The Tiny Closet

I've been focusing more on my capsule than ever.  My wish list for seasonal treats, has been minimized to accessories only.  Special things to go with my everyday style.

Goodness, there is so much fashion all around us!  It's incredibly inspiring.  And then crippling in a way, from overwhelm.

And especially after big sales like this past Memorial Day weekend, it's tempting for even a seasoned minimalist like myself to buy things just because they're fun and financially within my grasp.

But I must stay true... to what is true and meaningful.  And I truly love having only what I absolutely love and need.  For everyday!  

This kind of lifestyle often means rarely springing for sales, as well as watching the daily plethora of promotions I get hit with every morning come and go.  And I enjoy it.  I've grown well-accustomed to browsing and feasting on eye-candy.  And then being done with it.  My Tiny gem of a closet is a product of that.  And for the record, I never considered it a "capsule" until the word became popular and I found that it best described my wardrobe.  But really, it's just...my closet.

Anyway, I've grown an allegiance to what you could call a minimalist lifestyle partly due to the type of person I am, and also because of my daily routine.

These photos show me on one of the shoots I directed during the week for my clothing line.  Since I do roughly the same things every single day - and many times, I do the same things at even the same time everyday, I am a creature of habit, so my collection of clothing definitely reflects that.  

I guess this has made me a minimalist.  

This piece, a fabulous deep-v tunic is part of my daily look.  Like all the time, ha.  It's also part of The Capsule line where all of the items are available year-round...  Because I wear them year-round.  

We all have items in our closet that are go-tos all year long.  I think a closet is better if it has that quality.

 Because maybe you have a pretty routine day-to-day yourself and isn't it so nice to be able to grab a fabulous outfit everyday that always works for you, and always makes you feel fabulous?  I think it is anyway.  So here's another daily look for ya.  I don't change them much but I do love indulging in making them look even better.

Do you love your daily wear?

Thank you for visiting and reading!  See you next week for another capsule look :)

My birthday always finds me assessing my journey so far in life, trying to congratulate myself on my work without glaring too hard at the many things I procrastinated on.  But mostly, every birthday, I find myself still waiting for something. 

Does this happen to you?  Do you ever feel like you're waiting?

Maybe I'm waiting on that mythical moment where I can put up my feet and relax because I'm finally here!  Hey there, adulthood!  Hey there, life, I'm here and I'm crushing it!  I really want to say that.  

Or maybe I'm waiting for that adventure of a lifetime.  The kind of epic adventure where I'm so in the moment, I forget time exists and I'm so hysterically caught up in life that I'm not worried about paying rent or if I fed the dog.  

Or maybe I'm waiting for the big game-changing break in my career where I feel like my hard work has truly paid off and I'm really making a difference. 

But I'm not pursing my lips at the vanity of age.  It's the fact that I don't really know what I want out of life.  

Clearly, I'm waiting for something to come along though.

My clothing, my mastery of my personal style has helped me see who I am over the years.  I've focused so hard on the art of getting dressed, building and mastering a closet I love.  I think I need to focus on how to build and curate a life that I love.  

I read somewhere, "What would your 86 year old self tell you now?"  I think she'd tell me to take more breaks, spend more time with friends and be easier on myself.  I'll start with that.

Hope you enjoy the Memorial weekend and join me next Thursday for a new post!

Anyway, instead of a trench and white woven block heels, I decided to spice it up for the sake of restyling inspiration: a fun fresh white mud cloth open coat and black simple strap heeled sandals.

This particular ensemble isn't something I'd wear - it's not quite me but I couldn't help but take photos of it when I thought up the pairings.  It reminds me of something fun to wear on a girls trip or out to lunch.  And I do this a lot actually, these types of out-of-my-zone stylings.  The habit keeps my brain and ideas fresh and ready to experiment with anything.  Why is that helpful?

Well, for me personally, since I design clothing for other women, it keeps me thinking about all the different possibilities of styling and designing and not just sticking to my own comforts, which is limiting over time.   Experimentation, dress up sessions, are also helpful for finding one's own personal style.  Or igniting a spark of new ideas with an old wardrobe.

