As I am sure you all have noticed, I’ve neglected my blog. There have been numerous things in my life that prevented me from posting. When there is a lot of death and sadness going on, it makes one not want to have their picture taken. Since taking a trip to North Carolina in December, I came back ready to shift my energy to focus on the positives in life. It’s a good strategy so one is not consumed by negativity.
With that said, I hope you all enjoy this blog post and the many more to come.
When the weather season changes, that’s when I always reflect and revamp my wardrobe. With summer long gone, I started looking through my wardrobe since September to see what I need for the fall and winter. What I realized most is that while I do have a lot of basics, I have not invested enough in casual dressy outfits for the past couple of years. You know, the outfits that make you feel dressed up, but not quite dressed up enough to take you from day-to-night outings. I think this is mainly due to the lockdowns occurring in 2020. It created a shift for everyone, including myself (especially fashionably). But, as the author F. Scott Fitzgerald once wrote in his book, The Great Gatsby, “Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.” So once fall began I made it my mission to open a new chapter in my fashion wardrobe with some much needed new additions!
So far I haven’t showed online my more casual day-to-day looks. Typically for casual dressy outfits, I like to lean toward a more minimalism look. I find it fashionable, simple, and a pragmatic way of dressing for everyday. This is because for me, I want an effortless look while still having a fashionable edge. I think it brings more “life” to your day when you wear something elevated. For me, seeing a well put together outfit is like poetry to my eyes. So, how could I not want that same energy for myself? And, the best part about a minimalist look is that it is compiled of garments that can easily assimilate into your wardrobe. After all, the best way to maximize your investment in clothing is to make sure you have a cohesive wardrobe.
When starting out a minimalism wardrobe, it is key to select 3-6 colors and then build on it. The amount of colors you pick just depends on your budget and how many looks you are putting together in my opinion. That is why when I am styling others who want to elevate their wardrobe, I always recommend to start out with minimalism. Some places I would recommend to find some quality clothing that have minimalist fashion are: Banana Republic, Topman (Men’s), some Express, Theory Outlet, and some fast fashion pieces from Mango. And then an honorable mention of The Outnet, which has designer clothing on sale. For all other garments I purchase, I pick and choose items among a sea of clothing (Nordstrom and Revolve for example). Always check the fabric content before buying.
There are different ways to add to the minimalism style if you want to create your own spin on it, such as adding eccentric jewelry. Another thing you could do is that you can implement another style to create a cross between minimalism and another. For me, my favorite style to add in is a preppy style. I love wearing poplin tops with vests, with the added touch of a tie.
Take the time to mold and cultivate your own style and see how you will feel. You will feel a change within you and in your outer world. I speak this from experience as I have witnessed it many times as I have “re-created” myself. I’ll have more on that subject in a another blog post.
OUTFIT DETAILS
JOSEPH Black Coat – (Previous Season)
DOLCE & GABBANA White Poplin Top – (Previous Season)
MANGO Tie – (Previous Season)
GUCCI Black Peyton Heel – (Previous Season)
Photography by Matthew Leonetti
Ma’aasalaama xoxo
Nadine
