I just can’t with clothes right now. It’s so hot that I feel like my skin is melting off whenever I go outside. Or like I stepped into a hot oven. And I promise you, you do NOT want to see what I’m really wearing right now. It’s not even cute…
But, as I mentioned in my Fall Shopping post, I AM craving sweaters and leggings and sneakers and scarves right now (did you see the new seed stitch sweaters at Everlane? I do want…). I want to layer with abandon and feel the cold air on my shoulders. (but not too cold LOL). That’s not happening any time soon, but if you’re like me, and craving something, ANYTHING, warm and cozy, I’ve got this amazing felted wool tech case by Graf & Lantz from Cools to giveaway.
Cools sent it to me recently as a gift, and I’d like to pass it on to one of you (I haven’t used it). All you have to do if you’d like to win it is leave a comment on this post (I’ll choose a winner randomly). Tell me what you’re shopping for this fall, what you’re reading, what you’re watching, what you’re thinking about, struggling with, whatever…If you’re on a Minimal Closet journey like I am, tell me how it’s going!
I’ll close the giveaway on Friday and send the case out next week. Please make sure have an email address associated with your comment – when you leave a comment it should ask you for your email address – (do NOT LEAVE IT IN THE BODY OF THE COMMENT) so I can contact you if you’re the winner.
Happy Tuesday…and here’s to cooler weather and fall shopping ahead 🙂
*check out Cools by the way – they have a lot of very interesting items by some relatively unknown designers. And some by well-known designers, like Pamela Love, Oliver Peoples and Heimstone. I was not compensated by anyone to write this post.
Isn’t it funny how some people are opposites? I read all your posts and we have such similar tastes and think so much alike on almost everything — except this one. I literally loathe cold weather and I cannot stand layering! I feel like I’m bandaged up like the Michelin Man when I wear layers. I just LOVE hot weather so I can keep it simple, minimal, two pieces and out the door. I dream of living where you are, where it’s hot enough that I never have to wear jeans or a sweater or a coat or a scarf. (Don’t even get me started on my sock aversion!) Plus I cannot stand freezing cold air conditioning — I practically have to dress for the inside! But I do adore your posts so much, have purchased so many things through you, made my own deodorant, etc etc! Thanks for having a great giveaway!
you want to trade places?? 🙂
i do like the weather here most of the year, and i really hate VERY cold weather also, but as long as it’s not too cold that i can be comfortable in a nice cozy cashmere cardigan, i’m good!! right now though. i’m over it.
i hate socks too!! i literally never wear them unless i HAVE to. even when it’s cold.
I would love to trade places! 🙂 🙂 And I’m so glad someone else hates socks, I feel like my feet are suffocating! And no amazing boots are worth it….I’m sure I’m the oddball out on this one. 🙂
wait, i don’t even know where you live!! 😉
i don’t understand my sock aversion, really, all i know is that i HATE THEM. i did wear them when we were in amsterdam, because it was really really really cold and we were outside all the time, but i got the thinnest i could find! i do wear little footie things when i wear boots, but that doesn’t happen very often…so…i definitely like wearing sandals better. free toes!!!
I am currently hunting for a right hand ring, despite telling myself I don’t need one and should just save the money!
I cannot wait for weather that’s cool enough where I can wear my new Everlane sweatshirt! I just got it last week and it’s too hot still to wear. I don’t think So Cal is as hot as where you are Grechen, but it can get up there…like 90’s, low 100’s. Luckily, lately it’s “only” been in the 80’s. I’m clearing out my closets too; so far I have one very large shopping bag filled with things that have been taking up way too much space in my closet only b/c I thought I would wear it “later”. Later never came and never will, so it’s bye-bye to those pieces. Slowly, I’ve been collecting some Everlane tee’s, a couple button down shirts in black and another in white, that awesome Oak dress, and using these as my “base” for fall. Fall…can’t wait!
