Category Archives: style made simple

how to dress like a grown up

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In exactly three weeks, I will turn 45. Happy birthday to me! Let’s all haveJ.Crew a cupcake!

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what it means to be 45. It means I’m old, yes, as my kids like to remind me, but that doesn’t bother me. I figure as long as I can run 15 miles and do 20 real, on-my-toes pushups and swim a mile, I cannot complain about being old.

So I won’t.

Mostly, I have been thinking about turning 45 in the context of what I do here, on the Internet, and specifically on this blog. I describe The Working Closet as a style blog, not a fashion blog,  for a lot of reasons, but mostly because I’m not a fashion blogger — I’m not 25, for one thing, and I don’t live on one of the coasts, and I don’t have a photographer boyfriend who shoots my daily outfit photos. Instead, I’m a middle aged mom living in middle-ish America, Instagramming what I wear with my iPhone. I don’t go to fashion shows or press junkets; I go to karate class and baseball games and the grocery store. I don’t own one single designer piece; my clothes are from J. Crew and the Gap and occasionally Lands’ End. I don’t have the patience or the time or the talent for thrifting, although I’m good at online shopping.

I choose my outfits based on the weather and what’s on my schedule for the day. I wear the same things over and over because it makes getting dressed easier. I’m not trying to impress anyone, I’m just trying to look nice.

In other words, I’m just like you. Continue reading →

goodbye, winter

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Hey, Internet. What’s up?

#getdressed

We’re having a funny burst of spring-like weather here (which probably means we’re thisclose to either a blizzard or a string of killer tornadoes) and I’m digging around in my closet to find fun, bright pieces. I’ve also done a little bit of shopping; the gingham shirt and polka dot sweater are from Old Navy, and the heart sweater is from Gap (but it’s not currently available online). I’m trying to bring a little more pattern into my closet, too, although I’m still pretty obsessed with polka dots and checks. Go figure.

How are you easing into spring? Or are you just waiting for the snow to melt? (Stay warm, East Coasters!!!)

toss or keep? how to decide

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I am constantly editing my closet, making decisions about what stays and what goes, based on what I’m wearing and what I’m wanting and what I’m loving. But every once in a while, I find myself staring at a piece — a blouse or skirt or dress — and thinking, hmm, maybe I should keep this … but maybe not.

I know you’ve been there. Right?

California Closets

I hear from lots of women who say, “I would love to do a big closet purge and edit my wardrobe, but I’m afraid I will get rid of something and regret it later. How do I know what to keep and what to part with?”

The short answer: You don’t, always. Not helpful, I know. But let’s think this through.

Read more at Work It, Mom!