Okay, yes. I’m a little late to the blogger game here. BUT, I asked y’all on Instagram whether you’d like to hear from me regarding some things I’m eyeing during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, and the majority of you said you would be. So I’m sharing some of my favorites from the sale (which goes on through August 5).

One tip I’d give you about this sale: If you see something you like, don’t wait to buy it! The Spanx Faux Leather Leggings I snagged are already sold out. Yikes — glad I didn’t wait on those!

Are you ready? Let’s get shopping!:

1. Kristin Cavallari Lash Split Shaft Bootie (I snagged these in black and can’t wait for them to arrive!)
2. Zella Live-In High Waist Leggings (If you don’t know the magic of these leggings yet, do yourself a favor and get a pair! And if you ARE in on the amazingness, time to get another pair!)
3. Thread & Supply Wubby Fleece Pullover (I got one of these last winter and LIVED in it. This would be a great piece to invest in.)
4. Caslon Rounded V-Neck Tee (I have one of these and love the material. I like it a little looser so I can tie it up or front tuck it.)
5. Free People January Tee (I love the feel and loose fit of Free People items, and this would look adorable with leggings in the fall. It comes in several colors, too!)
6. Sam Edelman Maurine Bootie (OMG, yes. I love these!! They also come in black and gray.)
7. Vince Camuto Movinta Bootie (Ooh, look at that sassy heel. Love these!)
8. Nike Classic Cortez Sneaker (I have these shoes in black and white and adore them. They’re the perfect athleisure shoe, and I love them for running to/from the barre studio, running errands, etc.)
9. Botkier Adelia Asymmetrical Sandal (Have a wedding or another event coming up? How killer would these be with the right dress? They also come in a few colors!)
10. Joe’s Marla Bootie (Too cute!)
11. Alala Seamless Bralette (I’m always on the hunt for perfect-for-barre sports bras, and I think this would be a great addition to my collection.)
12. Chelsea28 Wide Leg Tweed Jumpsuit (I’m in love with this! There’s only one review and it’s not too good, BUT I am debating trying this out anyway. Plus, since shipping and returns are free and easy at Nordstrom, I have nothing to lose…)
13. BP Washed Moto Leggings (I love these leggings so much I have them in two colors!)
14. Wit & Wisdom Ab-solution Side Zip Plaid Skinny Pants (Ahhh– that price!)

If you’ve already shopped the sale, what are you loving?

This blog post was born as a result of a request, which is always SO FUN! (Please send topics my way if you’d like to see them covered. I always LOVE getting suggestions for content.) My sister, Susan, is traveling to France next month (lucky girl!) for a family wedding on her husband’s side of the family. She reached out to see if I could write about some packing tips for their upcoming trips. I’m happy to oblige, Susan, and hope you find this post helpful! (It’s for you, too, Liz!)

Susan and I have done a good bit of traveling in our day, thanks in large part to our parents prioritizing travel for us growing up. Despite being a seasoned traveler, I admit I always have a tendency to over pack. (Kevin knows this all too well!) Inevitably, I end up using about a third of the things I brought, no matter where I’m traveling. With that habit in mind, this was a helpful post for me to put together because it reminded me of how little you actually need to travel with PLENTY of things (but not TOO many).

Okay, let’s get to some tips, shall we?:

