Hi Pretties! I’m back for the Fall Coffee Chat season, well unofficially back. There’s been so much going on and so many fun things on the horizon for GYPO and I can’t wait to share it all with you. We’ve moved, I finally put together a Menswear Closet Staples Capsule, the kids are starting school again and I’m excited about the upcoming season of Coffee Chat. A huge thank you to everyone who submitted a topic of something they want to know or learn about.
As we head into fall I usually use this as a time to reset and to think about my intentions as typically the kids are back off to school and new routines emerge. But looking back, that seems to be what 2020 has been all about, dealing with the uncertainty, adapting to situations we’ve never experienced before trying to create some consistency in the chaos. So even though this fall is unlike any other, I’m still going to use this time to hit the reset button and attempt to create some consistency. Click below to view my full Coffee Chat.
I’m not a very big resolutions girl but I use September as an opportunity to reset and get back into a routine coming off summer break but of course, this year is so different and I know it’s not just me, it’s all of us. We’re all going through it, this feeling of being out of control wondering what each day is going to hold. Everything looks different this year. That’s why I wanted to share with you tips that have been helping me through the summer, mentally, to stay focused and to really calm my anxiety around everything that feels so out of control right now.
1. Establish Some New Routines
With all the chaos that’s has been going on, it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle. Now is the time to really be intentional about establishing new routines and having more control over our lives. It’s about shifting our focus to the things that we can control. I think that if you take anything out of today’s coffee chat, I want it to be that you absolutely can’t control everything, but there are a few things that you can and one of those is to establish a new routine. When you establish a routine you’re creating a comfort zone that will naturally help alleviate some of the anxiety that we’re feeling. Take this opportunity right now as we’re heading into the fall to really step back and look at ways that you can create new routines in your life, whether it’s waking up at the same time every day or creating a routine around some self-care time, meditating, whatever will help give your day some intentional flow and take back some of the control.
2. Get Moving
One of my intentions for fall is to get moving again! I need to hit the reset button on exercise. Things got away from me this summer and I gained 10 pounds, actually, I gained 15 at one point due to some medication but I compounded that by not being intentional about the meals I was planning and not focusing on my workouts. I used to do Orange Theory in class but without that accountability of having to be somewhere at a certain time it’s made it way more difficult to stay on track but it’s something I’m working on. Exercising definitely helps me with my mental state and to get back into a better routine and a better place.
3. Limit the Negativity – News/Social Media
I’ve always had a love-hate relationship with social media. I have been really open about this, which is weird as a blogger, as an influencer, as somebody who appears online on a regular basis, I don’t particularly enjoy social media. I would much prefer to connect with people in real life however right now social media has been a tool for me to be able to have that connection whenever I can’t have that one on one interaction I so crave. At times however, it’s just become such a, well, I’m just going to say it, just such an energy suck. That’s the best way I can describe it right now. It’s definitely not a place of positivity and just a few minutes on my newsfeed was sucking the life out of me. It’s easy to fall into a downward spiral. One of the things I had to do was to start curating my feed and I encourage you to do the same. It’s okay to snooze people, to block people, or to unfriend them. It’s okay to create an Instagram feed that fills our soul which is exactly what I’ve done. I fill it with inspirational quotes, with home decor since we just moved, with our Pretties, with positivity! So take back your control over social media. That goes for the news too. Set up alerts for breaking news or set a time frame in which you’re going to watch it but don’t let it be a steady stream sucking out your energy.
4. Find Things That Fill Your Soul
Now that your social media is filled with things that make you smile, it’s time to find other things that fill your soul. This is a great time for exploration and figuring out some things that you may have long forgotten about that you love. Every year around this time I revisit my love of the piano. Last year, if you recall, I started taking lessons again. I fell off with that because obviously we can’t do in-person lessons right now but I’ve been going on YouTube and watching videos. I even ordered a couple of music books to work on. I find playing the piano is another thing that really calms me down. I love sitting down to the piano in the evening and have found that to be a great routine when it comes to ending my day. My playing doesn’t have to be perfect, but it’s something that really feeds my soul. I’ve also gotten back into doing yoga again. I’ve been doing classes online and now we live in a beautiful natural environment by the lake, so I can get out and enjoy nature. I also plan on riding my bike this fall when it’s not ridiculously hot outside. It’s so important to feed your soul every day, even if it’s just for a small amount of time. What are you going to do to feed your soul today?