Take your clothes and just try on everything with everything else!  

You'd be surprised at all the fantastic outfits that can be put together when you come at styling from a different, unfamiliar angle.  That's what my Style After Style series is all about.

I almost forgot... about Valentines Day! 

If you've been following me for a while, you may know that I LOVE this day.  A day of love?  What could be better?

A day to show those who are close to you that they're loved.  By you!  Lovers, friends, family, and secret crushes - Valentines Day is hands down, my favorite holiday.  

 It's also a fave because I love chocolate.  And though candy is the cornier side to this day, like Halloween, the chocolate runeth over - and can be easily attained for free at front desks and lobbies.  Mmmm.

Anyway, I think I love this day so much because I have such fond memories of it from childhood.  My mom would give me a goofy sweet card with homemade cookies or she'd bake a cake.  And my dad would send a dozen roses to my school addressed to me from a "secret admirer" - love dad.

 And I also thought it'd be perfect to debut today.  

That being said, this brilliant red is also a fabulous statement color for everyday.  And you know me, my wardrobe isn't a museum - I want to live in my clothes!  Sure this bag will be special for special occasions buuuuut, say for instance a fun day out where I'll only need my phone, Visa, and lipstick?  This MC Nano mama will go with just about everything I own.  Boom! 

 And speaking of going with everything - my Tourist Tunic in white (from The Tiny Closet Shop) is pretty much the coolest thing I own besides my hopeful collection of vintage Levis.  In a place like L.A., it's a seasonless statement piece and considered a basic.  White tees don't have to look like white tees.  I love putting a statement  spin on trusted everyday pieces like a t-shirt and jeans.

 
What is it about luxury that makes it so elusive?  Surely, we can identify it once we see it.  But to achieve the look ourselves, to embody it in our own way tends to be a feat.  Magazines, television, department stores, they're all virtually prodding us endlessly to try to achieve this "look of luxury" by buying a product.  As if it comes in physical form.  And after sampling whats offered, for most of us, whatever we buy never quite pulls it off.  And if it does, you better maintain it by buying more!  

Yes, luxury, it seems, is for those who can afford it...  

Naaah, I don't buy it.
Maybe luxury is so elusive because its active ingredient is a feeling exuded.  Not a look.  
And true luxury is not to be confused with glamour.
No - today, I'm discussing "Luxury"!  
What is it made up of fundamentally?  
How can you make it apart of your daily lifestyle?
Ok, so take away the Gucci bags, the expensive shades, the Louboutin heels, etc - I've seen women in jeans and a tee, without a stitch of makeup looking gloriously luxurious.  What gives?

What do they possess that everyone else is trying to copy?  
I've studied this concept of luxury probably longer than I've been aware.  And then I'm reminded of my upbringing:  My parents!

My parents always had champagne tastes and an incredible work ethic to buy that champagne.  But it's not about the money.  I realize they never did much traveling or extravagant vacations.  They decided to spend their energy and interests at home in their daily lifestyle.

My friends would always say my parents were so fancy.  But really... they just took more pride in the quality of their daily life, their personal time, and their daily leisure.  

And that right there embodies true luxury.
So going forward with this theory, let us do some dissecting, shall we?  Luxury is simply the art of maintaining:

QUALITY  -  TIME  -  LEISURE

These 3 components actually umbrella many aspects of life.  

• Quality of the things you buy and the clothes you wear.  The life you lead and the friends you surround yourself with.

• Time management for yourself to exercise, therapize, and learn new things.  Time to dedicate to others.  

• Leisure to chill the fuck out.  Grab a coffee, go to the beach, have a 3-hour brunch with friends.  Because life is hectic and work can be intrusive of our space.

I have been waiting to reveal this!!   With the weather having been like mid July for the past couple months, I postponed showcasing my Fall pieces so that I could actually wear them and figure out what kind of look I wanted to have this season.