Club Monaco coat & clutch, H&M booties, dress c/o Boutique Onze,
cardigan c/o Banana Republic, earrings & rings c/o Brooklyn Designs
I feel like the past 6 months or so, I’ve been so focused on getting this task done or that email sent or this post up etc, etc that I’ve forgotten to take some time to lift my gaze up and just look around. Before I started blogging and for the first couple years of being involved in the community, I was compulsively searching for inspiration everywhere, absorbing it all like a sponge. Once momentum picked up in certain other areas of my life, it seemed like the whole time investment that goes into being an active observer was not as much of a priority as other more immediate things, and so I let it slip.
Anyway, over the past week or so, I’ve been trying to dedicate more time to just looking around…flipping through more magazines, popping onto Pinterest more often, taking a couple hours to browse through street style sites. It’s brought so much more to my quality of life, right down to my revamped relationship with my closet. What’s more, it served as a really great reminder that that time should be just as much a priority as catching up on emails or doing other work. I don’t know about you, but for me, the days of sitting down with a book for an afternoon or relaxing into an hours-long movie marathon are non-existent. I’ll probably broadcast my 2013 goals as it is (I was a Psych student and motivational psych was my passion – if you want to stick to your goals, announce them in a public forum!), and I can already guarantee that taking more completely guilt-free, relaxing moments will be right at the top of the goal list.
One thing I have been inspired by lately? As always, Françoise Hardy and her effortless French style. This striped dress from Boutique Onze‘s house brand Tatiana & Natouchi fits perfectly into that easy chic aesthetic: classic stripes, a lovely femme cut and a super comfortable fit. True to my new goal, I’ll definitely be scouring Pinterest for some more stripe inspo over the coming week!
Hope you all have a fabulous Monday! A special shout-out for my older sister Natasha, who’s ringing in her birthday today…happy birthday Vladimir (don’t ask), I love you!
As corny as it sounds, I find taking 10 minutes a day on pinterest to surround myself with beautiful and inspirational images totally lifts my spirits and energizes me! Good luck with your shift in priorities and keep up the inspiring work here, I love to follow along 🙂
xo K
I love this dress! I'm looking for the perfect striped one and can seem to find it, this one is great!
Ginny
Mynewfavoriteoutfit.Blogspot.Com
Love the pop of red especially around winter. -Heidi
I think I will use your advice and shout out my 2013 goals to the world, that way I might stick to it! You look pretty as always!
Marie
A Merry Diary
I think we all sometimes get so caught up in the grind we forget to look up and actually see whats going on around us…everything seems to glide by. Loving your new post 2013 attitude!
I love Boutique Onze and wish I had any amount of money to spend there.
I'm looking forward to hearing your goals. I already know that one of my goals will be to make monthly goals rather than year-long goals.
Also I think you've captured the effortless style in this look and I love the pattern mixing.
"I've forgotten to take some time to lift my gaze up and just look around." I completely know what you mean doll! With my blog and grad school and being a wife and sister and etc… I have forgotten to step back and only do what I can and to leave myself 'me time' so I can be inspired and live life. To remember that the blog is supposed to be fun and about my passions. Happy Monday doll!
Chao
Poppie
http://thepoppie.com
Another amazing look! Love the subtle pop of leopard combined with the striped dress. Be sure to check out my style shoutout to you in today's style inspiration post 🙂
http://cstyledesign.blogspot.com
omg, this is so weird! this is basically the same exact outfit i planned to wear on Friday for my job's company party! wow.
It's so true that you need to take time for yourself and do things that inspire you! I am usually so buy that I forget that too. It's really important to feel inspired and motivated, it makes life more exciting!!!
I really love this outfit, the striped dress is gorgeous and looks wonderful with that coat! Love this
xJennaD
I love this post! I love your 2013 attitude girl! and you look so gorgeous in these pictures!! Pinterest is the best btw! I get most of my inspiration from it!
iambornlippy.blogspot.com
I haven't read for fun in SO long… I guess because I spent 7 years of university reading and now I read a ton in my job I have little desire to when I get home. But reading for pleasure is so different… maybe I will make that a 2013 goal! Look at you, being all inspiring and stuff 😉
xo, alison*elle
Love the stripes + trench = classic chic! 🙂
http://www.pennypincherfashion.com
Very nice, as usual 🙂
So glad you found some time to "look around" a bit more. It's so important! Life can be tricky sometimes.
Love From,
Manda @ Eat Cake
Love the clutch
http://www.fashionbeautyquest.blogspot.co.uk
You are the best at cozy casual looks. Love this one!
And you're absolutely right — time to relax and enjoy the moment is so important. It brings so much more happiness into everyday life 🙂
xoxo Alison
http://www.stylingmylife.com
I want to steal all your coats! Love them!
http://www.daisyraeboutique.com
http://www.kacieskloset.blogspot.com
I completely agree with these sentiments and your resolution, sometimes it's the little moments in life when we take a minute to look around that mean the most!
xo, Kenzie
http://www.CaveGirlintheCity.com
lovely outfit xx
http://fashionloft8.blogspot.com
Love the dress! I think it's time I spend more time on Pinterest myself! xx
Great clutch! It goes with everything!
http://initialed.blogspot.com
The coat is so pretty!!! You look lovely as always! xo, Christina
http://www.styleclouds.de
I love your coat, very nice and simply look
kiss
aurélie
http://www.lespetitesbullesdemavie.blogspot.com
I love that coat! It's so chic over the striped dress with the peek of red poking out!
-Erin-
OneTwoSummer
love the club monaco leopard clutch! perfect
xo
jen
http://www.jennyscribbles.com
I love this post – taking more time to look around is definitely something that I need to do, especially at this time of the year. It's one of my goals for 2013 🙂
Kate xo petite-adventures.blogspot.ca
p.s., love your dress!