୨୧ digital journal

28.06.2024

a guide to mindful spending
thoughts on a more sustainable approach to fashion (for myself, and maybe for you?)

ꕤ know yourself: this is the most important one, i believe, because it stops you from spending your money and closet space on things you should know that you don't like wearing. everytime i see a cute new top in a store, i have to stop myself and remember that, for example, i never wear anything too low cut, or that has a v-shaped neck, or that is too cropped! doesn't matter how cute the item is, those are things i now know that i don't like and won't end up wearing. other things in my personal list include: bottoms that can only be worn low waisted, shorts that are too short (yes they look good when i'm standing up, but if i wear it to a place where i need to sit??? uncomfortableee), syntetic materials (specially in tops, i can understand and get behind a polyester blend or syntetic material skirt, because sometimes that's what makes it flow or hang nicely; but i always regret feeling sweaty in shirts or blouses), and lately, fake leather items (they never last as long as i would want them to - had to throw away one of my favourite shoes cause it was falling apart! side note here: 1- get real leather stuff from the thrift store, and 2- take care of them! leather cream is a thing and should be used).

ꕤ does it need adjustments? if you are trying something on and think "this would be perfect IF it was a bit shorter / if the buttons were different ones / if the straps were tighter" stop. think of the clothes sitting in your wardrobe: how many of them are waiting for you to fix it? don't buy it unless it already looks the way you want it to look. personally, i do make alterations in my clothes all the time, i even enjoy it! the things i cannot do myself (or would prefer a professional to do), i take to a seamstress when i visit my family at the end of the year. so, unless it's something i can do or wait until i travel to fix and wear it, it's not worth it!

ꕤ make a wishlist: but a very mindful one! you need to think of occasions that are common in your life (for me that would be running errands, going to a coffeeshop, reading in the park, picnics, dinner with friends, brunch) and think about what you would want to wear to those occasions. what i mean by this is if i see a gorgeous more formal dress in a store, i might fall in love with it and want to buy, but realistically, i never have the occasion for it (unless is something you can wear it more casually), i never even been to a wedding, my friends are super casual, etc. after writing down the occasions and what you would want to wear to those, cross out the things you already own and now you have a wishlist! this helps me to have focus when shopping - if it's something i never 'noticed' i needed or wanted to wear on my daily life, do i really need it? probably not.

ꕤ take your time: i think a lot of my fail purchases came from either days where i was shopping with someone that didn't like shopping as much as me (it's okay, few do) and i felt the need to rush in order to not annoy them or buying something impusively (aka something that was not on my radar or wishlist). on the other hand, some of my best purchases to this day were things that i saw, tried it on, left it and then thought about it for days or weeks (specially when getting dressed! "wow this would look cute with that thing i didn't buy). be patient! don't just get something to cross off your wishlist if it's not exactlyyyy what you wanted! (example: i want a oversize boxy navy cardigan with a crew neck style neckline. if i buy one that's oversized but long instead of boxy, i will keep wanting the boxy one. so instead of waiting for the perfect one, i bought an almost-perfect thing and now when i do find the perfect one, i will feel bad about purchasing TWO cardigans instead of just the one i truly wanted).

ꕤ think of your wardrobe: this is one of my favourite parts of shopping to be honest. whatever i am thinking of buying, i put a picture of it on my open wardrobe app and play around with outfits using that new thing with what i already own. (quickly about the app, if you don't know it: it's a digital catalog of your clothes, you add the pictures to it, it removes the background and you can make outfits, add friends to make outfits with their items, etc)! that way i can literally see if it would work with my clothes, or how many outfits i can get out of it. if it is something you can only think of one way to wear, is it worth having?

some resources: openwardrobe app (if u make an account and want to add me so we can play with each other's wardrobes, lmk!) | laini's video (she's such an inspiration!)

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11.04.2024

spring °❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
spring is my favourite season - i love the weather, the pretty flowers everywhere, the kind of activities you can now do, the clothing, everything! so this is my spring to-do list, what i'm excited for and other flowery thoughts:

⋆˚✿˖° picnics laying in the grass, eating snacks and drinking something refreshing - how could you not love it? this is definitely my favourite activity. can't wait to use my red gingham picnic blanket and make delicious foods to share.

