Reading this post felt so sensual and artistic. The description of the outfit so erotic with texture, color, and detail thought through, and savored. The photos like contemporary portraits. I especially love the unique denim jacket. I couldn't decide on which outfit I liked more. Walking this edge between the desire to buy and yet holding yourself back is exciting. To be in a space of longing. Perhaps this is an "upside" to a no buy year.
Personally, finding inspiration from a designer I have a fashion crush on.
P.S. Definitely like the pattern of the white shirt better than the online one.
Ruby! Reading how this post made you feel will definitely be a highlight of my day. Your reference to walking on an edge made me think of this: I currently feel a shift in my style toward more tailored pieces and my first thought was about how I could honor that without shopping. Then I remembered that I have clothes in bags waiting to be consigned...waiting for the right season to come around so that they'll take them seems to be a great pondering period. I pulled a few items out of the bags that satisfied my desire to switch things up and I'm feeling content again.
I really love that pattern too. I find the idea of making a shirt (with all the details) intimidating, but definitely something I'd like to challenge myself on in the future.
As always you are giving me something profound to “sit with.” Even though I have WFH since 2013, it wasn’t until 2020 when I began the style decline of athleisure wear 24/7…as I work away on my laptop, exercise & run errands here & there - I am a style-less version of my old self typically draped in Lululemon. Ha ha…I’m going to “shop” in my own closet today and put on some real clothes whether I have plans or not! Thank you as always
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Wendy ❤️ And it's so easy to fall into wearing athleisure every day! It's comfortable and practical, especially when we're home all day and no one is seeing us 😂 If you have the time later, I'd love to read about what you shopped from your closet. And if not, I hope you felt amazing!
I had a similar thing this week with suddenly finding myself obsessing over addidas spezials in red and pink. I think a few people in my feed were wearing them and for ages I’ve thought, no, I know red accessories are ‘in’ but I’m not going there. Then suddenly I think I need them, that they will make sense of everything else I own, that I’ll feel better and more confident and fun and friendly if I own them and then I’m searching for them. On finding them ‘sold out everywhere’ my need deepens and I’m frantically considering buying from the resellers who have doubled the price. I take a breath and put down my phone.
Today I went to town and found some other adidas trainers, tried them on and was so seriously underwhelmed by the flimsy quality that I had no problem putting them back. And deleting myself from the ‘wait lists’ I’m on. In that moment the whole ridiculous influencer charade became really clear. Sometimes it is just that wait time needed for my brain to remember what matters most.
I came home and found fabric to make pomona pants instead.
I like the idea of a wait list because it really will make you think over a longer period about what is needed. I love how you thought about changing what you have to suit.
I remember when you made those pants from the shower curtain! So good to see them still going strong!
I had a piece of thick cotton, linen blend in cream very broad stripes. It has been in my fabric bin for about 15 years! The corner had been annoyingly cut off so I spent all of last Saturday levelling it up and creating a stripe matched patch to make it rectangle again - harder than it sounds! I was going to cover a head board with it but it is quite pale. Then I’m feeling spring poking its head up and I’ve been toying with a few sustainable brand wide leg pants for a while and I suddenly realised (maybe when I saw your pomonas the other day) that I could make some with that fabric. Wish me luck!
Ooo this fabric sounds so dreamy! And I feel the pain of matching stripes...I think I'm just going to work in solids from now on 😉 I really love the shape of the pomona pants...the only thing I don't like is that there are no in-seam side pockets but I suppose I could just make a cut down each side. I just went out and bought some new types of closures (hook and eye, parachute buckle and cord stops) to make something although I'm not entirely sure what yet. I just really have making button holes! But first, I have to finally tackle the alterations pile...good project for Sunday I think!
Isn't it amazing how our brain instantly goes into scarcity mode when we constantly see something we didn't even knew we wanted :) Thank you for sharing your thought process around these trainers. I found myself nodding along with it as I have had so many similar thought processes. And I think you'll enjoy your new pomona pants so much more...what color/fabric are you using? I wore my favorite pair of pomonas yesterday...blue/white/green checkered cotton (from a thrifted shower curtain) and it felt like the perfect "spring is almost here" thing to wear!
