Category: Out of the Closet

Fashion Stories: FashionxSports

Investment Piece: Play Ball

I’m endlessly fascinated by all of our juxtapositions. The corners and opposites that make us who we are, and make an outfit interesting. One of mine? I love sports. LOVE them. I’m a huge football fan (here, here, and here) I can’t miss basketball playoffs. And while I’m not the biggest baseball fan, I do enjoy watching my college team (and pay attention. Also- going to games is fun! I can’t wait till we can do that again! I wrote about baseball and fashion here)

There are people who are endlessly surprised that I can like both fashion and sports. Which is always so interesting to me. Sports stars are often seen as fashionable (and some even have their own lines). And fashion in its purest form is about a show, and sports is a spectacle- to me they don’t seem that so far apart. And if fashion is a way for us to tell our stories, wouldn’t it be natural for our fandoms- no matter what they are- to be expressed through our clothes?

Investment Piece: Fashion X sports

And if I’m telling my stories, I want to be in charge of them. While there are hundreds and hundreds of women who love sports, often our fashion options for our sports teams is lacking. In my opinion.

I’m a fan- I love the game. And I want the fashion I wear to show that, not be a beacon that I’m a woman. Pink. Sparkles. Rhinestones. I hate it all. If my team’s colors are purple. Or blue. Or green. I want to wear those colors. I want the shirts. And shorts. And sweaters. And more. That I wear to look like something the players would wear. Not a beacon letting the world know that I’m a girl.

Investment Piece: Play Ball

And I think there is a way to make sports wear look fashionable. Some of my tips? Wear heels. Pair fan gear- from hats to tops to pants- with a neutral. Let the team item pop. Wear your fan shirt like any other shirt. Dress it up. Be unafraid to be casual with it. Treat it like it’s any other outfit. Only wear your team’s colors- not logos. Don’t be fair to dress up for a game. Don’t be afraid to be casual.

There is no right or wrong way to show your love of sports in fashion. And if you don’t love sports? Nothing wrong with that either. After all, if you love sports like me, this is just another way to tell some of your stories.

Investment Piece: Play Ball

I would love to know. Do you love sports? Do you dress for it? How?

Xo RA

Fashion Stories: Restoration

Investment Piece: Restoration

Have you been following the saga of the Givenchy dress found and restored by Henry Wilkinson? I’ve been paying attention on Instagram– and it’s amazing and I love it! Henry is a costume designer who happened to find part of a vintage Givenchy gown. It looked like this:

Investment Piece: Restoration

After research, care, and a lot of work, Henry got it to look like this (again):

Investment Piece: restoration

And! It turns out this gown was owned by Princess Lee Radziwill (Jackie O’s sister!)
Investment Piece: Restoration

Following the journey online was just thrilling. I learned about zippers! Henry showed us how to shape! And it fed my love of fashion as a means to tell our stories- the night the Princess wore it, what happened to it, and how it transformed all of us by being restored to its former glory. For the full story, I’ll let Henry tell you:

If you want to read all about it you can, at:
Vintage Fashion Guild
Town and Country
Yahoo

And I whole heartedly recommend following Henry on Instagram (@henryjjwilkinson) for his documentation of this project (and other fashion stories).

As someone who loves wearing vintage, I love to think about who has worn/owned my beloved vintage gowns before me. Now, I’m thinking about who will wear my clothes after me. What will happen to them? I can only hope that they recieve the care that Henry gave this gown. And we can all hope to wear something so beautiful!

To all the stories our fashion holds!
Xo RA

Fashion Stories: Holiday Pjs

Investment Piece: Holiday PJs

My family has a tradition, matching pjs on Christmas Eve. It’s the one “present” we can open early, we change into them right away, and stay up drinking champagne, laughing and enjoying each other. I know that we had matching pjs at different times growing up-there’s pictures of my sister and I in them- but this tradition has grown stronger as we’ve gotten older.

It’s currently one of my favorite times and things of the holiday season.