⋆˚✿˖° light layers i think spring is when i'm most creative and when i have the most fun getting dressed up. i love the possibilities of layering - changing up the same base outfit with different items, mix and matching, having fun with accessories... i wish spring would last longer!

⋆˚✿˖° buying flowers a more or less recent habit that i picked up is buying fresh flowers for the house. i grew up thinking i wasn't a flower person, that i much rather plant flowers in a garden than having them arranged in vases... it seemed like such a waste... but now i feel very different about this. i don't feel as if it's a waste, i feel like it really brightens up a space and really makes me feel so much more at home. it also inspires me to have the rest of the house tidy and neat, so the flowers have a chance to stand up!

⋆˚✿˖° sunday brunch i love going out for brunch, but i feel like that is a saturday activity - however, making brunch at home is definitely a sunday thing. it just feels right! i wish i could do this one more often, but our apartment is really small and we don't have a dining table (well, we do, but it's what we use as working desks, so there's always two computers on it, along with all the rest of the stuff), so it doesn't come as natural as it would. nevertheless i would like to this year, really try and make that into a routine (including taking everything off the table so we can actually sit and eat haha).

⋆˚✿˖° taking instax pictures my instax camera is really old (it's the mini 7s), and i go through phases of being obsessed with it and taking lots of pictures or forgettinh that it is there. i want to get a good balance on it (film is too expensive now too) and get some nice memories on it again. some of my favourite pictures were taken with it!

⋆˚✿˖° baking as i write this, i'm waiting for my loaf of bread to rise. i want to try new recipes, instead of always making the same lemon cake and brown butter miso cookies (don't get me wrong, i LOOOVE those)! i have been saving some recipes for different types of brownies that i really want to try (plus my boyfriend loves brownies! i'm not such a fan tbh). again, living in such a small space can limit my cooking and baking adventures, but i'll give my best shot - i don't have a standing mixer, or a blender, so everything must be doable by hands haha

⋆˚✿˖° weekend trips i can't complain about not travelling a lot, i've already been doing this the whole year; but i really want to keep doing it specially with nicer weather. i really want to visit copenhagen soon! but there's really so many options to travel for a long weekend. that's one of the things i like the most about living in belgium.

⋆˚✿˖° wearing my basket as a bag yes you read that right!! a basket just goes with absolutely every outfit and you cannot make me think otherwise. it adds a bit of fun and cuteness that i simply adore. i will say though, not the most practical. if i'm going to the supermarket, carrying that plus the groceries is not really fun.

⋆˚✿˖° collages, watercolour, getting crafty me and my friends did what we called 'arts and crafts day' a couple times already, and i love it! we did tiny paintings once, the other time was watercolours and we have been planning a ceramics day for a long time (it's just so expensive here!) if you never tried this, you really should! it's not really about being good with art, but getting together, getting creative and of course, talking and having fun!

⋆˚✿˖° reading outside it could be during a picnic, but also just sitting on a bench, or at a café, or even at your local library if it's one of those rainy spring days. there's something about being outside that makes me read so much more for a lot longer - being at home sometimes distracts me from actually reading.

⋆˚✿˖° friends of course!! all these activities would be so nice by yourself, but there's nothing better than spending time with people you love - and that's really the best part of it ପ(๑•ᴗ•๑)ଓ

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07.03.2024

sandy liang wishlist
this is an unrealistic realistic wishlist because 1) if i had a crazy amount of money, i'd probably buy almost everything sandy liang puts out, but 2) i'm being honest with myself since a lot of her clothing items are polyester and i'm not comfortable wearing it - this wishlist contains things i know i'd get a looot of use out of! i love the brand aesthetic, and it inspires me not only in my personal style, but in other aspects of my life. her playfulness and cuteness without being childish is really something i resonate with!

✲ the petal wristlet: not really a big fan of bracelets/other things in my wrists, but oh my god am i obsessed with it!! it's such an adorable detail to add on a plain outfit. i think, however, that this is something on the easy side to diy if you know how to sew (or knit/crochet? i mean, it doesn't have to be in satin!)

✲ narutomaki studs: if you know me, you know one thing i love to collect is cutesy fun different earrings - i know she also made ballet slipper earrings a while back, but since i could not find it on the website today, i'm only including these ones. i know that technically i can't eat narutomakis (they are made out of fish), but they just look TOO cute to pass up.

