Dressing the Comfortable Years

Day off adventures are some of my favorites.

Today's plans are simple: antiquing with my husband, brunch somewhere along the way, and wandering through our little seaside towns to see what treasures might be waiting.

The dress came first.

Cream with blue flowers, designed to look as though it might have wandered in from another decade. I left the top buttons open and layered a cream Lauren Ralph Lauren camisole underneath. It gave the dress a more relaxed feel and made it entirely my own.

The camisole is vintage now, too.

So is the necklace.

My favorite navy men's shirt was thrifted years ago and has become one of those pieces I reach for over and over again. The sleeves are rolled. The sneakers are comfortable. The oversized tote is ready for whatever follows me home.

Nothing about this outfit is precious.

Everything about it is loved.

The styling is casual, feminine, comfortable, and completely unbothered by trends. It feels like something a woman wears when she knows herself well enough to stop performing and start enjoying.

That may be my favorite part.

I've spent most of my life pushing.

Struggling.

Building.

Surviving.

Trying to get somewhere.

Lately, I've been putting a different kind of energy into the world.

Less striving.

More appreciation.

Less proving.

More embodying.

More noticing the beauty of ordinary days.

A good brunch.

A favorite shirt.

A walk through an antique store.

A necklace with a story.

A seaside afternoon.

I've discovered that life feels surprisingly rich when I stop trying to improve every moment and simply allow myself to experience it.

The treasures are still there.

I'm just noticing them more often now.

And honestly?

It feels really good. To me the new rich is ease and comfort. I get off on windchimes and ocean breezes.