• First of all: weather. From what I’ve read, you’ll be in for some pretty gorgeous weather this time of year with highs in the low 70s. You might get some rain, so I would definitely pack a lightweight raincoat/trench.
• Choose dresses over shorts. It will still be summertime when you travel, but the French aren’t very into shorts, so reach for dresses instead. These also tend to pack well and often don’t take up much room in the suitcase — a definite bonus! (And since Susan is going for a wedding, at least one dress will be a must!)
• Leave your hair dryer at home. Almost every hotel will have one.
• Limit yourself to two pairs of shoes (and they shouldn’t be sneakers). Bring one pair that’s a little dressier but still comfy (these are the ones you can wear to wedding-related events and out to dinner, etc.) and a second, more casual pair that’s chic but that will also work well for walking around in.
• Include a cardigan in your carry on. Things will cool down at night, so be prepared! Make this a neutral color so it will work for any outfit. (It will likely come in handy on the plane, too!)
• Summer scarves make great functional accessories. You can use these both as a way to spice up an outfit and for a little extra warmth when needed, making it a much more multi-purpose accessory than a necklace!
• Pack chic pants that you can re-wear. Include one or two pairs of pants you love, and that will work with multiple tops. Maybe opt for one pair of jeans and one non-denim pair just to mix it up…
• Keep the tops simple. As with the pants, it’s ideal to pack tops that you can easily pair with different pants. Go with solid colors when possible. You also want to pack fabrics that aren’t too delicate, and that will look great even after hours or days shoved into a suitcase!
• Don’t forget your Beautycounter Color Intense Lipstick! You want to look your best in France, and this long-lasting lip color will help you do just that. It will come in handy for the wedding as well! (With eight shades to choose from, you’re sure to find the perfect one for you.)
• Plan for your electronics. This adapter and converter in one seems like a super easy option on that front!
• Bring along a small bag for your trip home. This was something Mom and Dad always did, Susan, and I love it! Include a small bag in your luggage so that you easily have a way to bring home items if you’ve bought souvenirs. (These would do the trick and are very affordable!)
• Go with a small, cross body purse. This makes it easy and comfortable to be on the go during your visit (and they tend to be safer from pick pocketers than a backpack).
• Make sure your accessories can do double — or triple — duty. Choose earrings, necklaces, and bracelets that will pair well with a few different outfits, rather than statement pieces that just go with one.

I’m so excited for your trip, Susan, and hope this was a bit helpful!

If you’ve been reading my blog for a little while or following me on Instagram, you’ve probably heard me talk about this topic before. After all, I’ve been a loyal (and exclusive) bralette wearer for a couple of years now, and I have loved leaving regular bras behind. (I even used them in place of traditional nursing bras while I was breastfeeding Maggie, and that worked great for me.)

If you’re more well endowed, making the switch to bralettes might prove a little challenging, but I think the key is to be discerning about which bralettes you choose if you need a little more support. (For reference, my regular bra size is 34B.)

I’ve shared some favorite bralettes here on my blog before, but alas many of those styles are no longer available, hence this post! In addition to typical bras, in this post I’m also sharing a few fitted tanks with built-in bras, because I often wear tops like that in place of a bra, and love the seamless look they give under another more loose-fitting shirt.

I get pretty picky about bralettes, and typically don’t go with the versions that have adjustable straps because then they start to look more like a regular bra which, to me, defeats much of the purpose of a bralette.

One more note before we jump into a few suggestions: I’m breaking this list down by brand/retailer, because I have a handful of go-tos when it comes to shopping bralettes. I hope that’s helpful for you as well! (Oh, and if you’re a fellow bralette aficionado and have some additional brands you adore, PLEASE let me know. I love learning about new options!) I haven’t tried all the styles I’ve listed below for myself, but I HAVE tried all the brands/retailers and can vouch for them!

Ready to talk bralettes? Let’s do this!:

aerie: This brand helped me discover my love for bralettes, and I’ve always been impressed with their broad selection. They always offer lots of great color options, too. Alas, a couple of my very favorite styles appear to have been discontinued (WHY, AERIE???), which is forcing me to branch out. It’s okay — change can be good! Here are a few styles I’m loving from their current line-up:

• Flora Lace Padded Bralette
• Softest Lace Racerback Bralette
• Romantic Lace Bandeau (SUCH a great strapless bra!)
• Softest Lace Halter Bralette

Urban Outfitters: They typically have lots of bralette options I love! Right now, though, I only see two I like that meet my criteria.

• Out From Under Lace Padded Fusion Triangle Bra
• Out From Under Basic V-Neck Bralette

Free People: This brand is the epitome of feminine and etherial, so it’s no wonder they have several styles I love.

• Galloon Lace Racerback (this one comes in TONS of colors!)
• Must Be Racerback Bra
• Strappy Back Bra

Beyond Yoga: The best part about these? They definitely double as sports bra options, too. (That’s what they’re designed to be, in fact.)

