SUNDAY BESTS 01 // finding a new personal style
The first installment of a new weekly segment! Embarking on a personal style journey, upcoming summer plans, best bites of the week, what I'm reading + more
Welcome to the first installment of SUNDAY BESTS!
Each week, I’ll be sharing a personal note, weekly highlights, the best thing I ate all week, and what I’m reading / listening to / watching. I’ve also decided I want to make some intentional decisions about defining and creating my personal style — more on that below! — so I’ll be sharing about that here as well.
My style has morphed and changed a few times over the years. Several years ago, let’s call is 2013-2016, my style was pretty bright, boho and funky. I remember wearing a lot of flowy maxi skirts, bell sleeves, and busy prints. Then in 2017, I found my style shifting to more of a jeans-and-tee look. As my personal style evolved, I wanted to dress more simply, in a way that matched my overall aesthetic preferences, was simple, practical, and conducive to my city lifestyle on-the-go.
Then COVID happened in 2020, and my work changed to pretty exclusively working from home. Due to safety concerns and care for the general public, it feels like my husband and I barely went out in 2020 and 2021! I was pregnant (and then newly postpartum) all of 2023, and for these past two years, I’ve still been working from home and also taking care of (i.e. chasing around) my toddler. All that to say — I realized the other day I’ve been wearing black biker shorts and an oversized black or brown tee for about three years.
It’s absolutely not a bad outfit and it’s been super practical for my lifestyle. We live in the city, and we’re out and about everyday — walking to dinner, coffee shops, the park, and picking my daughter up from her care. I’ve kind of unintentionally created a “signature look,” a wardrobe that my friends and neighbors would likely match to me before even seeing my face.
This look has served me well, but I’m feeling it’s time for a shift. I want to be recognized for a new look — one that is grounded, simple, neutral, and feels like me.
As I’ve been thinking about how to find my own personal style, I’ve decided that it’s not about the clothing itself — it’s about how you feel and function in it, the confidence it inspires, the unique personality it reflects, and the vibe it creates.
I’ve also been considering the ethics of fashion, and of the clothing industry as a whole. Do we choose to buy pieces because there is truly a gap in our wardrobe, or just because it looked good on an “influencer?” What role should sustainability and ethics play in shopping? Will this just end up in a landfill in a few years? And most importantly — what is really needed?
These questions feel especially poignant in the current moment of fast fashion — SheIn, Temu, H&M, Target, etc. — fleeting seasonal trends, and extreme overconsumption demonstrated daily by social media influencers.
My wardrobe is already pretty small. Doing a ton of clothing shopping has never really been my thing, and if I haven’t worn something in about six months, I usually just donate it or sell it on Poshmark. I don’t like clutter in any aspect of my life, so this naturally extends to my closet. I’ve employed a similar concept to my daughter’s closet. First of all — she’s two. She doesn’t need a ton! She has a few dresses, a few pants / shorts and tops sets, and about 6 jammies.
I want to create a small capsule wardrobe that I can come back to again and again. I’m focused on gathering a few pieces I truly love, that are made well and that will be able to be mixed and matched and worn over and over again for years to come.
Maybe I’ll do a more in-depth post later on auditing my current closet and the key pieces I choose to invest in, but for now, I know I’m looking for the following:
+ baggy, mid-rise denim jeans
+ barrel or horseshoe jeans in black
+ a black & gold belt
+ a few simple, fitted tops in ivory, black & gray
+ an oversized blazer or blazer vest
I’m not leaving everything behind — there’s definitely elements of my current wardrobe that I’ll likely continue to wear daily, such as my Catbird ring stacks, my tote bags, and my beloved New Balance sneakers. But I’m excited to start dressing more intentionally, and generally putting more effort into it. I’d love any recommendations you have for high quality, sustainable brands!
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what I’m looking forward to //
Like I mentioned in a previous post, I’m not the biggest fan of the weather summer brings. We are going to escape to my parent’s house in the NC mountains in mid-June in search of cooler temps and slower days 🍃
best bites //
A new Italian restaurant opened in our neighborhood, and we’ll def be becoming regulars! I also made these sheet pan “kebobs” this past week — they were so good, healthy and easy!
what I’m reading + watching //
READING // I’m currently reading the memoir The Ghost Marriage. I don’t want to give anything away, but it’s very shocking and entertaining to read. I’ve been really into memoirs lately! I also recently read The Tell (trigger warning for past abuse but HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend) and The Motherload (trigger warning for PPD, but again, soooo good!).
WATCHING // Season two of Nine Perfect Strangers — but I might give up on it soon because I’m not super into it and I’d rather read 🙃
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Until next time!
xx Mae