90 degrees would be downright cool right now. i can’t WAIT FOR 90 degrees again 🙂
I must admit that, because of our horrendous winter of last here in the Midwest GreatLakes Region, I am scared to death of the coming winter. Nope. I am not complaining about this summer’s heat; I know what can happen without it. Also, I am not a minimalist in any way but I admire your struggle. Maybe I’m just not into struggle. Love your clothes!
i hate extreme cold even more than extreme heat; i can never manage to get warm enough – and for me that happens when it gets under 50. so i would probably die up north! (i have a very small temperature range where i’m comfortable!) so, i feel you 🙂
I found your blog while searching for Everlane reviews.
And I found Everlane while searching for minimalist closet essentials.
We are planning to move at the end of the year, so I am taking the opportunity to downsize and create a new minimalist closet.
The most difficult thing for me at the moment is to let go of things.
It’s difficult to let things go because I think I might be able to wear it again.
And I want to get new items, but think maybe I can just do with the old…. even though I don’t like the old stuff but I don’t want to waste.
I’m hoping to read through your blog to get some inspiration. 🙂
That case is adorable. I bought two v-necks in the new Everlane colors, and I’ve ordered a few fair trade pieces from Passion Lilie that should arrive soon. I also took one small step into the world of Korean beauty products and am excited to try a serum soon. Thank you for this offer!
Love the case! I am also looking forward to crisp fall weather. Fall clothes are my favorite! I’m not looking forward to what will follow fall though:). I have been good and haven’t bought anything since the james perse sample sale, but have my eye on those everlane tees that you posted about recently. I’ve been binge watching Sherlock and getting nothing else done. How did I not realize that I needed this show in my life??? 🙂
love sherlock!!!!! it’s pretty much my favorite show ever. hate having to wait on new episodes.
you should try luther also, if you like sherlock. it was very good. and idris elba is almost as good-looking as benedict cumberbatch. ALMOST.
Yes!! Toes and feet should be free, and adorned with gorgeous sandals and heels! I live in Portland, Oregon. It is not only cold here in the winter, but wet, wet, wet! Not good for any kind of open toe shoes, even if I could bear the temps.
welcome eileen! 🙂
i wish you luck on your journey…it’s hard! but it feels really good when you think you’ve “got” it. i’m almost there, i think.
if you can buy new things, then i think that’s a good idea – if you can identify what it is about the old things you don’t like, and avoid that for the new ones. sometimes i get caught up on buying the SAME THINGS over and over again because i don’t recognize what it is that i don’t like (it’s usually very subtle…)
Idris Elba/Luther FTW!!! Okay, it’s a little late for that, Emmy-wise, but just wanted to put it out there. After a certain episode I wouldn’t go to bed until my bf checked under it for monsters. (Granted, they wouldn’t have been able to fit since my extensive scarf/hat/gloves collections are currently residing there, but still . . . . )
I’m debating buying a Reformation dress for a friend’s wedding next month – leaning towards the “Isabel” in Bouquet or Bessette (pretty florals). I love dress shopping, but wish I could try these on first!
It’s ended up being a James Perse haul week for me–I’ve found two jackets at TJ Maxx and Marshalls. They were not on my fall shopping list, but I know they will end up being staples for me:
One identical to this current season one:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/james-perse-hooded-fleece-jacket/3786797?origin=category-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=BLACK&resultback=3511&cm_sp=personalizedsort-_-browseresults-_-1_11_C
and a black knit blazer.similar to this one, but without the back band:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/james-perse-notch-collar-jacket-nordstrom-exclusive/3746422
I am hunting for a large bag (probably in camel) that can be both cute every day and, if necessary, handle a Macbook Pro AND an iPad without looking heinous. Thought I had found the right Kate Spade bag… until it sold out, and so I’m back to the start line!
Love the case!
seriously? i ALMOST went into tj maxx yesterday when i was nearby at petsmart!!! guess i’ll have to figure out a reason to go back…
how much were they?
I love giveaways! Thanks for introducing us to Cools!
