I bought a cardigan at a local consignment shop in the winter of 2022. I loved that it was charcoal grey, that it buttoned all the way up the neck and had a cute collar. It also had 3/4 batwing sleeves that I didn't necessarily love but was willing to overlook. I figured that the sleeves of a sweater or dress would look cute underneath it. But I've rarely worn it...the window to wear…
The cornerstone of a minimalist wardrobe is formed by those items that can be worn year-round, so having 1 item that works across multiple seasons (with a little creative styling) means that you need to own fewer items. This also means less time and money to take care and acquire new clothes. A striped shirt can definitely be classified as a wardrobe staple that can be worn throughout all 4 seasons and one that…
My favorite flower is a peony and my favorite style of dress is simple but with details that make it stand out. So, when I came across a dress that had a fitted bodice, full skirt and was called "Peony", I knew that I'd be sewing it! I've been in a bit of a sewing rut this spring/summer. The last thing that I made was a vest and that was back in March. But…
In times of overwhelm, I declutter. There’s something about having control over the things I own, and how much of it, that brings me a sense of calm. Sometimes, I feel like my personal space is the only thing I can control and decluttering gives me that. My childhood home routinely felt contentious. I grew up with an alcoholic father and "walking on eggshells" was a part of my day. Naturally, I developed some…
I feel like I’ve been planning my spring capsule wardrobe in my head for months and I'm so excited to finally be able to share it! In the past, I've switched over my seasonal capsule wardrobe on the first day of spring. But after doing this for the past 5 years, I know it's better for me to hold out until April rolls around. After a few rounds of editing, my spring capsule wardrobe…
Have you ever bought something because you loved the overall vibe or the details, but then you never end up wearing it? Yeah, me either. Just kidding. As much as I try to not have this happen, it still does. And then I'm left with 2 options: Send it back into the secondhand market for someone else to enjoy, or; Alter it into something I'll actually wear. I recently faced this dilemma with a…
I don’t think I ever truly understood the styling power of a vest until recently. I’ve had a few over the years, but they’ve never been something that I’ve reached for on a regular basis. A few years ago, I thrifted a vintage blue denim one with a fleece lining. Around the same time, I found a vintage black leather biker vest. Those 2 have set off a love of vests that I didn’t…
I did it! After a year and a half of no sewing, I finally made something! A pair of pants to be more precise. A pair of plaid pants. At the beginning of January, I posted about my intention to do the "Make Nine" sewing challenge. The idea is to choose nine projects that you want to complete over the year. It can be specific patterns, which is what I chose, or it can…
I've lost my sewjo and I want it back! I started my sewing journey back in the spring of 2020 and was very enthusiastic about it for about a year and a half. It was new and exciting and I was learning so much. But then, as usual, I put too much pressure on myself to have a handmade wardrobe and I completely froze up and abandoned it. The last time I sewed something…
The Fall 2022 fashion trends have been declared and all I can say is that I'm quite pleased with the selection. At this point, it's all been done before. You likely have quite a few of these in your wardrobe already. The ones you don't, but would like to add, can be pretty easily sourced secondhand. Which is all great news from a sustainability standpoint! I don't typically pay much attention to trends. I…
I like to keep a running wish list of things that I'd like to add to my capsule wardrobe each season. As a recovering shopaholic, a "wish list" helps me be a more intentional consumer and keeps me from slipping back into my old ways. I also try to be as sustainable as possible with my clothing purchases which means that I purchase the majority of my clothing items secondhand. A wish list is…
I’ve been wearing my spring capsule wardrobe for a few weeks now. And I’m really enjoying the selection of clothing that I’ve chosen but I did make a few changes. It all started when I came across my ideal spring coat this weekend. Navy, lightly quilted, no collar and the perfect length. It was a little expensive at $27 for a secondhand coat but it’s in excellent condition and I knew I would wear…
