You know what I can’t stop wearing right now? This whole tee-and-long-cardigan uniform. Not only is it cute, but it’s functional. Looking at you, weird spring weather.
I’d wear this for a day of working and errands, but I could also change into clogs or chunky heels and be ready for a dinner out in the evening. If it were a chillier day, I could swap the flip flops for ankle booties and be all set.
I’ve worn several versions of this uniform, but this one might be the most comfortable yet:
Old, worn in tee? Check.
The most comfortable jeans I own? Check.
And my beloved flip flops? Check.
I’ve loved + worn flip flops since, oh, I don’t know my 12th birthday when I finally ditched my white Keds? Then I latched on to flip flops and never let go.
But once I started blogging, flip flops felt too plain for a style blog, and I never included them in a capsule.
Let me rephrase that: I thought other people would think they were too plain for a style blog, so I never wore them.
Ever do that? Maybe in certain environments or around certain groups?
I have.
But, time is helping me get more confident in this blogging space, and with my style.
So … I like flip flops. And you’re going to see them around here a lot. Because the plain ol’ flip flop is actually a key part of my style precisely because they are plain. Ironic, huh? (Someone cue Alanis Morissette, please. Oh wait, I already did in my 90’s playlist that you can follow on Spotify.)
Now, this kind of pep talk is usually reserved for those times you want to wear outlandish clothes, but it applies to plain clothes just the same.
Lesson learned: If you love something, wear it. Own it. Practice not worrying about what other people think.
So tell me, have you ever experienced something similar? Is there something in your closet that you love, but shy away from wearing because of what others might think? What do you do to own it anyway?
xo,
• • •
Liked today’s outfit? You can shop it and support Unfancy at the same time by using these affiliate links:
01 | Tee shirt (old from J.Crew) | similar | similar (on sale) | similar (made responsibly)
02 | Cardigan by Halogen | similar (under $25)
03 | Jeans (old by Rag+Bone) | same jean in a different wash (made in USA) | similar | similar (under $30)
I haven’t seen this tee for a long time (2015 Winter Capsule, maybe?) and it reminds me that I have a rayon blend relaxed fit tee that I haven’t worn in a year, just because I forgot I have it. This is why I need to get everything into one place. I do have a pair of flip flops, but I only wear them indoors or if I’m going for a pedicure. They don’t provide any kind of good support for walking.
Flip flops are a wardrobe staple. That said, they do get a little boring for me so I’ve been branching out. I’ve been looking for a pair of leather flip flops that fit for forever though so maybe I won’t retire my flip flop wearing entirely this summer (mostly you’ll see me in the stretchy rubber ones by Havana because- holy comfortable).
I think it’s a Texas thing…or warmer climate thing at least. I LIVE in flip flops in the summer, always have an extra pair in my car (just in case) and even in the winter, there will be a pair handy. It’s a bit of a joke with my friends. (I’m 61, I keep thinking I will grow out of this phase, but apparently not.)
Hi Caroline,
I’m glad you wrote this because I feel like you are speaking just to me! I love Keen sandals! They are so comfortable and exactly right for so many occasions! They are perfect as the only shoes I take when we go to Africa, but they are also perfect to wear while walking all over the huge grocery store where we shop, walking our dogs in the neighborhood, going to meet friends for lunch or coffee–and my old pair is perfect for yard work, because like flip-flops, you can just hose them off! I’m working on thinking that it is OK that they are not really stylishly cute and that I could wear them with a casual dress and not care what anyone else thinks. But, sometimes I do care and wear something else.
Thanks for writing this post!
I just have to say that I LOVE YOUR STYLE and am so happy I found your blog ??
Thanks for sharing! It’s always easier to ‘fall’ into the ‘typical’ blogger outfits and forget to wear what you want.
http://thedianaedition.com
I don’t know why but I’ve tried that once and just don’t think I can pull it off! Maybe I don’t have the right combination.
-Kirsten // http://www.porkandcookies.com
So how do you embrace wearing something you love so much that it disintegrates? That is a barrier for me. I have a tee with a camera on it from Sundance that is totally fabulous but I tend to limit wearing it so it lasts forever.
I sometimes troll ebay to find duplicates of things I love. But I’ve not ever found another of this shirt on ebay so i only wear it a few times a season.
Your could also be elevated to fancy-ish with a scarf, belt, or jewelry. For those of us in the 50+ crowd (52 on Friday!), a little neck-oration goes a long way to making crewnecks work. Also, I have found some cheerful boho belts on ebay (re-using is responsible) such as this one:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/182472672333
Hey Sarah! I think it’s a totally valid concern, because of course we want our favorite items to last! I try to look at it from a different perspective though, and be grateful that I had this shirt that I loved enough to disintegrate! ;) If it did it’s job, and if it’s been with you for many occasions, and if you wore the heck out it, you can always look back and fondly remember it. If it sits in your closet because you’re afraid to ruin it, it will never get to live! (So to speak) :)
Caroline, I love your honesty!
