Dress (and here) || Heels || Clutch || Earrings || Wrap
Today is Ash Wednesday and the start of the Lenten season in my church. Not to go into the specific religious details, but it is a time to sacrifice something and do without for the next forty days. In the past, I have given up eating meat, coffee, and desserts, but this year is my ultimate test. This season, I will be giving up shopping!
40 days without shopping may mean different things to different people, but here’s the low down on what that means to me… Obviously shopping for clothes, shoes, or accessories is out! As much as I want to limit shopping for things around the house or my classroom, needs can pop up out of nowhere and I need to keep an open mind. Food and hygiene will always be on the table, because 40 days with shopping for those kinds of items would be an absolute nightmare!
Even though a reward isn’t really supposed to be a part of Lent, I’m adding one for my own sense of purpose and sanity. A huge reward to this is seeing all of the money that I’ll save in the process and watch that monthly credit card statement drop way down. I’ve been toying with the idea of buying myself a pair of Chanel flats or Hermes sandals that I’ve been coveting to celebrate, but we’ll just have to see what happens. Who knows, maybe the savings will cover a mini-vacation for David and I instead.
This is not something that I take very lightly. The entire basis of this blog is to shop and create cute, classic styles. What I’ve failed to fully appreciate is how fortunate I am to shop as often as I do. Instead, I want to shift my focus to teaching how to build a closet full of staples where you have an opportunity to shop your own closet and have countless choices. There are a few different names for this floating around, but I believe a capsule closet describes it best. It implies getting the most use possible out of a small number of items.
Since I would describe my own personal style as classic, preppy and nautical, I will be making a capsule closet of my own that reflects that. You can expect lots of navy, stripes, and gingham with pops of color. I also plan on covering the whole gambit of occasions to meet all of your dressing needs. Honestly, the more I think about this personal challenge and project, the more excited I get. Who knows, it may even inspire me to completely Marie Kondo my entire closet. That may be quite a stretch, but it’s nice to daydream.
It only seems fitting that my last purchase until Easter is this absolutely gorgeous dress from Gal Meets Glam (also here). I’ve admired all of her pieces for quite some time, but this piece left me absolutely speechless. With my hair pulled back in a neat bun, I couldn’t help but think of my 60’s style icons like Audrey Hepburn and (fictitiously) Mrs. Maisel. Having a similar neckline as my wedding dress, I just knew it was going to flattering for my wide shoulders. And the best part? A pair of deep pockets gives you quick access to your metro card. These darling bow earrings from Bauble Bar and my go-to tortoise clutch from Tuckernuck make for great, neutral accessories. Head to toe, I love everything about this outfit! I’ve heard The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is looking for extras and I think I’ve found the perfect look for a casting call!
Love from NYC,
Katie