Hello my friends! I hope you’re enjoying the wind down of summer. I sure am 🙂
One good thing about my not-so-frequent posts is that I have so many great new finds to share with you all (even with my reduced shopping level)! I have to start with these Altheda Platform Sandals by White Mountain. I FREAKING LOVE THEM.
Yes, they are worthy of all caps. They are insanely comfortable, cute, and they’ll be perfect for all the 70’s styles I plan on wearing as the days get a little cooler. I just saw they are on sale for less than 30 bucks right now!
Here’s a sneak preview of the pull on flare jeans I’ll be wearing constantly this fall/winter/spring with my new platform sandals. I know this because I actually paid full price for them to ensure I didn’t miss out. In fact my friend Sarah saw them on me, realized they had no buttons or zippers and had to have them too – in 2 colors! I foresee some accidental matching in our future 😉
Sad for me, but good for you is the news that they are now on sale for $32!! Get them while you can, they are uber popular for a reason. And you have a wealth of options between all the different washes, colors, and patterns.
Having a curvy body type, “tenty” has never been my style. However, I have been enjoying the many benefits of oversized, blousy, and boxy pieces lately. Comfort is key to me, almost above all else, so I’ll trade a little bit of figure flatteration (Wendy Williams shout out!) for a look that I could sleep in, if need be…and I have lol. Plus it’s just so nice to feel the breeze through a flowy garment in the hot, hot summer.
This top was yet another TJMaxx find – which usually means it’s already sold out online – but I saw it’s still available in green. I highly recommend it as a top, tunic, or beach cover up. I reach for it over and over.
This hat by Brixton is still a favorite. The dark brown color has served me well, but here’s a fun, bright option of the same style and I also really like it in the color honey. It’s such a perfect blend of fashion and function. I bring it with me every time I go to the beach for the large brim.
*TIP: Larger brimmed hats like this one tend to look best worn a bit farther back from the forehead. As opposed to a super small brim hats like this one from an old post, which are often more flattering worn closer to the eyebrows.
      
Is it just me or do you also kind of dig the whole “she might not be wearing pants” oversized white shirt look from the back? I usually don’t but this one is giving me some Risky Business vibes…
As I put together this post I thought a lot about photo shopping so I wanted to share a little on the subject: When you edit photos – which is an essential part of photography – you naturally are looking for little details and that can easily veer into the realm of being overly critical of oneself.
While I’ve worn every size between 6 and 14 at different times in my life, during the time I’ve had my blog I’ve worn 8-10’s and I felt pretty good about how I looked. I’ve gained some weight since the early days and it can sometimes be really difficult to look at myself and not see what I expect/want to see. So it’s incredibly tempting to use photo editing software to “fix the problem.”
I know many of you likely know what I mean, with all the selfies, apps, and filters out there in the mainstream right now. But here’s what I’ve been asking myself – why is there one way I should be or look and who is really dictating it?
So I’m editing my photos a lot less than I have in the past (seriously, one feels quite powerful being able to retouch a big ol’ honking zit or remove cellulite). I know many of you have been there! But I don’t want that “perfected” version of reality and I don’t want others to misinterpret it as reality. I might as well be watching TV or daydreaming at that point. Instead I want to experience, honor, and embrace reality for what it is – and do the same for myself in the process.
Here’s to all the infinite versions of beauty and loving ourselves exactly as we currently are. Love you guys
XO, Kate
Photo credit: Leo Amar