fashion

The Lazy Way to Look Put Together

I love a good shortcut. Especially when it comes to getting dressed, I love it when I can feel pulled together quickly and it’s not a giant chore or force of creativity. Some days it’s just function! I still like to feel elevated even if I only spent 30 seconds choosing out my outfit, though, which is where the power of monochromatic dressing comes in really handy.

Pick a color, any color! Today I chose white because a have a zillion white tops, and I’ve just added a pair of white jeans that I like to my wardrobe. Not only will this outfit take me through a video shoot I have later today, but as I sit here at my desk getting work done, I feel a lot more powerful than if I had simply left on my pajamas.

When going monochromatic, having a few good accessories helps to punctuate the look and add some visual interest. I love this new woven raffia bag. I decided to carry the black into my shoes for some nice contrast. I added a few statement jewelry pieces and that’s it! I will say that having a shorter hair style also makes my outfits feel a little more put together. Add that to the long list of reasons to get a bob!

Shirt: Everlane

Jeans: Levis (size up)

Shoes: Sezane

Bag: Quince

Two Brands I'll Be Wearing All Summer

The first time my husband and I visited Seattle together was in May 2014. Ten years ago! We had just decided to uproot our lives in Chicago and make the big move out west. We arrived with hopes to find a place to live which was SUCH a mad dash with some more than interesting experiences learning about the crazy Seattle market! We also enjoyed a lot of adventures and started envisioning our lives here.

Flash forward ten years, we’re really feeling settled. It takes forever. MAN, does it take forever! We rented and moved around and started having kids and changed jobs and everything has been up in the air like crazy, except that right now we are just cruising, and it feels really good. I love our house that we’re renovating slowly but surely, and I’m loving our neighborhood which has this incredible spot, Kubota Garden, just a few blocks away. This time of year it’s downright Seussical with its big rhododendron blooms and bursting greens.

Today I enjoyed a stroll around the garden in some new pieces from some of my favorite brands, Tradlands and Freda Salvador. Both are women-owned sustainable brands with incredible attention to quality and craftsmanship. I’ve partnered with them for a little while and am really proud to be a part of their community.

Outfit details:

Tradlands Nico Dress in Petite Fleurs — you can use my discount code EMILYKEENEY15 for 15% off.

Freda Salvador Roma Round Toe Ballet Flat in Chartreuse — you can use my discount code EMILY15 for 15% off.

If you make a purchase through these links I may earn a small commission. I only share brands I trust and love. Thank you!

Sézane Seattle Pop-up

September is an exciting month for me, with the whisperings of a new season and seemingly a fresh start (will I ever evade the circularity of the schoolyear?). I tend to stock up on things like socks and notebooks to take me through the next chapter, and seeing the colors change in the trees sends a little charge through me. This season is exceptionally exhilarating, though, with the much-anticipated arrival of the Sézane boutique in Seattle’s University Village. I’ve been a fan of this brand for many years, with their feminine-but-not-too-flouncy tops and dreamy knitwear. Their shoes and bags are effortlessly Parisian with classic silhouettes with just enough of an edge. When I wear Sézane, I feel creative, competent, and beautiful.

Needless to say, when I received an invitation to their grand opening event I immediately opened my calendar app and logged it in. My friend Shay and I headed together the morning of the event greeted by bluebird skies and a sea of flowers outside their front doors: fodder for a bouquet-making station in the new shop.

The store is every bit as cool as you’d expect, furnished with restored vintage pieces and fixtures that make the clothing feel as part of the decor as shoppable real estate. After chatting with the Sézane team about the excitement of their arrival, I selected pieces I’d previously only ever seen on a screen, gathering them into a fitting room for a styling session. I emerged with an Emile Sweater and a long list of wishlist additions.

Take a peek at my visit here: