shopping – Page 52 – Investment Piece

Bonded (or a Leather Dress)

Investment Piece: A Leather Dress

There’s a lot to be said for:

-getting what you want. A leather dress was on my Wishlist all Fall/Winter. I finally picked one! The corset details and color- as well as the length and sleeves sold me. (Yes, technically this one is faux but I’m very impressed with the lining and quality! I was a little afraid to steam it too much, so I’m still waiting for the wrinkles to drop out!). Sometimes we wait so long to get what we want that we don’t want it anymore. I’ve been there. My take? If you really want something, get it. You can make it work. And sometimes waiting means that when you DO get it, it’s the perfect one.

-a trend that’s also a Classic. Leather was/is in. And yes, there’s a going to come a time when it’s less “trendy”. But. Great leather (or faux leather) pieces will always be “in”. Pick a classic color and cut, and the piece can last you forever. I loved the length and sleeves on this one. There were a ton of leather dresses I looked at, but this one felt both fresh and classic, and I couldn’t resist.

-Bonded. Something about this outfit made me feel like a Bond girl. Or villain. I usually don’t wear ankle boots with dresses (the lines) but the cut outs here I couldn’t resist. Together with the dress, I felt powerful. Ready to sweep into a room and win people to my side (or reveal my plan). It was also perfect for my winter lunch and meetings!

Investment Piece: a Leather Dress

What’s something that you wanted from last season that you should still get? What’s something that makes you feel powerful? Are they the same thing?

While this exact dress is sold out, I’ve linked other options for you below! These are affiliate links, which don’t affect the price for you, though I may earn commission from them. Thank you for your support!

Xo RA

Investment Piece: a leather dress

Not Phoning It In

Investment Piece: Not Phoning It In

She was tired. After a month of being on, there was the temptation to hide away, to regain her strength in private. To simply phone in a month or two of her life. Would anyone notice? Could she get away with phoning it in? Would anyone miss her?

It was tempting. But then, she realized that while she was aok with a night or two in, phoning in her wardrobe was not something she could do. What would be the fun in that? And if she could let her clothes speak for her, what about you?

Investment Piece: Not Phoning it in

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Loves, I don’t know about you, but at this time of year I’m so tempted to phone it in. All of it. Would anyone really be hurt if I wore sweatpants everyday? (The answer is no). January can be such a grey month, a reset, most of us don’t have huge social obligations, and we could all probably get away with phoning it in a bit.In fact, this week was really hard, and it was very tempting to stay in pjs or sweats. But. More often than not, I showered and got dressed. Like really dressed. And it made me feel better.

My challenge to us all? Let’s not phone it in. Tomorros is a brand new slate, a new month, let’s not phone it in. Does that mean never wear sweat pants? No. But let’s not live in them, shall we? Even if it’s just to raise our spirits (it can get grey out there), let’s dress up from time to time. Dressing for yourself is an art we should all be called to. The opposite of phoning it in? Let’s do that.

**This golden number is a vintage Jean Varon. Jean Varon (real name John Bates) was a British designer in the 1960s/70s, who’s pieces were known for innovative colors/sleeves/cut-outs. Jean is credited with inventing the mini-skirt, and his works are often considered collectables (like Ossie Clark). You can find them in vintage shops, and online. Some are going to be pricey, but there are still deals to be found when you shop Jean Varon!

I love this blue Ruffled dress, Black and White for under $100, this floral number, also under $100, and this checked number.

How are you NOT phoning it in this week?
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!

Investment Piece: Not Phoning It In

In Betweens

Investment Piece: In Betweens

I’m not great in-between. I’m a great girlfriend, but not amazing at dating. When I know boundaries and aims and all that stuff I’m such a great worker. When things are up in the air I can be very anxious and lazy. Great at putting together outfits, but excel in being either really together or super casual (meaning I can get dressed or be in workout clothes all day). The in Betweens get me. I’m never 100% sure exactly how to act, or what to say, or what to wear. I err on the side of extra (always), but know that in Betweens are unavoidable. I’m actively challenging myself to get better at them.

You can read about my past struggles with in between here, here, and here. It’s not a new struggle for me. Thanks for sticking about while I work it out. And this is what I try to remind myself of every time there’s an in between in my life. If I believe that in-betweens can be magical, does that mean an in between outfit can be magical too?

Maybe so.

