trends.

I've always followed the rule that if you are old enough to have worn the fashion trend when it first came out, you shouldn't wear it again when it inevitably comes back in style. This is maybe the only fashion advice that I learned from my mother, and I believe that she said it in relation to why she wouldn't wear a pair of really cute 70s-ish ankle-strap platform sandals. This was the 90s.

Me and my mom. Don't I look thrilled.

Now, to be clear, I count ankle-strap platform sandals as classics, and therefore perpetually in style, but her rule has stayed with me and come in handy so much over the last few years of 90s style revival. It's really hard to see fashion that you L-O-V-E-D everywhere and know you shouldn't wear it. And yes, wear whatever makes you feel good and all, but let's be real. Unless I'm gardening or painting, I have no business wearing overalls, especially denim overall shorts worn with one of the straps hanging off. (For the record, this is the last thing I would ever have predicted would cycle back into style and I've actually seen it on multiple fashion blogs. I'm still embarrassed that I wore it, but even more embarrassed for the people re-wearing it.)

Anyway, I broke the rule today. It's actually the first fashion impulse buy I've made in forever and admittedly something that I may never probably will never wear. And technically, I didn't wear bell-bottoms the first (second?) time they were in style because I was too concerned about what my frienemies would think if I deviated from my uniform of colored jeans, baby tees and Reebok hi-tops.

From Zara, but gone now.

I'm usually so good about planning my wardrobe and shopping from lists, and today the only things on my list were a flowy floral dress (score!) and some jeans. These were folded on a table with a bunch of other jeans and on clearance. And the perfect length which is unheard of since I'm 5'3" with short legs. I'm gonna pretend that they're just 70s inspired (and not 90s does 70s inspired) and then I won't have remembered the original trend. But I'm certainly not going to pick up a pair for my mom.

I was surprised that I couldn't find any pictures of me in my colored jeans back in the day, but these were pre-digital days and almost all of my childhood photos were lost to Hurricane Katrina. On the plus side, I found evidence that explains why I can't bring myself to wear a romper:

Little me in my purple romper. My sister is staring at some random guy instead of the clown behind us.  

the details

When people come to our home, they often comment on how minimal we are. I hate clutter and excess, and my mind is only at ease in an organized environment. I am not very sentimental (anymore) about material things, and only keep things that are really loved or used often (preferably both). Luckily, my husband is the same way. Considering the fact that we move at lot—8 times in the last decade—and evaluate every single item each time we pack and unpack, it’s been very easy to remain minimal.

My closet is the same way. I read sometimes about people shopping their closets or buying an item that they already owned and forgot about, but there’s no way that could happen to me. I suspect that I have only a fraction of the number of clothing items that most American women my age have, and I love every thing that I own. I’ve been doing research on minimal closets and capsule wardrobes, but my entire wardrobe is not much bigger than a capsule to begin with (66 pieces, excluding lounge/exercise clothes, underwear, and shoes).

Every season I look over saved photographs for inspiration on what I want to wear. For the fall and winter of 2014, the looks that I found inspiring are the same ones I’ve been drawn to over and over for the last few years and, basically, what I already have sitting in my closet—white shirts, blazers, skinny jeans, ankle boots and ballet flats. I have my signature style pinned down, but I’m still bored of wearing my real clothes in real life and I feel like I’m wearing the same things over and over again—because I am! I looked through my pins and photos one more time asking myself what is so different about that than what I wear, and the answer was all in the details: a cuffed hem, bright nail polish, stack of bangles, fancy belt or cool hat. The little things that add your own unique voice to a simple outfit.

Coco Chanel famously said that before leaving the house a lady should look in the mirror and remove one accessory, my goal for this season is to do the opposite. Add one (or two or three) details each time I leave the house.

what to wear: workout

Well, I did it. I exercised. I find that's the hardest part, to actually go and do it instead of just saying that I am going to. And then every time after that, it gets easier and a little more routine. Right now, I'm just walking on the elliptical for 20-30 minutes, because, man, I am out of shape! I've only exercised a handful of times over the past 3 years, but I'm ready to change that.

Another key for me, my workout setlist. I actually look forward to listening to it, and I know when Adele come on that I'm ready to cool down.

My setlist (above) is about 27 minutes worth of music, organized by beats per minute - starts from 125, works it's way up to 150, and then back down to 128.  and I plan to add more songs as I start spending more time at the gym.

