Monday Musings: New Combinations & Relaxing Into Your Style
Happy Monday, ladies. I hope your weekend included something restorative, even if it was just five quiet minutes and a really good cup of tea. Today’s post is short and sweet because my weekend was a full one.
I was somewhat surprised when a reader commented on a previous “What I wore” post that I appeared to care about what I wear and how I dress. Of course, I do, but my outfits aren’t always carefully thought out down to the last detail. Last week, I got dressed by playing with combinations and was happy with the results.
Wearing What Felt Right
On Monday, I met a friend for lunch and a long, fun chat about any and everything. She’s also really fun to shop with because she gets me out of my comfort zone. I wore a pair of dark-wash bootcut jeans and buttoned a black cardigan up like a pullover. I added a large pearl necklace, then looked in the mirror and decided if one was good, two might be more fun, and they were. I was hitting the mall after, so I wore comfy sneakers and a bag I could sling over my shoulder. No less than 3 women commented on my pearls at Nordstrom, so I’ll be wearing them like this again ☺️.
Later in the week, I spent a full day working from home wearing wide-cuffed jeans and a cashmere tee. During the day, I wore socks because the house felt chilly, and when we got a last-minute invitation to meet friends for a casual dinner, I added a cotton cardigan and switched to my black Mary Janes. When I looked at this picture of my outfit, I second-guessed my choice and decided that the next time I experiment with a trend, I would do it with a less expensive garment. I like these jeans, but I’m not wearing them often enough to warrant their price.
Over the weekend, I wore a red-and-white striped tee with these cropped Chico’s black pants to a family birthday barbeque. I added these raspberry-colored slides, which are far enough away from the top to coordinate nicely. I was inspired to buy these sandals after struggling to find red shoes, and I decided this was an affordable option that I knew I would wear a lot. My hat never saw the light of day because we were under an overhang, but the necklace was a fun touch. I haven’t worn it in many years, but for some reason, it felt right with this combination.
Not Every Outfit Needs a Strategy
I still love the creative side of getting dressed…playing with proportions, mixing textures, and finding that sweet spot between structure and softness. There’s real joy in making an outfit click. But lately, I’m leaning more into play than perfection.
Also, a small confession…I’ve realized I can’t always see my accessories clearly, so they tend to go unworn. I’m in the process of rethinking how I store them so they’re easier to reach for because what’s the point of having lovely things if they stay tucked away?
Style doesn’t have to be a project. Sometimes the fun is simply in putting things together for the pleasure of it.
Do you have a smart way of organizing your accessories, or do you forget to wear them too? I’d love to hear what’s working for you.
Like Kathy said, I have a large corkboard with pushpins on a bathroom wall for my necklaces. It is on a return wall that you have to be all the way into the bathroom to see so it doesn’t look messy, but those that do see it say it looks like a piece of art. The rings and bracelets I wear the most are in a half round jewelry box on a half round table next to it so they are handy. The earrings I wear the most are on a cute tray by my bathroom sink. But the bulk of my jewelry is in a BIG jewelry cabinet that sits on a shelf in the closet that I rarely get into. I’m finding probably 90% of my jewelry isn’t worn because it involves too many decisions!
I’m making a concerted effort to wear more of mine. It’s so easy to get into a habit and I hate them not being worn
If I had seen you, I would have commented on your pearls as well. Fabulous idea.
I’m still using my wood jewelry box my husband gave me years ago. I have very few pieces so I keep my silver jewelry in one area of the box and my gold in another. I usually only wear earrings as necklaces seem to get in my way through the day. The same with scarves. They are too hot or just get in my food or whatever Im doing. Simple works best for me. I like your hair. It is longer than you used to wear it. Very attractive on you.
For scarves, I definitely put the more wintery ones away for the summer/warm season. Otherwise, I have a scarf rack (with loops) in my closet, but also just stack the other scarves under that area of the closet. My husband, bless him, loves to gift me jewelry, real, costume, it’s his love language. Therefore, I must be determined to wear more all the time. I go through all my jewelry regularly and use both the hanging closet holder with clear pouches and the acrylic units with drawers. I don’t like large chunky jewelry so mine is somewhat easier to store.
