Rachel did her top 10 purchases from 2021…I’m doing something a bit different — the ten favorite things I’m carrying into 2022. (Let’s face it, my list would be nearly identical to hers, anyway!)
As I wrote this article, I went through everything we did this past year. Wow, not to toot our own horn or anything, but gosh I’m proud of us! We had ZERO idea what we were doing when we started this thing. The blog went live April 1 and those first months we were just totally winging it (well, we still are, to be honest, ha)! If you want to take a peek at that first post, here ya go.
And I see all that we’ve accomplished and I can’t help but be so grateful we did this. It was so ridiculously scary but I’ve personally grown more this year than ever in my entire life (pretty sure Rachel would say the exact same thing).
We are so excited for 2022 and hope to continue growing and offering the best content we possibly can. We are always so thankful when someone sends us a private message telling us how we’ve helped them. It gives us the motivation to keep going, because admittedly this job (and yes, it IS a job) can be incredibly challenging. So thank you all for the support and love and encouragement to keep going.
1) Color, Color, Color!
As I look over the pictures from the past year, it’s the bold color that pulls at my heart strings. So much that it’s going to be a huge goal for 2022 – the year of color! I am more cool-skinned so give me all the jewel tones and hot pink.
If you don’t know your best colors, maybe this is the year to get a color analysis done. I’ve personally never done it (I feel pretty confident in what colors I look best in) but who knows, maybe I’ll try it too – I could be surprised by what I discover!
2) Juxtaposition
Juxtaposition in fashion is “simply talking about creating an interesting outfit through unexpected combinations.”
~ Carrie Colbert
This article expresses the idea of juxtaposition in fashion much more eloquently than I ever could. It’s a must read.
Whenever I’m bored with an outfit, it usually means I need a little contrast, a little edge, a little “je ne sais quoi”. Honestly, I rarely wear the same combination twice anymore. Because it’s so easy to mix it up. It’s why we always advocate for creating a wardrobe you can mix and match in many ways. Try adding interesting and unique pieces that speak to you and your personality.
So adding my checkerboard vans to a long dress makes it more whimsical. Pairing distressed denim with dressier pieces is less precious. Adding a fleece jacket and fun patterned bag to a bodycon dress instantly makes it feel more casual and fun. The possibilities are endless – just don’t be afraid to experiment.
3) Graphic Tees Rule
Rachel gets a lot of the credit here. I did have a few graphic tees I loved, but I really branched out this year and I couldn’t love them more. For me the key is finding something that is interesting to me — then I never get bored. My favorites are Zadig & Voltaire (of course), Anine Bing (big Rachel influence on this one), and Mother.
4) Mixing Jewelry Tones
Pretty jewelry is definitely up there in my favorite things. I remember seeing Rachel’s Marla Aaron collection and being ridiculously envious of her ability to wear both larger pieces and mixed metals. I was a bit stuck in the idea that silver and white gold looked better with my skin tone. How wrong I was!
Now I mix my metals allll the time and yep, wearing the bigger pieces too. Number one lesson – only buy the things you absolutely love (even if you have to save up for them). They will give you much joy and even be handed down one day!
5) Bold Nail Colors
Nail color makes me happy. I have never been a nail person. I prefer to keep my nails boy-short (typing with longer nails makes me nuts). The maintenance freaked me out, too. But I got a little hooked on gel manicures this summer. Seeing those perfectly polished nails in bright vivid colors (no nudes for this girl!) just makes me weirdly happy. I never saw that one coming.
The only thing…the other day Rachel said she wonders if in ten years we’ll all be running around without digits because of those damn LED lights. Thanks for that visual, Rachel, haha! She got her last manicure done with Dazzle Dry (no UV light necessary) so I’ll be anxiously awaiting her review!
6) One Cannot Have Too Many Sunglasses
I used to be a major minimalist. I had one pair of sunglasses (one perfect pair of black polarized Chanels, which I still wear all the time). But I was looking at ways to mix up my pictures and, well, an addiction to pretty sunglasses kind of just developed.
Now every time I go to the mall, I cannot help but stop to see my sunglass girl at Nordstrom (yep, I have a sunglass girl and she’s absolutely the freaking BEST). I always send these try-on pictures to Rachel and she worries this little addiction is going to cause my husband to want to shut the blog down, haha. Sorry for the anxiety, Rachel.
7) Take A Picture / Consult A Friend
I’ve been doing this one for years, but I don’t think I’ve ever talked about it as a tool. There are so many benefits in taking pictures of your outfits.
1. To analyze side-by-side images with different accessories and pieces – you will quickly see which you like better.
2. Keep a good outfit for future reference when you aren’t sure what to wear and need inspiration.
3. For try-ons in the dressing room. I ALWAYS take pictures when I’m trying on in-store. For one, I send everything to Rachel (closer than family, yep). Two, I often will sit on stuff before I buy. I like having the details to analyze later – so I can make better decisions from the get-go. Or sometimes I’m just waiting for a sale (and it’s so nice because then you can better pare down to only your favorite things).
4. A second opinion is always a good thing. Find a fashion buddy and share with each other. The key – promise to be brutally honest with each other. I promise, it’s worth it!
8) Yes, Perfume Is An Accessory
So many moms I know gave up perfume when they had kids. I didn’t actually go back to perfume again until three years ago. Thanks to me, Rachel just re-discovered it this year. This is an area I’ve influenced her pretty heavily, and I don’t feel guilty one bit. She went from no perfume to five in less than a year.
Perfume is so personal. I prefer a unisex scent (I cannot wear anything overly feminine or floral). Is it any surprise that Rachel and I have the same nose for scent?! Probably not. She basically knows if I love something, she will too.
Now, I never feel fully dressed until I spritz a little of whatever perfume suits my mood or the outfit of the day. Some of my perfumes are lighter and others are more night / headier. Each perfume also gives me a totally different vibe, attitude, feel.
My favorite find this year — Le Labo’s Gaiac 10. I am obsessed (and yes, Rachel snagged it too). It’s only available to purchase in the US one month of the year (September) as it is a Tokyo exclusive, but it’s worth checking it out when available. No worries – we will put out alerts when that time comes again!
9) Bags Make An Outfit
I used to carry one simple tote bag. But over the years, I’ve developed quite the collection of bags I love. I don’t even own a tote anymore – I much prefer smaller and lighter bags (my back and shoulders thank me, too)!
I am also not a designer bag person. I dislike logos. I just want variety and quality, and find it to be the perfect final addition to any outfit.
10) Just Have Fun
Above all, fashion is supposed to be fun! I like to express myself through my clothing. It has to be ME. It has to fit well. It has to feel good. I have no time for an outfit that doesn’t make me feel happy and comfortable in my skin.
I am also always trying to get outside my comfort zone. That’s the only way we grow, really, and that goes for all areas of our lives. And let’s face it – fashion isn’t brain surgery. So go experiment and see what makes your heart skip a beat.
Cheers to a wonderful 2022. We hope to be right there with you all – cheering you on and inspiring you in new and fun ways. And yes, we will always share our favorite things with you guys and hope you’ll share your favorite things with us, too!
xo,
Tammy (& Rachel)
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