Not sure what to wear to all your holiday things? Book a styling session with me — we’ll shop your closet and come up with holiday event outfits that make you feel confident and at-ease. No shopping required. :)
Last winter, a leather shoe or boot felt “too dressy” to me, and the only shoe that felt like it represented my personal style was a sneaker.
This year, I’m loving a leather shoe or boot. Too dressy? Heck no!
(And I’m still loving a sneaker too, in case you’re wondering.)
I think it’s so normal to regularly go through phases with our personal style. I’ve thought a lot about how I feel clicked-in with my personal style these days, but how the last two winters I felt really lost in my style. I don’t think anyone likes to be in that spot — we want to figure it out and get on with it already. But I think the seasons of “bad style” or feeling lost are actually integral to having good style. You learn the most when you’re kinda tripping your way through. And while it might feel pointless and frustrating while you’re going through it, later on down the road you realize you did learn something. It gave you perspective. It wasn’t for nothing.
My absolute favorite thing about style is that it’s a microcosm of life. Replace “style” with “life” in the paragraph above, and there ya go. <3
Okay, shoe talk! These Madewell ballet flats are so wonderfully comfy. The leather is supple and soft, plus they have padding in the sole. I got mine last year, but they come in so many colors now! When I saw the brown chestnut suede, forrest green leather, and blue velvet options, I audibly gasped (dramatic like that).
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OUTFIT DETAILS
(If you see something you like, you can shop it and support my blog at the same time by using the affiliate links in this post)
Aritzia Slouch Coat | More sizes here (on sale — over $100 off!)
Everlane Alpaca Crew Sweater (wearing L)
Old Zara Jeans | Similar: Abercrombie Mid Rise 90s Straight Jeans (love these!) & Abercrombie High Rise 90s Relaxed Jean & Madewell 90s Straight Jean
Madewell Greta Ballet Flats (these come in so many colors now! And they are 25% off!)
Old Polene Paris Bag | Similar: Madewell Sculptural Buckle Shoulder Bag
JEWELRY
Target Double Hoop Earrings (Sadly these already feel like they are going to fall apart — here’s a better quality alternative: Jenny Bird Florence Earrings)
Similar Ring: Madewell Demi Fine Sterling Silver Dome Ring
James Avery Sterling Silver Foxtail Chain (wearing 18in)
James Avery Sterling Silver Beaded Chain (wearing 20in) and Mini Heart Charm
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Thank you for reading Unfancy today!
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You are one my favorite style gurus. I haven’t been to your blog in a while but the words “un-fancy” come to mind regularly for me when I think of my wardrobe, because I love your style wisdom and I used your Capsule template for multiple seasons to help me hone in on things I loved and things I didn’t. Now pruning my wardrobe and wearing the things I really love comes more easily and naturally to me. I felt a burst of joy when I saw that you had new posts. You have a deep understanding of style and parsing it in a way that resonates with me. Loved this excerpt from your post, “But I think the seasons of “bad style” or feeling lost are actually integral to having good style. You learn the most when you’re kinda tripping your way through. And while it might feel pointless and frustrating while you’re going through it, later on down the road you realize you did learn something. It gave you perspective. It wasn’t for nothing.”
I love this outfit so much!! I want the shoes SO badly; I’m in the process of getting rid of heels and replacing them with more flats or kitten heels. It’s slow going as I don’t want to get rid of anything until I have a replacement, and I am not spending money on fashion right now.
I have a few pairs of sneakers that I rarely wear because I feel as though they make me look too childlike. I’m 40, but short and I am regularly mistaken for someone in high school (and I have two kids IN HIGH SCHOOL). I try really hard to enjoy this but work to strike a balance in my wardrobe. I don’t want to look like a 14 year old waiting for the bus! But I run my own business from home and it’s very active, so I don’t want to look like I’m trying to overdress. But I ALSO don’t want to wear workout gear every day either!
I believe I have mentioned this, but we’ve been renovating our closet and my side is finally finished! I can see all of my clothes now, and off season items are in 3 12×15 storage cubes in overhead cabinets. All of my bags are in labeled cloth drawstring dust bags which are tucked into open top cubes also in overhead cabinets. I also have every item (even jewelry and intimates) catalogued in StyleBook, which I access on my iPad, which I installed onto my closet wall (it’s amazing; I feel like Cher Horowitz). It’s all really helped me SEE what I have and what I can do with what I own. I am on a no-buy challenge until July. That includes canceling my RTR membership. I wore my Vejas yesterday which I haven’t in months! The outfit was pretty mom coded overall – chambray button down shirt, black leggings, the Vejas, and my Levi’s shearling trucker jacket, plus a small “biscuit” colored Rebecca Minkoff top handle bag – but it was fun to use the sneakers instead of my Chelsea boots for once.
I know this is LONG and I’ve said it before, but you’ve really inspired me this past decade (!!) and I’ve learned a lot from you, not only about style, but organizing tips, clothing care, and viewing/using style as a grounding tool. Thank you Caroline.