HAPPY NEW YEAR! Recently, I am watching and reading so many No or low buy year challenges. Ladies, especially if you are on a no buy, you are so strong- I admit I am a bit envy and admire you as well, because you are conscious and have enough, but I have to myself, even if I want to do I just cannot. Simply because of I have so many new things in my life, not just only I have clothes that are worn so I have to replace them, but also I have a great wish list.
Wishlist
So I rather set up some rules for 2022 for myself, to avoid overwhelming and overspending, my system called:
STYLISH FROM A 100.
I do believe that everyone can be stylish regardless of material situation. (Okay maybe a homeless cannot). #stylishfroma100
stylish
/ˈstʌɪlɪʃ/
adjective
fashionably elegant and sophisticated.
“you don’t have to be a designer to create a stylish look in your own small room”
GOOGLE
So what will be my boundaries?
My monthly budget is 100 EUR *
I do not need to spend it monthly, I can have a snowball effect and if I wish I can spend it in one as well.
Maximum number of items: 15, which means that the average price is 80 EUR each.
If I sell something the money can go towards my fashion sinking found.
My monthly budget all includes every fashion purchases: clothes, shoes, accessories and bags.
Try to purchase sustainably, check second-hand first and buy off from my wish list.
*100 EUR can be high depending on your budget, but I do believe that it is low enough to avoid overspending, but high as to achieve my fashion goals.
Update in every third month and I am going to make a new closet inventory.
Today, I world like to talk about my style journey, where did I started and where am I at the moment?
Back in my childhood my parents bought my clothes and shoes- usually before school year, for Christmas, namedays or birthdays we have received some clothes as well. With my siblings we have had a lot of local made items from the market or from small boutiques (there were such a great quality), then some from Chinese stores and later on from Shopping Mall brands. I did remember when the mall opened in my hometown it was full with local businesses back in 2002, but by 2010 most of the stores where Fast fashion brands there.
Being in high school I did not really spent my time at the mall, it was bare that I did shopping without my parents. So I was not such a huge shopper addict back then or I just had so many other things to do: studying, training and volunteering.
As I went to college and moved to Budapest with my friends we loved English secondhand shops and the sales at shopping mall. Thanksfully we did not had so much money to afford so many things from H&M or Zara and I was too proud to ask some extra money from my parents… Even in this case we consumed a lot of fast fashion :english secondhand stores was full of Primark clothes with tag, it was rare to find something real bargain and of course the sales at Mango, Zara and H&M. Honestly I am not assamed of myself, because we were just uneducated in this fashion trap.
Then I went for my Erasmus semester in Portugal, for that of course me with my friends bought quite a few new pieces at Zara- lots of these items are so memorable to me due to Portugal and still have them- before to go, but I had to pack my life into a 35 kg suitcase, so I was not aware of but that was my first capsule wardobe ever. During this 5 months in Portugal we went to Primark a few times, that was the point when I realized all of the English Secondhand shops are so over priced in Hungary, as most of the items were even pricier than new at Primark. As I had to be careful not to overweight my luggage I bought maybe 10-12 items.
Returning back to Hungary, I decided not to go to these girl sessions of secondhand stores and fast fashion sales, slowly these bit toxic relationships ended. After college I have strated to work at a hotel as a receptionist, which took me back from wanting to go to crowded places after work such as shopping malls and honestly I had a uniform so my clothes lasted longer, even if they were fast fashion.
Then I started to shop with my boyfriend (then husband) who were always had the same local stores such as Heavy Tools for his Polo T-shirts and shirts, Tisza for shoes, Levi’s for jeans and Mountex/Dockyard stores for anything else (they do sell Patagonia, The North Face etc.). He barely shops any fast fashion stores – might be if only needed something to use for bare occassions- I remember he was shocked how cheap is Zara and H&M and how fastly wore out everything from fast fashion stores. His mother used to work Mustang when he was young, so might be he was not aware but he often told me by touching a garment how cheap it is. I do remember how he was convincing me buying my first ever pair of Levi’s (which I accually still have).
