My dear friend, Lindsay, recently started an online jewelry store, Frivolity, and she asked me to take the product pictures for her! I was really honored and had a wonderful time playing with this gorgeous jewelry over the last week or so. All of the pieces are handmade by very talented artists and designers, and I was fortunate enough to spend a lot of time with these beautiful pieces recently.
The shop is now up and running, though a few more items will be added soon. I picked a few of my favorite pieces to share with you, and I encourage you to visit Frivolity to see the rest.
I had such a wonderful time photographing these stunning creations, and Frivolity is a gorgeous store filled with lovely statement jewelry. Lindsay is graciously offering my readers 10% off your purchase with the code, ALOHA. Be sure to visit Frivolity soon, and I hope you’ll find something you love!
(My thrifted skirt and bag.)
I told you I broke the no shopping in May rule that went with my recent clothing challenge, so it’s only fair that I show you why I broke it. I ran across two items I’ve had on my watch list for a long time, and it was a case of seizing the opportunity, I think.
(My thrifted Sailboat Skirt by Odille.)
The first is this fantastic, vintage-inspired Sailboat Skirt by Odille, an Anthropologie brand known for their whimsical designs. It’s from last season and the nautical theme sort of gives that away, but it looks like something my grandmother might have worn, and I love that timeless appeal. Truth be told, I’ve been on the hunt for this skirt but haven’t yet run across it in my size. The Sailboat Skirt has been my runner up for a while, and when I found it on eBay recently, I decided to get it. I don’t shop eBay very often, but I’ve always had good experiences when I do. This skirt is definitely a vintage look, but I’m planning to pair it with a simple black or white blouse to maintain a classic look.
(My new-to-me vintage Dooney & Bourke Essex bag.)
Technically, my new bag deserves its own post, since it doesn’t break the no clothing rule. I’m really picky when it comes to my handbags, and I’m not a fan of a lot of styles that are popular now. I prefer something simple, sturdy, and long lasting, because I like function over fashion when it comes to lugging around a bag every day. I’ve been using my beloved Artifact bag for almost a year, and it’s probably the best tote I’ve ever owned. But I wanted something a bit daintier for summer, and I discovered that vintage Dooney and Bourke purses are actually a thing!
I’m going to date myself here, but when I was in high school, these purses were statement pieces carried by the coolest girls in school. I never had one, and at their steep price back then, my parents would have spent almost $1000 had they bought one bag each for my two sisters and me. When I stumbled across a wonderful site that sells authentic vintage Dooney and Bourke purses, I decided to treat myself to one. It was still an investment (though much less than its original price), but my new bag is in excellent condition and made to last. Best of all, vintage Dooney and Bourke purses were made entirely in the United States, and the leather is in excellent condition. Horsekeeping stocks a great collection of these vintage purses, and their product knowledge and customer service are excellent. I can highly recommend them if you are in the market for an authentic vintage purse.
I hope to take outfit photos with my new-to-me pieces soon, and I’m excited about my new thrifted finds.
(Image created by Eden Hensley Silverstein.)
It’s June, which means my 6 for 4 Mindful Consumption Challenge has come to an end! Overall, I think the challenge was a great success and I stuck to the rules and wore six pieces for four weeks. It wasn’t particularly hard, since I work from home and don’t have any real wardrobe requirements besides function and comfort. James graduated during the last week of the challenge, so I took the opportunity to wear something different for the evening. And the night after his graduation, we went out to dinner to celebrate, and I also wore pieces that were not part of the challenge.
By the end of last week, I definitely felt bored by my lack of clothing choices, but by then, I was also used to wearing the same things over and over again. That uniform served me well during the first two weeks of the month when Ryan was traveling for work and I had very little time to get dressed each morning.
And like I told you last week, I broke the rule about clothes shopping in May and did eventually get a few things I’ve been planning to buy. It didn’t really feel like cheating, since the pieces were thrifted or ethically made and part of my summer wish list. Still, the idea of going an entire month without shopping is a great one and I should probably hold myself more accountable in that area.
After participating in this challenge, I definitely know that I can make do with less. A lot less. And I also gave my overall style a lot of thought, too. For the challenge, I picked six solid-colored pieces, and now that the challenge is over, I’m still wearing those same styles a lot. As I’m letting my hair return to its natural color, which includes a lot of grey now, I don’t feel as comfortable in some of the “younger” styles I wore in the past, like floral dresses and frilly tops. I cleaned out my closet of the things that no longer suit me, and I’m sharing or donating them. I still have plenty of items in my closet that work well and I’ll add to them here and there as needed.
The 6 for 4 challenge was really eye-opening and inspiring, too, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning about sustainable fashion. I’m really glad I decided to participate, and I hope you enjoyed reading the updates each week. Be sure to follow Eden’s experiences at her blog, too.
