6397 Shorty Jeans | size 28 (I just got a pair of these EXACT jeans into SLOWRE)
James Perse casual tee | size 1 (yes, I’m wearing it again)
Robert Clergerie Valbert bag | not available online, I bought mine at tenoversix
Rachel Comey Dover clogs
I used to wear color, carry color. Not so long ago actually. Looking back through my archives of outfits is interesting, to say the least; there are lots of WTF was I thinking outfits in there…and more than a few where I’m wearing very bright colors and things you wouldn’t think I’d wear, given my sartorial habits of the last few years, and I remember feeling very comfortable & happy, not just with my clothing choices, but with life, in general. What happened?
Well. Lots of things really, and of course, style preferences shift as life changes and we get older. I’m not drawn to bright colors, or many colors at all, like I used to be; I truly LOVE grays, black and white. But I have always appreciated little pops of color here and there every so often, I just don’t ever land on one that sticks for very long.
And maybe it’s precisely because I feel so disconnected, so alone, and so different, here in the suburbs of Dallas, either because of my lifestyle (43, no kids, self-employed) or my rather neutral albeit sometimes-unconventional wardrobe, that I actually try VERY hard NOT to wear color. Rebelling against the brash colors & patterns of suburban style as it were.
That’s me, always a rebel LOL
Rather than swing the pendulum back the other way, incorporating colors and pattern with abandon, I’ve started to think about some colors and patterns (stripes) I’d like to try and add back into to my wardrobe. I feel bored, slightly, with my style. I want silver shoes (I had silver clogs many years ago, wore them like crazy) and striped shirts. And I want to enjoy getting dressed, feel excited about it, look forward to it. Must everything be SO PRACTICAL???
Which leads back around to my uber-casual lifestyle. Some days I only leave the house to go to Pure Barre. And others, I might just run to Costco & Whole Foods. Why get “dressed” to go to Costco? Of course, I’ve written about this before, but what difference does it make? I wear the clothes I like and feel good in, what does it matter who’s going to see me, or where I’m going? This is a hard hurdle to get over though, for me especially since we moved to Texas. I’m not sure why.
Anyway, I want to wear things that make me smile everyday. Fun things, beautiful things, things maybe only I appreciate. And why not? Why save the special things for special occasions? Isn’t everyday a special occasion? Yes, that is true, but I’m afraid I haven’t been treating them as such.
SO. After that long rant/diatribe/whatever, please let me introduce my new Robert Clergerie bag. I didn’t think too long or too hard about buying it actually, it was a total impulse buy several weeks ago. I went to tenoversix to try on a pair of hunter green Robert Clergerie sneakers I saw and loved and ended up with this bag instead. (I do love the sneakers still, especially that beautiful dark green color, but not the creeper style on me so much)
This bag is my anti-perfect bag if you consider all the things I thought I required in a bag: short + long handles, outside pocket, not too long, not too big, but big enough, closure at the top. This bag has NONE of that. But I saw it and moved towards it like a magnet. And the moment I tried it on, I knew I was going to buy it.
And as it turns out, it’s incredibly practical for me (except for traveling) and so comfortable to carry. It’s beautiful, unique, and makes me happy to look at. Because it is so sturdy and comes with pouch that’s attached by an interior strap (as most totes now seem to), I prop the pouch up at the bottom of the bag for my phone, lippies, keys and other small things and it’s the same as having an interior pocket, or outside pocket even. Suits me fine.
So at the end of the day, this bag IS practical, and beautiful at the same time. But it’s mostly beautiful, let’s be honest. It will last me for years, although I may not want to carry it every day. Which is okay. It’s another nail in the coffin of “perfect:” I didn’t know it was going to turn out to be so practical for me until I bought it, but it’s certainly not perfect for everything. Again – that’s okay.
Thank you for reading this far, and for tolerating my self psychoanalysis on every outfit post – the journey continues….
Do you notice that your style shifts when big changes happen in your life? How?
Oh, and speaking of things that make me happy:
AND, you, readers, make me immensely happy; this is my community, where I belong. Thank you for 20,000 comments over the last 10 years!!!!
Beautiful purse! I love the color–it’s like a non -color color, if that makes sense! I too wear a very muted palate, and I hate pattern on myself. That said, I am 51 and with age has come a change in my skin tone…dull. I am at a point where I need to start incorporating some color into my wardrobe so I don’t look so washed out. It is not as easy as it sounds because I don’t feel like me–at least not yet. So, yea, I get the journey and know my husband would do a happy dance if I wore color once in awhile! At any rate, the purse looks lovely on you!