As I was not educated in this field, I was still shopping fast fashion. As I did not wanted to spent all of my salary on clothes I must not be a such addict, for example I did not had any unused tag on clothes, but I still had quite a few wore onces.
So 2 years ago I have decided to educate myself and creating a wardrobe that reflectmy lifestyle, which contains 100% I love and carefully curated- it is like a strategy. So 2021 was my second year of low buy. I learn a lot along this journey: sometimes it is hard but I have never thought about thinking about my style can be that liberating.
Come and enjoy how I do build my wardrobe in the next year as well.
This is the third post in the series: after lingerie and very basics, please welcome accessories. They are small but impressive part of every wardobe: they can change your whole appearance instantly.
My aim is not to share a lot of luxury items, I rather stay realistic to be able to follow and some of the items still exist in my closet, others are on my wishlist.
Please note what is affordable to me, might not to everyone, I want to educate and do not want to judge you.
Tote bag: can be a leather or faux leather, but if you take my advice try this Longchamp Le Pliage bag- I have it for a few years and it was worst every penny: huge but you can store it floded, even can use it as an extra bag.
Mid-Sized Black Bag: I do suggest to have a work bag- I am budgeting for this Polene one as it is seamlike the perfect for me: mid-size, leather and crossbody…
Bucket bag: I used to own a green one, every I loved its size, I cannot made a great use out of it as the color was not the best to use in my everyday life, so after the Polene one, this is the next.
Black evening bag: I have one from a local designer, but that is the one if you have the budget you can go for more high-end like a classic Chanel flap.
Light summer bag: when you wear lighter colors it is a great otpion to go for a lighter mid or small size bag- mine is also from an other local designer.
Backpack: more sport days it is ideal to have a one, even you can charge it with your loved ones. Kankens are so great , 16 l size backpacks for leisure or city walks too.
Belts: it is a great idea to have a two colored classics belt, like this Kazar one, but my eyes on this Isabel Marant waist belt for a while to wear it with dresses, coats ect.
Leather gloves: also a must have during winter- classy, elegant and keep you warm- try to find a great local option. Best if the color is match with your winter coat or you can not go wrong with a classic black.
Scarf: Twilly is great as a hair, bag accessorie or using it traditionaly arround your neck, a nice silk one elevates your style. Silk scarf for the transitional seasons with demin or lether jacket or with a trench coat, while a thicker wool or cashmere is so great for the winter.
Hats: I thikif you have these 4 you have everything for the whole year.
Sunglasses: find just one perfect for you- I do not think I have to expalin why.
I have started to build my dream wardrobe, so I have writtena lot about declutter and low buys… Today I wish to share my first plan, which is starting everything from the base: intimates. I am going to focus to refresh my collection, so I am not going to buy everything now, but going to explane you category by category.
7 bras you should own
Everyday bras- I am always looking for comfort, non or light padded ones and in light natural colors. Please note that my advises are great for everyone from A-B-C cups, as a reference I do wear EUR 75B or 75C.
Organic Basics- Tencel Lite Bralette: I have ordered it in dusty rose pack, soft, breathable and wears like silk which I really love.
Pyjama: I am always going for short with strappy tops, but you might need a long one go for it. Dressing growns I always have 2 one from cotton for the hot weather and one fleece for cold, I do often use them as my daytime home clothes. Biker shorts are important during summer it is ultimate under dresses and skirt if you cyling in the city and of course you can use it as a bit of shape wear. Cotton leggings are so basic, hosery you do need if you spend your life in skirts like me, go for shape wear or compression ones even if it is summer or winter. And socks…
This is my first low buy update of the year, yeah I have promised to only writtig a haul once as last year I have learnt a lot how to manage my things effectively. This first half year was really hard for me, might be later on I am going to talk about my health issues, but I am not so ready to tell our full story since March so stay turned and comment if you do wanna hear.
I have started my year to focus on my health: I did 12-weeks Robert Heatherson’s workout program and also her monthly calendar, now I hve started her 6-weeks low impact, to get back a bit of shape after all this sh*t I went through. Generally, I do eat healthy for a while, I did started taking supplements too.