Investment Piece: In Betweens

My days seem to have extremes as well. There are days when I have appointments and events and things that I need a “look” for; and days when I have gym and errands and chores at home and we’re lucky if my look involves anything presentable. In Betweens are hard for me. To get out of my rut, and issue with casual dressing, I’ve been drawn more and more to items like this exercise skirt. Part fitness and function, part fashion and fierceness. (And yes, super similar to my summer fave the exercise dress. This is a skirt version from Target. I’m loving the shorts underneath, the multiple pockets,and the length) It looks great with kicks, but also with flats, sandals, and heels. Your top can be make-your-own-adventure. I can be as active and move in all the ways that I need to, and yet look like a look.

Maybe the key to in-between is balance? Maybe it’s letting the extremes be extremes and working with the rest? Maybe I just don’t know?

What I do know is that looks like this work for my in Betweens. It feels like workout clothes, but let’s me dress it up if I need to. And if that helps me manage the in between I’m ok with it! How do you handle in Betweens? (Besides fashion I try journaling and physical activity and therapy) How do you dress for them? I’m open to any and all ideas!

I’m linking the whole look here. It is an affiliate link, and while that does not affect prices, I may earn commission from it. Thank you for your support!
Here’s to a week of magical in Betweens.
Xo
RA

Investment Piece: In Betweens

Lunar New Year

Investment Piece: How to Copy

Tomorrow is the Lunar (or Chinese) New Year. A new year so close after NYE? I’m down! I don’t know about you, but we’re reaching the point in the new year when resolutions and goals are a little bit harder to stick to, and the malaise of winter is setting in. In other words, I’m glad for day to reset and renew my enthusiasm for the new year!

(Also, I love wearing red, which is good luck!)

Investment Piece: Lunar New Year

2020 is the year of the Metal Rat, and is supposed to be a lucky year for money and new beginnings. I’m no expert on Lunar New Year, which is also the Chinese Spring Festival based on their lunisolar calendar. I do know that years are represented by animals and elements, representing yin or yang energy. I’m an earth sheep, which is supposed to mean that I’m tasteful, crafty, warm, elegant, charming, intuitive,sensitive, and calm (I’ll take it). You can learn about the traditions and meanings of Lunar New Year here and here.

If you’re new to Chinese astrology, a firm believer, or just looking for an excuse to celebrate (again), we can use tomorrow as another blank slate to welcome in prosperous new beginnings! I’m all for any excuse to celebrate and start anew, so I’ll be wearing red and excited to welcome the Rat! What about you?

I’ve linked to some of my favorite Lunar New Year Offerings below–they’re mainly cosmetics, some great red lipsticks and incredibly indulgent powder from Givenchy (I have it and it’s well worth your time!)

Happy Chinese New Year!
Xo RA

Note: these are affiliate links. While that does not affect the price for you, I may earn commission from them. Thank you for your support!

Shop my picks here and here.

Investment Piece: Lunar New Year

Long Weekend Sales

Holidays in January are both a relief (the month can seem so overwhelming after the holidays and with all the new goals) and a bit jarring (we’ve just gotten into a new routine!). What January holidays are amazing for? Sales. The first (big) ones since the holidays. A time to get what you wanted last year, and a time to define some of your looks for the coming seasons. These sales are always a favorite of mine, I get to stock up on winter basics, and I get to get new things for spring. A little bit of all of that is on sale, and I’ve linked some of my favorites for your shopping pleasure below. Of course, you can always follow me on social media, as well as ShopStyleCollective and LiketoKnowit to stay up to the minute on all my shopping picks!

I hope that if you got the day off it was exactly what you needed, be it a day of relaxation or a trip or a day with friends. And I hope that if you’re shopping you’re getting amazing deals!

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!

JCREW
At Jcrew both new arrivals and sale are on sale!
Investment Piece: Long Weekend Sales
Use code LONGWKND for 30% off new arrivals! Shop my picks here

Investment Piece: Long Weekend Sales
And use the same code, LONGWKND for an extra 40% off sale, shop my picks here

Equipment
There is nothing more chic than a silk blouse. My favorites are from Equipment, the silk is so soft and the cuts are so classic. And this weekend you can get an extra 40% off sale shirt with code EXTRA40. These are my favorites!
Investment Piece: Long Weekend Sales
Shop them here

Mango
The Mango sale is the gift that keeps giving.
Investment Piece: Long Weekend Sales
Elevated basics start at $5 and everything is so chic! These are my picks

Madewell
Investment Piece: Long weekend Sales
Some of the best jeans and more up to 70%? These are my picks from Madewell

Happy Shopping!
XO RA

New Year, New Me

Investment Piece: New Year, New Me

New Year, New Me. I bet money I don’t have that you’re seeing that phrase all over social media and your emails this week. New Year, New Me. What does that really mean? Is it supposed to encourage us to set new goals and go after them? Are we supposed to wake up on January 1st completely new? What if we don’t? My theory: people fall into two categories, those who believe in “new year, new me” and those who think that nothing really changes.

