Monday Musings: New Combinations & Relaxing Into Your Style
Happy Monday, ladies. I hope your weekend included something restorative, even if it was just five quiet minutes and a really good cup of tea. Today’s post is short and sweet because my weekend was a full one.
I was somewhat surprised when a reader commented on a previous “What I wore” post that I appeared to care about what I wear and how I dress. Of course, I do, but my outfits aren’t always carefully thought out down to the last detail. Last week, I got dressed by playing with combinations and was happy with the results.
Wearing What Felt Right
On Monday, I met a friend for lunch and a long, fun chat about any and everything. She’s also really fun to shop with because she gets me out of my comfort zone. I wore a pair of dark-wash bootcut jeans and buttoned a black cardigan up like a pullover. I added a large pearl necklace, then looked in the mirror and decided if one was good, two might be more fun, and they were. I was hitting the mall after, so I wore comfy sneakers and a bag I could sling over my shoulder. No less than 3 women commented on my pearls at Nordstrom, so I’ll be wearing them like this again ☺️.
Later in the week, I spent a full day working from home wearing wide-cuffed jeans and a cashmere tee. During the day, I wore socks because the house felt chilly, and when we got a last-minute invitation to meet friends for a casual dinner, I added a cotton cardigan and switched to my black Mary Janes. When I looked at this picture of my outfit, I second-guessed my choice and decided that the next time I experiment with a trend, I would do it with a less expensive garment. I like these jeans, but I’m not wearing them often enough to warrant their price.
Over the weekend, I wore a red-and-white striped tee with these cropped Chico’s black pants to a family birthday barbeque. I added these raspberry-colored slides, which are far enough away from the top to coordinate nicely. I was inspired to buy these sandals after struggling to find red shoes, and I decided this was an affordable option that I knew I would wear a lot. My hat never saw the light of day because we were under an overhang, but the necklace was a fun touch. I haven’t worn it in many years, but for some reason, it felt right with this combination.
Not Every Outfit Needs a Strategy
I still love the creative side of getting dressed…playing with proportions, mixing textures, and finding that sweet spot between structure and softness. There’s real joy in making an outfit click. But lately, I’m leaning more into play than perfection.
Also, a small confession…I’ve realized I can’t always see my accessories clearly, so they tend to go unworn. I’m in the process of rethinking how I store them so they’re easier to reach for because what’s the point of having lovely things if they stay tucked away?
Style doesn’t have to be a project. Sometimes the fun is simply in putting things together for the pleasure of it.
Do you have a smart way of organizing your accessories, or do you forget to wear them too? I’d love to hear what’s working for you.
I, too, struggle with how to properly store jewelry so that I can see it and protect it. I find it easier to do with my inexpensive, fun pieces, but I have finer things (or sentimental family items) that need to be stored in a safe. Do you know of any type of safe specifically for jewelry that allows one to secure items but actually see them, as well?
I’m sorry I do not. But you could take a picture of them all together so you could reference the photo
To easily display my many necklaces, I hung an adjustable bronze colored shower curtain tension rod along the back wall of my walk in closet. I hang necklaces on pretty hook style shower curtain rings.
Great idea! You must have a larger area than I do 🙂
Your outfits were great! I hang my necklaces on a two rows of nice peg hangers ( not really pegs, they are those Command things with crystal knobs) and then all my “dangle” earrings on a loose ribbon hanging on the wall next to it. These are hung over an old jewelry cabinet that I am always re-organizing. But I feel what you are saying…I recently “organized ” my scarves – put them rolled up in a pull out drawer. Not sure if it will work, but I can see them all at once now!
That’s a great idea
Like Kathy said, I have a large corkboard with pushpins on a bathroom wall for my necklaces. It is on a return wall that you have to be all the way into the bathroom to see so it doesn’t look messy, but those that do see it say it looks like a piece of art. The rings and bracelets I wear the most are in a half round jewelry box on a half round table next to it so they are handy. The earrings I wear the most are on a cute tray by my bathroom sink. But the bulk of my jewelry is in a BIG jewelry cabinet that sits on a shelf in the closet that I rarely get into. I’m finding probably 90% of my jewelry isn’t worn because it involves too many decisions!