Investment Piece: Holiday PJs

This year has been- all of those things. (Are you tired of hearing about it? I am) Lounge wear, fancy pjs, all those things have been staples all year, so I’ve been worried that one of my favorite things would also be a causality of 2020. This time of year, when so much shuts down and in a “normal” time it’s fun to stay in pjs are we going to want pjs? Celebrate being in them? Or will this tradition be tossed aside in the coming years as we (hopefully) don’t have to stay in?

Investment Piece: Holiday Pjs

My family ordered our pjs. And though there are days when putting on real pants is noteworthy, I’m excited about them. Holiday pjs aren’t just pjs, they’re part of a story, a tradition, something bigger than just comfort. Though comfort they do bring.
The minute we decided on a pattern, I started getting excited. Maybe I’ve been more casual this year, but holiday pjs are a part of my holidays as an adult, and I’m glad that we’re still doing them.

Note-holiday or fancy pjs are a great gift to yourself, and would even be festive on Zoom!

This year there are traditions that have to change, and while change can be hard it can also be good. However, knowing that I can match my mom and sister is something I’m glad we’re hanging onto!

I’d love to know- what are some of your fashion traditions at this time of year? Have they changed?
Xo RA

If you’re in need of some holiday pjs I love these from Target (and you can order online, pick up in store so you can get them in time!)

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!

Investment Piece: fashion stories,

Fashion Stories: Street Style

One thing I really miss in this pandemic time? Street Fashion- both seeing what people are wearing and seeing how people react to what I’m wearing. It’s fashion month again, though this year it’s different. Most presentations are online and open to everyone. Are you watching? I find myself watching some but not all, and of course it always depends on how many zooms I’ve had that day. But I still miss the street style. And since there’s no way to get to see some now, I’m looking back at last year’s street style.
Do you love street style? Getting dressed up yourself? Maybe we could put our own twists on these outfits and walk around in the backyard?
Xo RA

We are in the middle of fashion month: NY, London, Milan, Paris. And maybe that’s not something you really care about, maybe it is. Personally? I love looking at what’s to come. What I love more? The street style. With every fashion week, there are scores of pictures of the people who attend, the people walking the streets, the non-models. Their outfits run from classic to out-there, and for me, provide an endless inspiration. I love “getting to know” these people through the stories they tell with their outfits. From what they wear I can imagine who they are, what they do, and where they shop. As someone who can plan outfits out for weeks, I love seeing people get celebrated for that. (I also love stealing ideas from them).

Below are some of my favorite Street Stlye shots from this fashion month. Let me know: what stories do you see here? What do you want to recreate? Are you an outfit planner? If you knew you were going to be photographed walking somewhere, what would you wear?

I’m fascinated by the stories our fashion tells. What about you?
Xo RA

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Fashion Stories: Fashion History 1920s

I’ve been spending a lot of time thinking about how we will look back at the fashion of 2020. Most houses will not be showing a new collection in the fall, so much of our shopping has become online, and with everyone at home the majority of the time fashion could be anything from pjs to yoga pants to anything you love. There’s a lot of freedom. And a lot of stories.

As someone who deeply believes our stories and our fashions are intertwined, I’m fascinated by fashion history. Yes, it’s a thing! It’s in museums and you can get degrees in it! When I wrote about Dior, you could argue that it’s a lesson in fashion history. Dior’s “new look” defined a period in time. What will this period be defined by, fashion wise? I can’t help but think about this, there are days when I’m dressing up and days when I’m in the same pjs on end. And I’m sure I’m not alone in that sort of dressing. How will we be written about? How should I be writing about it now?

Loving stories means I love history, and in the past few years have led me to develop a deep passion and appreciation for fashion history. I’m not a historian-but I love learning about it! And with all of these thoughts about what the history of 2020 will say, I’m looking back to the fashion history of the 1920s.

Some of my favorite video resources:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kc5SJxr4tHA

And

(These are just a sampling of what you can find on YouTube. I’ve spent many an afternoon lost in these videos! I high recommend it!)

