Current Closet MVPs | 01
Meet the 8 current MVPs of my closet & how to style them—the overachievers I actually wear, while the rest just take up space and gaslight me into thinking I have ‘nothing to wear.’
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I’m really sorry, but I have to start with a ramble before I go into my current closet MVPs.
When thinking about this creative endeavor, I can’t stop playing something a friend said to me in my mind. I started rambling to her about how excited I am to be taking this creative leap. She said something to me that, as a true overthinker, I keep replaying in my head…
Let’s start with some context before I share with you what she said. Around Christmas, I was having horrible neck and back pain. The doctor sent me to get an MRI. Fun fact: I chose Celine Dion to listen to during the MRI. I feel like you can learn a lot about a person based on their music selection during an MRI. After the MRI, and many herniated discs later, I was left feeling defeated. I couldn’t run anymore, weight train, do HIIT workouts, cycle… the list goes on and on.
Okay—enough about that. Back to the chat I had with a friend at work. She said to me, “So many things have been taken away from you recently; now you’re finding other things that make you happy.” She was so right. I had just finished a half marathon two months prior. I was training for the Philadelphia full marathon, and now I was completely sidelined. I think my friend was right. This creative endeavor has been the spark of joy that I really needed to get out of that funk.
That was a lot, and probably too much information for many who are just here for outfits and fashion advice. As always, thank you for taking the time to read this.
Alright, awkward transition from big emotions to… sneakers. But first, let me explain what a “Closet MVP” is. A “Closet MVP” is a piece in my wardrobe that I keep going back to over and over again. It’s versatile and can be styled in many different ways. Lastly, it’s something I’ve owned for a while and still hasn’t “gone out of style.”
But who actually gets to decide what is “out of style?” A few years ago, they told me to burn my skinny jeans, and now they’re “back.” That’s why, yes, we like to see what the trends are, but at the end of the day, we have the authority to pick and choose the styles that make us feel our best. Case in point- these are my sister’s “Squishmallow Crocs” and I love how much they make her happy.
Adidas Gazelle
I’m not going to lie. The resurgence of these made me a little hesitant. They reminded me of youth league indoor soccer games. I remember my dad buying me my first pair of black Adidas Sambas. That’s when I realized I have big feet (size 9.5), and when I wear Sambas, I look like I’m wearing skis.
Luckily, the Gazelles didn’t give me the same problems from my childhood. These are cute! I know the white ones are very on-trend, but I’m a big neutral girl, so I went with the natural color. I find myself wearing these with trousers, jeans, leggings, skirts… the possibilities are endless.
I think I’m going to be reaching for these often—I purchased them in July, and I haven’t stopped wearing them since.
Link: Adidas Gazelle Sneaker
Mango Sherpa Jacket
This sherpa jacket has been one of, if not my most worn jacket of the winter season. I’d say it’s great for cold days, but it definitely won’t keep you warm on a freezing day. I love wearing it to work over my work clothes or pairing it with leggings and sneakers for my kids’ basketball games. It’s also reversible—but I’ve never worn the other side.
Links: Mango Sherpa Jacket
Denim (Dark, Medium, Off/White/White, Light)
I love jeans. If you can’t tell from my last post - I do everything in my power to sneak them into my wardrobe on both casual and work days. I think it’s important to have a few pairs of high quality denim. I’m hoping the folks at Madewell will see this post and give me a call because I absolutely love their jeans. Just remember, yes Madewell is expensive, but… you can bring in ANY old pair of jeans to Madewell and receive $20 off your purchase. That $20 off can be combined with any “%” promo code they’re running or the traditional 15% student/teacher discount. I think a great place to start is with a black-wash, medium wash, light wash, and off-white or white wash.
Links: White Denim, Medium Denim, Black Denim (*all are similar - mine are from a few years ago) - for other denim not pictured here PLEASE check out the JCREW Trouser Denim - paired with the Adidas Gazelle it’s *chefs kiss*, PAIGE Aneesa denim is also my favorite if I can find them on sale!
