Worthy Investments | Keiko Lynn

Outfit Details:

Coach houndstooth coat

Zara scarf and shorts

Banana Republic sweater (extra 50% off with code BRSALE)

old Alberto Fermani over the knee boots

Miu Miu sunglasses (also available in glitter)

For those of you who missed my last posts (read those posts here), I’m currently receiving complimentary Invisalign® treatment in exchange for sharing my experience.

The older I get, the more I find my priorities and spending habits evolving. Ten

years ago, throwaway trends filled my closet, my skincare regimen consisted of

whatever cleanser was currently on sale (and no moisturizer, because I relied on

Florida’s humidity), and my apartment’s decor was all but nonexistent. I know it

sounds a little silly, but you know what made me feel like such an adult? My thirtieth

birthday present to myself was a refrigerator. If you told twenty-year-old me that

thirty-year-old me would be treating herself to a refrigerator, of all things, she

would’ve rolled her eyes in disbelief. And the fact that the freezer isn’t filled with 99

cent TV dinners? Yeah, right. Why would anyone even need a refrigerator, if not to

house the cheapest of frozen pizzas and macaroni and cheese? Don’t get me wrong:

I’m still a very thrifty person, but I’ve selected areas in my life that are worthy of a

little investment – whether it’s money or time:

– Winter coats: If there’s one thing I’ve learned while living in NYC, it’s that a

good winter coat can be your saving grace. It doesn’t have to be super

expensive, but it should be warm and well made (which is why a lot of mine

are vintage). I used to buy a lot of cheap coats, which would inevitably fall

apart or not be warm enough to wear without several layers beneath, when I

really should’ve gotten one great coat, instead. This year, I invested in a

thick, hooded one that I spotted at Coach’s Fall preview. I sold some of my

old clothes to Beacon’s Closet and put that money toward it, and it was easily

my best purchase all year.

– My teeth: To be fair, when I was twenty, my teeth were still pretty straight.

It was only five or so years after my braces came off, and maybe two since I

stopped wearing my retainers. Over the next decade, they continued to shift

and close in, overlapping one another and narrowing my smile. I hemmed

and hawed over the decision to try Invisalign clear aligners, because it

seemed like such a huge commitment. I didn’t want to be an adult with

braces, and the older I got, the scarier the idea became. Of course, I didn’t

fully realize just how subtle the clear aligners are (and the bonus of being

able to remove them is wonderful). I can now say that it was 100% worth it,

and my only regret is that I didn’t start it sooner. My bite is so much more

comfortable, and I am already seeing such a huge difference. It’s been such

an easy process and I can’t believe I waited this long to do it.

– My skin: Remember how I said my skin care regimen used to be one

product? Well, now I have a small arsenal of serums, exfoliants, moisturizers,

and masks – and I regularly get facials. The combination of getting older and

moving to a new climate changed my skin, and I had to start taking better

care of it. I’d rather spend my money on preventative measures and keep the

wrinkles at bay, for a little while.

– My health: Much like my teeth, this one is a work in progress. Even with a pretty major surgery as a mere teen, I still felt invincible – like I could just will

myself to be well. Now, I find myself saying, “I should go get this checked

out,” and, “I can’t that day, I have a doctor’s appointment.” I also have a

gym membership (which can be severely neglected, depending on the month

– I did say it was a work in progress) and even got myself one of those Vivofit

bands to make sure I’m always moving.

– Making my house a home: The refrigerator was just the icing on the cake, or

maybe even the decorative sprinkles. Long gone are the taped up posters

(admittedly, a very sad day) and free futon from Craigslist. Other than my

sofa and my refrigerator, I actually didn’t have to spend much. Almost all of

my furnishings are thrifted, flea market finds, or hand-me-downs, and most

of my wall art is from Etsy sellers and friends. What it really took to make my

house a home (and less of a college dorm) was the desire to make it so. I’ve