I’m making a concerted effort to wear more of mine. It’s so easy to get into a habit and I hate them not being worn
If I had seen you, I would have commented on your pearls as well. Fabulous idea.
I’m still using my wood jewelry box my husband gave me years ago. I have very few pieces so I keep my silver jewelry in one area of the box and my gold in another. I usually only wear earrings as necklaces seem to get in my way through the day. The same with scarves. They are too hot or just get in my food or whatever Im doing. Simple works best for me. I like your hair. It is longer than you used to wear it. Very attractive on you.
For scarves, I definitely put the more wintery ones away for the summer/warm season. Otherwise, I have a scarf rack (with loops) in my closet, but also just stack the other scarves under that area of the closet. My husband, bless him, loves to gift me jewelry, real, costume, it’s his love language. Therefore, I must be determined to wear more all the time. I go through all my jewelry regularly and use both the hanging closet holder with clear pouches and the acrylic units with drawers. I don’t like large chunky jewelry so mine is somewhat easier to store.
You always look just SO cool to me!
I guess you truly do study proportion and color and you know what looks wonderful! I just dont have that! I am wearing more pearls this spring and somebody commented recently, so that made my day! !
You’re so sweet.
Mondays outfit (less the purse with the high $$ 😝) and the weekend out look like two outfits it could lean into for my ootd. Both would travel well and be comfortable yet styled. Thanks for the suggestions!
Great outfits! I particularly liked the cuffed jeans and clicked on the link. Blanched at the price and then went back and read the rest of your post on that outfit. Agreed that those are too pricey for the trend… though they certainly are cute! Keep up the great work. Love your stuff.
There are lots of affordable options.
I use something similar with clear plastic pouches and store jewelry sets in saved jewelry bags which I place in a pouch per set. I also have a necklace tree and a small decorative dish for everyday necklaces and earrings, respectively.
Absolutely love the black cashmere sweater with pearls outfit! Very ‘me’!
I have a great deal of jewelry and found that the acrylic drawer pieces as tall and wide as 13 inches work well. Rings in one drawer, silver rings in another, good diamond in another……I also have many acrylic flat boxes that have jewelry and pins in them. I stack them and can see what is in them. Silver box, gold box, turquoise necklace box, other Native American necklaces………. Out of sight out of mind for me definitely!
Same with me! I’m also having the same issue with scarves.
I use a small ladder to store my scaves I lay them over the rungs
So smart!
I bought a Frebeauty Earring Organizer Classic Jewelry Box with 50 Slots from Amazon for my earrings and I love it, but I still haven’t figured out the best way to organize my other accessories.
That sounds so smart.
I also am looking for jewelry storage ideas. I have many pieces of jewelry, both fine and costume, and have committed to purging the costume items and reorganizing those and the fine jewelry over the summer. Because I don’t wear them as often as I should! One success I’ve had with my brooches (the costume ones only): I bought a smallish pillow and an ivory linen cover for it. I pin the costume brooches to it and keep it on the bed.
Fun idea!
IF you decide you need bigger luggage, the Amazon Essential ones are nice. Expandable, great wheels, good price. Cute outfits!
Thanks for the tip.
My rings, earrings, bracelets and short necklaces are in lucite drawers stacked on my dresser. My long necklaces are on belt hangers in my closet. Visibility is key to wearing my accessories.
I agree Debbie!
I really like all your outfits. They really look fun! I can’t always see my necklaces and forget what all I really have. With arthritis it’s hard for me to use the clasp so I’m usually just wearing bracelets and earrings. We haven’t even been able to wear sandals here it’s been so cold.
I have a few small lucite racks hanging on a narrow wall in my closet – from above the light switch to as high as I can reach… I hang the faux/fun stuff on these. They are right where I need them. The ‘statement’ earrings are in a tackle box, with many compartments…so I can see them on a shelf. I group things by color (I’m an autumn) and only house what fits in my small closet…I may or may not swap out the fun stuff season by season. This is the rack I have https://www.containerstore.com/s/storage/hooks-racks/11-peg-acrylic-necklace-wall-rack/12d?productId=10028400
I love how clean and simple looking this one is. Thanks for sharing the link.
