Open
Scenes from a Friday night…

We started at @littleblackbirddc a new wine bar in Cleveland Park where we had great food, drink, and conversation into the evening. We then headed down the street to @atomicbilliards for a whole different experience and to keep the conversation going. I treasure my friendships with @sylviacolella (who had a birthday recently), @districtofchic, and @blonde_inthedistrict they’re the real deal 🥰

My dress is @adamlippes borrowed via @renttherunway and Cheetos with Sauvignon Blanc is a really fun pairing!
Open
Night and day…

Met three dear friends for an early dinner that went on until after the sun set. Great food and conversation with some great women!

The dress is @adamlippes and I borrowed it from @renttherunway. The bag is @jcrew and a splurge but I regretted not buying it the last time they offered this bag and this color is SO me. I mean, look how great it is with these many years old suede heeled sandals? Meant to be!

This color combination makes me so happy, and this dress was comfy even after a decadent meal. We all deserve to experience comfort and joy with our wardrobes! 💛🩷

Follow my shop @wardrobe_oxygen on the @shop.LTK app to shop this post and get my exclusive app-only content!
https://liketk.it/4jnDf #ltkplussize #ltkmidsize #ltkover40 #midsizestyle #genxstyle #over40style
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If @thechicks are in town you can bet @debbiefaye78 and I will be there! So when we heard they were coming to @merriweatherpp we were so excited. And their concert did not disappoint. As always, a phenomenal show! If The Chicks come to your neck of the woods I highly recommend you go!

Okay I know you want to know about what we’re wearing! 

My sister’s caftan is from @anthropologie (bought this summer so maybe you can find on resale sites).

I’m wearing a @bananarepublic dress also from this summer with the @universalstandard denim chore jacket and a hat I got from a @madewell collab a year or so ago. I glammed it up with some gold chains and gold drop earrings, but kept it comfy for a night of standing and dancing with @birkenstock sandals.

This was my first big outing since my eye surgery, and with a pocketful of eye drops I felt good (and grateful we splurged for good seats!).

Follow my shop @wardrobe_oxygen on the @shop.LTK app to shop this post and get my exclusive app-only content!
https://liketk.it/4jcBL #ltkmidsize #ltkover40 #midsizestyle #genxstyle #usinthewild #concertstyle
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For years I’ve trusted @somaintimates for the right bras and the right fit but it had been a while since I visited a Soma boutique to try on all the styles they currently have for a large bust. I must say I was impressed! Knowledgeable staff, extensive collection in larger sizes, and some of the most comfortable and innovative bras in up to H cups! Each body is different but what I loved:

- The Stunning Push-Up: targeted for the DD+ customer gives amazing lift and great shape under fitted knits.

- The Unbelievable Lift Scoop Balconette: sexy, supportive, and so lightweight!

- The Embraceable Wireless: I’ve recommended this wireless bra for large busts for years and was in need for a new one! 

- The Stunning Support Smooth Balconette: this is the perfect t-shirt bra for large busts with padded straps and disappears under knits

- The Stunning Starlet Multi-Way Strapless: recently improved for more support and more comfort, this wireless bra stays put and gives fab shape

I also picked up some of Soma’s iconic Vanishing Edge panties which keep you line-free. The whole Vanishing collection is genius. I loved being able to donate my gently used bras at my local Soma boutique to give to those in need. We all deserve a lift and Soma strives to achieve that. It’s why I’ve been a fan and customer for years and am honored to partner with them. Soma is the perfect fitting bra solution. Visit the link in my bio to shop and to find your local Soma boutique! #SomaPartner #SomaBraFit #SomaStartsWithMe
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If I close my eyes you can’t tell one is still bloodshot 😜

Still recovering from my eye surgery but feeling more myself. Getting dolled up helps me feel me. Bright colors and bold jewelry have been signature Alison since I was a kid! 

Sweater: @favorite.daughter 
Earrings: Amazon
Necklace: @_jennybird (old)
Ring: @realmfinejewelry 
Bra: @lovebravissimo 
Lipstick: @glossier 
Pins as “cufflinks”: vintage

Follow my shop @wardrobe_oxygen on the @shop.LTK app to shop this post and get my exclusive app-only content!
https://liketk.it/4j0LM #ltkmidsize #midsizestyle #over40style #ltkover40 #genxstyle
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It was so funny and so quick I couldn’t not share! I bought this @hulkenbag a year ago and use it all the time. Carting shoot supplies, groceries, packing for road trips, and carting donations. This weekend @thenewdealcafe in @cityofgreenbelt hosted a community clothing swap so I made sure my family and I went through our summer wardrobes to gather that which we no longer needed or fit.

