But, as we enter August, the last month of the weirdest summer of our lives, I’m officially crying, “Uncle!”
I don’t know about you, but if I don’t mentally pull myself together, I won’t have the emotional bandwidth to handle the second half of the year. The next six months include the threat of another round of homeschooling, a looming Northeast winter with nothing to do, and the most contentious Presidential election in our modern history.
So I’m declaring a New Year.
Looking Toward the Future
It’s now 2020.5!
Of course, I’m not suggesting we ignore all that’s happening in the world. But as women, we know we have to take care of ourselves first, or we won’t be able to take care of anyone else. And, I think, collectively, it’s time to hit the brakes and regroup.
I am a wildly optimistic person. I’m also extremely aware of my good fortune in life, which I’ve always used as fuel to maintain my stamina. So it takes an awful lot for me to feel like I’m running on empty. But I have hit a wall.
Because in addition to all the terrible current events and non-stop negative news, the pressures that come with raising a family, having aging parents, managing careers and homes, and preparing for the future – they haven’t disappeared. In fact, they feel more serious and important than ever.
I know I’m not alone. I have talked to so many of my friends who feel just like me: completely exhausted. They feel like they are loosing themselves while taking care of everyone and everything else. And on top of all of that, they feel guilty for feeling bad because in the greater scope of life, we’re are incredibly fortunate.
A Fresh Start
So let’s make August a fresh start, a new season, a chance to get reorganized. Let’s start making plans, even if they are small, reignite our dreams for the future, and regain some level of optimism.
And most important, let’s carve out some time to refuel. For so many of us, we know the Fall is going to be a mess. Let’s do our best not to go into it feeling depleted.
For encouragement, join me over on Instagram for our August Self Care Challenge. Each day, I’ll share a tip, or action you can do to help recharge your soul. You’ll be amazed how much better you feel when you honor yourself, even in the smallest way.
This month stay tuned for content based on your suggestions on last week’s post, “What Would You Like to See in August.” I’ll be helping you better understand some fundamentals of getting dressed, building out your wardrobe with some buy now, wearing now and later posts, outfit ideas based on pieces you already have, and highlighting my top picks from the big Nordstrom Sale.
And get ready, because I’m hosting our always popular FREE Four Week Wardrobe Challenge in early September!
Lots, and lots of fun and helpful things coming your way!
Thank you for helping me build this incredible community of women, and a small but mighty, positive space online where my hope and goal is for everyone to feel seen and included.
In the best of circumstances, by the end of July, I feel like I’ve covered summer style, am ready for fall, and struggle with what-the-heck-to post.
This year, with the added layer of COVID, the varying levels of state restrictions, and low retail inventory, it’s even more challenging to create valuable posts for you.
I never want to take advantage of your inbox, so, as I finalize our August schedule, I’m checking in to see what would be most helpful in the next few weeks during this lull before the start of Fall.
I plan on wrapping up July with a fun roundup of affordable and pretty pajamas (tomorrow), and some more recent Amazon finds.
The Nordstrom Sale starts on August 13th, I’ll have a variety of posts organized highlighting recommendations for replenishing basics, some wardrobe builders, a traditional must have list of fall pieces, and a post on pieces for those of us starting the fall working from home and homeschooling – insert sobbing emoji :(.
We’ll start our Free Fall Wardrobe Challenge on Friday, September 4th. Like years past, I’ve added more to it, so if it’s your first or fifth time going through the process you’ll have many take aways.
There are lots of helpful posts to look forward to as we get into the new season.
So for the next few weeks, what is on your mind?
What are your most immediate style/beauty questions, or challenges?
What posts do you find most helpful?
What would you like to see more of?
I guarantee if you have a question, thousands of other women do too.
Add your comment below and thank you. All of your thoughts and questions really do fuel the content you see here.
XX,
Meg
Our Content is Inspired by Our Readers
Our readership inspires all of our posts and is not sponsored or paid for by brands or retailers.
Recommendations are based on my experience as a personal stylist and wardrobe consultant for over a decade. I worked with busy, down-to-earth women who wanted to look chic and feel confident but were often confused by so much of retail.
Some links are affiliate links, which means if you purchase via our site, we receive a small commission.
If your skin feels dull, looks red, and generally lacks that natural glow from your youth, you should consider microdermabrasion.
