Worthy Investments
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
actually found that I enjoy decorating my home and studio even more than I
enjoy filling my closet. I would really love to post a home and studio tour,
soon!