Makeup:
Finally I have finished up my travel sized Hourglass Ambient Bronzer and my Cover FX setting powder. I have decluttered my last MAC lipsticks, expired and old pallettes, mascara. I made two purchases form Cultbeauty, which you can see below. I have repurchased my beloved items: glow tonic, Better Than Sex Mascara and later on The Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray by Charlotte Tilbury (due to the size and it is not glass package I prefer the travel size). From the drugstore I have bought some Catrice products: brown and black eye pencil, waterproof eyeliner and Trend-it-up brown mascara.
As I have started my closet inventory I have really find out that I do have a lot of clothes, which I just simply do not like and want to upgrade them. I imagined, wrote and decluttered I am going to share soon. – Nr. 1.: Espadrillas from Lasocki, in light grey(EUR 38): it was a long time to find the perfect plat one, which is leather inside….
– Nr. 2: Slouchy white trousers from Mango (EUR 36): for a while I was looking for white jeans, but I have realized that I am the kind of girl, who always love white jeans on other, but when it is comes to try on I usually hate it on myself, so I have realized I hate skinny white trousers, so I need a bit looser fit… – Nr. 3: Leopard print midi skirt from Sissy Boy(S)- Vestiare: this is an other I am not sure of it, then I realize I rather go for something similar to the leopard print (once I had a balerina which was so cool): beige- navy skirt:
-Nr. 4: Black Wool trouser suit from Barbara Bui (EUR 36)- Vestiare: so ligh weight basic, I took it to the tailor so will show it later on too.
-Nr. 5: Gabinette dress from Rouje(EUR 36): I was hunting for their red Gabin or Gabinette dress for a while, then I purchased it for the site, as it is even more expensive secondhand, which is crazy. But I can understand the hype of it: I love love love, wanna wear it everyday: great cut, best viscose dress I have ever had.
-Nr. 6: Sezane Barry jumper in Bottle Green (EUR 36) from Facebook Market place. I really wanted it so I was so lucky to find it, similar to Gaspard softness.
Anything else:
Anuschka Rees The curated closet book and workbook- it is a useful book to figure out your style and to create a better wardrobe, which I am going to do soon.
Today post I want to talk about how to update your wardrobe, how to achieve to have a cohesive style on a budget. I was always jealous to a lot of women how chic, femine and beautiful they are and I always looked at myself as a grey mouse: I can not afford it, I cannot do it.
I was stuggled to dress up, when I saw myself in the mirror in my 50 EUR Zara dresses I was pissed off . So I have started to read, to watch and to search for a solution: I have read Anushka Reiss The curated closet book and she teach a lot to me:
LESS IS MORE: I do ot need a lot a clothes,they have to be carefully selected and quality.
IDENTIFY YOUR OWN STYLE: I do not need to follow trends to look stylish, know what I feel good in is a way more important.
DRESS TO MY LIFESTYLE: have several capsule wardrobes according to the daily activities and spend the most on, which I am doing the most.
KNOW YOUR COLORS: select a few, which fits to your own personality, you can not look good in everything.
ACCESSORIES: having a great bag or jellews can elevate your style.
TAILOR: fit your clothes.
So I have started to write my closet inventory and I figure out a few things so far:
I hate polyester close to my skin, so I want to get ride off any polyester tops and dresses.
My favourite materials are the naturals like silk, linen or wool, but I also love viscose.
Oversized cut is cheap looking, do not really flatters me, so I will get ride of most of them.
I need to invest in silk scarves, fine jewels and quality leather bags
I would love to declutter most of my fast fashion items as I can not make a use of.
Upgrading my wardrobe will take a long time so I have to be patient and do not get into the fast fashion trap again.
Secondhand is pretty cool, I can find gems on Facebook market place and Vestiaire for a fraction of price.
I hope you all had nice holidays. I do not want to say “Thanks God 2020 is over” as I know 2021 will not be easy too, specially the upcoming 3 months. I do not want to be in the competition of who’s year was harder as 2020 was so hard for all of us in different manners. I rather wish to write down what I have learnt of this year:
Health is the number 1 priority! You have to take care of that, otherwise you cannot live a life you wish. In 2020, I was diagnosed with Insulin Resistance, so I have to take a serious diet forever. I am so proud of my result, as I took the diet and the exercises so gravely that after being on a 160g CH diet, my results dramatically improved so I do not need to take any medicines only keeping this lifestyle with vitamins.
