Splendid foldover skirt | I like this skirt, but I also love this new “version” without the foldover waist
Splendid light jersey tee
James Perse sweatshirt
Vince Blair sneakers
Balenciaga bag | mine was secondhand
Margot Wolf jewelry necklace
I thought this outfit was crying out for a yellow bag. Or at least some color, which is weird, because my outfits NEVER cry out for color LOL. But I do have this yellow bag, so I might as well use it. Which is another story/question entirely: do you get stuck using the same bag everyday for weeks, months? Or do you change your bag up frequently? every day?
Obviously, I tend to carry the same bag every day, sometimes for months at a time, and then I get “tired” of it and switch to something else for a while. But I’ve always admired those ladies who carry basic, plain large leather bags that look like they’ve been worn for years, and have wonderful character; they have carried their life around with them in that bag. It’s an effortless (that WORD again) look that I long to achieve, but don’t know if I ever can. Even though I live in the things that make up an “effortless chic” look I think, I don’t feel like I’m pulling it off all the time. It’s self-confidence, really, or the lack thereof. Which is weird, because if you ask me, I’d say I’m a confident person, and I am until I see someone else who I perceive HAS achieved that look I want to achieve and then I’m deflated. Which I guess means I don’t have as much confidence as I thought…
A discussion for my therapist, for sure, but I definitely struggle with issues surrounding my appearance, and personal style, and would rather not. For someone whose passion it is to post outfit pictures and share styling/fashion ideas with others, I’m sure this sounds a bit strange. But at the end of the day, this is also my “therapy” in that there’s a lot of overcoming demons you must do to post pictures of yourself online every day…and I have come a long way.
Lately, I know a lot of frustration is coming from my hair. It’s been a while since I had a trim or color and it’s starting to show. I know you can’t see it from the pictures, but the color is faded and blah and the gray hairs are creeping back in. I also KNOW I must have bangs now; longer bangs to start with, maybe wispy, side bangs, but I must have something on my face/forehead to bring more attention to my eyes. My eyes…I love my eyes, and they get lost when I don’t have bangs I feel. Did you see this post on Into the Gloss the other day about ‘fake’ bangs? I don’t need to do that, because I know how I look with bangs, but it’s an interesting idea.
So, I’m going to find a stylist next week and get a consult on color and style. I think I want to keep most of my length, just add in “wispy” side bangs and do something with the color. I don’t know what, because I don’t want to spend as much as I did on the blonde balyage, but I do like the lighter, dimensional color. But I’m sure I’ll talk about that a lot more soon 🙂
Have a great weekend!!!
One beg at a time. currently I’m wishing it was blue:).
And blogging can be therapy. <3.
Bag. I meant bag.:)
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Yes, bangs are very flattering and I personally need them!
I usually use the same bag everyday, but I’m currently having a bag crisis.
I have a fantasy that I live in NYC or Paris and walk everywhere and need a chic (expensive) large cross-body bag. However, the reality is that I schlep all of my daily stuff from my car to office in Silicon Valley, so a fancy investment bag probably isn’t worth it. I’m thinking a leather tote like the Everlane ones and a smaller bag that I can wear cross-body and fits into the tote is probably the right functional choice. I also want a balance between something classic but not fussy and has more of an artisan, handmade quality.
Plus, I can’t break the psychological barrier of paying more than $500 for a bag.
once you break that barrier, it’s hard to go back 😉 – no, not really. i went through a phase many years ago where i was spending $1000+ on bags, and i don’t have any of them now, because i got tired of them and sold them. so i vowed that i’d never spend that much again. and frankly, you don’t have to. one of my favorite bags is my admonish custom leather tote bag and even if it wasn’t a gift from the designer (a friend), i’d be more than willing to pay $400 for it. And i’ve said before, that jas m.b. is one of my favorite designers, hand made in great Britain, and usually around $500.
i’m very lucky with this “job” that a perk is sometimes getting nice bags and/or i work for credit so i can get bags that i *probably* wouldn’t pay the big bucks for. although if i found a bag i was dying for and knew it would be my “forever” bag, i would be willing to spend a lot of money on it – although with my track record, i’m not sure i could ever HAVE a forever bag….
i live in a fantasy world sometimes too. in my fantasy, i’d be able to carry a smaller bag all the time, but even though i don’t commute or even go to “work” outside my home everyday, i have an overwhelming need to carry ALL OF THE STUFF in my bag ALL OF THE TIME, so i can never carry a small bag – not even for “going out” most of the time.
i wanted a cobalt blue bag for a while too…now i’m contemplating a cobalt blue DRESS.
yes, blogging can be therapy. even just getting it out is helpful. anyway, that’s why i do this – i have to share my passion, and part of that is talking about personal style and confidence issues i guess.
My username on eBay is bagladybooty for a very good reason. I love leather, but am particular about my bags. They have to feel good to touch, and also have ample room. I don’t have the right hair texture or face for bangs, otherwise, I’d want them. I love my silver streaks, though, and don’t dye my hair.