• Slim Racerback Cropped Tank
• Studio Bra
• Dusted Double Back Bra

lululemon: You can’t go wrong with lulu anything. Ever.

• Free To Be Tank Nulu
• Power Y Tank Luon
• A Little Bit Closer Bralette
• Flow Y Bra Nulu

ZYIA: I discovered this brand a few months ago and have loved it! I have the Grid Bra in both white and black — I love it THAT much. (Connect with my friend Suzy for more info on this brand!)

• Grid Bra

I’ve stumbled upon a handful of jewelry brands lately that I’ve been wanting to share with you, and figured a dedicated post would be the best way to do that!

As far as jewelry goes, I’m definitely an earring and bracelet girl, predominantly. If you follow me on Instagram, you probably notice that I wear the same necklaces practically all the time. I like to keep things more simple on that front.

But earrings? I can get down with some fun earrings. (They’re my favorite accessory, for sure.) And now that it’s springtime and short sleeves are coming back out (minus the snow day we had earlier this week — sheesh!), I’m excited to break out the bracelets again, too. YAY!

So, with that, here are some new-to-me jewelry brands that I’m so happy to share with you!:

• Tilton Street: Fun fact: I went to college with the Betsy, the woman behind this beautiful brand! I’d been eyeing her earrings for a while, and finally grabbed a pair recently. I’m SO glad I did, because I am obsessed with them and know I’ll be wearing them all spring and summer!  (They just make me feel so happy when I wear them!)

• Ellie In Her Element: Some friends and I discovered this brand a few months ago and placed a collective order. Everything is beautiful, thoughtfully designed, and so reasonably priced. After much deliberation, I went with the Skylar Earrings in Mauve, and they’re divine. I even took them with me to Phoenix last week for the Beautycounter L.E.A.D. conference, and got tons of compliments on them. (I can’t wait to place an order from her newly released spring collection, too! (How cute are these??)

• Viki Glaze Accessories: This is a Winston-based brand, and I am obsessed with the fun colors! I grabbed a pair of these today at one of my favorite Winston shops, URBN grl, and they are lightweight, so cute, and so reasonably priced. I think I’ll be grabbing another pair before too long!

• Twyla Dill Design: So, I don’t own a piece of Twyla’s jewelry yet, but a friend shared the brand with me and I can’t wait to get my hands on some! She hand crochets many of her pieces, and they’re just stunning: feminine yet edgy. How gorgeous are these earrings, for example?:

If you’ve discovered some great new jewelry brands lately, please pass them along!

If you’ve been part of the curiouser & curiouser community for a while, the term “wardrobe challenge” might ring a bell. Every few months, this is something I like to do to force myself to be a bit more mindful about what’s in my closet. Here’s the overview:

For a month (this time the month of November):

• I can’t re-wear any outfits.*
• I can’t buy any new clothes.

*Clothing items like pants, shoes, workout clothes, etc. can be re-worn, just to clarify, but tops, dresses, and skirts cannot be re-worn.

I do this for a couple of reasons:

• To wear a broader array of the clothing I have in my closet rather than reaching for the same five-ish outfits again and again each season.
• To keep me from mindlessly shopping to add new items to my wardrobe.
• To identify pieces of clothing I’ve been hanging onto that just aren’t me/I just don’t wear so I can donate or sell those pieces.

In the past, I’ve housed lots of my wardrobe challenge details here on my blog, and while I might be sharing weekly updates (or perhaps an end-of-month recap) here, I’ll be moving the “day-to-day operations,” so to speak, over to Instagram this time.

I’d love for you to follow along with my challenge — and maybe even participate yourself if you’re interested! (If you do want to participate, please use the following hashtag if you post about the challenge so we can all follow along: #wardrobechallenge1119) Certainly don’t feel like you have to post photos to be part of the challenge, and also don’t feel like you have to stick hard and fast to the rules. I want this to be a fun and helpful exercise for us all.

I’ll be posting my outfits each day in my stories, and will save those to a highlight reel in my feed that I’ve created just for the challenge so you can follow along there.

