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[Good American ’90s Suit] – $95
By the looks of this post, you would’ve thought that we would have returned almost back to normal again. I can hardly believe that I have flights booked and weddings already to attend in 2021. Here are just a few pieces I’ve highlighted that are getting me excited to vacation once again.
[Sandy Liang Goose Dress] – $695
Read more “The Closet: April 2021”
[Comme Si La Boxer Classica, Silk] – $198
This Closet post is looking a bit lighter than usual, but that’s mostly because we did a major haul shortly after Christmas. We’ve simply run out of things we thought we needed so naturally this post is a reach in that all these things are wants, but not necessities. Can you tell that we’re itching for spring already? Most of these pieces fall within the neutral color family and while that is mainly our aesthetic these days, we can’t help ourselves.
Read more “The Closet: February 2021”
[Vince Tapered Pants] – $245 – $171.50
Somehow 2021 got us into different types of pants. However, given the current state of the world, isn’t that going against the grain a bit? I’m personally taking it as a sign that we’re all just more than ready to get back to normalcy. More than ever, I was hearing from my colleagues that they are ready to get back to the office in January. As much as we all appreciate the flexibility of loungewear, anything in excess starts to become a bad thing. We’re a few days late on this post, but here are some of my favorite pieces from last month:
Read more “The Closet: Jan 2021”
[& Other Stories Ribbed Sweetheart Neck Bustier Midi Dress] – $129
You may feel uncomfortable dressing up for New Year’s Eve this year without any plans. Power through. I’m a huge believer that you get what you put out into this world. If dressing up and making yourself look and feel good for one evening makes the difference, then you should do it. Every year, I kind of dread New Year’s Eve personally all while still writing this post annually. Just because I don’t have big plans doesn’t mean I don’t want you all to look great. And because this year has just been A LOT, I’m planning on treating myself in the best way possible.
[Mango Asymmetric Velvet Dress] – $79.99 – $49.99
[Almina Concept Draped Slip Dress] – $108
I know this isn’t the post you thought you’d be seeing. Quite frankly, it would be irresponsible to host a holiday party in 2020. Like many of you, I too, am disappointed. Our company holiday parties have typically been the event that we looked forward to the most. It was also the best opportunity to get dressed up and celebrate a hard working year. Now with the pandemic year, it’s hard to know if we’ll ever have another holiday party again. Though you may not have one to attend this year (I sincerely hope you don’t) that doesn’t mean that you can’t celebrate in your own way. Get dressed up. Buy that new dress if you want. Use it this year to make yourself feel good or save it for your next party when the world is safer. Despite the circumstances, retailers are still putting out pieces and we’re still going to share our favorites.
[Ganni Organza Midi Dress] – $375
Read more “No Holiday Parties for 2020”
Since the pandemic started, I’ve had to reconsider many factors in my life. One of those things is where I choose to spend my money. Through the Black Lives Matter movement, retailers such as Reformation and Everlane were being outed for not being as ethical in the treatment of their employees. Former employees began speaking out against hypocritical statements being made by brands on social. If brands were able to make a commitment like this, why couldn’t they do the same for their own team members, people asked.
During my visit to Nordstrom, I spotted this beautiful yellow dress by Reformation. Aside from it being full-price, I felt like I couldn’t make the purchase because of the heat that was on them from earlier this summer. Their CEO, Yael Aflalo, had been accused of a number of racist incidents by former employees. In June, the accusations, which prompted an apology were still not enough and led to her stepping down as CEO. Brands speak louder than ever and in a way, so does our loyalty to them.
When I brought the dress in question up to my saleswoman, she suggested, “You could cut the label off?” True, but I would always know deep down where this dress came from. Reformation dresses aren’t that hard to spot either. When you’re a teenager, these things don’t matter as much. However, as adults, we make a deliberate choice. I didn’t feel good buying something from a brand that I felt was tarnished. I felt unhappy about buying from a brand that does not believe in ethical practices. Thus, I have decided that as a responsible consumer and a human being I would not buy from brands that may lack Ethical certification to prove that they treat their employees fairly and don’t resort to harmful methods of production.
Yes, I know this decision can throw me many challenges–I might have limited options. But that is alright! Though I don’t know how far I’m willing to take this quite yet, I can admit that things don’t feel the same and I am willing to make a small change. Anyway, to add fuel to the fire, Glossier, is now under fire.
[Source]
[Lirika Matoshi Hearty Corset Midi Dress] – $449
It’s interesting to look back and see how much shopping was incorporated into my life. On a lazy, but nice weathered weekend, I would easily find myself in Hayes Valley or Lower Pac Heights just to browse. Extra time after work before a happy hour? You can find me at the mall most likely picking up something that I likely didn’t need at the time. In the last year while doing a deep dive into my finances with a friend of mine, I learned that I shop to find joy. Now you’ll notice that sentence looks different than “I find joy in shopping.” On some of my worst days, for reasons I couldn’t explain, spending money seemed like the solution to solving my problems.
Since I was able to detect that in myself months back, shopping during quarantine hasn’t been an issue for me. In a way, it’s almost refreshing to a) save money and b) discover the clothes that I actually like to wear
Can you tell that we’re excited when shelter-in-place gets lifted and we’ll have a chance to donate some things? I do have to admit though, while I haven’t done my “usual” shopping, I did just purchase a set of 3 cloth masks from Etsy. I felt that was a necessary purchase.
[Little Moon Rarity Blouse] – $88
Read more “The Closet: April 2020”
[H&M Paper-Bag Pants] – $29.99
Putting together “The Closet” this month hit a little bit differently than usual. With everything going on, the desire to shop or spend money on non-essential belongings just isn’t a priority. However, I don’t want things to stop entirely. The Closet has been a regular post since the very beginning. We can’t help that through this, we’ve now entered spring. What I decided was that it’s important to have choices and to allow all of us to make our own decisions. Me not spending money right now is a personal choice, but for all of you that maybe lean on shopping as a distraction or to have a little joy (like I’ve done before) by all means, go ahead!
Read more “The Closet: March 2020”
Dress – Reformation / Sandals – Oak + Fort
Several years ago when Reformation first came onto the scene, I was determined to avoid it for as long as possible. After all, I already had a vast collection of dresses and I wouldn’t necessarily put Reformation into the most affordable category. On the eve of a friend’s wedding, I was still without a dress to wear for it. It was shocking to me because I’ve never felt so unprepared! I stopped into Reformation in Lower Pac Heights and sure enough, as soon as I put it on, it fit perfectly. Not only was it the right size, but it highlighted my best features. I couldn’t leave the store without it!
It was that dress that converted me into a fast fan. This is the 2nd dress that we’ve purchased from the brand and it’s what I consider perfect for any summer season. These dresses are high quality and I’m confident that they can withstand the test of time.
[Zara Sequined Velvet Dress] – $89.90
Left and right, friends of mine are messaging regarding our New Year’s Eve plans. What I’m coming to find is that as we get older, there is less and less excitement revolving around this holiday. One day, I really hope one of my friends decides to get married on this day because I think that’s ultimately the best way to celebrate this evening. As of right now the number one plan in the running is a lovely dinner with my girlfriends and then after that, a quiet night in. We are graduating to grandma status over here.
For those of you who still have the energy to get out there on New Year’s Eve, I wish you the best and that you look great doing it!
Read more “What To Wear: Ringing In A New Decade”