling you right now is not easy for me. (and yes, I did think about pretending everything is aok but that’s not fair to my story. Or you) But I’m back. I’m going to tell the next few months in AMAZING outfits. And I am asking for your forgiveness and your thoughts– and maybe your grace when I feel overwhelmed.
We will be back on Sunday for Chronicles (we may be chatting about the upsides here? A bit of redecorating on ins? getting to tap dance on the floors?) and starting Monday new outfits. And yes! While we only have 2 Weds before Halloween left my top 2 fashion halloweens for this year are all ours (and I can’t wait to share them with you). In good news? I got a shower and did “get dressed” today?
May chaos is a thing we can get comfortable – and get dressed in. Here’s to doing it with you!
XO RA
I was SUPPOSED to be posting Fashion Halloween today. And looking amazing. Wearing something great. Wanna know how to make God (whatever that means to you!) laugh? Tell him your plans.
On Sunday there was some buckling of my dining room floor. Multiple plumber and Contractor visits later- turns out an improperly installed drain under the dish washer had overflowed and there was 2(!!) gallons of standing water and sewage that had seeped into not only the drain but the floors. Maybe the walls. And there is asbestos. The past few days have been— ALOT. Wrapping our heads around the damage. And that unexpected ripping up of floors and more is coming. Preparing to pack up and live in a renovation site for months.
Luckily no shoes or cats have been hurt!
But to say this has thrown me off– it’s an understatement. I am so up in the air. We have meetings today about timelines and processes so hopefully that settles some things. And hopefully we will get back on track ASAP. In the meantime- well, I guess I know why I wasn’t feeling great lately. And please forgive me if things are a bit off.
Wishing us all easy changes and amazing shoes! XO RA
This summer- was not my season. Burn out from my day job, leading to some depression and illness, and most recently what seemed to be a never ending migraine left me not getting to wear and do some of the things that I really wanted to this summer. I really wanted to chat about wearing tap shorts under mini dresses, and trains, and wear halters that are modern and classic at the same time. Sandals, backless, and strapless were all on my to-do list. And now, that it’s technically fall I can’t help but wonder- is it too late?
Of course, the horrible thing about asking yourself “is too late” for one thing, is that you ask that question about many things. I am ever the optimist- I believe that nothing really meant for us ever passes us by, that a door closing doesn’t mean it stays shut, that we never lose anything without it being replaced by something better, and that being too late for things is often a stroke of luck. And yet. As I get older- sometimes we are too late for things and it really just sucks. Contemplating it all can suck even more.
The good news with fashion is that even if you miss a season, you can still enjoy the fashion. I live in a place where cooler weather is months away- if that. So these pieces are still wearable, and you can style them for fall. Even come spring we may revisit some of the summer things I wanted to talk about. Yet-I can’t help but regret a little bit that some of these things were too late this year. That doesn’t take away from the fact that I am so excited for fall. Transitional styling from sweaters to fashion socks, and my beloved Fashion Halloween. Another thing about growing older? I am learning that you can look forward with joy and miss what’s behind you at the same time.
Perhaps being too late for anything is another lesson in balance. Or transitions. And again- in fashion maybe it’s never too late- it’s just that you wait a season or too. I am learning that some seasons are not our seasons (which by default means that some seasons have to be ours), and maybe in the waiting for our season the being too late is a blessing. I am crossing my fingers for that at least.
If you see me indulging in some late summer fashion -forgive me. And have I mentioned I can’t wait to fall with you? XO RA
Ironically this weekend some of my closet racks collapsed (not because I had too many clothes- I promise!) but this has lead to me slightly redoing, starting a slight closet clean out, and some slight thoughts about what I want to add for the new season. Part of this for me is looking back at what’s worked before and what I love- so I am looking back at this– I can’t wait to share my fall wish list, and purchases with me. In the meantime, if you need me I will be putting together clothing racks and rehanging clothes!
I have spent part of my fall redoing my closet, and turning a room into a closet. Follow me as I show it off and show you some of my special closet pieces!
XO RA
I have asked this question and debated it and yet- I never thought to ask: when do we start wearing white? Do you wait till Easter? Is the first day of spring ok? If there is a cut off to wear white when do we begin again?
Is this because I’m in possession of fantastic white (ish) pants that I’m currently wearing (see ? OR because at a point when the weather is all over do I say I’m just doing what the weather tells me? Please let me know- do you have dates for your outfits and colors? I would love to hear about them!
XO RA
I’m from the South and it’s a pretty hard and fast rule that you don’t wear white after Labor Day. It’s so ingrained in us that a few years ago at a football game a guy friend of mine–who is not into fashion–saw a woman wearing white pants and made a comment that she shouldn’t be doing that, as it was after Labor Day. In fact, starting Monday, my mom puts away all her linen items–citing the fact that it’s a summer fabric. And I get it–I’ve clearly been excited and ready for fall. There is something to be said for dressing for the season.
However, after living in California I came to realize that the white rule isn’t necessarily followed everywhere. You could argue that in CA it feels like summer longer, although it can be in the 100s till October in TX. Even the fashion elite –Vogue, etc– have relaxed their thinking and you can search for articles today like “How to Wear Your White Jeans Through Fall”. So who do we listen to–our Southern Moms or those who say we can wear white?
Honestly, I fall in the middle here. Don’t worry Mom–after Monday I won’t wear (a ton of) white pants (winter white is a whole other story though!) but I won’t be rushing to my fall/winter wardrobe. The fact of the matter is it will still be hot on Tuesday. And while I won’t be wearing white pants, white will still most likely pop into my outfits as an accent or piece–skirt, top, etc–but not the whole look. I no longer judge those who wear white after Monday–fashion is so diverse and if you like your outfit I’m a fan of you rocking it! (Also I love it when you’re daring) But I will say I’m looking forward to our gradual shift to fall clothing! Have I mentioned I have some amazing boots to show you??
I’d love to know–what’s your stance on white after Labor Day?
I am the first to admit that makeup is not my forte- really mascara and red lips are my go to’s. There are so so many FANTASTIC beauty “influencers” and tutorials avail all over social media, and I know that I am not one of them. However, I do love certain beauty products. And have refined my day-to-day summer routine in a way that makes me feel pulled together. It’s also 4 products (linked below), takes really less than 5 mins, and is completely adaptable (add what you need for any event or through the day).
I love how easy this routine is and how on days when my life is gym and errands it’s perfect. When my life is a bit more it’s so easy to adapt- add anything from mascara to full eyes and blush. I am linking my products below. What is your go to summer beauty routine? I would love to know! Also if you can get a great eyeshadow crease please teach me!
XO RA
Notes: 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!