Gretchen, allow me to express this, as someone who’s been down the road to find and define personal style: once you identify your best, don’t sacrifice it for the sake of variety. I was looking at some of your looks from December/January?, firstly, your hair had hit a perfect spot in terms of length, shape, color, and you were also doing lots of what I call your best looks, in terms of clothing shapes and lines, but also in terms of color (or lack thereof : ). For someone like me who has a very similar personal style and love of neutrals (which can feel repetitive and same ol’, same ol’), it is instructive to see you in your best style. It reminds me, if a certain look/color combo is your best, it can convey a sense of refinement not matter how repetitive or how “casual” it may be, whereas what looks refined on another person may make me look I’m playing dress up. Seeing you look amazing in your best shapes/neutrals has been a very valuable lesson in “if it ain’t broke…”. I am pretty much through with the search for variety because that means resorting to second best. In a way, you have convinced me to stick with my trusted, effortless “uniforms”.
I also believe in uniforms. And I love your use of grey especially. It’s a great neutral.
And your punchy accessories – ie red clogs or yellow bag are great ways to add a little color
without altering your authentic sense of wardrobe.
I think once you are about 35, most women have some sense of what works = and if it’s all black, lots of grey or navy, that is ok! I bought a yellow cross-body bag from Anthro last summer and it’s my go to summer accessory.
But in the winter I tend to stick to one of my classic black bags.
I love the yellow with grey…and did you see Kim France’s post this week on cutting her hair?http://www.girlofacertainage.com/category/but-i-digress/
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What size do you wear in this skirt? I’ve been eyeing this one for a while now but not sure if Medium is my size as I know it can stretch.
thanks luna. i definitely do try and go out of my comfort zone sometimes, and it normally doesn’t end well. but i don’t really want to stop trying…i just need to know when to stop BUYING. i get sucked in to things that look great on me in the store, and even with my outfits at home, and then they sit and never get worn. i KNOW what i like and what i’ll wear – what i’ll reach for over and over and over, and what I won’t. but that doesn’t seem to keep me from buying them anyway (Ahem..madewell booties)
the funny thing is (i think) that i love to look different from anyone else and push the boundaries a bit – i am definitely different from most other “fashion” bloggers – but then i swing the other way, and think i’m TOO different and try to get back to looking like “i think i should” whatever that means. and then i get upset with myself because i shouldn’t look any other way than i DO look – and i don’t WANT to, really. ultimately, i love my look, i’m happy with my “uniform” of black, white and gray. but because i’m SO different from anyone else in my “business” that stupid little voice in my head gets me thinking sometimes that i should try to “be more like everyone else”…and it takes me some time to squash it 😉
this black one is a large and i have a charcoal one in medium. the medium fits me fine now, but i can still wear the black if it’s pulled up high enough lol
i don’t really think it stretches too much, not enough to change from your “regular” size. the foldover waist gives you a lot of options actually, because you can wear it higher more comfortably (which is what i have to do sometimes with skirts anyway because of my proportions: small waist, larger butt/thighs).
yes! i saw her post, i wonder what she did?
it’s funny, i think i’ve decided to keep my length and maybe grow it out a little bit more, but cut longer side-swept bangs. ultimately, i guess i’m trying to copy the blonde james perse model, which is a little creepy given my obsession with the brand, but i honestly didn’t think about copying it. i just saw it again while i was thinking about hair, and thought that’s EXACTLY how i want mine to look 😉
I’m a serial bagger. I have what I consider to be a large collection of bags in varying shapes, colors, sizes and styles. But how often do I change them out? Hardly ever! I have used the same black suede Clare Vivier bag everyday, all winter long. It’s just easier to grab a bag that’s ready to go as I’m on my way out of the house, usually in a hurry. But as the weather warms up, I’ll probably pull out something more Spring-like.
I really hear you about the hair conundrum. I just had mine trimmed in Chicago because I wasn’t happy with the way it has been looking or performing for me. I’m really happy with the results, but how do I make it to Chicago every 6 weeks? Haha ???? And I’m trying a new professional “at home” hair color kit (https://www.madison-reed.com). I’ll let you know how it goes.
Hi Grechen, I have just discovered your blog and I think we might share some similar style sensibilities. I really like your love of neutrals, drape, and oversized toppers. Will be reading regularly and now I have some catching up to do. xx
hi deborah! i think we do share the same style sensibilities! i’m so glad you found me…i love your blog too, and look forward to adding it to my daily reads 🙂
I just can’t live my life with one bag! I’m an admitted bag ho and I can’t imagine being monogamous with just one lol. I sometimes wish that I can carry one bag all the time because that would be so much less money out of my pocket and less bag hunting time spent but I like to switch things up and since I like to dress in all kinds of colors, I feel the need to coordinate. However, I think I’ve gotten to the point were I feel like I don’t really need to add much else to my collection especially since I carry the same handful of bags all the time. I wonder if part of that is because I bought a bag that I’ve been lusting after for years in December. Some fashion deep thoughts to ponder. 🙂
I feel you on hair frustrations. I’m craving a change but not sure what possible some color but I don’t know if that will be enough. I’m totally pro-bangs though so that’s always a good idea. I actually bought a pair of bangs before but it didn’t work for me because they were so shiny. It was distracting and not blending as well as I had hoped with my hair.
wait, what bag did you get in december? did i miss it?
i think i’m going to do bangs again – long ones – and keep growing my hair out a little. i’m in the mood for long i think. and i love to pull it back in the summertime. color, i have no idea.