I have stuck small hooks inside my wardrobe door and hang necklaces and scarves from them so that I can see my clothes and accessories at the same time. It’s worked for me for years. Now that I’m about to retire from work I’m looking to simplify my wardrobe but am finding it hard to decide what to keep and what to donate.
I would advise taking your time to decide after you see what kind of activites you spend your time on
Great outfits! My favorite is your Monday outfit. Perfectly casual.
Thanks
I am rearranging my closets and attempting to make more accessories easily visible. I took one of those canvas hanging multiple sweater bins and I am using it for handbags. All but my largest fit well in them and you can easily see your choices. It probably holds about 20 bags. I also use a vintage clothes tree for rectangular scarves, it easily fits about 40.
I love those for handbags! I just wish I had more rod space in my tiny closet.
I love the jewelry hanging bag I bought from store “5 Below “. It hangs in my closet and has many clear small pockets for necklaces mostly- that’s what I keep in the pockets. Love it bc you can see the necklaces through the clear sleeves/pockets.
Your addition of bold jewelry on this post really struck a chord with me! You look so much more polished and finished! I recently realized I wasn’t wearing the jewelry that I love either! I bought a large earring tree that rotates. I also bought a necklace hanger that has different tiers. Now I am wearing more necklaces than I had been previously. I’d like to think that has made me look more polished and finished too! LOL
I’m sure it does. Accessories are the icing on the cake!
Have you ever seen the Little Black Dress jewelry organizers? The ones I have are from Umbra. They actually look like a black dress hanging and one side has pouches and the other has Velcro you can hang necklaces on. Amazon has them. I love mine because it’s easy to see everything.
I love that idea, I’ll check them out
You always look stylish, Jennifer. I’ve been designating a week to wear certain things that are tucked away. For instance, I will decide that I’m going to wear a brooch every day this week. Or I will lay out a few forgotten accessories at the beginning of the week and plan to wear them. It’s fun and encourages you to see what you have. If the piece doesn’t work, don’t put it away — put it in the Donate box.
I love that idea. It’s too easy to forget what we have
I’m a visual person, so I need to see things or at least imagine them in my mind. On the other hand I’m always battling clutter and I think displaying jewelry causes it to tarnish. I’m a silver wearer (natch) and I keep my silver in ziplock jewelry bags to prevent oxidation. My solution is the Stylebook app. I know I’m always talking it up, and getting everything uploaded is a chore, but it helps in so many ways and this is one. I have separate categories for necklaces, brooches, scarves, bracelets, belts, hats…in addition to clothes. I can open those pages and see everything at once or I can make sub categories (oblong scarves, square scarves, winter scarves…). I’ll browse for my outfit while having coffee. It also has a cost per wear stat that motivates me to choose something I haven’t worn. This works for me and I’m not constantly polishing silver!
Lol, I’m going to have to check that out Shari. The zip lock idea is brilliant! As you know I am a silver wearer too 🙂
I also have many wonder pieces of jewelry and other accessories I don’t wear very often because they are “put away”.
I will be very interested to hear all the great ideas !
You always inspire me to improve my look with scarf or costume jewelry. Thank you
Awesome. Accessories make all the difference
I got some wall-mounted racks with hooks that I placed on a blank wall in a walk-in closet and use them for my necklaces (the good stuff still stays out of sight). I also have a couple of small towel bars mounted in another closet that I placed shower curtain rings on and then draped my scarves thru the rings.
I love these looks. It’s fun to experiment. I have one of the over the door jewelry cabinets. It makes it so easy to see everything.
I have a large framed cork board on my bedroom wall with push pins on it. I hang my necklaces on it so I can see them all. It works for me! It also looks like a very interesting work of art.
I have something similar for brooches on a pillow. Yours is a great idea!
I took your brooches idea, Jennifer of years ago and have done the same! I love looking at them & remembering where I bought them, who gifted them and when I wore them! It was in my Nurse Exec days in the hospital, years ago when suits were a must!
Brooches are my new weakness. They add such character to every outfit
I have arranged jewelry by color.
Also, I have jewelry storage units in the form of hangers that hang in your closet and were purchased at the container store many years ago. The tabs for hanging necklaces are made from Velcro. Some of these hanger storage units have clear plastic pockets for smaller items.
