What are you wearing from home?? COVID Edition

Hiya guys, I hope all of you are well and in great spirits. Times are weird. Times are very, very strange. But let’s focus on the positive, and not harp on all of that. I am here to share how a random Instagram challenge led me to finding the fun in getting all dressed up during quarantine.

It all started with me scrolling aimlessly on my phone when I noticed someone that I follow wearing a very bright yellow outfit and tagging the post as the #instarainbowchallenge. I followed the hashtag and to my surprise, there were several dozen posts of women sporting beautiful bright colors topped with enormous smiles. I wanted in on the fun, so I got up and got dressed. Seeing fellow bloggers and stylists doing this challenge was exactly what I need.

(I later found out that this #InstaRainbowChallenge was created by a couple of stylish women from the UK using color on IG feeds as an effort to instantly lift people’s mood as well as show RAINBOW support and love for the NHS).

Although I have been quite busy with other avenues of my company, and doing quite a lot of writing for other publications, I have almost completely deserted my blog. Honestly, I felt like I had fallen into such funk over the past years when it came to getting dressed up and posting pictures here. Upon moving back to the States I gained about 25 pounds. Nothing really fit anymore, and my cheeks were so chunky that smiling became somewhat of a chore for me. The weight gain happened so quickly that I didn’t have the opportunity to fully adjust. I didn’t know my face, I didn’t know my body, I didn’t have the confidence to get dressed and pose it up. So instead of purchasing an entirely new wardrobe, I wore the few things that fit (ALL BLACK EVERYTHING). Thankfully now, since being home in self quarantined, I have been preparing all of my meals and working out regularly. As a result, I have dropped about 10 pounds, and I’m feeling better than ever. So back to the rainbow challenge, I hadn’t really realized that I had dropped a few pounds until I started to reach into my wardrobe styling outfits to post on social media in support of the challenge.

The outfit featured in this post is brought to you by my darling friend, Amanda over at Paulette’s Closet. The best vintage boutique in Memphis. How amazing is this vintage 60s day dress? The jeans are vintage Jordache from Paulette’s Closet as well. I wore the rainbow-colored dress to commemorate the challenge, and to celebrate me regaining self-confidence. It feels amazing to be back in front of the camera, highlighting so of my favorite vintage and thrift pieces from SOSNUThrift.

Over the next few days and weeks, I will continue to post the colorful outfits representing each shade of the rainbow.

Prada Love - Padded Headband

We all know the key players in the big brand fashion world, so it’s no secret of the power and influence that these brands possess. Like many other fashion aficionados, especially the ones like myself who live on a budget and practice sustainability in every aspect of their lives, we simply aspire to own the pieces that are shown on the runway. Or at the very least, we scour stores to find the perfect dupe. My brand is built on pairing inexpensive thrifted and/or vintage items with affordable on-trend items. So as the season’s big trends oftentimes do, they trickle down from right off the runway onto the shelves of fast fashion brands. Thus allowing more consumers and fashion lovers to partake in the joys of what new-in fashion. Although I don’t fully support fast fashion and some of those retailers’ ethical practices, I may have a browse in Topshop, F21, H&M or Zara to see just how good the dupes are.

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One particular trend that I had taken notice to this year was the puffy/padded headband. I didn’t necessarily see loads of people wearing them; however, I was seeing the right people wearing. These headbands were perfectly 90s prep (think Clueless), but with nods to the 1960s mod era. There was no question as to who was responsible for this accessory taking off. I knew it’s exact place of reference.

Prada’s S/S 2019 show was heavily influenced by the 1960s and surf culture. Take about duality. Models hit the runways in neoprene tops, biker shorts, rash guard knee socks with baby doll dress and collared with shirts. The collection was a “cohesive clash” of two very different walks of life. When asked about this collection, Miuccia spoke about wanting to show a juxtaposition of it all. Purposely she wanted to communicate her interpretation of our political climate. She expressed that “what’s happening in the world now…we wish for freedom, for liberation, for fantasy. And on the other side, an extreme conservatism is coming.” In a perfect world those with opposing political ideologies could unify, and at least co-exist in one place just as the sub-cultures that influenced this Prada collection do on the runway.

outfit deets - blazer: vintage Lauren by Ralph Lauren (here, here); turtleneck: The Limited (here, here); trousers: thrift (here, here) shoes: Jessica Simpson (here, here); padded headband: H&M (here, here)

Reflections, Bring on 2020

As we close out this year (and this decade even), I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to each of you. Thanks for your readership and support over the years. Thanks for being so gracious and patient with me. Honestly, there are oftentimes, I feel a sense of embarrassment and even shame when it comes to my lack of consistency here on the blog. I know I owe my current career to this blog and to you guys. Many years ago this blog started as a safe place for me to exercise my writing muscles, and a creative outlet when I was so frustrated with the monotony of my life. I would come here to share my thrift finds, show my cute outfits, and discuss upcoming fashion trends based on what came down the runways during the fashion week.

I sincerely appreciate you all accepting my evolving life and career. As well as the evolution of this blog space. I still enjoy dressing up and trend forecasting. However, now when I reach out to photographers its seldom to photograph me, I am booking in an e-commerce shoot for SOSNUThrift. And thankfully the majority of my fashion writing is for other publications. This blog has allowed me to manifest the very life I want, and I couldn’t have done any of it without you guys and your unconditional support and love.

outfit details - blazer: Banana Republic (here, here); dress: Forever 21 (here, here, here); shoes: Champion (here, here, here)

So saying all of that to get to this point: next year, I will be converting this space into my professional website. I am so very excited about the complete overhaul. New name, new content, new photos, new contributors. All things new.