As a vintage lover, I love the ease of the 1920s, the way that people redefined themselves and expressed that with their clothes. Which brings us back to my question: how will we define this era in fashion history? If you knew that you would be documented would you change how you dress?

I don’t know the answers. But as I ponder this, I can’t help but want to be more intentional with my outfits, even the ones with yoga pants. What about you?

I would love to hear your thoughts, what you’re wearing, and your take on fashion history!
Xo RA

Fashion Stories: Dior

My loves! I wanted to update this: Dior has put their exhibit (with a guided tour) online for free.
See it:

And

My thoughts remain below! Every Friday in quarantine, I’ve been “getting dressed up” and “going to a museum” (aka looking at collections online!). This week I plan on revising this exhibit, and I just might wear Dior to do it! What to join?

Investment Piece: Fashion Stories Dior

I recently had the chance to see the Dior exhibit, “From Paris to the World”, at the Dallas Museum of Art. It’s a must see for any fashion lover, art lover, human lover. The exhibit has been extended to October 27, and you can get more information about the museum and buy tickets here.

Loves, I have to admit that this exhibit awed me. The amount of art (yes. Fashion is art. Couture is one our last artisan art forms.) The clothes. The beauty.

I took so many, many pictures, thinking I would make us a little video. But then I found these and they tell the story so well:

Investment Piece: Fashion Stories Dior

What I would love to share are my take-aways from this art and fashion heaven:

Fashion is Art
Not that I haven’t said this before, but it’s still true. The craft, the workmanship, the art. In fact, DMA showed Dior next to Monets, and Van Goughs.

Investment Piece: Fashion Stories Dior

And while I’ve always been a believer that fashion was art, what this Dior exhibit reminded me of was that it’s ok, more than ok, to see the bigger picture of your clothes. To not just have things to run errands in (also super important), but to have pieces that make you gasp, fill with joy, that are beyond the everyday. That we should enjoy our clothes, and be inspired by them. Both sides of fashion are amazing.

Fashion Tells a Story
Again, not a new thought. Fashion Telling a Story is one of my core beliefs. However, Dior sent that message home for me. Christian Dior was a man who saw women and fashion in a new way, and his vision changed what people wore. We can think of luxury houses as these big brands, but they all started with a story. They all still tell a story. From Christian to Galliano, each creative designer of a house puts their own take on a line, while carrying the story the house was founded on.
Investment Piece: Fashion Stories Dior
And that doesn’t even touch on the stories told in the clothes (like Jennifer Lawrence falling at the Oscars).

This exhibit made me not only want to know the stories of Dior, and wear the clothes, but find our more about the women who wore these stories. From the classics
Investment Piece: Fashion STories Dior
To the not-so-classic:
Investment Piece: Fashion STories Dior

I want it all, and I want to tell all the stories.

What about you?
I’d love to hear if you’ve seen the exhibit, your thoughts, and what things you’ve done in Dior!
Xo RA

I’ve linked to some of the books and films about Dior that I’ve either loved or am longing to love!
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!

Investment Piece: Fashion STories Dior

Fashion Stories: Expoloration

It’s tempting at this time not to get dressed. To be in sweats or yoga pants, to avoid the closet. I’m guilty of it. As much as I love my clothes, and believe in the power our stories have, and that fashion tells our stories, I haven’t been getting dressed lately. Between all the feelings and no where to go, it has been hard to get dressed.

Then. I shifted my perspective. I’ve been going to my closet thinking that it would make me feel better, that there’s some story there that would “solve” things. And yes, getting dressed always makes me feel better, I realized I was looking for the wrong thing. Yes, use this time to dress for comfort, if that means sweat pants or your favorite dress. Dress for the feelings you need, be it power suit or romance.

But maybe this is a great time to dress for exploration. Tell the stories about that. With no set place to be (for most of us) and loosening guidelines, maybe this is a time to dare to try things. Mix patterns that you wouldn’t before. Figure out what pants you really love and build endless combinations with them. Be daring. Pair a swimsuit with everything. Wear your tops in new ways. There’s no limit to what you could put together, and what stories you could tell. Exploration–and is there any better place to start exploring than your own closet?

