(yesterday at ARO, where Leslie and Cathy convinced me I look good in hats…)
Today:
Rag & Bone/JEAN sleeveless turtleneck top
Everlane cashmere cardigan | purchased with credits from Everlane, medium
3×1 The Principle jeans
Kristen Elspeth necklace
Veja sustainable sneakers
Everlane Petra Tote
Janessa Leone Sylver Hat | handmade in the US, use code gc15 for 15% off
You know what time it is? Time for me to stop giving all the f****. I have wanted a hat for a very long time, but never found one I really loved AND thought I could wear. I finally convinced myself I loved the idea of a hat more than a hat, and sort of gave up. Although not really, because every time I see one, I want to try it on. Then I think I look like Pharrell. Not bad if you’re Pharrell, but not great if you’re me.
(my bitmoji as Pharrell)
But I went yesterday to visit Grechen’s Closet partner ARO in her new space in Austin and did a little shopping (I trade advertising space for store credit with her). Leslie (owner of ARO) asked me if I wore hats, I told her I didn’t think I could, and, well, here you see the result. I tried on all the styles she has in the shop (I also really really liked the Janessa Leone Gabrielle hat) during which time she and my friend Cathy convinced me I look good in hats.
I will be honest: I’m not entirely sure I can pull off a hat. But then, the more I say that to myself, I’m like, what? what’s to pull off? it’s a hat. just WEAR the damn thing. If friend told me she didn’t think she could pull off a hat, that’s exactly what I’d tell her. So I’m going to be that friend to myself and I’m saying right now, who cares? It’s a hat. Stop thinking so much about it and just wear it.
(aside: I was wandering around the internet just now looking for hat etiquette and found this great article in the WSJ from earlier this year, and an apropos quote from Janessa Leone herself, and another from Marcus Wainright of Rag & Bone – whose hats I love, but don’t fit me – )
“You just have to go for it,” said Rag & Bone’s Mr. Wainwright. “Take no prisoners. If you own it, you look cool in it. You can look like you’re trying too hard quite quickly.”
Ms. Leone also stressed the need to make a commitment: “Don’t fidget with it or take it on and off. If you’re self-conscious, that’s the number one reason you won’t wear it well.”
There’s more to it than that, of course, and easier said than done, still, with me, but I’m slowly moving towards that place where I can just wear things without giving so much of a shit. I am so much happier when I just wear what I want, and what I feel comfortable in, without over analyzing the outfit to death. Honestly, it helps when I travel, because I have only a select few things to choose from, and I really can’t second guess very much, because the choice to wear something else just isn’t there.
I have learned that about myself recently; that I do better when I’m slightly restricted in some way – when I don’t have access to my ENTIRE wardrobe. Besides not adding any more clothing for a while, I’m going to experiment with some other ways to work that revelation into my daily life. Maybe capsules will come into play again…who knows…
OH, and speaking of (not) adding new clothes, I think I am going to try one of the sweaters from Everlane’s new capsule collection – probably this burgundy tunic. What do you guys think of the capsule collection? Will you try anything?
// I’m still working this out, but adding new pieces from partners doesn’t “count” as adding new clothes. I know that doesn’t make a lot of sense, but I earn referral credits from Everlane from purchases you guys make, and I consider it part of my role here to use those credits to review items for you and give you my honest opinion of them. I can’t do that without adding new things here and there //
It’s our last day in Austin today, and honestly, I’m a little sad to leave. It’s been fun to visit here as a complete tourist this time, just wandering and enjoying the city. It’s so beautiful.
Love the hat! I’m very much a hat person yet don’t wear them nearly as much as I should.
I love your sneakers (as I said yesterday!) and I keep clicking on the link to the necklace as well. I love the drama and simplicity of it (does that make sense?).
The only thing that interests me in the E1 collection is the mock turtleneck. However I’m not buying anything until I see Elizabeth Suzann’s holiday collection on Monday. I am obsessed!
Love that hat! I used to wear hats quite a lot and got many as gifts from my husband, but I haven’t been feeling it lately. My hair is all wrong for them right now.