Hey Grechen! I know exactly what you mean about feeling disconnected, and I’m a native Texan. I sometimes think it’s just my personality and I would feel like a fish out of water no matter where I lived. I dress differently than everyone around me, too, though it’s easier not to care when I go into Austin proper. I volunteer at my sons’ public school and I make sure to try and blend in a little there. But it is fun to get really dressed up or wear a favorite outfit to run errands, I think. Hang in there! You’ve got a great community here and I bet we’re all in sort of the same boat. 🙂
Oh that bag!!! It is stunning! It makes everything a little more special, doesn’t it?
(20,000 comments? I’d say you’ve got a community!) 🙂
Gretchen, oh man I understand! I work from home too and today I literally changed out of my work-from-home leggings into Pure Barre leggings – the only time I left the house today ? But I still read fashion blogs and love to think about style – I guess some habits die hard 🙂
Gretchen
I am a fan of Eileen Fisher and I don’t quite know why. I have an outlet near me and frequently go in. I love reading your blog.
I enjoyed your discussion of color or lack of it. Maybe Eillen Fisher clothes are so striking because they can be high contrast neutrals. I have started studying shapes and how they work on top and bottom so as to not add weight to the look.
I find myself looking for new articles you write over and over. You are so honest about your body and your style.
Keep up the good work. It’s fascinating.
Pam
Love it, Grechen – the colour (non-colour?) is amazing. You look beautiful…and happy!
Debi – it’s so interesting that you say that. I’m 32 and also feel like I have a dull skin tone, but I tend to wear a very neutral palette because (in my mind) it actually allows my coloring to shine more! Funny how we all have a little different perspective on these things, and of course there is no right or wrong answer 🙂
Grechen – that purse is amazing. The color is absolutely perfect!!
thank you chris!! it is a rather neutral color, but still something 🙂 and amazing – agreed –
thank you pam! i agree with your comment on eileen fisher; i find working with shapes easier (better) for me than working with color, and more fun most of the time too! i would like to do more with layering, etc. though, to create more interesting silhouettes. that’s something eileen fisher does so well.
i wish i had an eileen fisher outlet nearby!!
ha!! i do that too, in the fall/winter when i wear leggings at home. go from those to my PB leggings and then back again 😉
yes! thanks val 🙂
i’ve been thinking about your comment since reading it yesterday…i think it is our personalities, mostly, but i do think i’m influenced by my surroundings more than some people. my husband, for example LOL – he could live anywhere and be happy. i’m a pedestrian and love to walk – i would walk everywhere if i could, or take mass transit if it was available, but mostly, i love to walk. and you can’t really do that here in allen, texas!
but i do appreciate the space we have here.
that’s the rub, though, and brought home when i saw “my husband could live anywhere and be happy” – because he’s just happy, generally, with whatever. which frustrates me to no end LOL!!!! i am happy, but it’s complicated 😉
thank you debi – my husband, and father, and pretty much my whole family, would LOVE It if i wore a little color every once in awhile! my dad keeps trying….
My parents are always suggesting that I wear more color, and recently I started dying my hair alternative colors like purple and teal. I asked them if that was better but they just made disapproving faces. 😉
I typically don’t feel comfortable wearing color at all, especially bright or bold colors, except on my hair…I’m not sure why. My hair is wear I play. I kind of feel like my clothes are my back drop, and it lets my hair shine. I felt pretty cool last week in my all-black outfit and bright teal hair!
haha..parents !!
i want to dye my hair platinum blonde in the WORST WAY. and i have a friend who has gray (dyed) hair, but before it fades gray, it’s nice deep purples or pinks. it’s very cool, but her hair is damaged now because of it, even with the olaplex, and treatments she does. it literally broke off in places…
i love it though, and i think letting your hair be your playground is a brilliant idea – i was just thinking that the other day because it’s about time for me to get mine colored again!
I think you make a good point here, Grechen, about letting our intuition lead some purchases sometimes. We might end up with things that make us smile, even if not ticking every item on the utility list/wardrobe-needs list. And that might be because dressing is so emotional, it’s hard (impossible?) to actually conceive a list that works without fault.
yes. and it’s extra emotional for me for some reason LOL
Ha! I know exactly what you mean and my husband is the same way about things. Texas is so spread out and it’s too hot to walk far during parts of the year here. I often think that the heat keeps people inside here the way the cold keeps people inside up north.