Improvise

If you like how an outfit is put together, but you don’t wear black, substitute with gray, navy, or brown. A dark neutral color that flatters your skin tone is the cornerstone of all successful wardrobes. Working around three neutral colors in harmony with each other and with your coloring means you always have something to wear that is flattering and comfortable. Pops of color, print, or texture can always be added with a scarf, jewelry, or other accessories.

If you don’t wear heels, look for flats that look slender on your foot and have a low vamp. The vamp is the top part of the shoe opening over the toes. A pointed or almond-shaped toe always looks more feminine and dressy than a round toe. I often look at the designer items and high-end luxury objects, knowing that I will never buy them. By studying the aesthetic, use of color, and style, I get the general feel for what I would like to add to my home or my wardrobe. Then I head over to the websites such as Neiman Marcus Last Call, Saks Off 5th, or even T.J.Maxx to look for something similar in style and the best quality I can afford.

Take inspiration from the objects you admire, then use that incentive to build a collection that works for you. Another example is my upcoming little vacation. I would love to spend two weeks in Seychelles exploring and snorkeling, a trip that is both out of my price range and not within my time constraints. Instead, I researched and found a safe beach town in southern Florida where I can spend a week alone roaming beaches, visiting nature preserves and window shopping, or just sitting by the pool reading a book for a while.

When I can get away for only a small part of a day, I take a break from running two companies and other responsibilities to do something that sets me free, at least for a few hours. I have learned the hard way that the body shuts down and gets sick if we keep pushing it to work harder and ignore the warning signs it gives us. Instead of striving for perfection and working seven days a week, I now seek more of a balance and fully embrace the moments of joy that can be found in daily life. Give yourself a break. You deserve it!

The photos from today’s post were snapped last week when my sister and I spent part of the day on Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina. We wanted to visit the nature preserve and enjoy the perfect weather. I wore layers to stay warm and boots by Antelope Shoes with a lug sole for comfortable walking on the paved paths and sidewalks. My look on this very casual day included Levi’s jeans, a lace-up neckline sweatshirt from White House|Black Market over a long-sleeve Covered Perfectly top, both half-tucked in front, and a scarf draped around my neck a couple of times. Even though I worked before and after our little getaway, I felt rested and happy that I got to enjoy this beautiful day with my sister.