This wasn’t the first clothing swap and folks in town know my style (and my job) so there were some waiting for my arrival. Look how fast I cleared out this big bag! Speaking of the bag one other swap attendee said she got herself a Hulken after seeing mine in action!

It’s so great to know our old clothes are getting a good life and this bag makes carting them to the cafe so easy! I got my Hulken on Amazon, it comes in other colors and sizes too: https://amzn.to/48iTY4Y yep the bag is as great as all those ads you see on social media, I’m a big fan!
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I had to see… I asked my husband how often he thinks about the Roman Empire, and then asked our 14-year-old 😂
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#ad Go through my archives on Wardrobe Oxygen and one thing is clear: my family and I are a fan of @bombas socks! From their no-slip no-show socks to their iconic crew socks, Bombas makes great socks for the whole family while having a great heart.

Socks are the #1 requested article of clothing from homeless shelters. For every item purchase from Bombas, one is donated to someone experiencing homelessness. 

Save 20% on your first purchase at Bombas with my exclusive promo code: WARDROBE20

Follow my shop @wardrobe_oxygen on the @shop.LTK app to shop this post and get my exclusive app-only content!
https://liketk.it/4ipHy #bombas
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Happy gotcha day, Oscar! Four years ago he came into our life and we are so happy to have in our family!

Oscar was a rescue and came with some… quirks. Over the years we have come to understand him and he has come to trust us. He’s a diva, a snuggler, he could play catch for hours, and he’s my husband’s shadow. 

We’ve never had a small breed dog before and it’s a whole different experience. But we adore Oscar and couldn’t imagine our life without him! Thank you for coming into our life Oskie McGoskie! 🐾❤️
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Fashion Advice · July 2, 2007

July Wardrobing Assignment

This article may contain affiliate links; if you click on a shopping link and make a purchase I may receive a commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. 

I started doing this assignment last week, and it has really opened up my eyes regarding what is actually in my wardrobe vs. what I wear vs. what I believe I need.

When trying to lose weight, one is often told to keep a food journal. Often we do not see how much we actually eat until it is on paper. We forgot about the two bite-sized Snickers that we snagged from the candy jar at the front desk of our office, the bagels brought in for lunch with big dollops of cream cheese, the second martini at happy hour, the chips we nibbled on while preparing dinner. The same can be said for our wardrobe. Often that we wear most often comes to the forefront of the closet, and the other garments become forgotten, collecting dust. I know that many of my friends as well as myself have done an end of season wardrobe overhaul to put clothes in the attic, come to find two or three similar garments hidden in the closet. Even worse is buying for the new season prior to pulling out your seasonal clothing, finding out you just bought new white jeans and lo and behold you had a pair in the attic or cedar chest.

This assignment can be done on regular paper, but I am finding it works best for me on the computer so it’s easy to edit, keep it tidy looking and useable. I made categories for my clothing:

  • TROUSERS
  • JEANS
  • SKIRTS
  • SHORTS/CASUAL BOTTOMS
  • TEES/CASUAL TOPS
  • GOING OUT TOPS
  • SWEATERS
  • WORK/NICER TOPS
  • DRESSES
  • BLAZERS/JACKETS

Then under each category I write what I own, be it if I like it, love it, hate it. I give it a good description so it’s easy to distinguish from other garments:

TROUSERS:

  • Ann Taylor Loft ivory wool blend trousers
  • Caslon white stretch poplin trousers
  • Express tan “Editor” bootcut stretch pants
  • etc…

I add everything that I have out in my drawers and in my closet. Then after adding all of them, I rank them with the best/most flattering items at the top. Those that I am unsure of (be they a bit too tight, a weird color, bored with them, wrong season) I but into italics. Those that need repairs to be wearable (needs button, lining torn, needs to be hemmed) I put in red. Those that are just plain awful (too big, too small, dated, unflattering, in bad condition) I put in gray:

TROUSERS

  • Caslon white stretch poplin trousers
  • Caslon tan stretch poplin trousers
  • Caslon black stretch poplin trousers
  • Limited black “Drew” suiting trousers
  • Ann Taylor Loft ivory wool blend trousers
  • Ann Taylor Loft black wool blend trousers
  • Limited gray “Drew” suiting trousers
  • Express tan “Editor” bootcut stretch pants
  • Express gray ‘Editor” bootcut stretch pants
  • Express black “Editor” bootcut stretch pants
  • Gap black stretch twill pants

So I see my pant drawer overflowing with items, but in truth I have three pairs that I really find flattering, one pair that needs something other than safety pins to hold up the hems, three pairs that are not quite right now (one is 5 pounds from perfect, two are more appropriate for cooler months) three that need me to lose another ten pounds at least to look great, and one pair that catches lint and wrinkles so badly, I look a mess by noon.