✲ goto skort: let me be honest; i think every skirt should be a skort and i'm so glad this is a trend now! (however i am of the opinion that a skort should look like a skirt even from behind - i know this is a dividing comment to make, but it just looks nicer!!) this one is also made out of mostly polyester, but for a mini skirt it doesn't bother me. i love the star shaped button detail and the brown colour of the fabric.

✲ small regalo bag: can we just stop for a moment and appreciate how GORGEOUS both the colour of this bag (i'm still obsessed with chartreuse) and the shape?? if you put it on your shoulder, it looks like a big ribbon is tied on, and if you carry it, it looks like you are carrying the most beautiful wrapped gift ever. this bag is one of my favourite pieces of the year already!

✲ mary jane double strap shoes: i have been wanting a pair of red shoes for a while now, and after having my mary jane tabis for a while, i know for sure i'd wear this one a lot too! the square toe and double straps make it so unique yet i feel that it would work with so many different outfits and occasions. the fact that they cost over 500 dollars is the only thing standing between me and the happier version of me, wearing them out and about.

✲ verona bag: if i had this bag, it would definitely, without a doubt, become my new everyday bag. baby pink for me goes with pretty much everything else, and the big bow only adds to my desire of becoming a ghibli character in real life. the only thing that bothers me is that it does have a black buckle on the strap... it kind of ruins it in my opinion. this also looks like something you could diy if you have really good sewing abilities. not my case, unfortunately.

p.s. after i wrote this post, i found the ballet slipper earrings so please go look at how lovely they are!!

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23.12.2023

this time of year i love watching and reading some fashion predictions for the next year, mostly because i find it interesting to see what other people are thinking of wearing, and less of a guide (i realize i named this post fashion guide, excuse my lack of vocabulary!!). i believe that now, being a bit older and more confident in what i like and, maybe even more important, what i don't like, i have actually find my own personal style! what impresses me is how much less that has to do with actual clothing items than one thinks - what i like to read, watch, visit, eat, drink and buy (this goes from glassware to couch pillows to stationary, etc) really influences my personal fashion choices... which makes sense when you think about it! why would i be a different person when buying cutlery and buying clothes?

this are things that are in my mind and that i want to maybe incorporate into my wardrobe and daily life - definitely not a guide for anyone but myself, and even i might change how i feel about all of this (isn't it lovely to evolve?).
real people, no trends
wear what you want to wear, what you feel comfortable in, what makes you feel beautiful!! who cares what's trending - that changes so often i'm surprised anyone can keep up. i love people-watching and noticing what people are actually wearing outside. the influencer you see in crazy outfits might only be wearing those for a picture, and that's why you don't wear that piece of clothing you bought because of her. i've been victim of this for a long time: seeing a photo that is well edited, well posed, well marketed and thinking i wanted to look the same - the problem is, i actually don't have anywhere to go wearing a colorful pastel sequin skirt, and i definitely didn't have anywhere to use it when i was 15... but i bought it. and it's now sitting in my wardrobe for a long time (was going to say how many years but i don't think that bodes well for me...). long story short, somethings are fun to look at or maybe try it on at the store, but if there is no use or too little use for it in my actual life, i'm not buying it anymore.
yes that is me in the picture !!

paying attention to materials
this is the one that really turned me into the most annoying person to go shopping with. "what does it say on the tag?" is being repeated so often even i get bored. but listen, i'm in a point in my life where i cannot be doing with polyester anymore. i turned down sooo many cute pieces at stores (and at the thrift) because the material was just not nice!! and i don't regret it at all. natural fibers is the only way to go.

hats
for most of my life i believed that i didn't had a head for hats. that's crazy talk. everyone can look nice in a hat! i'm specially obsessed with these vintage kerchief-balaklava-bonnet type of hats that tie it on your chin. it's so adorable and it keeps my ears warm on cold winter days. does it make you look like an old lady? maybe. is that bad? no.

unflattering
hear me out... what is unflattering, at the end of the day? rudeness, violence, selfishness. a silly little outfit that does nothing for your figure is just that: a silly little outfit. wear it!! i don't care if it doesn't show my waist, makes me look short (i am short), or frumpy. that kind of look has its purposes and its days. if it makes me feel cute, i look cute.