I am not sure I am succeeding at my Minimal Closet adventures which encompasses my desire to make positive changes financially and aware choices ethically. On the positive side, I have gotten rid of 50 items since the beginning of July! On the negative side, some of those things were items such as beautiful shoes I had never even worn. 🙁 Also on the negative side, I’ve shopped the end of season sales a bit too enthusiastically. AND, I am not sure if I have sold enough on eBay to cover the cost of my new purchases. It feels a bit like two steps forward and one step back. I think my new purchases (Vince, Inhabit, James Perse, Coclico) are good ones for me.
I would really like to be able to lessen the grip of my love for new things. To learn to be satisfied. Until then, swapping out eBay sells for new things is like a stepping stone stage.
I was coveting a couple Emerson Fry pieces that have already sold out. I was unsure of how they fit so hesitated…which is probably just as well. I obsessively look for a black tote that could stand in for a briefcase and also work as a purse…to hold a laptop and some books if needed. Emerson Fry has a cool one coming in their new ‘tactical’ material, but at $625, I just don’t think that that would be a smart choice right now. So begins the debate…do I buy a cheeper substitute or just wait until I can afford something that will last a while longer?
I finished reading One Hundred Years of Solitude as well as a book on Native American issues (an interest of mine) and am part way through Frans de Waal’s The Age of Empathy (on animal kindness). I am excited to find a new novel to read, but haven’t settled on anything. Also haven’t settled on an exercise routine. I am hoping September will help with all this.
$79.99 each–I’ve seen used JP jackets selling for more in eBay than that. They also had gray knit dresses (the ones with the slight cowl neck) for $49.99, but only in a size 1.
I love that new bag from Emerson Fry, but $625 for a bag that isn’t leather seems a bit steep to me…I was hoping it would come in at a slightly lower price point. I’d rather make the investment in a really nice leather tote, like this one:
http://www.ribandhull.com/products/heirloom-tote-black
Rib and Hull are (were) my Etsy colleagues! Their work is awesome, and I always support people buying directly from artists when there is the chance. I actually love that the Emerson Fry bag is not leather and would like to find more high end pieces that could substitute for animal products. Hopefully someone will out a review out for that bag. I do also like Jack Spade and his wax wear, but am not sure if girls are supposed to use it. 🙂
They’re predicting a cooler than usual winter and I am not looking forward to that. Winter in Chicago was brutal last year.
Thanks for a chance at this nice case, I could use it!
This fall my list is longer than I’d like but I am also on a minimize my wardrobe quest and I ditched a lot of my old fall things earlier this year. So here it is:
Everlane cashmere sweater in charcoal
Everlane cashmere wrap (are these coming back?)
Tory Burch Margeaux booties (if the money fairies smile upon me)
The perfect tall riding boots (any suggestions?)
Trench coat (I’m thinking of the J Crew one…as Burberry is way out of the question)
Pair of nude flats
Chunky wool sweater (waiting to see Everlanes take on this in a few weeks)
I am tempted to add a few items depending upon the new arrivals at Everlane…Loafers!
I’ve been trying to cut back on my impulse buying lately. That said, I’ve been looking for a pair of mid to high rise black slim jeans. I can get away with wearing them to work, and would definitely wear them outside of work. I also need to replace my beloved Minnetonka Thunderbirds soon. I live in Tennessee so “fall” doesn’t really happen until the end of October…I’ve still got time to work on my list!
Oh–this Jack Spade bag is amazing!