What do you think? Are you interested in being part of the challenge this month? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

Joggers are, hands down, my pant style of choice these days. They’re the perfect midpoint between leggings and sweatpants, and tend to help you look slightly more put together than either of the other options. I thought I’d share some of my favorite jogger brands in case you:

A) Are also a huge jogger fan like I am

OR

B) Are curious to try joggers for the first time and would find some recommendations helpful

I know there are TONS of brands and styles out there for joggers, but here are a handful that I can personally vouch for!:

–Vuori Performance Jogger: Yes, there’s a reason I listed these first. They are, without a doubt, the best pair of joggers I currently own. I’d heard amazing things about these joggers and so I treated myself to a pair as a postpartum gift and immediately understood all the hype. They’re buttery soft and fit so, so well. I’ll definitely be grabbing these in another color or two at some point! (Currently I have the Charcoal Heather color and love them!) This pair of pants = 100% WORTH THE SPLURGE. Do it. You won’t regret it…

–Albion Fit Destination Joggers: These are also wonderful joggers! (And if you’ve been here for a while you’ve definitely heard me share about Albion Fit before. Their bathing suits, among other things, are incredible!) The pair of Destination Joggers I have is a purple-ish color from a couple of years ago that’s no longer available, but they currently offer the joggers in lots of great colors, including this beautiful Heather Green and this cute camo option! (I love the zipper detail on the ankle!)

–lululemon On The Fly Pant or Joggers: I own the On The Fly Pants, but they wear like joggers and also come in a jogger style so I definitely had to include them on this list. As with all things lulu, the fit and feel are amazing, and these pants are incredibly versatile. I own them in black, and may need to grab some of the joggers in the Dark Olive, too!

–32 Degrees Cotton Stretch Twill Jogger: Kevin discovered the brand 32 Degrees at Costco several months ago and has been singing their praises, and I just recently got in on the 32 Degrees action and am sold as well. They have great pieces at low prices, and I’ve been so impressed with the quality. (Some favorite 32 Degrees pieces for me include their Racerback Comfort Bra and Poly-Fill Packable Jacket.) So of course when I saw they had joggers available, I had to give them a try. The verdict? I LOVE THEM (and they’re $14.99 — what??). I grabbed the Olive color in a size XS (so I sized down) and they’re perfection. (Oh, and I got this tank in Baked Clay to pair with the joggers and adore it, too!)

–cabi ATC Jogger: I grabbed a pair of cabi’s joggers last year in a leopard print and am obsessed with them! That print is no longer available, but this fun zebra print (on the same joggers, which fit SO well) is super cute as well. (I’d size down one with these joggers. Normally I wear a small, but an extra small is perfect for me in these.)

–Target Leopard Print PJs (with joggers): Looking for joggers to sleep (or just lounge) in? This INCREDIBLY soft pair of PJs from Target — priced at just $20! — is a no brainer. They’re cute and cozy all in one, and come in a tie dye print, too, if that’s more your speed. (I’d recommend sizing up one in these PJs. The pants don’t have a ton of stretch to them in the leg portion, so to make them a bit roomier you’d likely enjoy going one size up from what you’d typically grab.)

Fellow jogger fans: What are some brands and styles YOU love? Please share them to help me add to my collection!

The post All The Joggers, Please! appeared first on curiouser & curiouser.

I love being part of the Zulily blogger team (and supporting the Zulily brand as a whole), and so when I learned about this fun back to school contest I knew I wanted to share about it here on curiouser & curiouser! Even though Maggie isn’t quiiiiiite old enough to be eligible (it’s for kids ages 5-14), I know lots of y’all have children who would qualify.

Here’s the gist of the contest:

Obviously the 2020/2021 school year was a hugely different kind of experience for pretty much all kids. For many children, school happened from home last year, and they likely didn’t pay quite as much attention to their style than they would have in an in-person school environment. Since most schools will be back in session in person this fall, it’s time for kids to have fun with fashion again, and to use their creativity to express their personalities through elements of their style.