Microdermabrasion is a deep exfoliating process, designed to “sand” your skin, removing the tough outer layer and exposing new, fresh skin. When done regularly, it reduces fine lines and wrinkles, blemishes, acne scarring, redness, and minimizes pores.
For years I went to a spa and had frequent treatments. I flip-flopped between microderm and a hydrafacial, and my skin never looked better.
But then my local spa relocated while I was pregnant with Vivi, and I took it as a sign that I should reprioritize my time and reign in my spending.
I decided to focused my spending on high potency, better skincare products, pay better attention to my diet and exercise, drink a ton of water, and invest in a few at home gadgets that kick my routine up a notch.
I test a ton of products and gizmos as part of my job. The majority of them never make it to the blog because they are gimmicky and ineffective.
And, as you know, I buy everything with my own money, nothing is ever gifted or sponsored. That way, when I say I love something, you know I do, and I love this thing.
For about the cost of one professional facial, this handheld machine allows you to get n at-home treatment with fantastic results.
Young skin regenerates once a week, but as we age, it takes longer, much longer. With microdermabrasion, you can accelerate your cell turnover by using this once a week.
It’s a non-invasive treatment that helps you age gracefully. Within a few treatments, you’ll start to see softer, younger-looking skin.
Here’s how it works:
After cleansing your skin, dry it thoroughly.
This Microderm comes with a series of discs with varying levels of intensity. Start with the mildest and build your way up.
Pull your skin taut and move the machine up and over your skin. I start on my chin and swipe it across my jaw bone towards my ear. Move across your face, line by line.
You’ll feel a light suction, this exfoliates and helps your skin create new collagen.
Work your entire face and then apply your favorite serum or moisturizer.
Do this once a week at night or in the morning. Whenever you do it, just make sure you give your skin some time to breathe. Please don’t do it and then layer on makeup.
You’ll notice that your products absorb deeply into your skin, so use it to hydrate and fill your skin up with lots of good for you ingredients.
Become an Insider
Join our Summer 2020 Membership and receive access to our Members Only Portal, filled with exclusive content, our Summer 2020 Shopping List, Summer Capsule, Over 50 Outfit Formulas and LIVE style coaching sessions with me!
Membership closes July 27th.
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Our Content is Inspired by Our Readers
Our readership inspires all of our posts and is not sponsored or paid for by brands or retailers.
Recommendations are based on my experience as a personal stylist and wardrobe consultant for over a decade. I worked with busy, down-to-earth women who wanted to look chic and feel confident but were often confused by so much of retail.
Some links are affiliate links, which means if you purchase via our site, we receive a small commission.
As we head into the middle of the year, I find myself both thrilled to be halfway done with 2020 and never wanting summer to end.
Anyone else feel this way?
No matter how nice of a summer we’re having, I’ve always romanticize the start of school. The idea of a new routine and all the fresh supplies really makes my heart sing. This year, with no idea what school or sports will look like, and thinking about being cooped up in the house again, I’m dreading it.
So this month, and next, I’m trying to relish the sweet summer sunshine and the freedom the outdoors brings. I’m doing as many “normal” things as possible while I can, like working at the pool so the kids can play and outside date nights.
And keeping my fingers crossed we can grab one more week at the beach.
Just squeezing as much summer out of summer as possible.
Cape May, NJ
Here on The Well Dressed Life, we’re going to continue to feature stay in and close to home wardrobe pieces, lots of basics building, and some deep-dive articles, like how to shop for clothes when you’re trying to lose weight.
Plus, we launch our very first Membership program this month, The Well Dressed Life Insider!
The Well Dressed Life Insider
As a Well Dressed Life Insider, you’ll have access to our password-protected portal, where you’ll receive our Summer 2020 Capsule, over 30 outfit ideas, and exclusive content including how-to videos, sale alerts, and LIVE group style coaching from me.
One of the most frequently asked questions is will we have one for the fall and the answer is: OF COURSE!!! I’m already planning it out.
We scheduled our FREE wardrobe challenge for early September, and our Insider Fall Membership for October. So stay tuned.
In Case You Missed It
As we start up July lets round up the top three posts of June, in case you missed them 🙂 And don’t miss our June 2020 Reader Top Five Favs (here) with the clothes and products you loved most last month.
What is the Future of Retail?
There was a fantastic and eye-opening conversation on our post What is The Future of Retail? Be sure to check it out if you want to see that you are not alone in your frustration.
