When I picture Carrie, there were obviously some crazier outfits that I wouldn’t necessarily try to recreate. However, the best part of about each of those looks were that they were quintessentially her: Whimsical, layered, and thoughtful. If she were a sentient person and not a character, I’d imagine she would think long and hard about whether to add the extra necklace or newsboy hat or brooch. Unlike Chanel who ‘famously’ (???) said to take off one thing before walking out the door, Carrie seemed to add one extra thing before feeling like the look was complete.

I had to recreate this one to see if in any world the two piece suit could look casual and I can confirm that for me, it’s a no.
[See above where I literally said I wouldn’t recreate any of her crazier looks]
[[Like Carrie, I’m a hypocrite]]

The tulle underskirt, plus the fur coat, plus the belt over the cardigan, plus the pops of pink = something only Carrie could pull off. But why not live a little???????

This actually feels pretty wearable. The cinched butterfly belt is very 2002 but in all, a great summer inspo look.

Okay this post isn’t about narrating her fashion choices, it’s about showing you what I’d buy and style as Lauren/Carrie Silva/Bradshaw. So, here’s look number one:

For the most part, everything I’m styling is used (so this should have doubled as a What I Saved on eBay This Week) but that unfortunately doesn’t mean everything is a steal. The above dress is “one of Galliano's masterpieces” according to the Vestiaire listing. So take that however you want and decide if it’s worth the $4k to you.

Look number two!

This is what I’m calling “Work Carrie.” The sensible (lol) heel, modest jacket and cutesy heart necklace feel very I’m-a-rule-follower. And while I don’t think Carrie actually takes direction well, I do this this look is going places.

Look 3:

This is Look Two’s bada$$ little sister. If the above were prada, this is miu miu. We’re mixing metals, we’re introducing metallic leopard print and the bag is L.A.M.B. And what’s cooler than Gwen Stefani………………………exactly

Look numero four:

So despite only featuring three items, I would say this is a very VERY Carrie ensemble. The vintage D&G dress, YSL heels (with tassels!!) and a large tote for 1 million packs of Marlboro lights? I mean, c’mon. The only other plausible accessory would be a shopping bag at this point.

The fifth and final:

I didn’t mean to end with two one-sleeved dresses but Carrie was very into the asymmetrical, bias cut thing and so these both just worked. And while the blue one was $2500, this one is only $75 :-)))) I’m just out here doing the LORD’S WORK. Anyway! Pair this with a spray tan and yowzah you’re ready for a good time.

And just like that, I feel inspired and poor. A great combo when you want to flex your creativity muscle.

The hotline is open! Call me with any comments, thoughts, dating woes, etc. And while I’m not claiming to be anything like Carrie (despite just ‘photoshopping’ my face on hers), I will say we’ve both been to the trapeze school on pier 40.

Fly away on my zephyr!

Can a dress only be considered “cocktail” if it’s short? Does black tie mean the dress has to skim the floor? Also if I type in “black tie dress” on Google, I’m hit with the saddest collection of black mother-of-the-bride-type dresses. (Which that could actually say more about me than anything else because apparently my Google thinks that’s what I’m into, but I digress.)

There’s two schools of thought here: 1) I’m overthinking this (high probability but at least i’m SelF AwArE) or 2) wedding dress codes have actually become more ambiguous! And if that’s the case, please help me either confirm or deny the below dress code “labels”

COCKTAIL
When I think cocktail, I think cocktail length, but I’m getting conflicting info from my sources on whether that’s mini, knee length or midi. But we’re all different heights anyway so tomayto tomahto

Is this cocktail? Or is it upscale-office-christmas-party? Or worse, is it neither and no one has told me but short dresses are now “chuegy?????” (Idk if I even spelled that word right—my tiktok correspondent (patrick) will have to tell me)).

Maybe I should reframe my thinking from wedding specific dress codes to rewearability. And even if these dresses are not cool by internet’s standards, I could see myself wearing them to weddings, showers, (nicer) brunches, rehearsal dinners, maybe a quick HEB run, who knows!!! The world is my oyster.

SEMI FORMAL
According to my brief search, “semi formal” is more casual than cocktail, so here’s my slightly less casual version of the above:

I don’t know if I’d even wear any of these dresses because a new thread we haven’t even discussed is color theory and as a self-identified “true winter” I don’t think any of these dresses are in my palette. But other than that! I feel like I nailed a more casual version of cocktail. These are lighter fabrics, two-piece sets and breezier silhouettes that read daytime wedding, simple affair, semi formal.