I was really excited to see that Everlane collection but I’m underwhelmed. I’m considering the boots but not very seriously. The fits of the clothes look off even on the models so I think it’s all a pass for me. Nice try though. I like what they were going for but I think it misses the mark.
I’m a big hat person too! It’s the best way for me to get through those “bad hair” days 😉 My issue is, I have a rather large head so it can be challenging to find hats that fit well. I seem to gravitate towards the news boy hat styles 🙂
But Grechen, you look really cute in that hat! The color is so pretty and it gives you a very cool and fun bohemian vibe.
I took a peek at the Everlane wardrobe capsule and really loved the E1 turtleneck and the E1 crossbody bag. Too bad I won’t be buying either one though…too expensive for my budget especially w/Christmas coming up soon.
I agree, the capsule collection is underwhelming or should i say overwhelming 🙂 The shapes are too boxy/massive, looks more like an armor, not something you move in easily. Their new designer worked previously for COS and you can see her fashion sense here very clearly, just check the COS website, they still keep running on the look she set for them. The bags looks very nice though.
Hi G – three things:
1 – You looked MAH-VE-LOUS in yesterday’s dress. Wow! Figure hugging styles really look great on you! I say more!! You truly look wonderful.
2 – While you look cute in the hat, try something not quite so structured. A slightly crushable or floppy hat (or floppier fabric/material) can make a huge difference in look and feel. I find that very structured ones in this shape on me look like I’ve borrowed someone else’s hat.
3 – WHY doesn’t Everlane offer XL? I am constantly frustrated with this. It seems so unfair. I see so many companies eliminating XL and then marking it for a size 8-10. Seriously?? Statistically there are more larger women than smaller in this country, yet more small sizes available. J Crew offers 00 and MATERNITY. Surely there are less pregnant women in the US – and they aren’t pregnant that long! That’s my rant for the day. I am going to unsubscribe to Everlane. The Capsule collection from yesterday made me really sad. 🙁
Love the hat! I have a rag & bone one, but so far haven’t worked up the courage to wear it. I try not to set foot in Goorin Brothers because I try on every single style there. They had a light grey one that reminds me of the one you are wearing that was my absolute favorite!
yes, the sweaters are big, but in a weird way. then again, i don’t really trust the way stuff looks on models , because it NEVER looks the same on me anyway, so i take that with a grain of salt…i prefer to try it myself! who knows if i will or not though…
yes, hats are brilliant for the last day before hair washing. or even putting it off a whole other day! for that reason alone, i can really love a hat 🙂
yes, the price point on the capsule is rather high. making it even more exclusive i guess + the limited quantity.
absolutely can sense COS here. which i like. but yes, the shapes of big. then again the models are TEENY TINY, and as I said in another comment, i don’t put much stock in the way things look on models anyway, because the item always ends up looking completely different on me …
thanks amy!
i don’t know why they don’t offer XL – but then again, it has been my opinion (i know it’s not always shared) that their sizing is off anyway. i honestly think their large is more of a 12-14 in some things than the 8-10 that they claim. then again, some items run smaller. and that, i think, also really depends on body shape. someone who’s heavier up top than i am will probably think very differently…
have nothing against weird, it’s just not my kind of weird 🙂 and at this point these silhouettes are a bit tiresome. that big gash of a vee on the sweater is not flattering, i think. I like some things from COS too, not writing them off completely.
I love the way you rock that hat!
The great part of travel for me is that no one knows me, so I don’t care what they think about how I look…or maybe it’s really that I just feel more free to be more fashion-forward! I get to try out things, like hats, and feel like I’m the coolest old lady walking down the street! 😉
I’m SO tempted by the new Everlane stuff. I’ll wait for your review.
I’m not even going to say anything. Just nodding with Amy…
well, i ordered the burgundy tunic sweater, so we’ll see how it looks in person. i am concerned mostly about the dropped shoulders; they are pretty awkward on the model….i like the vee though, but it looks rather deep 😉
you’re right though, about that particular silhouette being tiresome. i think i’m ready for some more structure.
deep is OK, it’s just a strange shape of the vee, somehow unbalanced with the bulky knit, would look better with a drapier knit. waiting for your review!