five little things that made my week.Ā
1. this cookie.
{and all the others.}
2. these empty shelves.
{no, pardon me. these empty bunk beds.}
3. these hand-me-downs.
{worn more than eighteen months by a sister. already loved by a brother.}
4. this light catcher.Ā 
{cause i’m getting pretty, pretty ready to bring in the holly, so to speak. but i’ll give ‘er another week.}Ā
5. this light.
{more than any of the objects, really.}
other things:
“it was the worst kind of adventure, but they were doing it together.“
28 Comments
First of all, I love what you do here.
Second of all, I read the Club Monaco feature and I’m really touched by the idea of wearing the same article of clothing more than once in a week. Namely because I’m wearing a black turtleneck today that I wore on Monday. I “justify” the choice by telling myself that it’s been almost a whole work week since I last wore it, so people will likely not notice the repeat. And even just in typing that I can hear how shaped my dressing habits are around societal expectations. I love that you wear the same outfit for several days before changing it up. It’s refreshing to see that someone has gracefully come into their own in regard to lifestyle. Mine has been so heavily dependent on commercial marketing, so I consider blogs like yours, where I can peak into another way of life that is quite different from my own, a lovely little blessing. It’s hard to disassociate from the mass market, but it’s become increasingly important to me that I find ways to pare down my possessions and simply my life.
Thanks so much for your kindness, Wren! It was a big jump for me to work on a story with a much larger company than I typically work with, but I felt like the messaging of the piece was an important to share with a wider audience and so I took the leap. So grateful for your note.
Oh my goodness, thank you for sharing the Kate Oberlin article. What a lovely, touching story about death.
I’ll say it – Club Monaco surprised me. I consider the brand fast fashion and not consistent with the companies you tend to support and promote. Sure you wear one turtleneck for a whole week in the editorial, but it’s combined/topped with a different expensive and not made in the USA garment each day. Seems kind of silly. I was chuckling as I was reading it.
innocuous but almost like a parody of minimalism.
In the interest of transparency and dialogue, it would be useful to hear your thinking about the brand and the message you thought you were communicating, if you are able to share.
Yes, not at all the kind of brand I usually work with. In this case, I was hopeful that the overall messaging of simplicity and thoughtfulness shared on a platform that doesn’t always embrace those principles would shine through and reach folks who might typically balk at the notion of wearing the same sweater the whole week through. My work often reaches folks with philosophies very similar to my own and I was hopeful that the interview might encourage their typical customers to consider a different way of shopping, even if, as you mention, for the purposes of this piece I had to pose in clothes that I wouldn’t buy myself.
That’s the message I got! I also wear the same thing nearly every day and I’m sure it has something to do with the fact that I wore a uniform for 12 years of school. I loved waking up every morning knowing what I’d wear that day, and the next, and the next. This fall it is jeans, sweater, socks, clogs, repeat.
I’m curious, do you get to keep the clothes you model? Maybe not for Club Monaco, but companies like Elizabeth Suzann or Tradlands? How do you find room for it??
Thanks, Jennifer! The brands I work with are so generous and always offer to either let me keep the clothes or offer me a discount if I’d like to purchase them! Sometimes I welcome new pieces into the fold, but most often they get returned!
Would you wear H&M clothes if they asked you to do a sponsored post ? Say, the same turtle neck every day but from H&M ?
Hi there: You know, probably not. I wouldn’t have worked on a sponsored post for my blog with Club Monaco either, but this was an opportunity to share a bit of my philosophy on getting dressed with a wider audience and so I took the leap. There are lots of tough decisions that I make about partnerships, press, and running this business on a daily basis and this was the result of one of them.
Any idea where the Club Monaco clothes are made? I couldn’t see anything about that on the website – not usually a good sign…
Hi Nina, I believe that most of their clothes are made overseas.
“Overseas” is a very vague term! Could be Britain, could be Bangladesh… I’m guessing it’s more likely the latter?
Yes, you’re probably right!
I would much rather have you modeling for Club Monaco and sharing your message than someone who is addicted to and promotes fast fashion. Also, thank you for the link to the vegetarian Thanksgiving recipes. My son is transitioning to a vegetarian diet for health and ethical reasons, so while he says he’ll eat turkey this year, it was a perfect link to share with him as we all discuss this year’s menu. And, yes, really, the sides are the best!
Thanks, Judith! Longtime vegetarian here and the world’s biggest fan of a sides-only Thanksgiving plate!
Oh my goodness – I love the Club Monaco feature! I think it’s great that followers of a mainstream brand would get exposed to your philosophies (not to mention you look fab in all the photos!). I’m glad you took the leap. š I’m blessed with a baby bump at the moment, but I’m dying to try the turtleneck under a jumpsuit look. So so good.
Thanks so much, Jessica.
you look wonderful in the club momaco feature.
plus your friday links are my favourite. i always look forward to them. thanks!
thanks so much.
These links! I laughed, I cried. I love the turtleneck lookbook. An often overlooked fact is that turtlenecks are v helpful when you need to take a selfie laying down.
I know it. tears over mason jars, tears over kate. very good point re: turtlenecks.
Mason jars are so darn useful though. And cheap. My question is, how did they get the phone into that jar?!
haha. mason jar fan over here, as you know, but i can’t remember the last time I laughed so hard!
Your content is always so A+, and these types of posts are certainly my favorite. <3
You have a lovely living space, that light is so pretty. Also a big fan of that light catcher (and the few other things hanging beside it), and your empty shelf.
Have a lovely weekend. x
Thanks so much!
The turtleneck series was so cute. I loved it with the jumpsuit and with the sweater dress. I recently ordered the Pima turtleneck from Everlane and, without your feature, I might have not thought of layering it under a linen shirt dress I have. Love the inspiration! š
If you haven’t yet, I highly recommend watching ALL of Baroness von Sketch’s two seasons. Some sketches veer towards very salty (my mother-in-law was highly offended!) but I think they offer a hilarious and sorely needed voice on television. (It’s also a pretty monochromatic white cast and I think they’re working on that for season three.)
I laugh-cry every time!
Amusing “Minimalist”article: https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/these-are-the-6-types-of-minimalists-which-one-are-you-250532
I think I have a few of these tendencies, though I think simplifying is a personal evolution.
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