BLACK TIE
I’m skipping black tie optional because I actually think they’re the same thing. If it’s black tie optional, men typically just wear the tux and I don’t know if there’s a difference between black tie and black tie optional dresses for ladies. BUT CORRECT ME IF I’M WRONG BC THAT’S WHAT THIS WHOLE THING IS ABOUT

A sleek low bun, a little clutch, a shawl, a pump, an earring!?!??? I mean c’mon these are great, right? Don’t answer that. (I’m wearing the navy taffeta one later this year so if it’s not black tie just maybe close your eyes and pretend)

Here’s where I really need your help: I’m going to insert some photos of me in dresses and I need you to help identify what (if any) dress codes these fall into.

DRESS 1:

This hits just above ankle length, has a heavier weight, but then has the scrunchy thing across the bust and super thin straps which makes it feel casual. but IDK?? Cocktail?

DRESS 2

This was my 8th grade formal dress (which is high key a FLEX not bc of the size but bc at 14 I knew French Connection had timeless silhouettes). I feel like this would be nice to a casual or morning wedding celebration. Maybe in Florida? Maybe a shower? Maybe not?

DRESS 3

Another short one featuring socks. I just wore this to a rehearsal dinner and felt like it was good because there was a theme. Is this good for an un-themed wedding event? Is this even wedding appropriate at all? Sound off in the comments pls

DRESS 4

Okay so I actually love this dress but would obviously need to get it tailored to fit a little bit better. I still want it to be loose/column-esque but I do need to bring it in a little (possibly the sleeves, too). BUT ASIDE FROM TOTALLY REWORKING THE WHOLE DRESS, is this black tie??????? Maybe for a spring wedding???

I don’t know why I’m suddenly having a crisis trying to pinpoint dress codes, but for some reason, I’m tripping myself up. I hope you can give me some feedback and perhaps we’ll all help each other. And then please don’t get me started on shoes, but if anyone has a go-to black/gold/silver heel that’s tall and comfy enough to dance in, maybe leave that in the comments, too.

I’m into these which is not black, gold or silver (and it has an ankle strap which I kindof hate) but whatever!

Peace n blessings from the last wedding i went to ~ ft. flowers from Liv and film from Lil!!!

PLEASE ACTUALLY GIVE ME ADVICE OK BYE LUV!

Okay, up first: Calling all Autumns. This Fendi scarf would be so gorgeous on someone other than me.

Here’s how I’d style it: You’re getting a two-fer because I really like scarves as skirts and had to give it a go both ways.

Next, we have the humble vintage Levi’s. These say “Acid Wash” in the listing title but they look gray? This can be our grassroots effort to bring acid wash back. (If that’s even something the people want???)

So this is how I’d style them without leaning too Avril Lavigne:

Third: Big Prada mama (not to be confused with the actual “Mama” by Fendi, this was just a good slant rhyming opportunity)

This feels too easy because this is a neutral that could just be anyone’s everyday bag, but here’s what I would do in Houston, TX in July with life-threatening heat & humidity:

Next, reptilian Manolos in exactly my size ;-)

And here’s how I’d take these bad boys out on the town:

Lastly, this BCBG silk top. Just like acid wash, maybe BCBG is having a come back…

And how I’d style it:

Despite my shopping ban, I did buy this jewelry case from Poshmark and am THRILLED by it:

No more clothes/shoes/bags/accessories for me until I financially recover from our wedding and honeymoon :-) So in the meantime, please tell me what you’re buying so I can live vicariously through you and your purchases!

Peace, love, secondhand!!!!

Is it a Pinterest board? Is it an influencer’s photo dump? Is it just anything telling you it’s #inspo?

During an interview in 2017, someone asked me to describe myself in three words. [This is all gonna relate so stay with me.] With little hesitation, I said “curious, confident and open.” What I meant by open is still to be determined, but my first two answers felt really strong so we’re gonna dive into those.

Talking about finding ‘your personal style’ feels really overdone at this point but WHATEVER here’s my take.
***also to be clear, when I say ‘personal style’ I don’t just mean clothes***
To develop a personal style, I think both curiosity and confidence are necessary ingredients. You need open eyes (curiosity) and self-confirmation (confidence) to know what you like is actually what you like. So how does inspiration affect style? As Google (and myself, as seen in CAPS) so eloquently puts it:

The best part about inspiration is that it can be anything. It can be a plate of food, it can be a building, it can be an outfit, a fabric, the way the sky looked at 4pm on a Tuesday. And if you notice it and let it influence you, you’re one step closer to fulfilling your personal style. See what I mean below:

I took the above photo in Sorrento. I really like the vibrancy of the Kelly green next to a canary yellow. I don’t normally gravitate toward yellow or green, but yet. Look at the next set of photos taken over the next couple of weeks:

Feels like I’m either about to be Brazil’s number one fan or I’m going to start including more green/yellow into my daily wardrobe and home.

