replacing a wardrobe staple

Last summer, this top bit the dust. It was a bummer, because I didn't feel like I'd worn it for as many years as I would like. Since a relaxed white top is a pretty important component of my summer uniform, I set out to search for a replacement.

I tried all of these tops (above) and ended up with the cheapest version, simply because it fit best. The length wasn't too cropped, the sleeves hit in a good place and it also has the added benefit of being machine washable.

I don't normally advocate buying multiples, but because this one hit so many of my criteria and because it's so integral to my wardrobe, I bought two. Yes, both in white.
Currently on sale at The Limited for $25 ;)

P.S. Keep your eyes out for a special event I'll be hosting at The Limited in August!

cos stores review

Finding clothes that are casual, comfortable, and still a bit cool is hard. Some days I actually miss my office job (the grass is always greener, right?) because it gave me a chance to dress up. Not that I couldn't wear a belted pencil skirt and heels to Target or to dig around in a client's closet if I really wanted to, but, well, I don't want to quite that badly. But I still want to look cute, and not just in tee shirts!

View fullsize

During a conversation with one of my good friends who I've never met in person (what, you don't have those? thanks, internet), she recommended that I check out COS. I'd heard about this Swedish store (part of the same company as H&M) and remembered that they'd recently opened a store in NYC and started shipping to the US. Laura had visited the store and thought the clothes were decent quality, so I decided to check it out online. I really loved what I saw - clean lines, minimalist shapes, moderate prices. I ordered a truckload of things (when shopping online, always order a lot - multiple sizes, colors, etc, - you never know what's going to work) and ended up with two tops that go with my current uniform of top/skinny jeans/ankle boots. 

View fullsize

This winter, I'd been looking for things that are nursing-friendly, somewhat warm, and aren't too form fitting (thanks to my non-existent baby weight loss fitness regime). Even though I didn't want attention on my midsection, I still wanted something that fit in the shoulders and chest. Most of the tops I'd been finding were loose all over, with dropped shoulder seams that just made me look wider. By coincidence, these both have interesting back details - at top, a split back, and above, pleating. Also coincidentally, it seems I chose the same (Madewell) necklace to wear with them on different days. What can I say, it's a fave. I'm really happy with both tops, have worn them multiple times in the last few weeks, and got lots of people asking me where they were from. Here's the grey top above (on sale for a great price!). Unfortunately the charcoal top at the start of the post seems to no longer be available. As for sizing, one top is a S and one is a 6, and I'd say that's pretty true to American sizes for me right now, I'm usually between a S and M. You have to make a decision quickly, as you can only return items within 14 days, and unfortunately, the return shipping isn't included.

What do you guys think? Will you check out COS?

Edit: When I looked closely at my account info, it seems that I paid $6 shipping for my COS order and wasn't charged for return shipping, so I might be reading their policy incorrectly. Also, the jeans in the first pic are
great for moms or anyone else who doesn't want to show their tushie to the world - they're Old Navy Rockstar High Rise Super Skinny Jeans. And with that link, I now have to tell you there are affiliate links in this post. If you're not a blogger and are wondering what that means, it means that I make 5 cents anytime anyone clicks on the link. I've made $18.86 to date. Raking it in, I tell ya.

posts i read that i loved

Between fighting off colds, traveling, and being up at nights through bouts of teething, I've read my fair share of content on the internet recently. Here are a few articles with topics I've often thought of blogging about, but now won't have to, since they already did! Now that I've collected them here, I notice that (coincidentally?) they all deal with the issue of aging and how it relates to your closet.

on a recent shopping trip for the perfect white shirt...

I truly think that expressing your personal style is more important than wearing the *most* flattering thing. What if you have a pear shape and a fitted bodice/full skirt dress is the most flattering item you can put on your body, but you're an edgy tomboy? You will not be happy in the "flattering" item. Over on Une femme d’un certain age, Susan writes about this - here's a sample of her post: 

"When we dress in a way that’s aligned and integrated with who we are, we create a kind of harmony that comes through even if we’re not following the rules of flattery."

 On Elle.com, Meghan O'Rourke writes about how she needed outside help to move on from her various past fashion personas to find a style that is "her". 

"Turns out letting go of so much at once is invigorating. It gives you permission to be the person you really are now. With their help, I found it surprisingly easy to part with not just my quirkier pieces but also the spontaneous twentysomething self who'd bought them. It was almost a relief to see her disappear, like a relationship I'd outgrown."

On the J. Crew blog, Alice Gregory helps me make my case for uniform dressing. 

"You save a lot of money by relinquishing trial-and-error shopping—those items you buy and never wear, try and fail to return. Gone is the mental math that goes into calculating how much you “paid per wear” for that sweater you only put on three times. And nobody thinks of a person who wears the same thing every day as unstylish."