http://www.jackspade.com/dipped-york-brief/NYRU0682.html?cgid=bags&dwvar_NYRU0682_color=079#D1=2405909&affcode=500023&cm_mmc=Google-_-Sitelinks_For_Account_Sitelinks_For_Account-_-e+Ad_48982899660-_-Jack+spade&searchdef=2405909&k_clickid=49c0aece-a991-a268-cbff-000072a7f05f&002=2405909&006=48982899660&007=Search&008=&009=e&012=Jack+spade&021=59233919243&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=jack+spade&utm_content=sitelinks_for_account&utm_campaign=sitelinks_for_account&start=14&cgid=bags
love that emerson fry bag, but 1. i need a shoulder strap for a bag to be 100% versatile, and i’m not sure how that one will look carried by the shoulder – seems like it will not keep its structure at the bottom, and 2. $625 feels a bit much for non-leather. i hate saying that, but it’s a huge barrier for brands that try to produce non-leather pieces. the “idea” that leather should cost more is somewhat misguided, but still a widely held belief – and a lot to overcome. you sort of “know” or think you know, that leather will hold up well for longer…
and jack spade bags are nice – i would carry one in a second. i’ve always preferred men’s bags for totes or travel bags, really, because they’re much more practical…
that’s the way of it though, i think – two steps forward, one step back – at least until you find a good rhythm. life takes a lot of trial and error, why should downsizing our closets be any different? 😉
and what you said about lessening the grip on your love for new things really resonates…it’s my problem as well. i still love to get packages, and i still love the anticipation of something new arriving. in a way, i think that’s “normal” – but also, I think that it indicates still, that there’s some other emotional need that gets filled by buying new things….
also, no, do not buy a cheaper substitute. i’m sure you’ve done it before a million times, only to still look for or covet the more “expensive” thing. i’ve done it so often, i can’t even count how many times. it always ends up badly. and i usually end up getting the more expensive thing in the end. (hopefully on sale!)
i tried to read one hundred years of solitude and gave up. which never happens. i’ve heard you have to read it along with cliff notes – like with Joyce’s Ulysses – to get through it. i’ll try again, but not sure when! how did you like it? was it really GOOD? worth reading? have you read any of donna tartt? the goldfinch? i forget the name of the other one, but they’re both very good. very long, and involved. but it doesn’t seem like you mind long & involved!
do you mean the cashmere cardigan? (when you say everlane cashmere wrap) – i hope they’ll do a “new” one this year, and i can’t wait to see their wool pieces; i’m intrigued. definitely have the loafers on my list if they come in black!!
GORGEOUS dress. I love the fontaine also, it’s very simple and on sale 😉
now i’m intrigued which episode you’re talking about…i watched it on netflix a year or so ago, so maybe i’m behind? are there new episodes out?
ugh. now, i’m not sure i could live in the pacific northwest. i love it up there, but i need lots of sun. i don’t do well with rain/soggy weather. AT ALL. austin was pretty perfect for that – we got rain, but infrequently. guess extreme heat’s the tradeoff!!
I love how you think about these things….very generous yet clear-sighted. Life is a lot of trial and error. I am often embarrassed because my love of ‘lovely things’ is less socially acceptable in my family and circles than other loves. I had a friend who once described a lavish trip she took as the smoking habit she didn’t have. I tend to think of my closet that way. I do need to live within my means as the last few years have been lean ones financially. And I think it is forcing me to reevaluate all sorts of choices I have made previously without thinking. I will try my best to wait for the ‘right’ bag.
I found One Hundred Years of Solitude completely intoxicating…in both a good and the bad way. It has some seriously disturbing content, which I usually can’t tolerate…I know one of my dearest friends thought it was the worst book she has ever read. I loved it. I think what made it work for me is that I took it on our 9 day holiday where I didn’t have anything to do but read. I kept the picture of the family tree in front of me to keep all the characters straight, but it was really the condensed time frame made that it possible to remember details that would get tangled over any longer period of time. I don’t think you need Cliff notes if you get a copy with an introduction and conclusion. I have read a few devastating epic novels this year…what’s with that? Maybe that is why I ‘need’ so many cashmere sweaters for comfort…lol. I have’t read Donna Tartt. Now I’m going to have to google her.
I am on a shopping ban for now, or at least a shopping ban on clothes. We are doing up our new house plus saving for some fun travel come Christmas time so I am on a budget, which is hard going being the shopaholic that I am.
