While it’s not officially Fall for several days, it’s always bittersweet when Summer starts to fade away. Sure it’s fun to think about cozy sweaters, favorite boots and toasty fireside cocktails, but there are also frigid temps, slushy streets and cancelled flights ahead. Be that as it may, this September I for one am going to keep walking on the sunny side of the street for as long as I can.
There’s no better time than summer for a colorful dress…or two. I actually bought this one last year for a shoot but just wasn’t feeling like celebrating anything other than remaining COVID-free. This summer, despite the Delta variant, it’s starting to feel like we’re finding our way to a happier, healthier, more hopeful place. And what really feels truer than ever is that by wearing brighter colors you just might project an energy and warmth into the world that gets reflected back to you.
Did it feel weird when you first returned to a more “normal” workout routine post COVID? It did for me. With the gym in our building closed for months during the pandemic, I definitely had to get creative about staying in shape — both mentally and physically. Going up and down the fire staircase (7 flights x 10 times) definitely proved aerobic, especially on bitter cold days. I also enjoyed bundling up for a long, waterfront walking loop around JC. With no free weights in our apartment or even available to order (did you try???), I took advantage of using the ones in our garage upstate whenever I could. We also have an Ergometer (rowing machine), and 25-40 minutes on that was a whole body challenge. As much as I wanted to try to consistently maintain my best weight, best fitness, best energy levels, working out also kept my brain clearer, my mood less dark too.
What a difference a year makes. While we still have many people to get vaccinated, the darkest clouds of COVID have lifted, and we can once again go out into our new world. Sure, life is going to be different — we’ll have to be smarter and safer, but we can let some of that overwhelming fear fall away and just have fun. Like shooting this post without wearing a mask. In addition to featuring this amazing Cloud Dress, I could show off my new and improved Invisalign smile (more to come on that). And share spur-of-the-moment inspiration and some laughs with Kristin, my super talented photographer/art director. Talk about being on Cloud Nine!
As the Coronavirus pandemic continues, so does our need for a cozy cocoon — whether it’s where we live or what we wear. And this super soft sweater dress is the perfect balance of elevated comfort without sacrificing style. It definitely gives one a reason to get up and get dressed up, while it’s equally at home for a Zoom call or Netflix binge.
Do you know why they call it “The Catwalk?” The term is derived from the way models walk, which is similar to a cat. Meow, if you say so. It’s also the platform these show-stopping women (and men) walk on. In my case, I’m no professional, and my elevated platform was a cement walkway in one of the grittier corners of my neighborhood. But when a cat’s gotta walk, a cat’s gotta walk!
I’m writing this post up at our Adirondack cabin where we’ve finally achieved double digits temperature-wise. And to think I thought it was chilly when we shot this look! Well, either way, it’s definitely fuzzy coat weather.
First there was Normcore, then Cottagecore, and now my vote is for Cozycore. A few years back, the unisex fashion trend of Normcore made its “dressing neutrally” attitude known through wardrobe staples like jeans, sneakers, hoodies and other casualwear items. I’m sure you, like me, already have plenty of these pieces in your closet. And are possibly overdosing on them these days. Next, the aspirational nostalgia of Cottagecore, with its feminine simplicity and crafty chic, provided an artisanal escape from the fashion hustle.
Today, as we continue our COVID-induced cocooning, for me all things cozy take on new meaning. And if Cozycore can make my everyday look (and yours!) a little bit more special, that’s a win.
I don’t know about you, but I sat out Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Not Giving Tuesday and that made me feel fabulous! What else makes me feel fab? An outfit of timeless classics shopped straight from my closet. You probably have your own version of these pieces waiting for you to wear them. And if not, I have a few suggestions you might want to check out.
Forget the “fashion rule” that says pastels are only for Summer. There’s no easier or better way to lighten your Fall/Winter wardrobe — or your mood — than by adding a dash of these delicate hues. My suggestion? Every now and then switch up the deeper hues that most of us will reach for in the months ahead with a pale blue, pink or lavender. These pretty colors add a nice contrast when paired with always reliable black, too.