Elizabeth Suzann linen Florence pants – medium, regular | secondhand
Eileen Fisher organic linen shell – small | gift from EF a couple years ago
Birkenstock Arizona sandals | secondhand
Marsell 4 Dritta bag
Wearing/Buying
This is the last weekend to shop the James Perse summer sale. See what I bought here, some of my favorite items on sale, and let us know what you bought and how you like it in the comments!
Has anyone bought anything good/worth sharing at the Nordstrom anniversary sale? I haven’t purchased anything and probably won’t. I am really turned off by it lately…all the nsale stuff is sort of obscene to me. Except – DAVID!!! 🙂
Local readers: I’m hosting an Elizabeth Suzann meet-up (!!) on August 11 at 2 PM. In case you don’t follow selltradees on instagram, just wanted to make you aware here. Email me for details/directions if you’re interested. I’ll also open up slowre inventory for sale, so it’ll be fun 🙂 I’ve never been to an ES meet-up but from what I understand everyone brings their ES pieces and we get to try everything on!!! Yay!!! Also, I cannot WAIT to connect with fellow ES-lovers in person.
Speaking of Elizabeth Suzann, did anyone get on the waitlist for the Alabama Chanin collaboration? I am hoping to get the Marlena dress in black this time, size small. It’s interesting the way they’re doing the launch this time, I think it makes sense, informing customers via email when they’re available. There’s still no guarantee you’ll get the item you’re on the waitlist for, but maybe it’ll eliminate people buying everything up to resell? I don’t know…
Oh, and I bought a sewing machine during Amazon prime day for 50% off. It’s still in the box because I haven’t had time to deal with it yet. I’m super-excited about it though, and hopefully soon I’ll be able to get it out and play around!
Reading/Watching
I finished reading The Overstory during vacation and I highly recommend it. I liked the first half a little better than the last half, but it was still beautifully written and thought-provoking. Incidentally my cousin was studying for his exam to become on arborist while we were at the beach (he passed), which was rather serendipitous.
Right now I’m reading The Power of Habit and An American Marriage. I resisted An American Marriage up until now because it’s really hyped and I try to avoid that generally, but I heard the author speaking on NPR (I think it was on Think?) and she really pulled me in. I also started listening to the What Should I Read Next podcast and added quite a few books to my wish list. I’m really trying to read more during the week, besides just when I go to bed, but I’ve been too busy to do so.
I am enjoying my new routine of reading Brain Pickings first thing when I sit down at my desk in the morning (instead of looking at Shopbop). Today, I went down a rabbit hole and ended up at this article about “…narrative as the pillar of identity” and it resonated deeply with me, especially after what I wrote yesterday – why I think/write so much about what I wear:
To be ourselves we must have ourselves — possess, if need be re-possess, our life-stories. We must “recollect” ourselves, recollect the inner drama, the narrative, of ourselves. A man needs such a narrative, a continuous inner narrative, to maintain his identity, his self. (Oliver Sacks via Brain Pickings)
This is exactly what I feel like I’m doing when I write; “recollecting” myself. Maybe not so much to maintain my identity as to determine it. When I write/share “my story” I’m reminding myself in small ways, who Grechen is, but I’m also learning new things about myself.
Doing
Oh, I got my haircut yesterday! It was past time. I really need to get better about keeping it cut/shaped – I get really frustrated when it gets too long and I have to pull it back all the time. ALSO. I’m going to go platinum blonde in the fall. I’ve wanted to do it for a few years, and although I did it when I was in my early 20’s, I’d love to try it again. Yes, yes, I know it will damage my hair, etc., etc., but I have been thinking about it for so long I just want to do it and get it over with. If I don’t love it, it’s just hair!
Nothing special this weekend, probably the usual reading and working.
Leo and I are going to Charleston the first weekend of August to celebrate our anniversary and I’m very excited about that. Neither of us have been, and I love to take trips to places neither of us have been before. Anyone have any recommendations for places to eat/visit?
I hope you have a beautiful weekend!
I love Charleston! I’m going to email you with my recommendations later this week 🙂
Charleston is gorgeous! It’s been a few years since we visited so I am hesitant to make recommendations in case things have changed (though I think you can’t really go wrong with any of Sean Brock’s restaurants – they’re so well known now, but I think everyone should visit at least once). There is a Charleston Eater page (https://charleston.eater.com/), which is a good jumping-off point for restaurants new and old, as well as an entry in the NY Times’ 36 Hours series (https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/01/12/travel/what-to-do-36-hours-in-charleston-south-carolina.html). And… now I’m ready to return!
I got the cotton linen workwear pant in sage, 2 sizes down from normal. The size is perfect, it does stretch out during the day (but still fits with a belt) despite being not too tight at first. I also like the color, it can look more grey or blue or green depending on what you pair it with.
I purchased the James Perse shrunken military blazer from the obnoxious Nordstrom sale. I love it and think it will be so comfortable as it is a sweatshirt material. I have another, older double breasted style in the same fabric and it is my favorite travel piece. (There is one on Slowre that I cannot believe no one has purchased yet!). And I bought my favorite bra on sale.
Also, I really, really like An American Marriage. I similarly resisted it at first, but it was moving, thought provoking, and deceptively sophisticated. I hope you like it!
I got on the ES wait list for the Marlena dress and top in plum. I’m not sure I’ll buy both (or either) but I’m intrigued by that color and the Eva neckline doesn’t sit well on me.
I tried to buy the Georgia T on slowre but was too slow!
Ask your stylist to use Olaplex and the damage going platinum will be minimal!
Really want a linen Harlow from ES but by the time I get it it would be nearly October and pretty pointless. Would love the wait times to drop to 3-4 weeks…
Also, didn’t even look at the NAS this year. *shrug*
I bought a bunch of shoes at Nordstrom (need new black comfy shoes for work & travel) but I won’t keep all. I also don’t think any of the shoes were actually part of NAS. Maybe one pair. Did get some Kiehls hand salve -I use it all the time and hey, it’s on sale. And one scarf that was in the sale. I’m looking for a new bag (crossbody, but large – apparently that’s a bit of a unicorn right now) but didn’t see anything (sale or not) that I wanted at Nordstrom. So. Not too bad.
I met Sean Brock years ago (10 yrs?) He was the guest chef on a cruise and was miserable. His wife was seasick the entire time, most of the cruise pax were years older. We went drinking with him one night and now I have a life mantra – don’t EVER go drinking with a professional chef. Woo. But he’s a good chef!
i have ALWAYS wanted that military blazer, but manage to resist every time.
and seriously, i don’t know why that one is still at slowre – if my arms were a little smaller around, i’d buy it for myself, but it’s a little snug as is, and i certainly wouldn’t be able to layer it over anything!
i do like an american marriage – it’s very engaging, and i love the characters and all their flaws…
I wait for the nsale every year to stock up on smartwool no show socks. They are the absolute best socks and they are $10/2-pack during the sale. More than half off. I also stock up on undies but that’s it. The rest seems kind of Meh this year and not interesting.