ribbon overuse?
this has been the year of the ribbons and bows, and in the fashion bubble that i'm in, there's talk of how it will die down soon and make space for a new obsession amongst the girlies. i do not care. i love ribbons and i'll keep on wearing them, putting them on my bags, shoes, hair, etc. i think it suits me, fits my personality and it's such a cute way of changing up your outfit by adding it (not to mention, cheap!). i don't love a bow though. maybe i'm wrong (not surprising, as english is not my first language), but there's a difference between ribbons and bows - i don't love how the bows look, it's too stiff!

tights and socks
the obsession with tights and socks continues - this year i bought colorful tights (so fun!) and they can really transform an outfit into something new! they elevate your look and they are (usually) cheap. they make mini skirts and dresses wearable during cold weather. i'm also crazy about wearing a simple outfit like a pair of jeans, neutral sweater and black loafers and making it super cute and fun just by adding a colorful sock (like bright red!!) and some accessories.
in the pictures, francesca perks, she's a big inspiration for me!

bloomers!
i'm the kind of girl that always wears short shorts under skirts and dresses (i feel more comfortable knowing the wind can't reveal to the world my underwear), but this year i changed them to a cute pair of lacy bloomers i found and let me tell you, the difference is astounding!! not really on how you look (cause they are hidden anyway) but in how i feel! it's adorable and i'm dying for a second pair.

60s
those mod, a-line mini short dresses and coats and jackets are so lovely, i adore the sillhouette! i think it looks so cool and cute at the same time, and of course, those would look so pretty with tights and a mary jane kind of shoe or high knee boots. chef's kiss. may the thrift store gods bless me with something like this soon!!

buy less, repeat more
i don't think this will come as a surprise after you read all of this annoyingly detailed post, but yeah, i think reusing your clothes is so cool. they start to become part of your personality to your friends or people you see often, but not really anyone else. i don't know why we grew up thinking that repeating outfits is a bad thing (actually, i do know... capitalism), but we (i) need to break that line of thought. even the other day i messaged my friend saying "so sorry i just realized both times i saw you i was wearing the same dress" and she replied with "why? you look lovely in it". is she wrong??? never!! i want my clothing to be sick of me, the washing machine bored of seeing the same pieces over and over again, and my wallet happy.

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17.10.2023

vintage bags
i mentioned one of these days that i was on a vintage bag shopping spree (mostly on vinted) and some of you said you'd be interested in seeing them! so this is for you and whoever else is interested in it. the thing i like the most about buying second hand bags is how cheap i can get real leather! as a vegetarian, i get a bit uncomfortable buying new leather pieces, but i see no issues if they are 2nd hand, as i'm not directly contributing to them being manufactured.

1. reg furla bag
the newest addition to my wardrobe! it's a great size and shape for everyday use, but i got it mostly for carrying things for class. i'm planning on getting back to studying japanese (yes, i'm ditching dutch! reasons will follow on a diary post soon... i think...) and honestly i got tired of carrying a tote bag for class every week!

2. my perfect bag
this one is honestly my favourite bag ever, and the one i use the most! as you can see, i have attached a baby pink ribbon and a little miffy keychain to it. it fits everything i need on a everyday basis, and it keeps it organized since it has two zipper compartments instead of opening to just one big pocket. i got it on a local thrift store, and the brand is okay's!

3. baby missoni
another great vinted find - this square small missoni bag is just too cute! as you can tell, i love brown coloured leather, and this just screams autumn for me. still haven't got a chance to wear it, but i'm very excited to do so! and it fits more than it looks (well, not on this picture i used, all three bags are kinda the same size haha)

what's in my bag?
this has always been one of my favourite posts in blogs back in the day. i'm just a nosy person that loves seeing what everyone carries around... i hope this can be interesting for you to see too!

