January 23, 2019

Why I’m Not Always Wearing Something New

Jacket: J.Crew Puffer Coat (On sale + 50% off right now! Sizes keep going in and out of stock, so keep checking!) | Sweater: c/o Vineyard Vines (Wearing an XS – a great length to wear with leggings and SO SOFT) | Leggings: Zella (Snagged these during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale! Love that they’re thick, so I can wear them when it’s cold out without freezing my legs. Wearing a size small!)

Cashmere Beanie: c/o Everlane (Yes, Adam and I both own it ? Unfortunately they only have yellow left, but the other beanie you see me wearing all of the time is 40% OFF right now!) | Leather Bag: c/o Abby Alley (OBSESSED. You can read all about this bag in this post! It’s by a new brand that was started by a Chicago gal and everything she’s doing it so impressive.) | Sunglasses: Loft | Booties: c/o Madewell (They’re running out of sizes right now, but Madewell usually make a version of this bootie every year. I also have these which are a great suede alternative!)

There is a reason why I don’t call myself a fashion blogger. Don’t get me wrong – I love clothes and I think that finding your personal style and figuring out what makes you feel good can be SO empowering. I also know the petite shopping struggle firsthand, so if I can be helpful to all my other petite gals out there, I’m ALL for that! (Aka don’t worry, my style post’s aren’t going anywhere!)

But I’m not a “fashion blogger” for a few reasons. #1) My outfits aren’t cutting edge or ready for NYFW. I just show you what I actually wear, so you can see how it looks on a real person! And #2) I rewear stuff all. the. time. I’ve had this puffer jacket for over 5 years. I own sweaters and shoes and bags that have been around for that long, or longer! And even though I hate responding to DMs with “it’s old!” – that’s real life. I don’t always have new clothes to wear in my insta-stories ?

Now, some other bloggers might think I’m missing out on an opportunity here. Because yes, there is absolutely an element of “you have to spend money to make money.” And there’s also definitely the need to serve my audience. You want to see how I style snow boots? Well, I should probably invest in a fresh pair and make that happen!

But beyond those points, I think it can be tough when we’re constantly being told that we need more or we need the newest thing or we aren’t stylish if we aren’t keeping up with trends. When in reality, a great pair of booties or a soft beanie never goes out of style. A puffer jacket that keeps you warm when Chicago temps dip down is one of the only coats you actually need. And I think you can totally be stylish with what you already have in your closet.

This job will always mean that I will accumulate more stuff – whether I purchase it or it’s gifted to me. But even so, I’m trying to be more mindful of everything that I make the decision to buy this year. Am I supporting brands that I believe in (ex: Everlane, Reformation, etc)? Am I getting a really great deal? Is this worth the investment because I’ll have it forever? And then, of course – is this worth the investment because my readers will want to hear my thoughts and see how it fits/I style it?

Of course, if you have a ton of extra cash to spend, you might not care about any of those questions. But based on feedback and getting to know you over the years, I think a lot of you DO care about asking yourself those questions. According to my survey, a lot of you even said that you aren’t shopping at all in January!

The reality is, most of us are on budgets. And that’s okay! More than okay – it’s smart! It means we can save up to buy a house or get a dog or travel the world. To me, those things are much better than having a closet full of designer shoes. I know, I know – none of this is earth shattering. But I just want to remind you that as you scroll through Instagram tonight, you don’t need anything new. Of course, I’d be delighted if you’ve been eying this coat and can now get it for $64 – which is why I’m still sharing these links in the first place!

But I’d also love to be a blogger that reminds you that these are merely suggestions for you. I share things that I love and think you might like… and some of those suggestions might come at the perfect time or price, and other’s won’t. Either way, I just want to remind you that buying stuff doesn’t make you better or whole or more capable. You’re already enough ❤️