The Tiny Closet

It's my birthday.

My 30th birthday, to be exact and I have been waiting for this day since I was 19 years old.  

Why?  Hm, well let's see....  

I've always imagined my thirties to be the more evolved, improved, more attractive version of my twenties.  As I suspected, on my 20th birthday, my twenties did end up being messy, painfully rookie, chock full of mind-boggling growth and awwwwkkkwwwaaaaard.   Whew!  Let's have a do-over, shall we?  Enter my thirties.  The perfect do-over I think.

Yes, yes, so I survived the terrible tumultuous twenties and more importantly, picked up a few special treasures and charms
throughout the decade to thoroughly enjoy for my thirties.  A few of which being:

Self Respect

The art of saying no.  Refinery29 listed this as one of the most important things your 30s teaches you.  It think I got a head start and I plan to master it before the end of this decade.

Passion

I finally found something I truly, adoringly believe in.  It's the first thing I think about when I wake up and the last thing I muse over before falling asleep:
Style, fashion and designing clothing.  Took me 30 years to find it and now I'm fixin' to have me some fun!! 

Girlfriends
Where would I be without each and every one of them?  If I did anything right during my twenties, it was solidifying some amazing homegirls.
My absolutely fabulous wine cellar of women friends just keep getting better and even more valuable with age.

My Man

He is an incredible force of miraculous love, inspiration and laughter.  I can't imagine a better life than the one I have by his side.

So blah blah blah, on to what I am wearing!  What better day to wear my tutu, wouldn't you say?


It was starting to sulk in the back of my Tiny Closet after I wore it in this post and as I was pondering what to wear for my first day of being 30, I realized - girl you better wear that tutu!  

Of course, in Tiny style, I chose my trusty Catherine Malandrino eyelet dress and my cropped AE denim jacket.
Two items I have paired with numerous other pieces and are very much adored staples. 

So!  For my birthday, I have one humble request for you:
as many of you are already in your 30s and 40s,  I would LOVE to hear what you have to say about it!!

Any advice on entering well-equipped for my 30s, yall?  Any words of warning?  Let me know your secret!

And as always, have an absolutely wonderful week.  Hope you enjoyed your holiday weekend :)

Over the weekend, while trying to figure out what artsy craftsy things I wanted to do for Easter Sunday, I fell into a heavy case of whimsy.  During a trip to the fabric store, 

I forgot everything I had planned to get and returned home with a tutu.  

Yes, a tutu.

Amidst all the pastel silk ribbon and dupioni and frou frou eyelet, I just exploded with inspiration and joy and snatched this thing up.  

I had been eyeing tutus for a some time and finally, I just got one.

I then proceeded to paint my nails a cool pastel green color, leaving one finger on each hand a sequiny pink.

I decided it was best to dress the tutu down.  Way down.  I planned my top to be a polar opposite.  Since I'd thrown out my old Metallica tee years ago, 

I threw on a comfy heather gray long sleeve tee from my Tiny Closet Collection instead and.... 

as I was putting on my oxfords and denim jacket, preparing to go out, I got super nervous and self conscious (am I really about to go out wearing a frickin tutu??)  aaaaand opted to stay in.

Grumble, grumble, grumble.

why did I have to feel like that?

When I began chronicling my Tiny Closet affairs, the first lesson I had to learn in rebuilding my closet into a collection that I would adore was focusing completely and only on things I love.  Surprisingly, it was very difficult.  You've got hundreds of professionals in magazines, tv shows, and blogs saying "do" and "don't" and "every woman should own.." not to mention friends, boyfriends, and family saying, "really? you're going to wear that?"  For me, it was easier to follow the rules and just buy what people told me to buy.   

If you've never had this problem, you're my hero.  I'm only recently in the last year getting the courage to wear what I really really love.  And you know what? I love this tutu.

And you know what else?  

I'm gonna wearrrrrr this tutu!  

So while I had a blast wearing it around my apartment, I do plan to wear it out soon.  And when I do, I'll remember why I got it in the first place:
because it's funny and cool, it makes me smile and it's me.

Happy Monday :)