One thing blogging has taught me is I need to have a
balance. I will admit it; I am kind of a “brand” junky. I love my J. Crew, the
Factory, Madewell, Nordstrom, etc. but y’all crave the deals and affordable
price tags and I have to agree. I still believe in quality over quantity, but I
am not opposed to a good Amazon find.
Shop the post:
One new trend I’ve adopted is purchasing dupes for some
designer bags. I have a couple tried and true classic pieces that won’t go out
of style, like my LV Neverfull Tote and Tory Burch Satchel that my parents
gifted me when I graduated college, but recently I’ve even been purchasing some
really great Chloe Dupes off of Amazon. If I’m unsure if a particular style bag
will stand the challenge of lasting season to season, I look to finding great
dupes to try out the style too before committing hundreds of dollars.
Many of you know, that after over a year of blogging, I
treated myself to a LV tote. This was NOT a purchase I made lightly. In fact, I
think I went to the store so much, the sales associates started to doubt I
would ever make a purchase. This bag was something I had admired for a long
time and new it would latest the testaments of time.
Another thing I do to help “balance” my wardrobe is to
create budgets and guidelines. When I start to feel “overwhelmed” when looking
at my clothes in the closest, I know it’s time to make a big purge. Usually,
this means I do a big clean out and create two piles, one for donations and a
smaller pile for items to sell. I also create a budget. I know how much money I
am willing to spend of clothes per/month. Then, I make lists at the beginning
of the month of items that I’ve been eyeing and do some shopping (Definitely
have a conversation with your spouse beforehand).
*Disclaimer; I definitely shop a bit more than I used too to
help share lots of new fashion items at great prices. Which, also means that I
have to clean out my closet more frequently to accommodate and make room.
exact black denim (I love these so much, I just ordered the white) //
similar black turtleneck // exact open-front cardigan // exact sunnies, also like this pair
This look is one of those looks made up of balance. A while
back, I read a specific fashion book about creating a timeless wardrobe. The
author strongly discourages people from wearing “gym leggings” and their LV
tote. In his opinion, it sends mixed signals. He suggests that either you’re a
girl craving activity in leggings and sneakers, perhaps grabbing a smoothie
after the gym or you’re meeting your friends for coffee looking chic in a
cashmere sweater, ballet flats, and the LV tote. However; current fashion
trends of sneakers and midi skirts really challenge this philosophy.
Since sneakers and midi skirts aren’t really my thing, I
opted for a slightly platform slip-on for a more relaxed but polished look. A
classic black turtleneck is something that will never go out of style. A girl
needs a few black sweaters that just make her feel like she can conquer the
world. Some of those pieces are a black turtleneck, a black crewneck, one of my favorite styles, and a
black V-neck. Since I love good knitwear, I opt for a few additional colors
when I find one that I love. Initially, I thought this meant to run out and buy
the first cashmere crew-neck sweater I could see. However; I’ve since learned
this is not the case. It is worth the investment of finding the cardigan that
is not only the perfect fit but also comfortable. Because let’s face it, no one
is wearing a cardigan, cashmere or not, if it’s not comfortable.
(sharing a few of my favorite knits that will never go out
of style)
To balance this polished look, I paired my all-black look
with an open-front cardigan from Old Navy. This beauty is under $40 and was
such a great dupe for the Madewell cardigan that runs at $80, I had to purchase
it. And then I went back from two more colors. I knew when making this
purchase, this sweater will get a lot of wear this season. However; with a
price tag and store label of Old Navy, I don’t have high hopes that it will
survive the cut for next year, but we shall see. It also allowed me a little
more freedom with color choices. I may not have opted or this color at a more
expensive price tag, but I’ve had a lot of fun playing around with this dark
caramel color.
While creating this look, I had a lot of fun breaking all
the fashion rules by pairing tan, brown, black, and grey in one complete look.
In my opinion, it totally works. The cardigan is just the right barrier to
tie-in my LV tote. The fashion rules have changed so much over time. No one
listens to “no white after labor day,” but my mom did tell me that when it
doubts, two things touching should always match. Therefore, my black pants and
black turtleneck pair nicely, matched with the caramel cardigan. Then because
the cardigan is touching the tote, it incorporates the warmer colors nicely.
Also, the best fashion advice I can share is to LOVE your
look. If you don’t absolutely love the item in the store, or when you’re making
your outfit at home, then you’re not going to “own it.” People can tell when
you feel uncomfortable no matter how perfectly matched you may be. So every day
get dressed in items that sing to your heart and own it!
To borrow from Lo during her time at Laguna Beach…
Every day IS a fashion show, so embrace it!
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