The Gap pants are pointless. By having them accessible, they will be worn. I already have two pairs of black pants, the third pair isn’t doing me any benefit. I decide to donate the linty Gap trousers. As for the three pairs of pants from Express, they go up into the attic. Yes, the fabric is perfect for this season, but keeping too-tight pants in my drawer only complicates the getting-ready tine in the morning. Also having them around is not going to make me lose weight any faster. I carefully store them because they are nice pants that will look great when I get back to that size. I also store the Ann Taylor and the gray Limited pants with them; they are too heavy or wrong for this season and just wasting valuable real estate in the bureau.

I am going on a girl’s getaway this weekend and as soon as I started thinking about it, I started panicking that I had nothing to wear. I looked back at this list I had made, and realized that I had about six tops that would be perfect for our events planned, and three bottoms. By having everything on paper, admitting that which I wouldn’t wear and that which is wrong, it made wardrobing far easier.

This list, once 100% complete will be hung up in my closet, and updated regularly according to the season and the status of garments (need to go to the tailor, back from the tailor, ruined and had to be disposed of, lost weight, gained weight).

Many people keep cards or lists of outfits to wear. I remember my mom having a file box of outfits on cards – she would write the date and situation on the back to ensure she didn’t wear the same exact thing twice to a similar event. If you work better with uniforms, this is a great tool in addition to the list. I personally love the creativity every morning of making my outfit from my collection, and work best just knowing what I have to choose from.

Style and versatility comes not from a large assortment of garments, but a carefully chosen collection. If what you own fits well, is in colors that flatter and make you happy, are made well… then you need less. Simple pieces are less likely to go out of style and more likely to coordinate with the rest of your wardrobe. For my girl’s weekend I am taking a camisole I bought five years ago that still looks festive and fun today because it’s a cherry color, well-made out of a fabric with good drape, and has minimal adornments. Five years ago it may have been worn with colorful beaded chandelier earrings; now it may be worn with a simple bracelet to make it contemporary.

As you write down your list, be honest with yourself. Include the tee shirt collection, the five pairs of black yoga pants, the designer blazer that has never fit quite right but you can’t let go of, the rainy day jeans and the flannel shirts you have owned since your Grunge stage. If you feel guilty about something enough to not write it down, there is a problem just as if you lied in your food journal when trying to lose weight. You do not need to share this list with anyone but yourself. No one else needs to know how large or how small, how stylish or how damaged your collection may be. This assignment is for you to get real with your closet and take a step towards having a better and more honest relationship with it (and to gut out all those awful things you purposely forget).

If a category seems to have a very short list, think about your lifestyle before you see a reason to hit the mall. Do you REALLY need another pair of pants? I work in an office atmosphere and wear pants often outside of work, yet realize that I can live on 3-4 pairs of pants without issues. Often when you have more, you still resort to the same 1-2 items. When it comes to simple style, less is almost always more. Try a week or two on a shrunken wardrobe before you feel the need to replace or add to your collection. You may be surprised that by removing the gray and the italicized items and repairing those in red, you may have more choice each AM when you get ready.

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Comments

  1. Meg says

    July 12, 2007 at 9:06 pm

    I love this idea!

    I do something similar, but it’s all in my head. I go through my closet fairly regularly to figure out what I need and don’t need, and in the process I often try a lot of stuff on and see if I can come up with new combinations (sometimes I do write down a list of needs if it’s more than a couple things). What I don’t need I donate or freecyle.

    I can do it so well in my head because my closet is very well organized. It helps that I hang just about everything so I can see it. I have separate areas for pants, skirts, dresses, short-sleeved shirts, and long-sleeved shirts. I also use stackable hangers to organize my shirts vertically by color within those sections. One of my friends joked that maybe I have OCD, but with the stackable hangers it’s just so easy to put reds with reds, blues with blues, etc.

    Reply
  2. Miss Kim says

    July 10, 2007 at 12:53 pm

    I created a wardrobe inventory spreadsheet last year. It has been an amazing tool. Good luck with yours!