5 Products for a 5 Minute Face
I shared the five products I use for a five minute face in the summer. I love posts like this because it feels like I’m just swapping tips with friends. Turns out you ladies are loving Ka-Brow just as much as I do!
How to Create a Classic Jewelry Capsule
Finally, How to Create a Classic Jewelry Capsule outlines everything to have on hand to always be able to perfectly accessorize an outfit AND shares my favorite way to keep your collection organized.
Our Content is Inspired by Our Readers
Our readership inspires all of our posts and is not sponsored or paid for by brands or retailers.
Recommendations are based on my experience as a personal stylist and wardrobe consultant for over a decade. I worked with busy, down-to-earth women who wanted to look chic and feel confident but were often confused by so much of retail.
Some links are affiliate links, which means if you purchase via our site, we receive a small commission.
If you feel like your fitness has fallen off a cliff since March, you are not alone. I’ve gained weight and am at my absolute heaviest. I feel run down and generally worn out. This is the first time, in a long while, I feel physically uncomfortable in my body.
It’s been a long four months, for everyone. For my mental and physical health, it’s time to get back to my “normal” and recommit to my fitness routine.
I’m an extremely disciplined person and have worked out regularly for years. So when this whole fiasco started, I wasn’t only confident I could kill an at-home workout but convinced I would be even more productive.
I even set up a corner in our office with equipment and started pontificating about how much easier it was going to be because everything was “right there.”
LOL
And then “homeschooling” turned into a full-time job, our full-time jobs became more complicated, and my baby turned into a busy toddler, all while the news got wilder by the minute. We started drinking more wine during the week and ordering take out. Before I knew it, it had been weeks and then months since my last workout.
Sound familiar?
I’m exhausted. Exhausted like I have a newborn, but worse. The kind of tired you can feel in your bones. It’s physical and emotional. And every woman I talk to feels the same way.
But now that the kids are done school, the weather is warmer, and many states are loosening restrictions, there is a glimmer of normalcy. My kids can see their friends, play sports, the pool is open … there are finally some outlets for them to enjoy.
Now that they are feeling better and are occupied, it’s time to get myself back on the priority list.
Today, I’m sharing all the things that have helped get me back into a rhythm, in case you’re feeling the same way, and are ready to get moving again.
Getting Back in Shape after the Shut Down
Gyms in PA are opening on Friday, and I’m jumping for joy.
Everyone’s fitness journey is different. What I have learned about myself is that I need the accountability of a class a few times a week. I have to have someone waiting for me to show up, AND other people in the class to help push me. Otherwise, I don’t give my full effort.
It’s so much easier for me to then supplement with at home workouts when I’m in a healthier routine.
Below are the things I’m using as I transition back to my old, healthier habits.
There will be some new guidelines as gyms reopen, one of which will be that you may have to bring your own mat. This one, from Athleta, is an excellent option for Yoga or strength workouts because it won’t slip around a wet and sweaty floor.
One trick I’ve learned is to wear ankle weights when you are either walking or doing low impact things like Barre. I only add a pound or two, but it helps burn more calories without a ton of extra effort. I credit them for helping me get back in shape after having Vivi (she was my third C-section) when I couldn’t do much for the first few months.
Many of the group classes I use to take are going to move outside depending on the weather. I keep these face wipes in my bag so I can wipe off after an extra sweaty class to avoid breakouts.
The older I get the more important it is to focus on recovery, otherwise I’m in pain all day. I hurt more after a workout than ever before. A tub full of these Epson Salts will help ease muscle aches and pains, and help you sleep better at night.
I cannot get behind $120 workout leggings. I just can’t do it. These Nike leggings are great. They keep you cool and stay in place and are almost always on sale. What else do we need?
In my old age I have learned where to spend and where to save.
Leggings? Save.
Sneakers? Spend.
At 40, my knees are not what they use to be, so I need a sneaker that will help absorb the shock from jumping and lunging. Enter these Reebok sneakers made specifically for HIIT training. The extra stability and protection makes all the difference in what you’ll get out of your workout.
I’ve mentioned this Goop Glow Superpowder many times. Every day, I add two packets to a large bottle of water before a walk or workout. It’s filled with of vitamins and minerals, helps keep you hydrated and is especially good for your skin. I love it so much I have it on a monthly auto-delivery.
If you see these hair elastics on your next trip to Target or the drug store, pick up a few packs. I have long (ish) hair that I like to keep off my neck and away from my face in the heat. These hold your hair back securely without damaging it.