I recently interviewed for a job that, while fairly casual, would require some presentations. For the past two years I’ve been working part-time, freelance out of my home so I’ve had both a limited budget and a limited need to dress nice. My style is pretty minimalist, somewhat tomboyish. If I do get the job, I’d like to up the quality on a lot of what is in my closet. I have a lot of vintage, but given my recent budget limitation there’s far too much fast fashion. I actually think a lot of what I’m hanging on to right now is fear that I won’t be able to afford to replace my fast fashion with better options. One of the first things I’d like to find is a pair of brown brogues, although finding the perfect ones has actually been almost as hard as justifying the expense.
No cold weather please
Right now I’m shopping for accessories!! Being pregnant with my baby girl has left me A. Unable to fit in/rationalize buying clothes, B. With the insatiable urge to downsize all of my unnecessary STUFF (thank you minimalist posts!) and C. Nostalgic and wanting to create future heirlooms. I sold a bunch of old, broken gold jewelry and used the excess funds to treat myself to some classic gold hoops and some initial jewelry – LOVE LOVE Maya Brenner’s asymmetrical initial necklace! Recycling and shopping- love it!
It was the first episode of season 3. I watched on Netflix too – old-school though, on discs.
I love the fontaine (especially the price!) but it’s sold out unfortunately. As is the hyacinth, which is my absolute favorite:
https://thereformation.com/products/hyacinth-dress
I might wait to buy until I’m out in LA next month, since I can go to the store to try them on. The problem is that I’ll be getting home four days before the wedding, so I better have a backup!
Ok, so my husband, Bill, my 16-yr old daughter, Anna, and I are MAJOR Sherlock fans (How did we even survive season 2’s cliffhanger?!?) So, tonight when I go to bed, I’m watching Luther on Netflix. I trust fellow “Cumberbitches,” as Benedict’s female fans are known. 😉
OMG!! Read The Little Friend and Secret History! Love <3
Thanks for the give-away. It soon will be fall here in the northwest – I’m working on a “Starting from Scratch” wardrobe via The Vivienne Files.
Enjoy the blog – and the give-aways!
I’m a long-time follower and have enjoyed sharing your journey. Every now and then I do find myself reading one of your entries and (silently) yelling “add some color, Grechen!” Our styles are quite different, but you did introduce me to Everlane and I will always be extremely grateful. I also now have 2 7-month-old Australian Shepherd pups and really like reading about Dagny. Keep writing and I’ll keep reading!
haha! i know you’re not the only one (silently) yelling that!! at least i have tried every once in a while, though, no?
i love australian shepherds!! i think ozzie was part aussie, part, I don’t know, but he definitely had a little in him. they must be a handful!!
I’m on a little bit of my own sort of minimalist journey. I leave next week for 10 months in Rome. I know, right?
But it’s not easy packing into one duffle when I’m packing for weather from 90 to 30 along with plenty of winter rain. When push comes to shove I will probably have 1 1/2 bags.
Part of me wants to bring only 1 pair of jeans, 2 t shirts and a sweater and be done with it. In truth I should bring more than that. Like a winter coat. I seem to have an excessive number of summer dresses (is 6 excessive?) in my packing pile but that is what I wear when it is above 70 degrees.
I haven’t shopped much lately (because, hello, I am going to Rome) but I did buy (on sale) a Raquel Allegra skirt that my husband picked out. It’s a little crazy – tomato red, navy and beige tie dye – and not the typical travel skirt. Ok maybe a lot crazy and a little Game of Thrones because it also has either a sheer apron or a train depending on which way it is worn.
Oh and I bought an iPad mini because I realized I didn’t want to schlep around my computer. Which is its own form of minimalism.
I´m shopping new bags and shoes. And warm knits 🙂
I’m shopping for workout clothes/gear currently. I am finally going to get rid of the last 15! Other than that I’m not shopping for anything else, I am waiting to see my final result size and go from there… I am hoping to taper my wardrobe to just timeless pieces (I don’t think I will miss my blue and gold leopard print dress!).
Oh, shucks! A day late : )