Zulily will be giving away SIX prizes — EACH valued at $6,000 — to kids whose parents share a public Instagram photo on their behalf that somehow demonstrates fresh, unique style. It can be a specific outfit they put together, a flat lay, a design sketch, a collage, a mood board, or anything else along those lines that helps communicate creative fashion. Be sure to use the tags #zulilycontest and #uniquelyzu when you post to be considered for the contest.

Each of the six winners will receive the following prize pack:

1. $5,000 to go towards their education
2. A $1,000 shopping credit to use on Zulily’s website to get them ready for heading back to school in the fall
3. A bonus opportunity for the winning kids to co-inspire a new capsule collection for 2022!

Entries will be accepted now through July 31, and you can read the complete rules here. The six winners will be announced in August! I reeeeeeeally wish Maggie could enter this, because I know we’d have a ton of fun putting something together for her.

Oh, and I also thought this was fun: Zulily conducted a survey among 1,000 kids to gauge some of the top trends as the 2021/2022 school year kicks off. Here are the three they identified (and you can read more about them here, too). Do these trends seem to align with the way your children view clothing and style?:

Trend 1: Movers & Shakers

Essentially, kids are excited to use their personal style as a way to feel their best and increase their confidence at school.

Trend 2: Glue Guns & Glitter Bombs

Kids are tired of the lounge clothes they wore all during the pandemic, and are ready to use their style as personal expression and a way to show creativity. 70% even say they add personal touches to make their clothes feel more like them.

Trend 3: Retro & Reimagined

So many of the styles we parents grew up with are back (I’m personally very excited scrunchies have made a reappearance, for one!), and kids are looking to Mom and Dad for inspiration and tips on incorporating those elements into their style.

P.S. If you enter the contest, please tag me, too, so I can see your post!

The post Zulily’s Back-to-School #UniquelyZu Contest appeared first on curiouser & curiouser.

I’m SO excited to kick off another Wardrobe Challenge starting this Friday, July 1! I’ve done these in the past, but this time around it feels more purposeful and exciting than ever.

For one, in recent months I’ve been giving tons of thought to what I want my clothing relationship to look like (this extends into my “stuff” relationship as a whole, but we’re talking about clothes specifically right now!). I’ve been working on being more mindful of how many clothes I buy, where I buy those clothes, what I do with clothing I no longer wear, etc., stemming from learning a ton about the clothing industry and how it needs a MAJOR overhaul (from a human rights standpoint, an environmental one, and more).

Another reason I’m extra excited about this round of the Wardrobe Challenge is because lots of YOU have expressed interest in participating with me. HOW FUN!!! (And remember: This isn’t about following the “rules” perfectly, but rather using this month as an opportunity to be thoughtful about clothing. That’s the goal!)

Not sure what a Wardrobe Challenge is? Allow me to explain…

This is a month-long event meant to help participants focus on clothing. By wearing only the clothes you already have in your closet (wearing what you already have, re-discovering pieces you may have forgotten, etc.) and avoiding adding anything new to the mix (taking a hiatus from clothes shopping), the end result is much more awareness around what you already have (including items you might want to pass along or holes you have in your wardrobe) as well as your shopping habits.

The “rules” or guidelines are as follows (but know that you absolutely do NOT have to follow these perfectly in order to be part of the challenge!):

–For the month of July, wear a new outfit from your closet each day. This is in an effort to help you realize the breadth of clothing you already own, and to help you mix up your go-to outfits. Of course, you will definitely rewear shorts, pants, workout clothes, shoes, bathing suits, and accessories, but try to wear a different top, dress, romper, etc. every day. (I find it helpful to put the items I’ve already worn in a designated spot in my closet during the challenge to help me remember which those are!)

–For the month of July, avoid buying any new clothing. Since one of the goals is to help you become much more familiar with the clothes you already have, this helps with that piece. At the end of the month, you may have discovered a few key pieces of clothing you’d really benefit from having, and it can be fun to then shop for those. (Note: I rent clothing from Nuuly each month, and will continue doing that in July. It’s a great way to bring fresh, trendy items into my wardrobe without buying them! I get to wear them for a while and then pass them on. It aligns so well with my values when it comes to clothing!)