Life matters! I know tons of healthcare workers fight against Covid around the World and they are real heroes. I am so thankful for them.
Money matters! I had the unsavoury opportunity to experience the life with a lot less money, it is depressing and sucks. Even thought my budgeting, which I am enjoying so much, I would see a much higher savings account, which would give us less worrying. I am still thanks for to have an underpaid job, because at least I have some income.
Less is more! It is reflecting to my low buy year, which I am so proud of becoming a better consumer. I have learnt what is spark of joy, who I can live with less and better quality items and I can afford much things (from less money) which I have just dreamt of.
Lifetime learning! I am so thankful, that finally I had the time to learn something new: the tour guide school, my low buy journey were all great experiences and now I want to know even more.
I am so thankful to had the opportunity for a great summer holiday in 2020.
Keeping my heathy lifestyle and focusing on things that are matters.
I know I do have to change my career to be able to get paid better: I might start some freelancer projects or get another job- I do like my current one, but it does not pay me well at the moment and it is nether challenging for me, due to the pandemic I cannot even see the opportunities for manager jobs inside the company:(.
Study something new.
Go on a holiday.
Continue budgeting and simplifying my lifestyle would be really great.
Well the rests are let me kept in secret. In my next post I am going to introduce my 2021 closet challenge, which I hope you will enjoy.
2020 is a hard year for everyone, but thanksfully we all have Chrsitmas even in the middle of the pandemic. I think if you can be with your family than you are totally lucky. Here in Hungary maximum 10 people can get together, so me and my husband have decided to celebrate the Christmas Eve with my parents and with my brother and of course the cats. On Christmas day my sister and her boyfriend joined. We went seperately to see the grandparents for like a snacks.
Here we have nearly everything
I am writing these earlier than they actually receiving the presents, but I am going post it on on Christmas Eve. So what we will gifting?
Grandparents: calendar (not pictured), rafaello and coffee
My parents: calendar and a sous-vide machine (neither of them pictured)
My sister and her boyfriend: Pandora charm, Uno card and a book
My brother and his girlfriend: T-shirt, Tie Fighter model, sented candle and the wipes holder (rabit one)
My mother-in-law: purse and a book (also for her birthday)
My husband: Monopoly, Airpods (he is using it for a month, so there were no possibility to wrap it)
We had a so relaxed Christmas Eve with so great dishes as we have totally lost in the fun and the games, so unlikely in Hungary we have left the gifts opening for Christmas Day. We even took a little walk (6km) before dinner.
Christmas Eve
What I have received for Christmas?
A Kanken bag pack, a burgundy-grey scarf (so soft), a calendar (I hope there will be more appointments to write than this year), a body lotion- shower gel- sheet mask set, a T-shirt and a new iPhone (you might realized it from my last post).
Well most of you are probably familiar with the Parisian clothing brand Sézane. I heard, read and watched so many good reviews on them, so I was dying and eying for their products for a while. I do think Morgan Sezalory and her team really creates beautiful and quality pieces, that are made to last so they believe in the whole fundamential of slow fashion and concious shopping. The prices are higher than fast fashion, but they are well priced if you compare them to other brands in this league. I was saving up quality pieces and finally they had a free shipping before Christmas, so I went ahead and placed an order from my wishlist. I have registrated and saved my favourites on their site for a while, but I decided to go for the ones I was most wanted.
Yeah, the biggest disadvantage of online shopping that you never really sure what you will get until it arrives to your home. I have find their website simply stunning and well organized (I have used their French one), easy to use and order. So I have placed my order on the 15th December, it is took them to prepair 3 days, I have received a shipping notification from DHL on the 18th and received the package today, so on the 21rst. I’m obsessed with the super cute packaging, which I tried to photograph …
solid touch of personalization, also a great marketing tool
Box inside with a prospect and gift cards
I have find the packaging really attentive and eco friendly, even the tags (see it below) draw your attention to the recycling, the materials they used (also recycled) and their return policy. Everything here made of recycled paper. 10/10
N°1
GASPARD
Gaspard is French for Sexy.