What if both of those categories of people are right?

If you didn’t hear, the beginning of 2020 got off to a slightly slower start than I thought it would.
You can see all about it:

But, the slow start has given me time to really consider my goals, and how I want to get to where I want to go. I’m great at big picture, but can struggle with small picture and action steps, and I’m thinking about how to conquer that. I’m thinking about what I really want and what’s really important to me. And, I’m using this guide from Groom+Style to evaluate my goal-setting techniques.

New year, New me? Let’s do it.

Investment Piece: New Year, New Me

Let’s get real with each other? Along with this being the month of “new year, new me”, this month is essentially one long hangover recovery. Maybe that’s because of all the champagne on NYE, or maybe it’s just the holiday hangover that makes getting back to work and your routine a little harder. After a week of so of a little more freedom, this stretch of cold and what seems like endless work is difficult to jump into. Here at Investment Piece: we’re taking it slow, easing into “new year, new me”, if you will. From here on out you can expect new posts, but we’re working back into our routine and trying to make the first week of the new year feel as easy as possible.

Investment Piece: New Year, New Me

We covered new year, what about new me? I love to think about this blog as a dialog between us. I hope that you get out of it what I love to put in. This year I’m looking to pick up some of my favorite series where we left off: Fashion Stories and What We’re Wearing. More videos. More exciting pictures And of course, my goal is to bring you exciting outfit inspiration. What about you? Is there something you love? A series you would cut? Is there constructive input you have on what we offer? What are your thoughts? I want this space to reflect you, as well as me, so I’m all ears!

In this year I hope we carry forward the best parts of us from 2019. I hope that we start amazing things, and become even more fantastic. And that there are amazing shoes for all of us!

Xo RA

I’ve linked the shopping for each of these looks here:

This post does contain affiliate links, but that does not affect the price for you!

Childhood Dreams

Investment Piece: Childhood
Investment Piece: Childhood Dreams

This outfit is the stuff that my childhood dreams are made of! I was a kid in the 1980s, and a bit awkward and chubby, but I longed to be glamorous and fashionable and one of the “cool girls”. I idolized some of my babysitters and actresses and some of the 80s fashion. Yes, there was 80s fashion that was BAD, but the good fashion from the 80s? It’s still good. And it’s back! See pleated jeans.

(Side note, I’ve written a little bit about 1980s fashion here, here, and here)

In the 1980s I would have LOVED to wear an outfit like this. True story, when I was 8 I desperately wanted a pair of jeans like these. The stripe. The pleats. The trouser fit. They were everything that I felt like that the glamorous, older girls would wear. In fact, one time when I was younger, I found a pair of jeans like these, but they didn’t fit. It was a tragedy. Finding these were such a gift! I still love the stripes, and the fit, and while I admit that I had reservations about the pleats (I had some bad experiences with pleats in college). But, as it turns out I love them. (They were fun and flattering!)The best of the 80s and fulfilling a childhood dream? What can’t these pants do?

Investment Piece: Childhood Dreams

As a kid I would have most likely worn jeans like these with a shirt (and for the record, any blouse/sweater/sweatshirt would work!), but as an adult I loved pairing it with a “going out top”. (Not a childhood dream from the 80s, but I do love a good statement top) The illusion of a jumpsuit, the ease of jeans, and bits of both the past and today, it’s what you might call a perfect outfit.

I’ve grown a lot since my childhood days, while there are still days I feel awkward, I hope that I’ve finally grown into myself and that overall I’ve evolved a bit (including my fashion sense). Yet, things like this, that the little girl in me loved, still bring me such joy. Maybe the secret to our grown up style is to indulge our childhood dreams now and again.

What childhood dreams and fashion do you hang onto? And how do you dress for them?