The Fitbit Charge is the best investment I’ve ever made in my health. For me, 10,000 steps a day is the minimum I need to reach my goals in addition to a proper workout. The accountability it provides, plus that additional information like resting heart rate and sleep score, help keep me engaged, and I still feel satisfied every time the fireworks go off when I hit my steps goal.
I’ve tried dozens of workout apps and online video subscriptions, and I cannot get into them. But I love The Sweat App. Created by Kayla Itsines. She’s created an incredible system and community with over 12.5 million followers on Instagram alone!
Her app has everything you need for a quick and effective at-home workout. The workouts are so easy to follow, and you don’t need much equipment or space. Most require a chair, some light weights, resistance bands, and a jump rope.
Our Content is Inspired by Our Readers
Our readership inspires all of our posts and is not sponsored or paid for by brands or retailers.
Recommendations are based on my experience as a personal stylist and wardrobe consultant for over a decade. I worked with busy, down-to-earth women who wanted to look chic and feel confident but were often confused by so much of retail.
Some links are affiliate links, which means if you purchase via our site, we receive a small commission.
The fall out from the COVID 19 shut down has had a devastating impact on industries like travel and hospitality, to name just a few. Imagine waking up one day and realizing your business or career is either extinct or looks completely different with zero warning, through absolutely no fault of your own.
It’s heartbreaking.
Experts say, though, that these industries are resilient, that demand is there, and if they can get through this, there is a path back to their previous success.
Everyone I know is trying to do something this summer and is happily spending money and rallying behind as many small businesses as possible, because it’s important to all of us and our communities that they survive.
But the impact on retail, specifically fashion retail, and its supporting industries is going to be a much different story.
What is the Future of Retail?
The retail industry faces its own list of difficult, and complicated challenges, and while COVID has made an enormous impact, one could argue it only speed up the inevitable.
For years the industry has been in flux, and now it’s an absolute mess.
Malls have seen a dramatic drop in foot traffic long before mandated shutdowns.
Retailers trying to create more of an “experience” within their stores had varying levels of success, often making it more difficult for the customer to shop.
Quality has dropped, prices have risen.
Many manufacturing and sourcing practices are still archaic, lack oversight, and create severe environmental impact.
Retail is a complex web that needs a total restructuring to meet the needs of modern society.
Lack of Goodwill
But perhaps the biggest issue is the lack of goodwill between consumers and brands.
For YEARS retail at large has ignored cries for expanded – or inclusive sizing.
It’s 2020, and the overwhelming majority of inventory still only goes up to a size 12.
It’s just too hard to shop. It’s too expensive, limiting and frustrating.
And for whatever reason, it feels like retail only markets to 25 years in Southern California (no offense) or the extremely affluent who don’t blink at a pair of $600 jeans.
They assume everyone is a size 2, white, and lives a life of leisure.
My job has always been to shop for women. Whether it was when I was a buyer, a personal shopper, or now as a content creator. The basis of my job is finding practical solutions that are chic and stylish for the average American woman (and our friends around the globe).
Shopping is as Impossible as You Think
If you’re petite or plus size they have limited you to online only. That’s right, most American department stores and some speciality stores took special sizing off their selling floors. Meaning you cannot walk into a store and buy anything.
If you’re a woman of color, you are often not even included in the conversation. I can walk into any store and buy a neutral-to-me bra. If you have darker skin and want a neutral-to-you bra, or pair of pantyhose, or a shoe that matches your skin tone – you’ll likely have to place a special order, if it’s even available.
Just a few months ago, I went to the mall looking for something special to wear to my 40th birthday party. I decided I was going to treat myself and buy whatever I wanted.
Something as simple as a party top for a grown woman was a total bust.
I can home with a pathetic sweater.
It’s like the stores are telling us, point blank, who they want to walk through their doors.
Retail has never cared about consumers. And these public promises of transparency and diversity amid two national crises feel like a marketing ploy rather than real, needed change.
And if a brand is actually serious about it, it is going to take years to see real change.
The Long Term
So here is what I think will happen.
The brands that make ethics, inclusion, and community building a priority will succeed but it won’t be easy. They have to cut through the noise, align with trusted voices and figure out how to compete with Amazon.
Malls will never go back to what they were. As a destination, I think as long as people have to wear a mask, trips to the mall will be transactional instead of a leisurely day off.
And that’s an issue for their bottom line because the longer you’re there, the more you spend, and if there is no impulse spending, stores and malls will ultimately close.
