That's a Wrap, 2021!

To say it’s been a weird couple of years would be the understatement of the century. I hope the three people who read this blog (hi, mom!) are entering 2022 with their health and sanity intact.

Back in 2019, I took a step back from the blog because, well, it felt like it was going nowhere. I had a few followers at best and things weren’t happening as quickly as I’d hoped. I was also miserable in my career in the fashion industry and talking about fashion after work felt like a drag. The one highlight of 2020 was that I left said miserable career and I’m now six months out from finishing my master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling. After a few years of an externship, I will be a licensed clinician!

That said, I still love developing my own personal style and improving my surroundings. And as an unemployed graduate student, great deals are even more important to me than ever.

I’d like to kick off my return by sharing some of my favorite purchases of 2021. 2020, let’s just pretend you didn’t happen, ok?

Sweats from California-based Richer Poorer have been my uniform this year. I started out with their crewneck sweatshirt, which I’m not ashamed to admit I have in three colors. During their Black Friday sale, I scooped up the matching sweatpants to complete my descent into cozy. They’re currently running an extra 30% off of sale styles and I’m practicing serious restraint from picking up these tie dye sweatpants and hoodie. They get major bonus points for using recycled polyester for most of their styles.

I think most of us can agree that our most-worn footwear for the last few years have been slippers. I’ve walked away from fur-lined slippers and fell in love with these boiled wool numbers from Nootkas. They don’t offer a ton of support, but I’ve had mine for almost a year and I’m happy to report that after daily use they have held up beautifully. The wool is also responsibly sourced from New Zealand and handmade in a fair trade facility in Nepal.

After my slippers, my most worn shoe is without a doubt the New Balance 327. They add a cool, retro edge to my jean/sweater winter uniform and are so comfortable. If the good colors weren’t so hard to get a hold of, I would 100% have a second pair.

J. Crew’s sales have been unprecedented these last few months and I’ve scored so many good deals. I realized I had a dearth of long-sleeved tees in my wardrobe, and picked up this style in a few colors for $6 a piece. Perfect for these 60 degree December days. I’m also obsessed with their newest pajama iteration, the eco dreamiest fabric. I have these and they manage to be super soft and cozy at the same time. Also stoked to see that they’re starting to come out with more modern cuts and fabrics in their swimwear line. I’m eyeing this bikini top and bottom in their version of Hunza G’s trendy fabric from last summer.

When we got back to the city in August after being away for almost a year (!!!), we saw our apartment through fresh eyes and decided to make a few updates. This coffee table from Article was the first purchase we made and I love the addition of marble in our space. The bookcase we had behind our couch was looking a little worse for wear so we chose this from Room & Board to replace it. We hung this light fixture from Ikea in our bedroom and it has completely transformed the vibe. In our bathroom, we updated all of the hardware and replaced the towel bar with this rustic peg rack. We also purchased new bath and hand towels and I love how luxe and soothing the space is now.