Morning view with breakfast dishes, laptop, and window condensation. It's going to be 91F today, after yesterday's sodden respite (yes, it was wet, but the high was 76F, which was honestly nice). Packed to go see the Artgirl overnight, and about to walk, feed, and re-crate the dog.
Travel capsule: What I'm wearing today + my NPL Smock dress for tomorrow (always a good go-to, which I know I'll feel like wearing, no matter what) + Stegmann clogs + Birk Mayaris, because I don't know what my feet will feel like, but odds are it'll be one of those things. I might well change into Birks later on today if my feet get hot.
Wearing:
*Secondhand Not Perfect Linen Leila dress (M/L) in Chocolate Brown, bought December 2023, altered by me to raise the shoulders/neckline, last worn July 26 in Memphis. Total wears this year so far: 11 (an average of just over once a month)
*Secondhand Pure teal cashmere cardigan, bought February 2024, last worn yesterday. Wearing now simply in anticipation of relentless air conditioning in indoor spaces. I won't have it on for much of the day. I've worn my pink merino cardigan so often with this dress that I start to forget that anything else could possibly go with it. I think a softer, more muted teal would be even better (I think that generally about this cardigan --- that I love it, but would like it even better if it were a shade less bright), but this is fine.
*Secondhand Alegria floral Mary Janes. Bought August 2024, last worn yesterday. Again, I might change shoes just because it's hot. But I like the hit of pattern and color with this rather plain dress.
Default ponytail. I'm also taking a claw clip. Might feel like washing my hair while I'm there, might not. Wearing it up is certainly easier, especially when it's hot.
Had my current favorite breakfast of plain whole-milk yogurt, a dash of chia seeds, about a half-cup of frozen blueberries, and a tablespoon (I did measure this time) of whey protein powder (unflavored organic raw-milk whey protein powder, the brand name of which I forget, but I bought it on Amazon and really like it).
Finishing my coffee, then it's time to let the dog out and get on with things.
By the way, I didn't itemize my date-night outfit last night. It consisted of:
*Secondhand NPL Leila dress (S/M), in Cinnamon Rose, also altered by me to raise the shoulders and neckline. Bought December 2023.
*Thrifted Loft denim jacket, bought about five years ago in my neighborhood thrift shop. Not worn that often, but definitely has a place in my closet. Sometimes it's exactly what I want to wear.
*These same Mary Jane shoes.
I do love these dresses, and I'm getting used to the idea of linen as actually a great fabric for travel. Taking a spray bottle to spritz tomorrow's dress, but the wrinkles, as I tell myself, are part of the charm.
PS: OK, I like the Mary Janes, but I'm already back in Birkenstocks. It's just that kind of day. Might as well savor the sandals weather while I've got it. This is not as snazzy a look, but I'm feeling low-key.
And as swirly and special as these dresses are, it's nice to have them read more "everyday" sometimes. Because I do want to wear them on an everyday basis as well as a special, dressing-up basis. I love that my Leila dresses are dresses I could wear to a wedding, but also to knock around pottery shops in the country on a hot, sultry August Friday afternoon.
AND ALSO:
Quick color check photo ---
--- plus a little shot of my hair scrunchie, because I love the color, especially with this brown. I would love to find a cardigan in this color, but I haven't found it yet. That and an emerald-green cardigan are items on my ongoing quest. Greens and pinks are hard to buy online, because colors read so variably on a screen. But I keep trying.
