On Buying What You Like.

I have been making a concerted effort this year to only buy things I really, really like. I know it seems as if I like ALL THE THINGS but much of what I post is in the spirit of "in theory" where I think something is beautiful or interesting or cool as hell but it's not for me for whatever reason. You know what I mean.

Anyway, I've been trying not to make as many impulse purchases and instead to do my research and pick the things I really like, that also feel like me. This seems obvious, but it's harder than it looks because I'm super picky and also not rolling in cash. I hate making an expensive mistake with clothes, but we've all done it, right? The worst.

With that in mind, I've taken stock of what I've purchased so far this year and was happy to discover that they're mostly hits:

Madewell 9" High-Rise Skinny Jeans in York Wash: Rip and Repair Edition
I originally ordered these jeans in my current size and decided they were slightly too big, so I exchanged for a size down and oof, they were slightly too small. Since I can't really pull off wearing them with boots I put them away for warmer weather. Last weekend I pulled them out and tried them on and they were still snug but definitely loosened up with the day. I think a few more wears will get them exactly where I want them. (PS. stop washing your jeans so much! More on that later.)

and....Madewell Texture and Thread Crepe Wrap Top
This is still a "maybe" because I haven't had a real opportunity to wear it. The weather is starting to warm up so I think maybe I'll give it a try later this week. It was extremely inexpensive (with deals, sales, etc) so if it doesn't work, I'll just list it on Poshmark.

Dr. Martens Zip Chelsea Boot 
So, here's the thing. I bought these boots with a wet, cold February Paris trip in mind and didn't end up taking them because the weather was sunny and warm. Oops. BUT, they have been so fun! I've worn them on the many cold, wet days here and they're comfy and badass and I'm really glad I bought them.

Striped Cashmere sweater
I usually buy a cashmere sweater every winter but last year I just couldn't settle on one. However, last month I found a good, inexpensive option in my TJ Maxx C&C California sweater and also bought the other (light grey) colorway on Poshmark because I loved it so much. Light grey stripes work well as a springtime option when it's still not quite warm out but you want to wear lighter things. (There are a ton of them dirt cheap on eBay and Poshmark and I am telling you, this is a nice sweater! I wear a medium if it helps.)

Juno Printed Dress
I reviewed my snake print dress here and when the leopard popped back in my size I ordered it immediately and full-price which I never do. And now for the bad news: when I washed my snake print dress (according to the label) it shunk up a bit, which I'm not happy about. I can still wear it, but it's definitely shorter.  Please use caution if you machine wash it! I will probably dry clean going forward (and yes, I am going to exchange the one that shrunk) which tells you how much I like this dress.

Madewell Central Drapey Shirt
Okay, this one was a bit of an impulse purchase but if it works out, it'll be a staple. It hasn't arrived yet so I can't really call it a hit or a miss but I will definitely report back.

Dean Davidson Bamboo Tassel Pendant Necklace
This necklace is one of those things that kept going back to ogle again and again. It's been on the Nordstrom Rack site for a while now and I kept sliding over to see if it was still in stock. There it is. Yep, it's still there. Oh hey, now it's following me around the internet, inserting itself in my IG feed. Dammit. So I finally was like, you know what? This necklace is everything I love - labradorite, tassel, big ole pendant. AND I had a Nordstrom giftcard. So, I bought it and it arrived and it's PERFECT. So sparkly and interesting and expensive-looking. I can't wait to show you guys! (Soon!)