Our signature jumper is perfectly versatile. Reversible, it can be worn as a cardigan or as a jumper to reveal a sublime
glimpse of your back with its ‘joli décolletage.’
I was their number 1 essential knitwear the Gaspard in Ecru. I wanted to have a versitle, wearable and soft cardigan for a while due to its pearl bottoms I was looking for the nude or the ecru, but a few months ago I was decided and voted for the Ecru. I have choosed my usual size, S. I love to looking behind the label, I read on their site that is more than 70% from ntural fabric and it is made in Italy.
grandma like cardigan in ecru
Gaspard is really a classy, timeless piece of Sèzane, also lightweight, super soft but warm. Quite versatile as you can wear it vice versa, I even loved more the back with the bottoms. The length is perfect, till the hips, it is a bit off the shoulder, so slightly boxy on me, but the selves are long enough to a taller person like me. I would absolutely recommend to anyone.
N°10
PALOMA
Paloma is French for Perfection. Meet our silk top that goes with everything. Pair with smart trousers, jeans or a floral
skirt… it suits every season.
My other pick was an othr essential: a black silk camisole. I wanted to upgrade my old H&M top and replace the polyester with something nicer, silk. I was looking for a lot of basics v-neck camisoles, then I have find this tiny little twist on the Sézane one the openwork embroidery along the neckline, which make this basic piece so special. I have selected my usual size too: 36.
Embroidery and the tagembroidery without the tagLook on try
Maybe size 34 would be more fitted on me, but I would like to wear it tacked into high waisted skirts or trousers, so this will be more casual but yet chic. I have read a few comments complaining about the straps, long and tithe, for my height it is perfect. I love the embroidery on it, it is a delicate twist to a simple camisole. I did not look for shiny silk, so it has been carefully chosen for my wardrobe. Absolutely would recommend that one too. I am really satisfied with my order so cannot wait to have others from the brand Sèzane.
So, What are the others from them are on my wishlist? To tell you the truth, I am not sure when I will get to buy them as they are rather on the spurge side.
I was started to write that post right before Black Friday. Some people love it, others just have it and defining it as an evil enemy or the symbole of overconsumption. Let me tell you something intention shopping is really depends on you. Do the same as you would do on other days: plan- wait- think- act. Try to find the deal. If you are eyeing on something like I do with my wishlist, you will be able to decide the best deal.
If you have a list of your planned Christmas gifts, than it is a great time to go shopping… or just simply do some online one. By prioritazing your relatives you will not end up with a lot of clutter. You might have saved up for something that is the time to buy it.
What am I going to do?
I did 100 items decluttering November challenge, so I know what I have, checked my wishlist and decided that I will have to choose only one item for myself and further more this item will be one of my Christmas present. I am considering to buy a bag from Furla or Coccinelle, jeans, Veja sneakers or the Sezane pulover, depends on the deal. I will have to purchase my skincare items from La Roche Posay and my Pixi Glow Tonic. The rest will be gifts like persolized calendar from Cewe.
And guess what happend? I only purchased the 4 annual Cewe calendar, which we do every year. I was so overhelm by this whole on sale thing as most of the items I was looking for neither was on sale nor was in stock. So I decided to give up searching… I have to admit I was working and my mood recently is not about getting into crowded shopping malls at all. In the whole month I have purchased a book and repurchased my beloved skincare line from La Roche Posay.
So you might recognized that these are said to be not cruelty free products. Firstly they do their job much better than the alternatives which I have found. Secondly, there are clean products, so they will not irritate my skin. Finally, they are made in Europe, so even if they test in China these are coming from their French factories.
In November and December I was quite busy with some of my health issue, so I kept myself away from writting and posting. I have to admit on the top of the pandemic I am having an emotionally heavy period of my life, which I am not ready to post about now.
Low buy lifestyle on bike 