Right now, my workout wardrobe consists of a pair of old Reebok's, one pair of black yoga pants, two sports bras, topped by one of my husband's holey t-shirts. If this resolution's successful, I'm definitely going to expand it a bit. To that end, I've been googling "celebrity workout" for inspiration (Ashley Greene and Kate Beckinsale especially), and I've collected a few of my favorite gym looks:

And figured that I want simple, non-show-off-y basics in black, white and gray to mix and match:

fashion inspiration

I’ve always had a very simple style. I’ve lamented this in the past, but I think I’m finally ready to embrace it. My wardrobe is mostly basics, ninety percent black and white. But I’m still struggling to figure out the difference between stylishly classic and just boring. I’ve been looking at inspiration pictures for help, here are some of my favorites:

I'm ready to go home.

I want some a stack of tiny, delicate rings to wear on my fingers.

spring 2012

Usually, I have a whole list of things I want to buy for the new season, but right now, the only thing on the want list is a huge striped sunhat a la Megan Fox in this Jalouse spread:

[via]

I'm confused about what I want to wear and how I want to look. I feel boring in my clothes, even dressed up, but I don't know what to change. Guess I need to start searching for some style inspiration for spring and summer.

designer dress lust

Why am I obsessed photographic print dresses? Is is a child of the 90s thing?

Akris runway, spring 2012

(I never wanted any article of clothing as much as I wanted Prada's amazing beach print dress. Except maybe this handbag.)

loving

star jewelry in ads and editorials...

(I have a smaller version of these earrings!)

Bonus if worn with anything from Dolce & Gabbana's Fall 2011 collection!

black and white

Seems like I'm not the only one loving on black and white (and Chanel) right now. It's just so crisp and classic, especially with some nice red lips. Here's some of my fall+winter inspiration clips:

And here's some of my favorite recent b&w-styled editorials.

Isabeli Fontana by Marcin Tyszka in Vogue Mexico (new one for me...), September 2011:

Magdalena Frackowiak by Katja Rahlwes in Vogue Paris, October 2011:

And, lastly, Hanna Herzsprun by Axl Jansen for QVEST, September 2011:

fall nudes

For the first time, ever I think, I find myself drawn to style inspiration in soft pinks and nudes for the fall:

I think it started after seeing this Neiman Marcus advertisement with Karlie Kloss. Her dress is similar to one I just bought, and the nudes work so well with it:

Most of my closet is black, white, or purple, and these soft pinks and nudes would go with all of that. I also want to add some red pieces to my wardrobe, and red and nude will be a nice change from my normal red and black and white.

So excited for fall shopping, especially now that the air conditioner in my apartment is fixed and it's no longer 89 degrees inside here!

vintage dress pattern

One of my to do items is sewing a dress. After too many hours browsing, I decided on this simple 60s a-line mini with rolled collar (middle):

I'm thinking of making one in a thick red fabric for fall, to wear with my precious leopard pumps, and if that works out maybe a gray wool to wear with my black knee-high boots...

new glasses

(First thing in the morning, hence the overprocessing.)

My optometrist thought I was lying when I told him I would bring my husband back later to help me pick out frames. I think we found in these Robert Marc frames the perfect compromise between what I love when looking at other people, and what will actually work with my face. When trying them on at the store, I thought they were kind of bold, but once I started wearing them I didn't experience any mirror shock at all.

fashion

Unlikely inspiration in black and white, from the September 2011 US Glamour magazine:

Rihanna is not someone I ever thought I'd look to for style inspiration, but she looks totally glamourous and sophisticated in the spread. This is my favorite photo:

And although Selena Gomez is always adorable, I am particularly loving her sweet, but modern, '60s look with the white cat eye glasses, messy hair, and hot pink lips:

I hadn't looked at Glamour in a while, but I flipped through this issue at the hair salon and loved it so much that I may have to buy it.

accessorize

I've been trying my best to accessorize more, now that I've gotten pretty used to wearing bracelets, it's time to move on to rings! Megan Fox has a way with simple jewelry that I love. Most recently, I've been inspired to hunt for a black onyx prism cut ring similar to, but smaller than, the one she's wearing here:

I even tried on this David Yurman version, but did not like it enough to justify:

So, yesterday when we stopped by Erica Jewelry, I was thrilled to find this awesome, handcrafted version:

It's perfect! We try to stop by that little shop every time we are in Houston, because she always has some good finds. I picked up this purple one too just for fun, and I love it too:

My jewelry hook man needed a hat:

Now, I have the fun cheap stuff out of the way, and the investment pieces left on the list, like this Chanel Camilia ring as worn by Leigh Lezark:

I love that on here, although truthfully, I have my eye on Kristen Stewart's version with the tiny flower and diamond leaf:

And then Mila Kunis' Cartier LOVE bracelet, in platinum of course:

I want!