If you had to choose only one colour to wear forever, which one would it be?
I want to say something fun and exciting, but honestly? Probably black. It’s not my best colour, but it’s the most versatile and easy to find.
What field of work are you in? Curious if professional dress is required?
I am a lawyer, and currently working as in-house legal counsel. Our office dress code is “professional” but definitely at the business-casual end of the spectrum rather than business-formal. The degree of dressiness also varies by department. My outfits are probably dressier than most (but not all) of my co-workers, but not to a significant extent.
How many kids do you have?
I have two: a 7-year old son, and a 5-year old daughter. They are delightful, and it takes a lot of willpower on my part not to spam my social media with their exploits.
Who are your top 3 celebrity style icons?
This was a surprisingly difficult question to answer – who would have guessed? Tilda Swinton, for sure. Kate Lanphear. And Iris Apfel, maybe? Or Cate Blanchette.
Why have you chosen not to monetize your blog/instagram?
I wrote a bit about that on my FAQ page, but the long and short of it is that, for me, it doesn’t feel authentic. No shade intended towards monetized bloggers. My approach to clothes/shopping/style does not lends itself to being monetized and that’s ok. My goal has always been to connect with other people interested in my hobbies, and create a community. That’s really hard to do these days of social media overload and viral stars and micro blogging, but I don’t think that throwing in monetization would help at all.
What are your favourite hobbies?
Reading, writing, thrifting, needle arts (embroidery and knitting), and collecting things. There are a few more I’d like to try, if I had more time. I enjoy making and being around beautiful things.
What clothing items do you buy new?
Always: underwear (including bras) and nylons. I occasionally buy other things new as well, especially jewelry.
What are your tips for looking polished and put together?
Intentional fit (whether your personal style calls for a tailored fit or a slouchy one). Good quality fabrics. Good quality shoes. Most of all: confidence. So, whatever it takes for your to feel most confident/your best. For me, that includes a flattering haircut and mascara. Always.
How does being in-house compare with private practice?
I can’t speak in general terms, but for me it comes down to: better work-life balance; more practical, hands-on work; greater variety of work and experience; more opportunities for growth.
What is your protocol for cleaning thrifted clothes?
I used to use a home dry-cleaning kit, but I have since switched to a steamer. I use the JIffy E-Steam handheld steamer. I steam everything, focusing on areas with high skin-to-skin contact (armpits, collars, etc.). If a piece has a stain that I missed at the store, I will hand-wash the item, then steam it again to get wrinkles out.
Shoes get their inside soles wiped down with rubbing alcohol.
Steamer or iron?
Steamer all the way! I always hated ironing, and now I don’t have to do it. I love my little steamer.
Do you thrift for your kids too?
Generally, no, but I do shop at consignment for them. In my experience, it’s harder to find kids clothing in like-new condition at thrift stores, and the prices are not much better than what you can buy, on sale, at retail stores. I tend to buy their clothes at stores like Joe Fresh, Old Navy, and Walmart, because they’re hard on their clothes and grow out of them quickly. Once they’re older, I will probably try to find them better quality, longer-wearing clothes. I would like to get them interested in thrifting once they develop a bit more patience 🙂
Who takes your photos? Do you take them every day?
It used to be my husband, but it’s now mostly the kids. They’re easier to bribe, haha! I plan my outfits in advance, and take photos in batches. I can usually have 10-15 minutes before they start to get bored. The photos that are taken outside are “day of”, typically snapped as we’re leaving the house to go somewhere.
Got more questions? Drop me a line in the comments or a DM on IG 🙂
What brand of steamer do you use? I’ve been wanting to buy one for a while, but I get overwhelmed with all the different choices.
I have the Jiffy E-Steam handheld steamer. I bought it on Amazon.
Thanks for answering all of these questions! They are fun to read.