    Reply
  3. Irish Goddess says

    July 6, 2007 at 12:01 am

    I need to do this. I used to keep a log on the computer of what I wore daily, and it did help in remembering what items went well together and looked good on me. I gave it up eventually, feeling it was too vain and I didn’t have enough time to maintain it. However, with my job (and with anyone’s life, actually), it is important to look and thus feel good – and the time spent dicking around in the morning trying to find the right clothes is the true waste of time!

    Reply
  4. bananzattack says

    July 5, 2007 at 2:39 am

    That’s so true that even when I have more, I always fall back on the same few favorite items. This is a very helpful system, thanks for sharing! It’s no wonder you turned out to be such a stylish lady now that I know your mother was fashion conscious as well. 🙂

    Reply
  5. Fabulously Broke in the City says

    July 4, 2007 at 1:45 pm

    Oooooo.. this will be a tough exercise for me. I’ve slowly tried to continue throwing out items and donating items to get rid of the excess in my wardrobe.

    I always resort to the same set of items, but things like full suits – I may not wear the blazers a lot, but I need to have them just in case….

    Reply
  6. Marty: says

    July 4, 2007 at 6:45 am

    At the beginning of a season I turn the hangers around. When I wear something I hang the hanger the normal way. That way I can easily see what I actually wear and what just hangs there. It makes it easier to edit my wardrobe.

    Reply
  7. Anonymous says

    July 2, 2007 at 4:04 pm

    I have a list of of outfits too! Its awesome in the morning, because I just pick out an outfit from the list and am ready, and looking nice and pretty. Keep your wonderful articles coming, dilly!

    Reply

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Since 2005, Wardrobe Oxygen has offered real-life style advice for grown-ass women. With years of experience as an apparel visual merchandiser and personal shopper, Alison Gary provides advice on how to achieve personal style no matter your age, size, or budget.

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Sep 26

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Scenes from a Friday night…

We started at @littleblackbirddc a new wine bar in Cleveland Park where we had great food, drink, and conversation into the evening. We then headed down the street to @atomicbilliards for a whole different experience and to keep the conversation going. I treasure my friendships with @sylviacolella (who had a birthday recently), @districtofchic, and @blonde_inthedistrict they’re the real deal 🥰

My dress is @adamlippes borrowed via @renttherunway and Cheetos with Sauvignon Blanc is a really fun pairing!

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Sep 23

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Night and day…

Met three dear friends for an early dinner that went on until after the sun set. Great food and conversation with some great women!

The dress is @adamlippes and I borrowed it from @renttherunway. The bag is @jcrew and a splurge but I regretted not buying it the last time they offered this bag and this color is SO me. I mean, look how great it is with these many years old suede heeled sandals? Meant to be!

This color combination makes me so happy, and this dress was comfy even after a decadent meal. We all deserve to experience comfort and joy with our wardrobes! 💛🩷

Follow my shop @wardrobe_oxygen on the @shop.LTK app to shop this post and get my exclusive app-only content!
https://liketk.it/4jnDf #ltkplussize #ltkmidsize #ltkover40 #midsizestyle #genxstyle #over40style

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Sep 21

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If @thechicks are in town you can bet @debbiefaye78 and I will be there! So when we heard they were coming to @merriweatherpp we were so excited. And their concert did not disappoint. As always, a phenomenal show! If The Chicks come to your neck of the woods I highly recommend you go!

Okay I know you want to know about what we’re wearing! 

My sister’s caftan is from @anthropologie (bought this summer so maybe you can find on resale sites).

I’m wearing a @bananarepublic dress also from this summer with the @universalstandard denim chore jacket and a hat I got from a @madewell collab a year or so ago. I glammed it up with some gold chains and gold drop earrings, but kept it comfy for a night of standing and dancing with @birkenstock sandals.

This was my first big outing since my eye surgery, and with a pocketful of eye drops I felt good (and grateful we splurged for good seats!).

Follow my shop @wardrobe_oxygen on the @shop.LTK app to shop this post and get my exclusive app-only content!
https://liketk.it/4jcBL #ltkmidsize #ltkover40 #midsizestyle #genxstyle #usinthewild #concertstyle

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Sep 19

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If I close my eyes you can’t tell one is still bloodshot 😜

Still recovering from my eye surgery but feeling more myself. Getting dolled up helps me feel me. Bright colors and bold jewelry have been signature Alison since I was a kid! 