Is there something in your closet that you love, but shy away from wearing because of what others might think?
I sure have done. At that time, I might not have admitted it to myself, but somewhere deep inside I knew that I did not want to wear certain things because of what others might think. Thank you for this post! I think we all know that “if you love it, wear it!” is true, but in everyday life, it’s sometimes hard to follow these simple truths. What a great reminder.
Best, Aylin
This has been my recent uniform too, sans flip flops (hasn’t quite been warm enough for them yet)!
http://www.madsmuses.com
That’s so funny! I was always shocked that you didn’t have casual sandals in your capusule! I live in them in the summer and I would imagine they are key in the Texas heat.
One of the reasons that I love your blog so much is because its much more real than inspirational. I mean that in the very best of ways — its not whistful: “look at what I wish I could be, but never could…” its more like “hey, great idea, I could do that!”
Cheers to increasing confidence!
Yes! Totally relate! My black UGG boots. It’s been a constant debate in the fashion world and they’ve been sitting unworn in my closet for the past couple of years. But honestly, they are one of my FAVORITE pairs of cold weather shoes because of the sheer comfort. So this winter, I was bold enough to tell myself, “Who cares what others think!?! This year, I’m wearing my UGGs!” And I did…all season long…and I loved every minute!
You just go on and rock them, Lynette! :)
This is basically the story of my fashion life, lol! As a former home schooled Marine Corps kid, let’s just say that knowing what is “cool” or “in” has never been my strength. While initially embarrassing to childhood Anna once she started attending public school, I eventually was able to turn “not knowing” into my own special brand of “not caring.” Quietly, deep inside my malleable tween and teen heart, feeling a little bit classy and timeless in what I wore was my big societal rebellion.
I’ve learned that the more I break the rules that other people set up for me (and let’s be honest, within reason), the more confidence I feel in declaring the person I am, and just not caring anymore. If I feel like it works, it works!
If you love flip flops and wear them all the time, tell us about it! We’re here because we think you have something cool to say, so tell us what you really think, not what you think we want to hear! <3
Thanks for sharing that experience, Anna! I love the new confident attitude! :)
I really needed this post today. Particularly when it comes to wearing something that you feel is jiving with your style, but is a little out of your normal comfort zone. For example, I recently invested in an asian style (Ao dai) black tee. I love it, but people always ask me if its a skirt, a dress, a shirt… and it makes me feel uncomfortable even though I absolutely love it. This was a nice reminder that we have to own our innate confidence in an outfit and not look for others approval. Cheers!
btw, i love that your blog is ad free! :)
reminds me of my other two fav blogs:
zenhabits.com
theminimalists.com
ox
YESSS! I just did this over the weekend! I paired a soft vintage band t-shirt (guns ‘n roses) with a long sweater. I also thought it would be cute with my baseball tee=floral body with solid sleeves. Perfect!
I feel frivolous in skirts. But I have discovered I can have skirts with pockets WAY bigger than even cargo pants, so I go for it.
During my early 20s, I shied away from hoodies and converse because that was just too “high school.” At some point, I realized that a hoodie with skinny jeans and converse is the outit that will last forever! Probably won’t wear it to a fancy dinner, but it’s totally cute and comfy for lots of occasions! I love your blog :) Im getting a fashion education for non-hoodie days!
Flip flops are actually something I always avoided, unless I was at the beach or pool. For me, I think it depends on the kind of flip flop, since there are so many different styles! As long as you’re comfortable and confident, it doesn’t matter what you wear.
http://www.insearchofsheila.com
Now this is what I call a “realistic weekday” outfit! We see so many weekday outfits out there that are super cute, but are they realistic? I definitely have a thing or 2 I love to wear and feel like I can’t wear it because it’s not trendy, and I’ve purchased/worn things that were trendy that I didn’t love. I’m loving this outfit, and have definitely missed that shirt you’re wearing! I’ve been reading Un-fancy since nearly the beginning and have really appreciated the direction you’ve taken with the site. No rules. No set numbers. No must have purchases. No trends. It’s very freeing, and you’ve taught me to apply that in my own closet/life. So thanks for that!
Thanks, Ashley! I’m so glad you’re enjoying the content. :)
You are the only fashion blogger I still regularly follow, and this is why. You have a simple, pulled together style that can be accomplished by real people with modest budgets. I love focusing on favorite pieces and looks, rather than chasing a new look and trend all the time. Thank you.