I just remembered the other thing I was going to say about inspiration - what you actually asked us about! ... I have started to reorganise my Pinterest board into boards for items I already own. So, instead of all my dress dreams being in one board, I’ve deleted those I don’t have anything like and instead grouped images of people looking nice in things that are similar to those I already own. Then when I feel like wearing my black poplin dress I can look there for how others have styled something similar.
It’s going to take a while because I have about 1300 pins saved but I want to organise them that way so I have on-tap inspiration for how to style what I already own differently. 😊 I am also liking th
This sounds like such a great idea, Kate! Thanks for sharing. I'm definitely inspired to reorganize my Pinterest boards...it's been a while. And now you have me thinking about a black poplin dress....I have a huge swath of black cotton poplin that I bought to make curtains but never did.
Oh wow! I just don’t think you can go wrong with a black poplin dress. I love how the pins I have show one with tan accessories, one with blue denim, a pink open shirt, red shoes 🙄, white open shirt, green camo jacket and platform crocs, heels and silver bag… all so different!
I’m going to try it with a handful of my favourite pieces.
Before, I kept trying to organise the actual physical items, but that’s not easy with different height hanging spaces, seasonal storage and an obsession for colour grouping. I don’t want to commit to certain items always being together. I suppose this virtual collecting is a bit like the audit you did a while back?
I have one board called ‘silhouettes’ which is just the shapes of clothes I like, so I can make the shapes with the colours and fabrics I already have. And another called ‘colours and tones’ which is just that, ideas for how to use colour more creatively without focusing on the items themselves.
It feels a bit like shopping because you’re accumulating things but it’s all just images and nothing to actually clutter life… although I suppose it’s also very suggestive and can lead to feelings of ‘if only I had…’ But, if you can always make that a creative challenge with what’s available to you, (which is what you’re so good at) then I guess it will make your items work even harder.
Merchant and Mills have lovely online patterns for swing dresses and a wonderful top with big sleeves. Does your no buy year include patterns?
We’re both going to be wearing fabrics we bought for our homes 😆
Reading this post felt so sensual and artistic. The description of the outfit so erotic with texture, color, and detail thought through, and savored. The photos like contemporary portraits. I especially love the unique denim jacket. I couldn't decide on which outfit I liked more. Walking this edge between the desire to buy and yet holding yourself back is exciting. To be in a space of longing. Perhaps this is an "upside" to a no buy year.
Personally, finding inspiration from a designer I have a fashion crush on.
P.S. Definitely like the pattern of the white shirt better than the online one.
Ruby! Reading how this post made you feel will definitely be a highlight of my day. Your reference to walking on an edge made me think of this: I currently feel a shift in my style toward more tailored pieces and my first thought was about how I could honor that without shopping. Then I remembered that I have clothes in bags waiting to be consigned...waiting for the right season to come around so that they'll take them seems to be a great pondering period. I pulled a few items out of the bags that satisfied my desire to switch things up and I'm feeling content again.
I really love that pattern too. I find the idea of making a shirt (with all the details) intimidating, but definitely something I'd like to challenge myself on in the future.
As always you are giving me something profound to “sit with.” Even though I have WFH since 2013, it wasn’t until 2020 when I began the style decline of athleisure wear 24/7…as I work away on my laptop, exercise & run errands here & there - I am a style-less version of my old self typically draped in Lululemon. Ha ha…I’m going to “shop” in my own closet today and put on some real clothes whether I have plans or not! Thank you as always
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Wendy ❤️ And it's so easy to fall into wearing athleisure every day! It's comfortable and practical, especially when we're home all day and no one is seeing us 😂 If you have the time later, I'd love to read about what you shopped from your closet. And if not, I hope you felt amazing!
This is a great outfit!
I had a similar thing this week with suddenly finding myself obsessing over addidas spezials in red and pink. I think a few people in my feed were wearing them and for ages I’ve thought, no, I know red accessories are ‘in’ but I’m not going there. Then suddenly I think I need them, that they will make sense of everything else I own, that I’ll feel better and more confident and fun and friendly if I own them and then I’m searching for them. On finding them ‘sold out everywhere’ my need deepens and I’m frantically considering buying from the resellers who have doubled the price. I take a breath and put down my phone.