We’ll see so many more bankruptcies like J.Crew and total closures like Sears and J.C. Penny.
Some brands will hopefully expand their offerings, maybe Nordstroms will get it’s act together and start offering merchandise again that meet the needs of the average woman.
Sadly, small boutiques are going to continue to struggle. It’s too hard to compete with Amazon, their prime shipping, and prices.
I Want to Hear From You
I love creating this content, and I want to make sure I continue to evolve with our readership. My commitment to inclusive sizing continues to be top of mind as well as offering an assortment of price options.
I’m fortunate that I worked with real women, of all shapes, sizes, races and lifestyles, for over a decade. Inclusion is easy for me except for the fact that I’m limited to what is being offered.
So for you, as the consumer, what are your priorities?
How important is price point?
Would you spend more for ethically, responsibly sourced brands?
Realistically, would you compromise quality for better pricing? Or would you prefer to spend more for higher quality?
How important is size range and inclusivity?
What “perks” do you look for from retailers?
Are you okay with longer shipping times, or do you expect Amazon shipping speed across the board?
Tell me in the comments below – there are no wrong answers!
Our Content is Inspired by Our Readers
Our readership inspires all of our posts and is not sponsored or paid for by brands or retailers.
Recommendations are based on my experience as a personal stylist View Post and wardrobe consultant for over a decade. I worked with busy, down-to-earth women who wanted to look chic and feel confident but were often confused by so much of retail.
Some links are affiliate links, which means if you purchase via our site, we receive a small commission.
Hi Ladies, I am rescheduling tonight’s (May 24th, 2020) bookclub meeting due to low attendance.
I’m so happy hear from many of you that you’re planning on spending time outside this weekend with friends and family.
After a long few months being stuck inside, I can’t think of a better way to kick off summer.
Stay safe and I’ll announce a new date in few days.
Original Post:
Our April Book Club was a big success! I was thrilled to see so much interest in coming together as a community. While our Facebook Live was lots of fun, our first book, Evie Drake Starts Over, was sweet and simple, but not enough depth to create real, deep conversation. Of course, we found other things to chat about :).
This book is everywhere right now, and for good reason. It’s powerful. I’m halfway through and I’ve highlighted more lines than not.
Below is a summary from Goodreads:
There is a voice of longing inside every woman. We strive so mightily to be good: good mothers, daughters, partners, employees, citizens, and friends. We believe all this striving will make us feel alive. Instead, it leaves us feeling weary, stuck, overwhelmed, and underwhelmed. We look at our lives, relationships, and world, and wonder: Wasn’t it all supposed to be more beautiful than this? We quickly silence that question, telling ourselves to be grateful. We hide our simmering discontent—even from ourselves. Until we reach our boiling point.
Four years ago, Glennon Doyle—bestselling Oprah-endorsed author, renowned activist and humanitarian, wife and mother of three—was speaking at a conference when a woman entered the room. Glennon looked at her and fell instantly in love. Three words flooded her mind: There She Is. At first, Glennon assumed these words came to her from on high. Soon she realized that they came to her from within.
Glennon was finally hearing her own voice—the voice that had been silenced by decades of cultural conditioning, numbing addictions, and institutional allegiances. This was the voice of the girl Glennon had been before the world told her who to be. She vowed to never again abandon herself. She decided to build a life of her own—one based on her individual desire, intuition, and imagination. She would reclaim her true, untamed self.
Soulful and uproarious, forceful and tender, Untamed is both a memoir and a galvanizing wake-up call. It offers a piercing, electrifying examination of the restrictive expectations women are issued from birth; shows how hustling to meet those expectations leaves women feeling dissatisfied and lost; and reveals that when we quit abandoning ourselves and instead abandon the world’s expectations of us, we become women who can finally look at ourselves and recognize: There She Is.
Untamed shows us how to be brave. As Glennon insists: The braver we are, the luckier we get. (Source here.)
I want to note, she talks about some topics that may be controversial. So my reminder is that this is group of kind and generous women, who, above all, respect each other. If I only listened and supported people I 100% agree with, I would have never grown in to the woman I am today.
That said, much of Glennon’s message in this book deeply resonates with me both as a woman and a mother of three little women.
This book will give a tons of content for a robust conversation!
Ankle Weight
Training Shoes
Morning Skin Superpowder
Hair Elastics
Fitbit Charge 3
The Sweat App
