In honor of #InternationalWomensDay and the theme #BalanceForBetter, I want to celebrate the achievements of some of my favorite women owned brands and YouTube channels. Thanks so much for watching! xx
MARCH MOOD BOARD
Happy March and official month of spring!! I love spring so much, it’s my favorite season and every year I wait anxiously for it’s arrival. This year, spring seems to be stuck in a layover somewhere and is taking forever to arrive. We keep getting little hints of spring here and there but it hasn’t stuck yet. Until it does, I’m prepping for her arrival by switching out my closet (I have a video coming up all about my spring plan) and doing some much needed housekeeping and cleaning. Isn’t it amazing how out of hand that all gets when we’re hunkered inside for the winter?!?
Anyway, this month I’m so excited to start wearing my lighter layered and dreamy white and cream shades with a rustic feel and this mood board perfectly captures that. From gold accents to delicate spring greenery, I can’t wait to ease into spring with outdoor eating and a relaxed attitude.
On another note, I’ve switched my editing software and a few of the ways I was editing my videos and the difference has been amazing. My videos render and upload faster and as a result, I’m able to share more with you and I’m so excited for the spring content I have planned! I’ll be sharing my spring wardrobe plan, a mock spring capsule that includes shoes, accessories and outerwear, a spring scarf guide (and lookbook) and so much more! Until then, I’ll be listening to jazz and hoping for sunshine. xxAudrey
Time(less): A New Series Highlighting Beautiful Things Made To Stand The Test Of Time (VIDEO)
As I’ve grown my personal style over the last few years and dedicated more and more time into cultivating pieces I can wear for years to come, I’ve put a special focus on discovering artisans and creators that are making beautiful products made to stand the test of time and adding them into my wardrobe slowly but surely. Things that have been well made, carefully crafted and created with expertise and love and are often the representation of not only true artists, but also of techniques and practices that are becoming harder and harder to find. So, in order to shed light on these artists and help raise awareness for the beautiful work they’re doing, I’ll be highlighting them occasionally through this series and today we’re kicking things off with one of my absolute favorite scarf brands - Sabina Savage.
THE WHO: Sabina Savage
THE WHAT: Luxury scarves designed in London and produced in Como, Italy. Sabina launched her eponymous, luxury scarf brand in 2013 offering heritage inspired, elaborate prints on exquisite fabrics.
THE CRAFT: Each illustration is intricately hand drawn by Sabina, sometimes taking up to six weeks for a single design, before being printed onto the finest silk, wool and cashmere. The detailed and multifaceted illustrations are carefully engineered around the space to create a unique scarf with a signature aesthetic. Each scarf is expertly designed in London then produced to the highest quality and skillfully hand-edged by the renowned artisans of Como, Italy. Each scarf series is based on a larger inspiration and tells a story so beautifully that you almost don’t want to wear the scarf but rather frame it to enjoy in all it’s glory.
THE WHY: Silk scarves are a wardrobe essential for me. They’re something that I wear all the time and have every intention of wearing for the rest of my life. For me, they’re like a piece of artwork that I can wear for the world to enjoy and these are some of the best I’ve ever come across. From the intricate patterns with detailed backstory to the richly dyed, luxurious fabrics, these scarves are worth every penny in my opinion and you can find a size, pattern and price to suit a wide array of budgets and preferences.
THE SCARF I HAVE: Since I’m partial to whimsical, natural patterns, my first Sabina Savage scarf is The Hare’s Gift in Blossom and Sloe. I also have it in the wool and silk composition and you can learn more about why I chose this in the video above. For the size, I went with the largest 135cm x 135cm. I purchased this for myself last year as a birthday gift because the accompanying story and illustration spoke to my love of whimsy in such a lovely way. The tale of the Hare goes like this “The mother hare calmly and quietly sits. She watches over her son as he takes in the new world before him. Swallows flurry and flutter around them, bringing gifts of gold bells and cut flowers for the infant. The stoat and capuchin monkey quietly await their turn to meet the sacred new arrival they have heard so much about.” And I can feel that whimsy every time I look at the scarf. Plus, these colors are some of my most worn and they compliment everything in my wardrobe from black to rusty red.
THE PACKAGING: Each scarf arrives perfectly packaged in a thick cardboard box with the Sabina Savage logo. When you open the box, the scarf if folded neatly inside and wrapped in tissue paper. I keep the box to store my scarf in when I’m not wearing it. Plus, each order is accompanied by the Naturalist Handbook full of Sabina’s illustrations. HOW GORGEOUS!
You can see all of Sabina’s scarves here.
WARDROBE ESSENTIALS : KEY PIECES FOR A PERFECT CLOSET (VIDEO)
Today I want to talk about wardrobe essentials. I made a video all about my own personal essentials a while back but I took it down because I’ve since upgraded my equipment and I wanted to release a video that better represented that. Plus, I’ve come up with a new way of thinking about wardrobe essentials that may be beneficial to some of you. So let’s hop right in.
What are wardrobe essentials? In the strictest sense wardrobe essentials are pieces that are absolutely necessary for making your wardrobe work day in and day out. These are the building blocks of your personal style and can often be more utilitarian than fun but today, I want to discuss them in a different light and in 3 main categories that shouldn’t necessarily have a number tied to them but if gathered thoughtfully can result in a year long wardrobe that serves you and your unique life. After all, the sole purpose of these pieces is functionality so if you need more than one to be functional, then go for it! These categories are:
Year Round Basics - these are the blank canvas pieces that you can either wear alone or as a base for layering and such every day. Things like a white t-shirt or white shirt. These are often devoid of pattern in order to allow them to be paired with patterns on top and in my case, things that I wear all year long.
Seasonal - These are the things that may vary by season and serve as adding warmth or protection from the elements so things like a trench coat or cashmere sweater
Accents - these are the things that really speak to your personal style and help showcase that to the world. These will likely be accessories but can also be a great pair of printed pants. Anything you’ve been told isn’t necessarily a wardrobe essential for someone else but is something that you wear all the time and just feels like you. So for me, a key accent would definitely be scarves.
To help get you started, these are some of my own personal wardrobe essentials broken into these 3 categories.
Year Round Basics
white shirt - but as I’ve found, I like to have two versions (a classic, structured cotton option and a looser silk option)
T-shirts - with short sleeves or 3/4 sleeves and in black, white and stripes
black pants - straight leg and in a lightweight wool that I can wear all year
Black skirt - I love an a-line, pencil and now a longer line satin or silk
Classic jeans - these days I’m loving a medium wash with a mid to high rise and will always have a dark wash option in my closet for dressier outfits or to anchor a lighter look
Seasonal
Sweaters
Shorts
Rain coat
Accents
Silk scarf
Statement Jewelry
Every day jewelry
I would love to know what your essentials look like. Let me know in the comments below and thanks so much for stopping by! xx