boring essentials
you know... keys and wallet. nothing exciting unless you think a 101 dalmatians wallet and a spongebob keychain is interesting! they are pretty old by now, but i haven't found anything that i like more to replace them with... i like the size of the wallet cause it fits into most of my smaller bags. the keys not so much, but if i leave the house with my boyfriend then he carries his keys, haha

nicer essentials
i'm the kind of girl that carries little bags inside her bag. the pink thing with the eyes is where i carry my ultimate essentials (really, i don't go ANYWHERE without them): lipbalm and liptint. there's also two lipsticks inside, but the lipbalm and liptint combo is my go to, i open this little bag every hour or so to reapply! the small tins are to carry mints (in the blue miffy one), and medicine (in the van gogh's sunflowers one). the big miffy pouch is for other girly stuff - tampons, pads, napkins, more medicine, band-aids, safety pins, handcream... you name it, i've got it.

not everyday, but often
these are not absolutely always in my bag, but pretty often: my planner/diary (yes, it's miffy, again...), a small pencil case with a mechanical pencil, pen, eraser and post-it notes, and a book! the book of course changes often so this one is just to illustrate. usually if i'm carrying these, i'm going to a cafe to read and write, or to the library (or both!!)

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16.09.2023

recent fashion obsessions
after some recent fashion shows, specially the sandy liang spring 2024 rtw, i decided i needed to write more about fashion, or at least my current obsessions, since i saw a couple of them being presented in the runways! i feel like now is such a cool moment in fashion, because there's so many different trends going on, or different aesthetics, that... everything is in? and i feel that this makes me more comfortable wearing what i want to wear instead of what everyone is wearing. customizing your real life character is fun again.

butter yellow
i need everything that i buy now to be in butter yellow. it's such a underated, warm and cosy colour. i specially like it in cardigans and tops, or in accessories (a ribbon in your hair, bags, or shoes). for a long time i thought i coulnd't wear light yellow because of my complexion, but honestly, i'm over dressing to be "flattering" most of the time. what even is flattering? i think it should be things that make YOU happy. so what if i look a bit washed out? i'm pale anyways.

red accent
like the butter yellow, i also never wore red. not because of it not being flattering (who doesn't look great in red?), but because all my life i believed it was a "grown up woman" colour. being called cute all the time instead of pretty also lead me to believe i couldn't wear red. now i think i can still be cute in red (*∪`) and red nail polish on shorter nails? adorable. a red ribbon on my bag or hair? lovely. i really like the look of a red pair of socks with a neutral outfit too. i'm still on the lookout for a nice red leather bag - preferably second hand!

chartreuse

another colour? yes!! look, i've been thinking about chartreuse for a WHILE now. months ago i got a really cute crochet bag pattern, but couldn't use it yet because i cannot find a nice chartreuse yarn! it's just such a fun colour to add to your wardrobe. i think it's on the same level as royal blue, which is also kinda trending. it goes so well with all the neutrals, and with other colours too, like baby pink! however, unlike the royal blue, i feel like chartreuse belongs on accessories. i just don't think it will age as well in clothes. and i'm over buying things to wear just now! cool girls buy stuff to wear for yearrrs!

handmade detail

i have so many plans to customize pieces of clothes i already have, it's insane. instead of buying new stuff, how about just customizing what you already have? a plain white t-shirt that you got a pasta stain on? you can add a cute embroidery on top of it, and it's like a new tshirt! or adding a safety pin with a ribbon on, or sewing a pattern piece of fabric, patchwork style! you can also dye your piece another colour, or remake it into something else (this one requires a bit more technique, maybe a sewing machine, or just take it to a tailor!)

boring is cool

you heard it here first. what i mean by that is, neutral, plain items are just more realistic to be worn more often. this doesn't mean to wear just a plain outfit everytime. it's about re-wearing your items in as many different ways as possible! now, of course this is easier when the items itself are a bit more boring - but, what i consider a neutral is personal to me. for me, pink and leopard print are neutrals. for you, maybe black and white are neutrals. for someone else, all those things are neutrals. we just need to find what works for us, what we like and how to have fun with it. i'm still in the process of clearing out my wardrobe (there's things in there i bought when i was 15 that just don't fit my style anymore!) and shrinking my options (i've come to understand that i get overwhelmed by having so much stuff... plus i ended up wearing my favourite things over and over again. i want my whole wardrobe to feel like this. i want to look at every piece and WANT to wear them)!

you can check the moodboard i made for this post on my landing page!

୨୧ digital journal

28.06.2024

11.04.2024

07.03.2024

23.12.2023

17.10.2023

16.09.2023

26.08.2023

24.08.2023

10.08.2023

30.07.2023

28.07.2023