Black + White Classic Combo

OtteNY Silk blouse, Lovers + Friends Perforated Leather Track pants, Sam Edleman Adora shoes, Ray Ban Black aviators

‘Don’t be into trends. Don’t make fashion own you, but you decide what you are, what you want to express by the way you dress and the way you live.’ – Gianni Versace
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Amen Gianni, Amen! I used to love being trendy – I had to have the latest and wear the coolest. It was some weird sickness that consumed me but luckily I overcame it a few years after high school and have been in remission since. What I learned from that time in my life: 1. it is too expensive to keep up with 2. It is unflattering to always be trendy – figure out who you are and stick to that 3. It is unrealistic to think that this was sustainable. Let’s go back to number two, since three and four are quite obvious. In the words of Gianni, “don’t make fashion own you, but you decide.” When I was shopping weekly and spending countless dollars on items that in a few months would be obsolete, I was letting fashion own me. I was buying into what they were selling – that trends are everything. I always loved a classic piece – my mom tried to ingrain quality over quantity in my head but I was too stubborn. I loved color, pattern, high, low, whatever was cool, I liked! Now, I find myself with a few less dollars to just throw away on a trend and a little less moved by what the industry is trying to make me believe, ‘I need.’ Instead of finding a piece I love and trying to make it work with my body or around my style, I only buy pieces I know I will wear a million times over – even if they are a plain black top.

I used love finding a unique piece and would talk myself into buying by saying all the ways I would wear it. What happened in the end – I never wore it. It wasn’t practical. Now, a little older and a lot wiser (ha) I only allow myself to buy basic and well made pieces. So instead of going for that sleeveless patterned dress (when I hate sleeveless) I go for the basic, one color silk blouse that I will wear a million ways. It might sound boring to do this kind of shopping but a closet full of beautiful, basic pieces is a closet that will stand the test of time. I can’t say that I am 100% healed of buying trendy pieces, I mean, I am wearing white leather pants but the basic feel of them makes them very wearable. They have been one of my favorite pieces this spring along with my OtteNY silk blouse. Holy price per wear – unreal! My goal this summer is to fill my closet with classic pieces from places like Everlane, OtteNY, + Vince. Items I will be able to wear next month and in five years so hopefully I can save a few $$ and do more of this.

5 Places I Want to Visit

Traveling is my drug of choice. It makes me happy, relaxed, and fills any void in my life. I am pretty sure that is what drugs do to addicts, therefore it is my drug of choice. There are so many places both domestic and internationally I am dying to visit. I just hope I have enough time to get to them all. The world is incredible with its different cultures and landscapes it is hard to not find beauty everywhere you go.

This week I am planning a getaway trip for the hubs and I’s one year. Since we are going to Rio in June we decided to take a mini vacay to tide us over. We are debating on a few different cities but are narrowing down the list this weekend! The only things on our list are sun, relaxation, and cocktails. Since this upcoming trip is low key I have provided a list of five dream places I want to eventually visit. Can you imagine taking a long nap in a swinging bed in Bali, touring the cobblestone streets of Greece, watching the northern lights while being tugged away in a cozy bed, or swimming the blue lagoons in Iceland? Wherever your dream places are to go – write them down and cross them off. It might take your entire life to finish the list but isnt that the fun of it?

Kupu Kupu Barong hotel, Bali, Pink Lake Hillier, Austrilia, Blue Lagoon Hotel, Iceland, Mykonos Greece by Gaye Gerard, Kakslauttanen Hotel Finland

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A New Scent

Marni Eau de Perfum // Jardin Des Plantes bowl

I am a creature of habit. I usually stick to what I know and hardly ever spice it up – make-up, hair product, nail color, clothing, ect. If I know I like something, why change? For the past decade I think I have worn the same perfume. The only time I changed it up was in 2008 when my suitcase got lost while studying abroad in Oxford. For two weeks I was without my necessities so purchased all new ones, including perfume. I settled on Stella McCartney and have been extremely happy with it for the past six years. Before that my go-to was Chance by Chanel. Yes, the same Chance you all wore in 2000. I am telling you, I don’t change. I am sure you are asking, “if you don’t change why is there a Marni bottle in the picture?” Well my friends, I have seen the light. Not that my other scents weren’t exceptional but there is nothing like a game-changer.

I hate my perfume sweet or floral. I don’t want to smell like a prostitute or a flower shop. It just isn’t for me. I like my scents to be a bit masculine with a splash of feminine. Marni is incredible. A bit of musty and a bit of rose. Best of both worlds. Marni liked their first scent so much and didn’t want to create an entire new one, that they just reversed their original receipt. So say there were three parts rose, one part must in the original, the new perfume has three parts must and one part rose. Those are by no means the exact receipt but for writing purposes you get the point. And I am telling you – whatever the receipt, it is divine! I have never received SO many compliments from both women and men on my perfume! So whether you are in the market for a new perfume or just need to change it up definitely put Marni on your list!

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