30x30: Bagel Shop

30x30 ITEMS

Sweater: Gap brand (thrifted), $4

Khakis: Gap, $20

Boots: Laredo brand (thrifted), $1

ACCESSORIES REPORT

Headband: grocery store, $3 for 2-pack

Necklace: gift from my mom

Belt: found it

Trenchcoat: vintage, gift from my mother-in-law

I wore this for a morning date to the nearby bagel shop. We go every Saturday, my husband and I, and it's come to represent the start of a new weekend for me. It's also a great way for the two of us to reconnect. One piece of advice that I'd give to any couple is this: make your own traditions. I usually think of "traditions" as an annual thing, like Christmastime traditions or a family vacation that you take every summer, but traditions can also happen on a weekly basis or even at random intervals. I think doing things like a weekly date, a nightly cuddle session, joint trips to the gym, whatever, can serve to help two people really think of themselves as a team. Yay bonding.

My outfits for bagel dates aren't consistent in the least. Sometimes I'll feel like dressing up, which really makes it feel like a date, while other times (like today) I'll go for the comfort and ease befitting a lazy Saturday brunch. One constant: little or no makeup. That's how I roll. The one thing I really wanted for this morning was to wear this vintage trench that my mother-in-law gave me for Christmas. Piling the khaki trench on top of khaki slacks made me feel like a detective or a photojournalist (just like our girl Keri, from Headlines & Hemlines). I was a little hesitant to go with multiple, mismatched khaki-tones, but it felt like a good day for rule-breaking.

Dear Elaine from Clothed Much left a comment on my post from yesterday, and in it, she identified my typical style as "eclectic, funky." My first thought: I like both of those words and take them as a compliment! My second thought: Really? Me? I love the days when I get my funk on clothes-wise, but I've never stopped to consider whether that word (or any other) can be the signature word for my personal style. Part of it is that I'm still trying to figure out my style (it's one of my main motivations for starting this blog, in fact), but another part is that it's always tough to evaluate yourself. I feel like I could look at many of my favorite bloggers and find two or three words that pinpoint their personal style, but looking objectively at my own is a more difficult task.

One word that definitely fits my look: messy. I'll admit that much. But truth-to-tell, I don't mind the messiness. Blame it on my unruly hair.

What are the words that describe your style? Are they words you have to work for, or do they come naturally?