I think I may have stumbled across an outfit formula that feels just right. Graphic tee meets flouncy skirt, hangs out with denim vest. For me this outfit feels easy, fun and “cool.” There’s that word again. It probably dates me as a child of the eighties. But I’m cool with that. ;) It will be interesting to see which choice words or phrases my kids get imprinted with in their teen years.
[tee (similar) / vest / skirt (similar) shoes, necklace: one of a kind gift from my husband <3]
In the last few weeks I have been shopping more than normal to help a few friends in their quest to shore up their wardrobes. For me, my ‘new normal’ is virtually no shopping inside of stores, and maybe a tad heavy on the online shopping (browsing). However, being inside some of my favorite shopping establishments quickly brought out the shopper in me, and on both trips I bought something. The first time it was 1 of my 3 items for my fall capsule. (For fall I am imposing a rule of adding only three well-considered items to my wardrobe.) I purchased it because I found it for a screaming deal, but you’ll have to wait for fall for the rest of those details. ;) The second time I shopped I purchased a new jean jacket, something I had been searching to find for several months.
While both purchases were well-considered and planned for, I noticed a shift in my overall attitude toward acquiring. No sooner had the receipts dried and I wanted to know what I could buy next. My online browsing peaked in the next few days, way more than usual. I had awakened the beast and lost my contentment!
For the first time in my life I feel like I have a good grasp on my sense of personal style, so I am excited to implement it. I am eager to “make myself over” into the image that I feel best represents me and puts my best foot forward. It’s easy for me to want to kick contentment to the curb and race toward the nearest Madewell, but that’s just not how I want to do it.
So, as I mulled over how to maintain my contentment and still be made new it occurred to me ‘Why can’t I be made over and blossom with who I am as well as what I wear?’ And maybe let who I am and how I am to others take a little more precedence in putting my best foot forward. New clothes and a personal sense of style are great things, amazing things, but if they become the focus I am trading something deep, meaningful and beautiful for a poor substitute clothed in a shiny new item. So, on this contentment-seeking journey I am praying that who I am and how I am takes just as high priority as my external makeovers, maybe even higher.
Love you guys. Thanks for reading today.
-andrea
Love this outfit and you! :)
<3 Love you Bre! <3
I love this. What I need is a moratorium on online shopping. Maybe pinterest,too. It’s so hard, especially since I keep losing baby weight and shifting sizes. I have at least stopped buying more than a couple of pairs of pants at a time, that way I don’t have to replace too much.
Good luck in your quest. You are not alone!
Moratoriums can be a good thing! I’ve done it, and it is a helpful reset. Thanks for the kind words Bette!
Thank you so much for sharing this struggle! I’ve been feeling the exact same way this whole summer- I need a lot of professional wear for the coming fall season and I wanted to buy high quality pieces so I convinced myself I could easily shop the summer sales for what I needed without going overboard… And it definitely hasn’t been working. I feel guilty instead of positive about getting things I needed- maybe because I was shopping outside of the prescribed capsule rules, maybe because since starting my capsule journey I’ve grown to associate shopping with something negative. Anyway, I appreciate you sharing your reflections, it’s always helpful to know that others are feeling the same!
Kate
kateintheclassroom.com
Shopping sales can be so tricky, and a definitely slippery slope. I so easily fall into the category of buying more because it’s “such a good deal.” Lists can be helpful in those situations!
Wow, thank you for writing this!! I love that outfit, and am myself a huge fan of capsules. I also love your thoughts about being made new, not out of discontentment but out of humility and the desire to grow. Your blog is beautiful, my friend!
Thank you Daisy! I feel the same way about your blog.
Yes, you touched on something important, the source of our desire to be made new. Love it! :)
Ummm, this outfit is seriously so perfect! I am now obsessed with your blog and will be following it immediately!