–At the end of the month, assess what you’ve learned. Did you re-discover items in your closet that look great on you? Did you find you tend to only wear a handful of outfits again and again, and branching out was fun? Did you uncover some ho-hum (for you) pieces you’re ready to consign, sell online, donate, or share with a friend? Did you realize something about the emotions behind shopping for clothes, or the habit that might exist there for you? (That last one is certainly true for me, and one big reason I love doing this challenge periodically!) Did you notice that you moved away from following some Instagram accounts that post about clothing alllll the time, or unsubscribed from a few brands that email you frequently about clothing sales, new releases, etc.? I think this reflection step can be such a powerful one.

I’ll be posting my outfits most every day over on Instagram stories as a way to hold myself accountable during this month-long challenge and share what I’m wearing. I’d love to see YOUR outfits, too, either daily or from time to time, so please be sure to tag me if you post about the Wardrobe Challenge!

The post Wardrobe Challenge 2022 appeared first on curiouser & curiouser.

(If, after you read this, you think you want to give Nuuly a try, be sure to use my referral code to save $10 on your first rental!)

I’ve been on a journey to rethink my relationship with clothing over the past couple of years (you can learn a bit more about that here, here, and here), but clothing rental wasn’t something I started trying until this past spring. I knew about it, of course, and loved the idea from a sustainability standpoint, but I mostly thought of clothing rental as something you’d do for an occasion — to grab a fun dress for a wedding or another formal event.

I’ve since learned that SOME clothing rental companies are certainly more geared toward those bigger events, but others — including Nuuly, the company I rent through each month — have an impressively broad collection of items ranging from formal to everyday and lots in between, too.

I first gave Nuuly a try when I DID need items for an occasion, though. I traveled to Washington, D.C. with Beautycounter to advocate for stronger health protective laws in the personal care industry back in April, and I needed some outfits to bring with me. We were going to be having a cocktail event as well as a formal dinner at the Library of Congress, and I decided to go the rental route to find some great pieces.

I had a wonderful experience with getting amazing dresses for that trip, and decided to keep my Nuuly membership going. In the months that followed, I quickly realized that this fit in so well with my quest to be intentional about my clothing.

With Nuuly…

-I can get the experience of online shopping (choosing fun pieces every month, having the box delivered, getting to wear new things, etc.) without having to add things to my closet permanently as a result.

-I can grab pieces that are more trendy or more expensive or less practical than I would if I were shopping for my long-term closet.

-I get to test drive pieces and some of them I do end up purchasing, but when I do buy them I already KNOW I love them, they feel like me, they fit well, and I’ll wear them!

-I love knowing that the pieces I rent will be worn and enjoyed by other women, too. In the process it helps me feel connected to others in a sense, and it also feels great to be contributing a bit less to the creation of more stuff.

-When I DO have occasions on my calendar — a wedding, a baby shower, even a date night with Kevin — I always have something fun and “new” to wear, which feels great.

I honestly feel like I’ve found THE BEST HACK as it relates to clothing with Nuuly. I’ve worked really hard to pare down my closet to align with my color season and style personality and to really just include pieces I actually wear. The last thing I want to do, after that hard work, is to add tons more “stuff” back into my wardrobe…and yet we all like spicing things up a bit, right?

Now when I see people posting on social media with alllll the clothing links to the super cute dresses and jeans and jackets and more, I feel like I’m in on an amazing secret. I know all too well how that familiar scenario can play out: You see that adorable dress online and just have to have it, and then you get it…and maybe wear it twice a season (at best). I’m SURE I’m not the only one this has happened to repeatedly. Instead, why not RENT an adorable dress, enjoy it for a month, and then move on to other things without any of the “I should wear that again” or “Why did I buy that??” guilt hanging over your head when you see it in your closet?

Do I still buy clothes? Absolutely I do! BUT I buy them SO MUCH LESS FREQUENTLY and I also shop SO much more intentionally. And it feels really good on a lot of levels.