Blazers (Solid and Print)
Blazers are iconic for so many reasons. First they literally never go out of style. I even have blazers that have shoulder pads in them and I do not feel victimized by their volume. I think having oversized blazers that are a mixture of solid and patterned give you nice options throughout all the seasons. When all else fails, throw a blazer on and you immediately look like you have your life together. I’ve done this so many times many people around me are literally convinced my life is very neatly put together.
Links: Patterned Blazer, More Patterned Blazers, Solid Oversized Blazer(s), Brown Suede Blazer *All are similar - mine are a little old. Also- don’t sleep on Quince. Their stuff is legit. I also just scooped up this Blazer from Zara.
Ballet Flats
Yes, I love my loafers. They are so trustworthy and easily pair with so many outfits in my wardrobe. However, if there were a fire and I had to grab some of my favorite pairs of shoes… I’m going for the ballet slippers.
Mine are so worn out that I’m genuinely curious how I’ll manage to edit out all the markings from constant wear in the pictures I post below. I love wearing them with trousers, dresses, skirts, and jeans. The ones with the Mary Jane strap are my favorite because they give the shoe a little extra character!
I also feel entitled to wear them because I did, in fact, participate in dance classes for one year when I was like 5. I don’t want to brag, but apparently, I stole the show with my lackluster dance skills—all while wearing an embellished alien costume. We can call it, “cosmic couture.”
Links: Red ballet flats, Black ballet flats, Tan/Black ballet flats, Brown ballet flats, Pink ballet flats (Similar), Leopard ballet flats (I’m not linking the ones with the net and diamonds on them because the gems fall off a lot; so I sadly do not recommend the ones I have).
Lady Jackets
These are insanely timeless. I wore these ‘lady jackets’ all last year and continue to wear them this year. They’re cropped right at the waist and can be worn closed, tucked into your denim/pants, open with a tank top underneath, draped over your shoulders as a layering piece, and more.
Links: Black lady jacket, Black lady jacket (less expensive), Navy/cream lady jacket, Black/white stripe lady jacket (similar)
Button Up
I know you’re sick of me talking about these. Heck, I just did an entire post on the oxford button-down. However, this piece will never go away. We can wear it under cardigans and blazers, open with a tank underneath during the summer, or on its own, neatly tucked into our pants or the more ‘hip’ way by leaving it untucked and unbuttoning the bottom few buttons.
Links: Blue oxford shirt, Blue oxford shirt (less expensive), White button up, White button up (less expensive), Patterned button up (similar) - I’ve had my eye on this one for a while
Hats
We all need some handy hats we can turn to on the days we don’t wash our hair. There are definitely days when all the dry shampoo and cream to slick back my hair cannot get the job done, or on the days we simply want to avoid the sun. PSA—make your appointment to get your skin checked! I suggest getting hats that you like the way they look on your head. I know that sounds really weird, and I’m not making fun of your head—I just know there are hats I’ve bought without trying them on that just don’t fit right. Neutral hats are also a great snag because you can pair them with so many outfits to look pulled together.
I do not expect you all to convert and become Yankee fans. I know there will be feelings of rage from my Boston friends when seeing these selections. I do have a Red Sox hat in my arsenal, but if my son sees this one day and remembers his mother as nothing but a traitor, I won’t be able to sleep at night. My kids still remember the one time I burned their quesadilla when they were 3 years old. Lastly, I wear the ‘No Bad Dogs’ hat more casually, like on a beach day. This is the guy who trained Miss Peaches, and honestly, I’d probably pick meeting her over a meeting with J.Crew.
Links: Light tan Yankee hat, Camel Yankee hat, Green hat, No bad dogs hat, London hat
Outfit Formula Combinations: Lady Jacket or Blazer + Button Down + Denim + Ballet Slippers. The limit does not exist.
That’s all for today! I hope you enjoyed this post. There will be another one coming to your inboxes this weekend. Please remember to move this message to your Priority/Inbox so you don’t lose it in the promotions tab!
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Love reading these posts💕
Quality over quantity… I do both lol