So sweet, Suzanne! Glad to have you following along! :)
Ironically, I feel this way about white Keds. Funny you should mention it ;)
I’m an actress, but my day job is an office manager at an engineering firm. Suffice it to say, “crazy” clothes make a rare/non-existent appearance in this office, so sometimes I feel self-conscious wearing something out of the norm. Case in point – these amazing wide (and I mean WIDE) leg trousers I’m wearing today. But I finally said screw it and wore them anyway Only one person has commented on them thus far – “Well, those are flared pants.”. My response, “Yes.” -___-
http://www.wonderlandsam.com
Haha! Love it, Samantha. :)
I actually feel like this about heels! I love wearing heels, but aside from the colder climate I live in, I just don’t see many other girls my age (college student) wearing heels around. And they’re not super practical for chem lab work, especially when they’re open toed. But I’ve decided that I will make my own occasions for wearing heels, and celebrate the fact that I can naturally walk in them.
I also have a long cardigan that I sewed a few weeks ago and it is one of my favorite things to wear.
I had to scroll back up and check your name, because this could have been written by my daughter (-the chem lab)! She LOVES heels too, they just make her so happy. I love that at 20 she’s already figured out to just wear what makes her happy and to heck with anything else.
LEGGINGS. Leggings are so not “fashion blogger” but you know what? Some days I am running errands/working in coffee shops and leggings are all.I.want. Thanks for you insight as always. :)
Okay, this is random and totally unrelated to this post but…how do you feel about Ona these days? I know you have a lot of Ona bags (I’ve been casually following you for forever and that’s how I ended up with my Chelsea that I looooove), but see that you recommend FashionABLE now instead of the Ona- just interested in your experience with them as a company (I have my own feelings on that one so I understand if you’re keeping them to yourself).
Hey Jamie! I don’t have any issues with the ONA company itself, but the camera bag is a little heavy (even when it’s empty!) That’s why I’ve also been recommending the FashionABLE tote. I think it’s a great alternative, and of course I love that it’s made responsibly. :)
I totally relate, not so much in real life embarrassment, but with a blog presence. When I started blogging, I debated a lot whether I would try to make my wardrobe look better than it was for the internet, but ultimately decided that my blog was for me first–so I had to be as honest as possible for it to be worth anything. I truly use my blog as a journal, and I’m constantly going back through old posts to see what worked and didn’t. (I’m also constantly tweaking my clothing photos to try to get them to look as close to real life as possible lol). It’s so helpful to see things as they are! My next goal is to start photographing outfits on me more….honesty about fit is probably huge.
I love this outfit more than any other you’ve posted in a long time. I love that you’re real about what you like to wear, I love how it looks pulled together, and I LOVE seeing flip flops on your blog. I LOVE them and wear them all Summer long myself, so seeing them styled casually on a fashion blog I love is so so so great! Keep wearing them!
You’re making me miss my black jandals, never mind that they wore through years ago! I have small feet so it’s quite difficult findings shoes that fit, but these ones were perfect and went with everything.
OK so on my lunch hour, I read this post and then did a quick search of casual clothing choices in the U.S. as research for my blog. I happened upon this article from the Washington Post, which discusses formality of clothing AND the informality of other clothing, like FLIP FLOPS.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/09/08/why-americans-dress-so-casually/?utm_term=.b0737a8e90e6
Check it out. I think you’ll find the mention of why flip flops are seen as casual fascinating.
That was a very interesting article about the evolution of fashion in America. Who knew the flip flop was originally servant Wear?? Though, I could have guessed it was developed for wearing in the shower ?
Love, love, love the look of the ONA bag. I’m a bit concerned that it’s designed as a camera bag, though, because I want to use it as my go-to bag for running errands as well as on playground runs with my two sons (ages 2 and 9). So, will it fit a Macbook Air as well as snacks and water bottles? I’d really appreciate it if you could let me know because I like the look of this one better than the Alem Utility Bag. xo
Hey Lori, i have the 13″ MacBook Air and it fits perfectly. Then I’ve got room for my 32 oz. Hydroflask, regular purse stuff, snacks, etc. It gets super heavy with all of that in it, but it definitely fits! :)
The weight of the ONA bag came up in a few reviews, and the more I read about FASHIONABLE’s investment in women, the more swayed I was to try the Alem bag. It’s backordered but will eventually make its way to Canada, and I can’t wait for it to arrive (maybe the snow will be gone by then!). I really appreciate learning about FASHIONABLE and value the opportunity to support (in a small way) the empowerment of women. Thanks for helping me learn about this great company!
Brand new to your blog, my 20 yo daughter recommended it. I love ad freeas a reading experience, thank you. And I love your style and philosophy. One of my favorite author’s has this rule “be Gretchen” (Gretchen Rubin). Be who you are, wear what you want and like. It’s so freeing. It’s also less expensive, wasteful, time consuming, and just plain happier.
I wear flip flops in summer, and crocs as “house shoes” the rest of the year. I freely admit crocs are pretty ugly, but I have foot pain and they are the best thing for me. Crocs on my feet, smile in my face.
Thank you thank you thank you for your post! This is my uniform, hands down :) I love watching your closet evolve as you embrace new things while always learning from the things that perhaps didn’t work so well. I am so excited for your newest Spring capsule (with all your items!) because it is such an encouragement for me. Yay Spring!