I wanted to share answers to a few questions I hear often when I talk about Nuuly on Instagram:

Do I have to rent clothes every month?

No! So far I’ve rented every month since starting with Nuuly, but you can skip months if you know you won’t need or want to rent items for a little while.

How many pieces do you get in each box?

You get six items in each box, but you can also add more to a box if you ever want to (for an extra cost, of course). I did that for my D.C. trip to make sure I had plenty of options!

How does sizing work? If I get the wrong size, can I swap it out?

Unfortunately you can’t swap out an item for another size once you’ve rented it, BUT I’ve found that when I spend time reading the product reviews really thoroughly, I tend to end up with an item that fits me well. Most products have an impressive amount of reviews, so look in particular for feedback from people who are about your height, who have similar body types, etc.

I work from home. Is this something I’d really enjoy or use…?

I work from home, too, and lots of days I LIVE in leggings (I mean, many days I’m at the Pure Barre studio several hours a day, so that’s what makes sense). But I think you’d be surprised how much you’ll enjoy these rental pieces: date nights, trips, girls’ nights, events, a day when you want to look a little more put together, a job interview, a work conference. I have also found that it’s made me look forward to upcoming events even more and do a better job of prepping for them, because when I choose the items in my box each month I’m thinking ahead to what’s on my calendar in the coming weeks and picking pieces accordingly. The whole thing makes me much more mindful…and I would describe my former clothes shopping approach as very mindLESS in many instances.

So…yeah. Huge clothing rental fan over here, and huge NUULY fan, specifically. As a reminder, you can save $10 on your first rental if you want to give Nuuly a try, too! (And if you DO try Nuuly out, please, please report back: Let me know what pieces you got and what you thought of the whole process! I can’t wait to hear from you, and I hope you love it as much as I have.)

The post Why I Rent Clothes From Nuuly appeared first on curiouser & curiouser.

For a few years now, I’ve been working to majorly shift my relationship with clothing. You may have seen me post about this some on Instagram, or talk about it on this episode of my podcast (oh, and this one, too!).

Why the big focus on changing my clothing habits? Here are three main reasons:

1. The clothing production industry is an incredibly problematic one, both from a sustainability standpoint and a human rights standpoint. The fashion industry is the world’s second-largest polluter, second only to the oil industry, and it’s incredibly common for the people who make clothes to be grossly underpaid and to work in dangerous conditions. (Why do you think tank tops can be sold for $4? There’s no way a company makes a profit on that unless the people making those pieces are paid horribly.)
2. Sustainability also comes into play when we get RID of clothes. Because we buy 400% more clothing than just a decade ago, there’s an extreme amount of clothing waste that’s only increasing. Even when you try to dispose of your clothing responsibly, such as through donation, only a fraction of it will end up being reused. It’s more likely it will end up in a landfill, contributing to the pollution issues our world is experiencing at an alarming rate.
3. I’ve seen first hand the benefits of pushing against this culture that tells us to CONSTANTLY buy clothes. When I started being more mindful about how and when and why I was shopping, and when I pared down my closet so there are fewer things in it, I started feeling so much BETTER. I feel lighter, happier, I experience less guilt around buying clothes, AND I get to model this lifestyle for my children — something I feel very strongly about doing.

The thing is, I think clothes (shopping for clothes, wearing clothes to express your personality, etc.) are FUN, and I want them to stay fun! I most definitely still buy new items. This is not about making clothes buying a bad or shameful thing. I just realized that I needed to bring a lot more intention to the way I was engaging with clothing so my clothing habits could align more closely with my values (the ones I mentioned above).

The best thing I can do to help address all three things I listed above? BUY FEWER CLOTHES.

And yet…if you’re anything like I was, that’s easier said than done.

I knew I would need some guidance, and I also knew I’d need to practice looking at clothing a whole lot differently. This was going to take time. It did take time — I didn’t rush myself — but I’m proud to say my relationship with clothing looks SO different than it did just three years ago.

If you’re on this journey, too, or if you feel ready to embark on it, I thought I’d share a few tips to help you along the way. (Some of these may resonate with you, and others may not. Take what’s helpful and leave the rest behind!):

Out of sight, out of mind.