These jeans are vintage, but I’ve found you similar and have linked tops!
Xo RA

Note: this is an affiliate link, which doesn’t affect the price for you, though I may earn commission from it! Thank you for your support!
Shop the look here.

Investment Piece: Childhood Dreams

Long and Short of it

Investment Piece: Long and Short of it

Every piece we own has a story, and we can tell a story about everything. There’s usually a long version and a short version. I love stories, and I can tell you both versions of anything I own.

The short of it for this look? I challenged myself to think outside of the box for the holiday season (not everything has to be red), I found a designer I love (Johanna Ortiz) was doing a collab with H&M, and fell in love with this dress.

But, has anyone ever known me to leave a story at the short of it?

Investment Piece: Long and Short of it

The long of it:

I wouldn’t say that I hate it, but (as a blonde and someone who’s coloring is not prone to it) I have issues loving the color yellow. I can love it on other people, but not always on me. So when I find something I love that’s yellow, I’m always a little surprised. In Decemeber, I got to thinking about my holiday dress situation. I have a lot of them, and they are all loved. But. There was a recurring theme and them, and being who I am, I wanted different. Holidays can be anything we want them to be, so why not dress how we want?! I was determined to find a festive dress that wasn’t “traditional”.

Johanna Ortiz is from Colombia and when I heard that she was collabing with H&M, I got (maybe a little too) excited. Her pieces are vibrant and full of Ruffles and sometimes a bit out of my budget. This collab is a great chance to get a piece-the dresses are beautiful, the details are stunning, and you will inspire awe (there is more to come from this collab in March and I can’t wait!).

Festive as it was for the holidays (yes, I wore it to Christmas concerts), this print will serve me through spring and summer. A dress for all seasons? That’s a long and short of it I will take.

Investment Piece: long and short of it

I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out some of these details: the buttons, the ties, the slits. While I’ve only worn this dress to events like Holdiay concerts and shoots, I dream of the stories I’ll tell in it at dinners and parties,and the stories I’ll tell of it of those nights.

What long and short stories do you have to share?

Investment Piece: Long and Short of it

I’ve linked all shopping options and this exact dress here. Please note, that is an affiliate link, and while that does not affect pricing for you, I may earn commission from it! Thank you for your support!

Xo RA

#Mixed

Investment Piece: #mixed

Tired: mixing different prints
Wired: mixing the same print in different colors.

Snake two ways? Maybe it is groundbreaking. For me, they just went. (Also I can’t say enough about shirt dresses. Chic, flattering, and endlessly comfortable.) Animal prints aren’t going away any time soon, leopards and zebras and cheetahs and snakes are all over resort, spring, and summer look books. With so many options, why not mix them? Use them as a neutral and mix with almost anything in your closet. Mix them together like this pairing. Mixed.

This dress is from H&M and I’ve found the exact one for you. These boots are from last season, but I have options for you. I would love to know: what are you mixing your animal prints with?
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!

Shop this look

January Armarium Picks

Note: this post is a part of my collaboration with Armarium. While all the opinions and suggestions are my own, I may earn discounts from your rentals. And you get something too! Use code RADELICA to get 15% off your first rental!

Investment Piece: January Armarium Picks

It’s January. And January has this reputation of being boring in fashion. My loves, it’s not. If anything, January is a time to go wild and bold, try out all the fashion that you want–it’s a new year, after all. (I know, I’m right on the edge of being able to keep saying that! At some point it’s just the year, but let’s bask in its newness for just a bit longer)
This year do you want to be a woman who wears sassy suits? Carries statement bags? Try out gowns? January is the month for it. In fact, no matter what your fashion resolution, Armarium can help!
Want to save money? Rent clothes, don’t buy them. You can get more, save on designer items, and there are discounts! Your closet and your wallet will thank you.
Want to experiment with new styles? Rent. If you don’t like it, you don’t have to keep it, you don’t have to store it, and renting opens you up to more styles you could ever buy!
Want to clean out your closet and stop buying so much clutter? Rent. No storage, and no clutter.

I think the only question is: who do you want to be this month?

Investment Piece: January Armarium Picks

What I’m into this month? Statement bags. Perfect with jeans and a tee, or with a ball gown. And sweater dresses that aren’t basic. Color, cut, I want them all.

Anything you want to be this month: from award show gowns to non-basic basics to accessories, you can get it all at Armarium. And with code RADELICIA you get 15% off your first rental!

Happy renting!
XO RA