You always look just SO cool to me!
I guess you truly do study proportion and color and you know what looks wonderful! I just dont have that! I am wearing more pearls this spring and somebody commented recently, so that made my day! !
You’re so sweet.
Mondays outfit (less the purse with the high $$ 😝) and the weekend out look like two outfits it could lean into for my ootd. Both would travel well and be comfortable yet styled. Thanks for the suggestions!
Great outfits! I particularly liked the cuffed jeans and clicked on the link. Blanched at the price and then went back and read the rest of your post on that outfit. Agreed that those are too pricey for the trend… though they certainly are cute! Keep up the great work. Love your stuff.
There are lots of affordable options.
I use something similar with clear plastic pouches and store jewelry sets in saved jewelry bags which I place in a pouch per set. I also have a necklace tree and a small decorative dish for everyday necklaces and earrings, respectively.
Absolutely love the black cashmere sweater with pearls outfit! Very ‘me’!
I have a great deal of jewelry and found that the acrylic drawer pieces as tall and wide as 13 inches work well. Rings in one drawer, silver rings in another, good diamond in another……I also have many acrylic flat boxes that have jewelry and pins in them. I stack them and can see what is in them. Silver box, gold box, turquoise necklace box, other Native American necklaces………. Out of sight out of mind for me definitely!
Same with me! I’m also having the same issue with scarves.
I use a small ladder to store my scaves I lay them over the rungs
So smart!
I bought a Frebeauty Earring Organizer Classic Jewelry Box with 50 Slots from Amazon for my earrings and I love it, but I still haven’t figured out the best way to organize my other accessories.
That sounds so smart.
I also am looking for jewelry storage ideas. I have many pieces of jewelry, both fine and costume, and have committed to purging the costume items and reorganizing those and the fine jewelry over the summer. Because I don’t wear them as often as I should! One success I’ve had with my brooches (the costume ones only): I bought a smallish pillow and an ivory linen cover for it. I pin the costume brooches to it and keep it on the bed.
Fun idea!
IF you decide you need bigger luggage, the Amazon Essential ones are nice. Expandable, great wheels, good price. Cute outfits!
Thanks for the tip.
My rings, earrings, bracelets and short necklaces are in lucite drawers stacked on my dresser. My long necklaces are on belt hangers in my closet. Visibility is key to wearing my accessories.
I agree Debbie!
I really like all your outfits. They really look fun! I can’t always see my necklaces and forget what all I really have. With arthritis it’s hard for me to use the clasp so I’m usually just wearing bracelets and earrings. We haven’t even been able to wear sandals here it’s been so cold.
I have a few small lucite racks hanging on a narrow wall in my closet – from above the light switch to as high as I can reach… I hang the faux/fun stuff on these. They are right where I need them. The ‘statement’ earrings are in a tackle box, with many compartments…so I can see them on a shelf. I group things by color (I’m an autumn) and only house what fits in my small closet…I may or may not swap out the fun stuff season by season. This is the rack I have https://www.containerstore.com/s/storage/hooks-racks/11-peg-acrylic-necklace-wall-rack/12d?productId=10028400
I love how clean and simple looking this one is. Thanks for sharing the link.
I have stuck small hooks inside my wardrobe door and hang necklaces and scarves from them so that I can see my clothes and accessories at the same time. It’s worked for me for years. Now that I’m about to retire from work I’m looking to simplify my wardrobe but am finding it hard to decide what to keep and what to donate.
I would advise taking your time to decide after you see what kind of activites you spend your time on
Great outfits! My favorite is your Monday outfit. Perfectly casual.
Thanks
I am rearranging my closets and attempting to make more accessories easily visible. I took one of those canvas hanging multiple sweater bins and I am using it for handbags. All but my largest fit well in them and you can easily see your choices. It probably holds about 20 bags. I also use a vintage clothes tree for rectangular scarves, it easily fits about 40.
I love those for handbags! I just wish I had more rod space in my tiny closet.
I love the jewelry hanging bag I bought from store “5 Below “. It hangs in my closet and has many clear small pockets for necklaces mostly- that’s what I keep in the pockets. Love it bc you can see the necklaces through the clear sleeves/pockets.