So I’m not an #inspo expert or anything, but I am someone who has identified as Curious and ConfidentTM for some time. And with those qualities, I’ve been able to hone a style (sartorially and design-wise) that feels a lot like me. Anyway, so the subheader of this email promised some screenshots that have been inspiring me and here’s what I got that isn’t necessarily yellow or green but still feels like me :)

Look at your own screenshots. Do you see patterns? Any color combos that jump out at you? Are you feeling ~transcendent~ yet?

I got married (!!) at the beginning of June and spent the next few weeks in Italy and France. It was beautiful, it was gorgeous, it was hot and no one understood iced latte, but who needs creature comforts when…. in…. Rome…. amirite?

So anyway, as The Worst Photo Taker of All Time, I tried documenting a few of my observations while over there and here’s what I came up with:

1. Diluted soap in public bathrooms
   [no photo here, starting off with a bang]
   [[tell me if I’m wrong, but never once did I achieve a lather in those WCs]]

2. Settees

3. no phones during meals / seasonal food

4. Sprezzatura - an Italian term defined as "studied nonchalance"

5. smoking
   [someone had to say it]

6. no athleisure

7. emphasis on lighting (not a lot of overhead unless statement chandelier)

8. contemporary art

9. Lacoste

   

10. grandparents with grandkids (plus speedos ;-))

    

11. coke zero

    

12. Scooter life

    

13. no visible sweating

14. dogs

    

15. love in the air

So! You tell me! Any other observations I missed?

Until we meet again, ciao ciao ciao ragazzi

It’s not exactly “Leather Jacket Season” but this style (price) transcends weather.

How I’d Style It:

Vintage Givenchy earrings, Intimissimi shorts, Dragon Diffusion bag, CaN’t FiNd tHe ShOeS sorry

This is beat up, but I feel like it adds to the appeal? Plus, I find it fascinating that the same man who headed up Hermès for seven years makes items like this. Did someone say range!

How I’d Style It:

Vintage Gucci sunnies, $30 nightgown from eBay, black flip flops. A tan would be a nice (free!) accessory!

Up next, a mesh Roberto Cavalli duster (with a lil leopard detailing). This would be a super killer bathing suit cover up.

How I’d Style It:

Let’s all collectively ignore the mannequin head because the hat is fab, Celine mesh bag, same Havaianas as above, and a modest one-piece

Introducing the perfect summer shoe: (found on Poshmark, not eBay… sue me!)

How I’d Style It:

Baggy denim shorts, tank top, necklace, bag from eBay - so many extra easter eggs!

It’s two-toned, cotton and Yohji Yamamoto. Needs a good steam, but who among us doesn’t.

How I’d Style It:

Same Dragon Diffusion bag as above, same flippies, Vintage Gucci tank, easy peasy black sunglasses

If you made it this far, nice.

I could literally do this all day long. But I’m nearing the “email length limit” so I’ll leave you with my very pressing question: is this look only suitable for girls on reality tv?

I’ve never seen someone sport a head scarf in my real life. Do I need to befriend more influencers? Are people actually doing this? Let me know!

Until next time :)

I’m a copywriter. Which began a little like this: Graduating college with an English degree…………………… *crickets*

Shockingly, ad agencies and book publishers weren’t banging down my door, so I did what any 22 year old would do in that position: Teach yoga. That is, until I met someone who said she was a “copywriter” and thus, the next 8 years were laid out before me.

If you, like me, didn’t know what a copywriter does, let me show you:

See those cool 5-star emojis? That little CTA, Get in touch?? Yeah, that’s all me. One of my better lines was for Mattress Firm’s sponsorship for the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo: Bad Sleep Can Buck Off. And while I didn’t win any awards for that, I knew I was probably on the downhill from there & it was time to get out.

Flash forward to now: I’ve recently quit my job as a copywriter and am taking the plunge into interior design. Before the whiplash sets in, this isn’t terribly out of left field. I’ve done one-off jobs with my BFFL, as seen below:

*(Haven’t totally figured out the photo upload thing yet)

I’m starting my new job in July and have found myself with free time (read: free with a grain of salt. I am still planning a wedding and can’t say no to freelance jobs but WHATEVER that’s between me and my therapist). As someone who doesn’t do well with change, a lot of things are really changing for me right now. So, I figured why not throw in something else that’s ReAllLyYy out of my comfort zone.

Ideally, this Substack is
1) fun
2) easy

I don’t have huge plans for this, but at the very least, it’s a way to keep me connected to #myroots (writing). Please expect the following: clothes (specifically: secondhand finds), home inspo, beautiful objects, probably bad selfies, and who knows what else!!!!

Blessings abound,

Lauren