By color is brilliant!
I thought I was smart and organized buying a tackle box to sort and hold accessories. I put it in a night stand and only look in it rarely. I still just use my jewelry table
I’ve found that out of site is out of mind for me.
Thanks for the idea of the double pearls! I love a statement necklace, and I’m going to consider wearing two at a time. A great way to get more wear out of my accessories. The necklaces that I wear a lot I store on a tree. That way I can see them more readily. However, the ones that are in my drawer definitely get less attention!
I found your thoughts about the wide cuff jeans interesting. I also struggled with the cost vs. number of times I would wear them. Although cute and current, at 5’ 3”, I felt like the cuff just cut off the length of my legs too much. I returned mine. Now if I go with a wide leg jean, I go with an uncuffed option.
I agree, as a petite those wide cuffs are not attractive on me
I am 5’1″ and never wear cuffed jeans because they make me look extremely short…I don’t need help looking shorter!
If the cuff is the only thing that keeps those pants in your closet instead of in your outfits I consider having them altered. I wouldn’t think removing the cuff would be a major adjustment.
If you’re unhappy with the fit, beyond the cuff then don’t waste money on the alteration.
I’m trying to decide if the photos show your new haircut. How’s that going?
This striped shirt is after my haircut. Nothing changed much so it was a good one.
All of these outfits are lovely and cute and I admire how you vary them each day. When you find an option for accessory storage I hope you share… I have recently moved and my trusty go-to drawer isn’t with me anymore, and things stay hidden!
I had the same issue – with necklaces, especially. I needed to see them to remember to wear them. My solution was to mount two tie and belt racks on a wall in my walk-in closet. The model I ordered online (ClosetMaid Epoxy Coated Steel Tie and Belt Rack) has 27 hooks, so two of them hold plenty of necklaces as well as a few belts. I see them everyday when I walk into my closet and find I’m wearing those necklaces much more now.
That would be great! Mine are currently in 4 containers and I forget to check them all.
Loved the first outfit, that is my style!
Mine too. Easy peasy with a bit of the unexpected.
I bought a product called the little black dress from The Container Store. It stores your jewelry and hangs in your closet. On one side are see thru compartments for rings and bracelets. On the other side are Velcro loops to hang necklaces. It’s great.
That sounds like a great idea! I’ll see what I can find online.
I have two of the Little Black Dress jewelry organizers and I love them! I also bought mine at The Container Store several years ago. If they don’t still carry them, Amazon has them. The brand is Umbra.
Thanks Lana
I have a simple tie rack on my closet wall that I use to hang my costume jewelry necklaces. It keeps them in sight soi wear them more. I need a second one! I group my earrings by season and have separate trays for cold and warm weather. I keep holiday jewelry in a separate ray. My nice jewelry is tucked away but find that I use it less since I retired, wearing it for dressy occasions. It too is grouped separately in trays by necklaces and earrings so I remember to wear it in different combinations. I keep small voile bags and a little cosmetic bag with my jewelry so packing for a trip is easy. This system seems to work for me. I hope it helps others.
Ah, accessories. My sweet spot. I not only make jewelry, I love it and buy a ton of it. I finally bought an IKEA wardrobe and had them put in 9 jewelry drawers! And I could have used more! Then I left the top part open, put in a closet bar, and added purse hooks, so about a dozen of my fave bags could hang at the ready. It works beautifully. Now if someone could figure out a smart way to organize shoes in a smaller space … The struggle is real, but I not only love accessories, but find them immensely helpful. They can perk up a smaller wardrobe (my retirement goal), express personal style very specifically, take up relatively little room, and I don’t have to worry about something not fitting due to fluctuating weight.
Such a great idea Linda!!
Totally agree – I have been fortunate to have collected a number of nice accessories annd clothing over the years because I buy quality classics. But as a retired person, I don’t need to be dressed up much and a lot of the jewelry is too dressy/late 20th century (as my granddaughter calls it!) for every day casual wear. I don’t want to look like I’m intentionally trying to wear everything I’ve got by layering on too many options. I agree with you about being more intentional about buying, editing and donating/consigning now.