On Instagram Lately

As part of my 2017 goals I've been working hard to streamline both the content and overall look of my site, Instagram and YouTube channel. My hope is that this new direction will help showcase the versatility of a streamlined wardrobe in a more concise way.

With that in mind, today I want to share some of my newest Instagram images that reflect this new direction. I've also outlined the items featured in each picture with direct links at the bottom of this post. Enjoy!

From left to right starting at the top:

Until next time,

Audrey

5 Most Worn Items Of 2016

Happy Sunday! With the holidays over, I've been spending the past few days organizing and editing my closet for my winter capsule (coming soon!). Throughout this process each season I like to make a note of the pieces that I've worn the most so I thought it was the perfect time share my 5 most worn core items from 2016. Below, I've listed each of these pieces (with direct links) and why I love each one. 

The Cashmere Sweater

If you've seen a few of my past posts, you know that I love cashmere sweaters but don't love the high price tag that often comes with them. Even though I now have a few in my closet, I have always waited for sales so that I never exceed my budget. For this reason I was thrilled when I discovered Everlane's cashmere at a fraction of the price of traditional retail. Since purchasing my first sweater in black I've also added the navy and grey to my wardrobe and couldn't be happier with them.

Not only are these sweaters extremely reasonable ($100 each), but the quality is on par with much higher-end options on the market. If you're interested in purchasing an Everlane cashmere crew for yourself, I would keep a few things in mind. First of all being that the lighter colors are slightly sheer so if you don't want to worry about needing a camisole I recommend going for one of the darker colors like navy, black or grey.

The other thing to be mindful of is sizing. I am 5'4" and typically wear a size 4 in bottoms and an xs-s in tops but consistently need to size down for Everlane. In the case of the cashmere crew, I sized down to an xxs and still have room for a light shirt underneath.  

The Basic Jeans

Next on my list of most worn items is my favorite pair of jeans - the Levi's 501 CT. When Levi's first introduced the custom tailored 501's I was thrilled because I love the classic construction of 100% cotton jeans but the fit of the original 501's never worked for my wardrobe. Shortly after these launched promising the classic Levi's construction with a tailored fit, I was able to try them on and was instantly smitten.

That said though I would keep in mind that these jeans feature a looser fit which meant that I needed to size down 3 whole sizes to make them work for me. Even after doing this, they were still a little loose and I needed to "shrink to fit" them in order for them to be just right. Beyond this sizing issue, the construction of these jeans is fantastic and they have maintained not only their color but also their shape after countless washes and wears. 

White Silk Shirt

Another item that I have worn a ton this past year is the Everlane Round Collar Silk Shirt. I LOVE this shirt! Not only have I worn it countless times since adding it to my wardrobe, but it held up beautifully over the past 2 or so years that I've had it.

Like other Everlane items, I had to size down to an xxs for the best fit that was equal parts flattering and comfortable. I was originally going to include a picture of this shirt now for you, but decided to spare you instead because it finally needs to be retired because of some staining that is entirely my own fault. That said though, I will definitely be repurchasing this blouse once it's back in stock. 

The Striped Tee

Next up is my go-to striped tee from J. Crew. Another staple in my closet, this tee has seen me through all four seasons effortlessly. Not only is the construction on par with what I expect from J. Crew, but the cut is super flattering and not too boxy - like many striped tees can be.

Plus, the light but not too light cotton is ideal for layering year-round. Regarding size, I had to size down in this top to an xxs in order for it to be fitted without being tight. 

The Black Skirt

My final most worn item from 2016 is my black skirt from LOFT. When I first bought this skirt last year I was a little worried that I wouldn't be able to wear it as much as I hoped because it didn't have belt loops (and I LOVE belts) but that isn't the case at all.

Instead, I have found that the a-line, almost fit-and-flare cut is so flattering and lays so smoothly that I can easily layer a belt over it. By far my favorite part about this skirt though is that it's completely wrinkle resistant making it ideal for travel - because nobody wants to spend their vacation ironing and steaming. 

That's a wrap! After reviewing my most worn items from 2016 one thing became glaringly obvious - I really love neutrals and have decided to dedicate my winter capsule to fully implementing this reality. Ultimately, my goal for my upcoming capsule is to streamline my closet even more and work with even fewer items overall in order to fully demonstrate the power of accessories, shoes and outerwear to stretch core basics across all four seasons.

Before I go, I have embedded my corresponding YouTube video below and would love to know what some of you're most worn items were this past year. Let me know in the comments down below and I'll talk to you soon. 

xxAudrey

 

 

2017 Goals

Since January 1st, I have spent some time reflecting on the past year and planning my goals for the next twelve months. Even though I try to set varying goals throughout the year (regardless of the day), I love to capitalize off of the energy and momentum that the first of the year brings to set some larger-scale plans into place. With that perspective in mind, today I want to share a few of my home and fashion goals that I hope will help make 2017 one of the best years yet. 

2017 Goals

  • Continue to create new and relevant content that challenges me to think outside the box while also inspiring those around me

  • Get to know Charleston even better by visiting the local museums, historical homes and theatrical productions

  • Finish renovating and decorating most of our house

  • Add window boxes and shutters to the front of our house

  • Continue to edit my closet with a critical eye - challenging myself to get my whole wardrobe under 100 pieces - including shoes if possible

  • Utilize accessories even more to stretch a small selection of basics across all four seasons 

  • Spend more time at the beach 

That's all! Those are a few of my goals for this year that I'm excited to share with you along the way. How about you? What are some of your goals for the new year? I'd love to know in the comments down below and I hope your 2017 is off to a happy, healthy and productive start. 

Until next time,

Audrey

Cuyana Travel Set Review

In my winter capsule planning post I mentioned that I had my eye on the Cuyana Travel Set in blush. 

After doing a bunch of research and reading loads of reviews I finally received this lovely toiletry set for Christmas and couldn't be happier with it.

So, whether you're interested in this set for yourself or someone else, I thought I would share a quick review with you today.

Below, I've outlined the color I got and why along with the composition and size of this set.  

Color

When I first started looking into the Cuyana Travel set I was drawn to the Blush, Ecru and Red but ultimately settled on the Blush. Even though I loved the rich red color and clean ecru, I fell for the blush the more I saw it pop up on other blogs and instagrams and couldn't be happier with my decision. At first I was worried that the blush would be too pink but in-person it isn't at all. Instead, it's the perfect pale pink color that's chic rather than too girly and looks lovely with the gold monogram across the front.  

Composition

The composition of this set is on par with high-end leather ware of a much higher price point. Made from 100% Argentinian leather, this set also features beautiful construction and delicate stitching that sets it apart from other cosmetic bags on the market.  

Size

While researching this set I perused countless blog and instagram photos to get a feel for the size but was still surprised when I received it. While the smaller of the two bags was exactly as I imagined it  would be, the larger one with the monogram was much larger. Regardless of this size discrepancy, I am very happy with the size and am so thrilled that I can fit a TON in it including makeup brushes.  

So far, I've had this set for a few weeks and couldn't be happier with it. It has traveled beautifully and still looks brand new despite being packed tightly in my carry-on luggage via both plane and car.

Before I go I'd love to know if you have this set and if you like it. Or, do you have another makeup bag that you love? Let me know in the comments down below and happy Tuesday!

Until next time,

Audrey

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