As for books, recently I've been on  a Kate Christensen kick. Also enjoyed The Woman I Wanted to Be by Diane von Furstenberg, I'll Drink to That by Betty Halbreich, Clothes, Clothes, Clothes. Music, Music, Music. Boys, Boys, Boys by Viv Albertine, The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman, The Heavy by Dara-Lynn Weiss, and some guilty easy reading by Elin Hilderbrand.

Have you read anything great lately?

three for one

I'm pretty backed up on my outfit posts, so I figured I'd throw three outfits into this one!

Up first - I thrifted this dress a year ago (worn with thrifted flats - hey, 100% thrifted!). When I first wore it, I felt as though people would think I was pregnant, even though I wasn't at the time. Therefore, I was sure it would be great when I really was pregnant.

View fullsize

The photo below was my Pinterest inspiration. Unfortunately, it didn't look so great on me with Converse, hence the flats, and I still feel like the dress doesn't work so well. I'm leaning towards more fitted clothes this late in the game, otherwise I feel like I'm taking up a lot of space!

This next outfit is my usual casual uniform: striped tee, jeans, Converse.

View fullsize

And lastly, another uniform - this one has been dependable all winter and it resurfaced when we had another cold spell.

This H&M non-maternity top has been such a super-star, I've worn it constantly (also wearing super-star Old Navy maternity leggings and Steve Madden Intyce boots). We wanted to take a quick babymoon, and this was the only time my husband had off, but at 36.5 weeks, I didn't feel comfortable traveling too far. We went to Overlook Farm in Clarksville, MO, where this photo was taken. It was an...interesting...experience. Email me if you're thinking of going! :)

easy peasy

Not much to tell here, just your typical easy, comfy outfit. A bit of a variation on my winter uniform.This was waaay back when I was about 20 weeks (I'm about 23 weeks now, and that's almost 6 months for people who aren't pregnant and used to counting in weeks! Oh yeah, and I still have 4 more months to go for a total of 10, NOT 9 months, grrr).

View fullsize

(Thrifted top, Old Navy maternity leggings, Steve Madden boots, Need Supply necklace)

As you know, I thrift a lot of things, including books. How interesting is this little collage I made of different editions of What to Expect? Maternity styles (and activities, apparently) have changed a bit...

View fullsize

Follow mindful closet on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest!

winter uniform

Baby or no baby, this is my standard casual winter uniform: chunky sweater+skinny jeans/pants/leggings+boots. Depending on the weather, long underwear underneath it all, of course ;) I've had to dress up more than this for the last couple of weeks, so I'll be living in it this weekend.

View fullsize

I'm wearing Old Navy maternity tee, Zara sweater - on sale now!, Old Navy maternity leggings, and Steve Madden boots. I've been living in these leggings, so much so that when I saw another pair of them at a consignment store for $5, I picked them up too. I've had the boots for years and I'm always surprised on how many compliments I get on them - they're way on sale now too! Something else - does anyone still think that black and brown together is taboo? I see it all the time, love it, and think that that rule has gone the way of the "match your purse to your shoes" rule.

On another note, I just finished a big project and feel the need to reward myself by shopping. The thing is, when I stop to think about it, I REALLY don't need anything. Anything I would buy with this impulse would probably get worn once or twice and then purged in the next few months. So, I'll do a little online window shopping and pinning, and take a nap. That's what I really need :)

Follow mindful closet on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest!

uniform dressing

My goal is to help people have an organized, streamlined closet that makes getting dressed easy. One surefire way to acheive this by having a uniform. To most people that might sound like an awful idea, wearing the same thing all of the time. But if it's what you love and feel good in, it's just going to free up brain space for other more important decisions. That reason is exactly why many schools have recently instituted uniform policies - to keep distractions to learning to a minimum. While a uniform can be restrictive to creativity, it also doesn't have to be as boring or unfashionable as a pleated skirt and white blouse. Let's look at a couple of examples.

View fullsize

Ironically, two of the women who do it best are two who the media have painted as mortal enemies: Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie. Jennifer Aniston even talked about it recently in Glamour Magazine: "I pretty much have my uniform. A boyfriend jean, a wedge, a tank top. At night, I change the tank top to black and add some chains. Even on the red carpet, it has to be comfortable. I usually try to get some form of a T-shirt that looks like a gown. Like a longer tank top. A tank top, but with glitter on it."

View fullsize

Both women always look comfortable, like they actually walk in their shoes, not just from hotel to car to red carpet. Both women wear mostly neutrals: Angelina - grey, black, and nude; Jennifer - white, denim, and khaki. Both women have what would be considered "classic" style: Angelina - more of a sophisticated classic, and Jennifer - a girl-next-door classic. Both women favor clean lines and little embellishment for evening. And most people would agree that these two women have good personal style (except for maybe the odd leg pose here or there). 

Do you like these women's style? Would you change it up more or could you ever do a uniform? If so, what would it be?

(P.S. I don't recommend googling "Angelina Jolie nude flats". Just don't.) 

Follow mindful closet on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.