Some of my suggestions:
Investment Piece: Exploration
Mix formal with super casual

Investment Piece: Trend to Try: Socks With Peep Toes
Mix socks and hose and all the shoes!

Investment Piece: Exploration
Play with sheer

Yellow, InvestmentPiece, fashion, vintage, la perla, turtleneck, Tx, la, blogger
Layer everything. Or not!

Investment Piece: Freedom
Play with your hair!

Investment Piece: Sales and Giveways
Is lingerie only for the bedroom?

The possibilities are endless! So, I would love to know, what are you exploring? I have a few pieces that I love that I can’t seem to pair easily, I’m going to work on that. I’ll also spend some time cleaning out and making space for things that better fit. (If you’re cleaning out Ashley.rochestie@therealreal.com would love to help you make some money off your discards! Tell her I sent you!) Want some help exploring? Email me at racheladelicia@gmail.com and we will play together.

No matter what you’re wearing or what story you’re telling right now, I hope that you and yours are safe and healthy!
Xo RA

Fashion Stories: Nail Art

If I truly believe (and I do) that our clothes tell a story, what do I think about nails?
I went to college with someone who’s dad sent her weekly money for her manicures, as he thought you could always tell a lady by her nails.
In the epic “Gone With The Wind”, there’s more than one reference to how a woman’s hand should look (soft and kept) and how they shouldn’t look (like she’s been working in a field).
Do our nails tell a story?

I think so. From color (I went through a phase where I would joke with my manicurist that I always got black as it matched my soul. It was after a bad breakup) to design (I’m partial to more graphics but I have a girlfriend who does hearts and they are always adorable!), our nails can tell a story. There was a time when I was religious about getting my nails done every two weeks. Then I got out of the habit, and went to just painting my nails solid colors at home. Recently, I had begun to miss some of the designs, and stumbled across gel strips (essentially stickers for your nails) that come in a ton of different colors and designs.

I love them as they are quick, last about 14 days, and I don’t have to go to the salon. And now, when so many of us are home, unable or unwilling to venture out, they’re perfect:

Do you love nail art? Still to colors? Have a favorite nail salon? Tell me all about it!

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!

You can shop these gel strips here:

Mani me :
here. Use code JOOY20 for 20% off!

Happy storytelling!
Xo RA

Fashion Stories: Charm Bracelets

A piece that I used to wear religiously? A way to learn a little bit about me? A charm bracelet. In and of itself both a fashion story and a timeline of our lives, these bracelets were so special to me growing up. Now that I’m looking back at them, I’m amazed at what they say and how accurate they still are. I’d love to know: did you wear a charm bracelet growing up? And if you were to make one now, what charms would you want on it?

Xo RA

I’ve linked some of my favorite current charms here. Yes, that’s an affiliate link, and while that does not affect the price for you, I may earn commission from it. Thank you for your support!

Fashion Stories: NYE

If holiday dressing tells the story of tradition, joy, and family, what story does NYE dressing tell?

My guess is party! What may be best about dressing for NYE is that it truly is a make your own adventure, and an excuse to go BIG! Sequins, furs, anything and everything. Whether you’re out on the town or staying in, the story of NYE dressing can be excitement about the year to come, or saying “Ciao” to the year ending, or maybe it’s just letting your love of party dresses come out!Something else I love on NYE? (Or anytime) Tuxes. Yes, on women, or a great suit- it’s chic and a bit unexpected. Something else I love on NYE? (Or anytime) Tuxes. Yes, on women, or a great suit- it’s chic and a bit unexpected.

My little secret? I’m a fan of at-home New Years. I love luxe pj dressing: a silky gown or kimono, maybe a fur, statement shoes of course. It allows me to be relaxed and dressy at the same time. However, as we are starting the roaring 20s this year, I’m very tempted to wear a 1920s dress and go out on the town. (Throughout the year I also expect all of you to invite me to your Gatsby parties!)

What story will we wear this NYE? I’ve linked some options for all us below. I’d love to know: what are you wearing for NYE?
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!