Goodbye for now
On finding what you're looking for
Something happened to me after I wrote my last newsletter a few weeks ago: I stopped wanting to write it.
When I started Woman in Clothes a little over a year ago, I was on a journey, seeking to discover the taste and style of the “new mom-me.” I was stuck in a cycle of sweatpants and questions and I wanted to get back in touch with myself and how I express that self through dress.
After I wrote that letter, I realized I’d found her.
Writing this newsletter has helped me get more comfortable with the person I’ve become. I’m not a 20-something bad bitch who has the time and energy to dance all night anymore, but I’m also not a lockdown-era shut-in whose only trips outside are to the grocery store. I’m a busy working mom whose life includes a lot of texture — and my wardrobe is doing its best to reflect that.
I’ve learned a few things over the last year:
Wide-leg jeans are so good when you can find the right pair
A few staple looks — a “uniform,” a “dress code” — can help make getting dressed easier in the morning; I’ve been leaning into my beloved baggy jeans and oversized button-down shirts
A stock of good, go-to accessories (and ideas for how to wear them) can level up a simple outfit with little effort; lately I’ve been wearing a gold nameplate necklace and a thin gold ring on my index finger, or a little neckerchief over a sweatshirt or with a button-down
Taking pictures of outfits you like and storing them in a phone folder is s-m-a-r-t
I’m still figuring out how to dress for hot weather (so maybe I’ll be back in your inboxes before too long)
The big thing is: I recognize myself again. I’m different now — I don’t want to put as much effort into my outfits as I used to, for one thing — but I like the person I’ve become. I’m feel like I’m actually experiencing my personal evolution now, rather than standing on the outside watching it happen. That feels huge.
Thanks for hanging out with me this past year. I’ve loved every single one of your letters and comments and messages. You’ve helped me get here and I appreciate you so much. I’ve got other things in the works for this year so I won’t be a stranger. I hope you won’t either.
xo