This has probably been the most beneficial action for me, personally. I took a critical look at what was coming into my email inbox and what accounts I was following on Instagram. I opted to unsubscribe from virtually all emails from clothing brands, and I stopped following a LOT of IG accounts that feature clothes (and links to buy said clothes) allllll the time.

As a result, I’m not seeing clothing-related content nearly as often, which means I don’t miss it OR feel like I have to exercise self control to avoid buying it. And when I do want to make clothing purchases, I feel more in the driver’s seat instead of influenced by an abundance of emails and social media posts.

Find your wardrobe gaps.

Many of us have a tendency to shop for the same items again and again without fully realizing it…which results in a closet full of, say, striped shirts but no black heels to wear to formal events! Spend some time in your closet and notice what you already have versus what’s missing. Then, add those wardrobe gaps to a note on your phone. When you shop, prioritize looking for those pieces so you are thoughtfully rounding out your closet!

(Plus, shopping is more fun when you are looking for a piece you truly need!)

Buy secondhand when you can.

Yes, secondhand shopping sometimes takes more time than buying things new, but consider giving it a go to see how it could fit into your life. You can explore local thrift stores, but you can also shop secondhand online! While it can be more time consuming, it can also result in some majorly good finds AND save you lots of money in the process.

Give clothing rental a try.

I’m SUCH a fan of this — especially for any events you have! Think about it: Instead of filling your closet with items you may only ever wear once or twice, you can enjoy a few pieces for a few weeks and then pass them along for someone else to enjoy!

I rent through Nuuly because I love their range of offerings — they have everyday items, super formal pieces, and everything in between!

Choose sustainable + ethical brands when you can.

This takes more research and can be more expensive (that’s because they’re actually paying the people who make their clothes fairly!), but if you are buying fewer things overall it should work budget-wise.

Good On You is a helpful resource when trying to find brands that are sustainable and ethical!

Consider the Rule of Three

Before you buy anything (or before you take an item’s tag off), ask yourself:

“Does this work with at least three things I already have in my closet?”

If the answer is yes, you’re likely to get so much more wear out of it than if the answer is no!

Ask yourself whether this is actually a bargain

It’s easy to buy something on sale because we think we’re getting a deal…but remember this:

“50% off is still 50% on.”

Plus, if you never or rarely wear the item, it’s certainly not an actual deal!

Ideally, you want to wear everything you own at least 30 times during its lifetime. Start to do that math — that’s wearing something every other week for a year, for example — and it helps you say no to things!

Get clear on your personal style

House of Colour (both the color and style analysis) helped me with this, but even without House of Colour you can think about words you’d use to describe your style and think about clothes that make you feel most like “you” when you wear them.

Call those things to mind when you’re shopping. This helps to avoid that thing that’s SO easy to do — when you buy something you love on someone ELSE, but then never wear it because it doesn’t align with YOUR style/what looks best on you.

Swap out clothing for the current season before shopping for new things for that season.

It can be so tempting to want to shop for summer clothes in February, but if you’re like me that means you’ll end up with ANOTHER cute black romper.

Instead, swap out your clothes and take inventory first. Then make a list of any wardrobe gaps and let THOSE drive your purchases.

Map out your current clothing needs based on activity

Many of my clothing purchases are workout clothes because I LIVE in them. I need virtually no “work” clothes and not all that many casual outfits, really. Then I wear dresses, usually, to church, so those make up a small portion of my weekly wardrobe needs.

Your ratio may look very different, but knowing what it is helps you end up with the clothes you actually need and will wear often!

Embrace the baby steps

This is NOT about being perfect. (There’s no such thing anyway!) But if more of us take baby steps, they start to add up.

Just bringing more thought to how and where and why you shop for clothes is an amazing starting point.

And like I said, there is SO much value, I’ve found, in going against this “BUY!” and “MORE!” and “NEW!” culture we live in and leaning, instead, into LESS.

The post Tips For Developing A More Sustainable Relationship With Clothes appeared first on curiouser & curiouser.