Sweater: @favorite.daughter 
Earrings: Amazon
Necklace: @_jennybird (old)
Ring: @realmfinejewelry 
Bra: @lovebravissimo 
Lipstick: @glossier 
Pins as “cufflinks”: vintage

Follow my shop @wardrobe_oxygen on the @shop.LTK app to shop this post and get my exclusive app-only content!
https://liketk.it/4j0LM #ltkmidsize #midsizestyle #over40style #ltkover40 #genxstyle

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Sep 11

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Happy gotcha day, Oscar! Four years ago he came into our life and we are so happy to have in our family!

Oscar was a rescue and came with some… quirks. Over the years we have come to understand him and he has come to trust us. He’s a diva, a snuggler, he could play catch for hours, and he’s my husband’s shadow. 

We’ve never had a small breed dog before and it’s a whole different experience. But we adore Oscar and couldn’t imagine our life without him! Thank you for coming into our life Oskie McGoskie! 🐾❤️

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Sep 8

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I can see clearly now…

Actually I can’t, but things after my retina surgery are much improved! My next appointment is in a month and I’m cleared to get back into the world (with some restrictions to protect my eye).

With a sclera buckle, it changes your eye shape and now I am nearsighted again (I had lasik a few years ago). Once the eye is stabilized I can get glasses or contacts but until then I’m 20/20 in one eye and right now 20/60 in the other. But the eye is healing beautifully and I feel positive!

And I could see clearly enough to fall for this poppy-colored cotton jumpsuit from @pistoladenim. It comes in a few colors but this one is my favorite. I went with XL (im@a 14, sometimes 16) and likely could have sized down but I enjoy the relaxed fit and the drawstring waistband to create shape. And hello zipper closure making it super easy to get on and off!

My husband took this photo right after my eye appointment, I think it reflects my positive attitude and feeling of hope! 🧡

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Sep 5

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I’ll be a bit quiet on here and other channels because I had eye (retinal) surgery this past weekend. I was having what I thought were ocular migraines but come to find out I was experiencing lattice degeneration, which is thinning/holes in the retina. I had surgery Saturday for my right eye and later on they’ll work on the left eye, which isn’t as bad and can be remedied by laser, in office.

I share not because I’m Mrs. Frizzle meets Iris Apfel as I recuperate at home, but because this whole thing has been a lesson on trusting my gut. And I want to remind you to do the same.

As we get older our bodies can feel like strangers. Things are constantly changing and it’s easy to just assume your annual physical will catch anything wrong. But if you slow down and listen to your body you’ll know when things are just a sign of aging and life and what seems unusual. That nagging issue may be something more serious.

And if you’re seeing flashing lights, floaters, spiderwebs or other odd eye things get checked out ASAP. It may be nothing but take it from me, it may actually be something. ❤️

Okay, going back to my big sunglasses caftan recuperation life!

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Aug 30

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Ladies who lunch…

While in Savannah, I made sure to get lunch reservations for me and E at @theoldepinkhouse she loves the color pink, historic homes, and ghost stories so it was a perfect choice! 

Built in 1789 on Reynolds Square, there are stories of guests seeing ghosts, cutlery and wine bottles moving along with an elegant and truly delicious dining. 

While we didn’t see any apparitions, we did have a lovely lunch with impeccable service and after toured all floors of the home. I highly recommend a visit if you’re visiting Savannah!

My dress is from @cosstores (no longer available); hat is @furtalk and bag is @talbotsofficial (no longer available).

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Aug 29

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Scenes from a week in Savannah… 

The three of us (and our dog Oscar!) had a warm and humid but wonderful time exploring Savannah, Georgia earlier this month. Our daughter visited this gorgeous city last summer with her @girlscouts troop but wanted to return to experience more. We let her choose our adventures and play your guide and it was awesome. We cannot wait to visit again, though next time it won’t be August 🥵

For more of our trip check the “Savannah” highlight on my profile page!

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Aug 28

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Stripes are always right…

Y’all know I love stripes and when @universalstandard came out with their Breton-stripe dresses and tops I HAD to try them! As expected, the quality is stellar, the fit boosts my confidence, and I appreciate the range of colors (5 different stripes to choose from) and sizes (00-50). For reference, I’m wearing XS but preferred S for the top and I usually wear a 14 or XL in other brands.

The tote is @able and it’s a soft yet durable leather that just looks better with time. This color (cognac) is one that transitions nicely from summer to fall. 

Follow my shop @wardrobe_oxygen on the @shop.LTK app to shop this post and get my exclusive app-only content!
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#usinthewild #bretonstripes #midsizestyle #midsizefashion #size14 #over40style

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