Today I went to town and found some other adidas trainers, tried them on and was so seriously underwhelmed by the flimsy quality that I had no problem putting them back. And deleting myself from the ‘wait lists’ I’m on. In that moment the whole ridiculous influencer charade became really clear. Sometimes it is just that wait time needed for my brain to remember what matters most.
I came home and found fabric to make pomona pants instead.
I like the idea of a wait list because it really will make you think over a longer period about what is needed. I love how you thought about changing what you have to suit.
I remember when you made those pants from the shower curtain! So good to see them still going strong!
I had a piece of thick cotton, linen blend in cream very broad stripes. It has been in my fabric bin for about 15 years! The corner had been annoyingly cut off so I spent all of last Saturday levelling it up and creating a stripe matched patch to make it rectangle again - harder than it sounds! I was going to cover a head board with it but it is quite pale. Then I’m feeling spring poking its head up and I’ve been toying with a few sustainable brand wide leg pants for a while and I suddenly realised (maybe when I saw your pomonas the other day) that I could make some with that fabric. Wish me luck!
Ooo this fabric sounds so dreamy! And I feel the pain of matching stripes...I think I'm just going to work in solids from now on 😉 I really love the shape of the pomona pants...the only thing I don't like is that there are no in-seam side pockets but I suppose I could just make a cut down each side. I just went out and bought some new types of closures (hook and eye, parachute buckle and cord stops) to make something although I'm not entirely sure what yet. I just really have making button holes! But first, I have to finally tackle the alterations pile...good project for Sunday I think!
Isn't it amazing how our brain instantly goes into scarcity mode when we constantly see something we didn't even knew we wanted :) Thank you for sharing your thought process around these trainers. I found myself nodding along with it as I have had so many similar thought processes. And I think you'll enjoy your new pomona pants so much more...what color/fabric are you using? I wore my favorite pair of pomonas yesterday...blue/white/green checkered cotton (from a thrifted shower curtain) and it felt like the perfect "spring is almost here" thing to wear!
I love this outfit!!!
Thank you! It was definitely a nice reminder that I can enjoy the things I already own without adding more.
I just remembered the other thing I was going to say about inspiration - what you actually asked us about! ... I have started to reorganise my Pinterest board into boards for items I already own. So, instead of all my dress dreams being in one board, I’ve deleted those I don’t have anything like and instead grouped images of people looking nice in things that are similar to those I already own. Then when I feel like wearing my black poplin dress I can look there for how others have styled something similar.
It’s going to take a while because I have about 1300 pins saved but I want to organise them that way so I have on-tap inspiration for how to style what I already own differently. 😊 I am also liking th
This sounds like such a great idea, Kate! Thanks for sharing. I'm definitely inspired to reorganize my Pinterest boards...it's been a while. And now you have me thinking about a black poplin dress....I have a huge swath of black cotton poplin that I bought to make curtains but never did.
Oh wow! I just don’t think you can go wrong with a black poplin dress. I love how the pins I have show one with tan accessories, one with blue denim, a pink open shirt, red shoes 🙄, white open shirt, green camo jacket and platform crocs, heels and silver bag… all so different!
I’m going to try it with a handful of my favourite pieces.
Before, I kept trying to organise the actual physical items, but that’s not easy with different height hanging spaces, seasonal storage and an obsession for colour grouping. I don’t want to commit to certain items always being together. I suppose this virtual collecting is a bit like the audit you did a while back?
I have one board called ‘silhouettes’ which is just the shapes of clothes I like, so I can make the shapes with the colours and fabrics I already have. And another called ‘colours and tones’ which is just that, ideas for how to use colour more creatively without focusing on the items themselves.
It feels a bit like shopping because you’re accumulating things but it’s all just images and nothing to actually clutter life… although I suppose it’s also very suggestive and can lead to feelings of ‘if only I had…’ But, if you can always make that a creative challenge with what’s available to you, (which is what you’re so good at) then I guess it will make your items work even harder.
Merchant and Mills have lovely online patterns for swing dresses and a wonderful top with big sleeves. Does your no buy year include patterns?
We’re both going to be wearing fabrics we bought for our homes 😆