I want to kick this newsletter off with a spread from one of the most beloved books in my house:
“We’re going on a bear hunt. We’re going to catch a big one. What a beautiful day! We’re not scared. Oh-oh! A snowstorm! A swirling, whirling snowstorm. We can’t go over it. We can’t go under it. Oh no! We’ve got to go through it.”
This is honestly how I view my Substack. One big cathartic sartorial exercise, that luckily, some people find interesting/funny/helpful. But sometimes, thinking TOO much about building out my wardrobe feels a bit like another favorite children’s book, “If you give a mouse a cookie.” When I pull the thread of “what do I want to buy next” shopping can begin to feel overwhelming or daunting. But! It should be fun! My wardrobe as it stands is very functional. So now everything I’m adding is more about “wanting” and less about “needing” - which honestly, feels more complicated. Because… what DO I want?
I guess as good a place as any are the pieces and images that live “rent free” in my brain. As I wrote this, a shopping plan based purely on “wants” began to take form. Sharing it all, so here we go… !
IMAGE ONE - B SIDES DENIM SYLING
I have had this image saved to my notes folder/burned into my prefrontal cortex for a WHILE. I love everything about this outfit and the styling. I’ve been checking my B Sides saved TRR search weekly for probably a year? And finally saw a pair I feel are pretty close (pictured below). The only catch? They’re a size up from my typical, and they break my TRR cardinal rule: never buy a non-returnable item. But, I think I could resell them easily if they don’t fit, and I actually don’t mind them fitting a little loosely so maybe it’s a good thing. We’ll see. They arrive today! Here is an example of how I see them fitting into my closet (I use the Indyx app!):
P.S. I’ll get into this net bag below…
P.P.S. If you give an Emily a pair of jeans, she’ll probably want a new black shirt to go with it. Remember when I told everyone in notes to “question everything” when you see models posing like this? No? Ok well, same, I don’t remember either apparently. “We’ll see” part two. She also arrives today.
P.P.P.S. I love the models hair pulled back with a bold dangly earring. I put this pair from Chan Luu into the flat lay, and I absolutely love them and probably will order next month when my shopping bill is wiped clean.
P.P.P.P.S. Can I talk for a second about how DANG GOOD the styling is over there at B Sides?? I took screenshots of my favorite looks and made a little collage, just for fun™️.
IMAGE TWO - CLAUDIA GIBELLO
This image STOPPED ME IN MY TRACKS when I saw it on Pinterest a few months ago. I marched straight to the
chat to see if anyone could ID her, a lo and behold, a Good Samaritan stepped up with her name. I love everything about this outfit. I love how it’s tonal, the proportions are great, and the color is a departure from any blazer color I’ve ever considered. I love those sunglasses too! And her hair. Anywho, when I analyze what in this image I would incorporate into my own wardrobe, I do think the blue blazer is it. I saved a TRR search and I’ll check periodically to see if any gems come up! If I wasn’t allergic to wool, this St. John one would be great (and $90!). This one is beautiful too!!IMAGE THREE - APIECE APART STYLING
Another brand styling shot that just really stuck out to me! I’ve never bought anything from Apiece Apart, but they Instagram target the hell out of me. I’m not mad at it, I love the styling ideas I get from it, honestly. I reallllllly like this color combo, but those shorts are too short for this mama (ugh, hate that word). Do I dare go for a third colorway in my beloved “effortless” shorts from Aritzia? It’s not the same color, but still looks stellar with navy and cherry red!! Speaking of which…
I need to get a red bag. I just do. This is another TRR candidate, for sure. I created a red crossbody search - this could be a contender!! Or vintage Loewe for under $200? The one pictured in this Indyx flat lay is the Claude from Sezane, which is also a great option.
IMAGE FOUR - CELINE NET BAG
When I posted recently that I had bought some inexpensive net market bags on Etsy, the amazing
alerted me to this old Celine bag, and it’s been lurking in the corners of my little brain ever since.
So IMAGINE my delight when I had an hour of solitary coffee shop time last weekend while my son was at Taekwondo and I stumbled upon the bag below at &Other Stories! It hits it all! Paracord! Net bag! Concealed storage!
Cool, yeah?? I’ll report back once I receive this delivery!
IMAGE FIVE - ROSA COPADO
Is there anything more inspiring than a street style photo where the person is smiling?? Annie was definitely onto something. I love this whole look, but instead of a cuffed jean, I think I’ll try with my new B Sides.. they serve up a similar something-something.
It lacks the punch from the colorful sneakers, but maybe a colorful mani could sub in for that. OR a fun little bag?? For your consideration!
IMAGE SIX - MY OWN TRY-ON AT PRINTEMPS
I went to the new Printemps “department store” in early April and it was a bizarre place without a lingerie department (??) but the F&B spaces throughout are LOVELY and the interiors are a site to behold. I was drawn like a moth to the flame to this jacket, but quickly wrote it off due to the $770 price tag. Not happening!! BUT I remembered Kelly over at
had schooled us all on Carted so I added the jacket (I used the SSENSE website). Last weekend I got an alert it was marked to 50% off so I bit the bullet. I haven’t been able to get it out of my head! And the last time I had this love at first site reaction with a jacket, I bought it even though I couldn’t afford it (from Theory) and I’m still wearing it 12 years later! So, I trust my jacket intuition fully!I picture myself wearing it like this….
Or dressed up like this….
No notes!
IMAGE SEVEN - ANOUK YVE
I’ve had this image on my “Summer Workwear” Pinterest board for ages! And I can recreate it pretty well, but I’m in need of a nude sandal to truly nail it. I wore this the other day with black sandals, but I think it feels a little too… boring. The nude sandal gives it a lift! I really like the look of these from Nisolo - can anyone vouch for that brand? I need these to be walkable for many thousands of steps so it makes it hard to source. So many sandals right now don’t look practical .. like.. a lot of skinny straps. No ma’am!
Also!
recommended this skirt in tie-die recently, and it looks SO good for running around to meetings in the summer! And I think in black it really functions like the pants in the Anouk outfit above because of the paper bag waist. So again (broken record) we’ll see if it’s up to snuff when it arrives. I’ll do a recap of all these purchases in my next newsletter, btw!
Chic, if I do say so myself.
Money, Money, Money! Let’s talk about it! Taboo be gone!
Bought in May- $687 - so, $187 over my budget (assuming I don’t make any returns), which is fine because I underspent in other areas this month … read this newsletter to understand what I’m talking about lol:
B Sides denim via TRR $73
Isabel Marant jacket $385
Net Bag from &Other Stories $100
Banana Republic linen paper bag skirt $84
Banana Republic cotton poplin tie shirt $45
And that leaves me with my June/July checklist:
Nude sandal (strappy but walking-friendly)
Lighter blue blazer? Or look for this in October when it cools off again?
Olive green shorts
Red bag (secondhand)
Drop earrings
That’s all from me! Thanks for bearing witness to my swirling whirling snowstorm! Well, actually, thanks to the exercise that is putting together an organized newsletter, it’s more like a neatly contained snow globe now :) this is why I write! Thanks for reading, from the bottom of my heart.
Xoxo,
Emily
What a fun month! Can’t wait to see the B Sides in action (and selfishly curious to know how true to size you think they are… have always been scared to try on the realreal!)
BSides- give this girl a sponsored post budget!!! Sooooo good Emily, I love the way you piece all your wants together in such a connected way.