5. Remember, Nothing Lasts Forever
I think another tip that has really been helping me is just this reminder that nothing lasts forever, the good or the bad. Just keep in mind that what we’re experiencing right now is not going to last forever. Yes, there will be a new normal, but what’s going on right now is not going to be a forever state. So just keep that in mind. You have the power to choose how you see things. I’m not saying you have to be a Pollyanna but you also don’t have to be an Eeyore. You’ll have your ups and your downs and that’s totally normal. It’s okay to be the rock of your family because you are strong and fierce but it’s also okay to let your guard down and admit that this all just really sucks. For example, I call myself the quarantine clown sometimes because I think that my job is to be the one who’s always upbeat and positive and energetic. I try to entertain everybody and try to keep everybody happy, always pointing out the positive things about everything that’s going on right now. But that can be truly damaging, as damaging as as as being on the flip side of that and having the negativity and applying the negative to everything and seeing it as all bad. So I implore you to strive for that balance.
Setting My Intentions
Getting back to my original point, I want to talk to you about setting intentions for fall and I’m going to share my two big intentions with you. While I feel that getting into a routine is super important we’ll talk a little bit more about that later on in our Coffee Chat topics, I think it’s just as important to have a bigger purpose in all of this and when we set intentions it helps everything else fall in line.
1. Create space and time for things that fulfill my soul daily.
I already talked to you a little bit about this whether it’s pecking on the piano, doing some yoga, exercising, spending my devotion time on the porch swing every day, walks in nature, those are some important things to me to get back in touch with myself because I think a lot of us have been in, some are on the flip side of this, but many of us have been quarantined with family, and even though you’re with people, maybe you don’t necessarily feel as connected to them, which is going to be my second intention I’m going to share with you in a minute and you might even feel a little bit disconnected from yourself. So I think that it’s important for us to reconnect with ourselves.
2. Connect with my family better.
I think one of the things about spending a lot of time with each other is that we have overlooked quality time a little bit and I want to reset the button on that. I want us to have family game nights once a week. One of my favorite things that we do is we sit down to dinner at night and share a highlight and lowlight from our day, which really is kind of one of those Pollyanna and Eeyore moments. The funny thing that I find about this is that some people have a natural tendency in our family to focus on only the positive and some have a natural tendency to focus on the negative more and when we do this, it forces us to focus on both. This is a great connection tool for us because it enables us to be vulnerable and allows us to not only connect with each other, but it also helps me to be a role model for my kids and saying it’s OK to struggle and we need to share these things with each other.
So those are my two big things that I’m going to be focusing on this fall. Now it’s your turn! I want you to get your fall routine into place but before you do that, I want you to really sit down this today, tomorrow, this weekend, and listen to your gut and your instinct. What is it telling you you need to do this fall to really get back to basics, to reset your intentions and to focus on what you can control because setting your intentions is absolutely something that you do have control over!
Whether you’ve done it before or this is your first time, the Closet Clean Out Challenge is a great way to hit the reset button on your wardrobe. We do this FREE challenge as a community in our Facebook group but you have to sign up for the daily email exercises HERE. This fall’s challenge will take place August 24th-28th. Clean your closet out in bite sized daily chunks with me – I promise I’ll make it fun!
You’ve been asking for it and the big day is finally here! The Menswear Closet Staples Capsule Wardrobe is a year-round capsule wardrobe with 76 outfit formulas, including work wear and athleisure. The best part? It’s ON SALE for $10 off but HURRY this introductory price end Aug 26th!
Just in time to take advantage of Labor Day sales, the Outfit Formulas Fall 2020 Capsule wardrobe features 31 of my favorite fall outfit formulas with 4 bonus athleisure looks. It’s a great mix of classic fall styles and trends. Let me tell you what to wear every day this fall!
Much like summer, we’re going into fall with unknown expectations for what the season will bring. While this is my favorite time of year, it’s going to be unlike any fall I’ve ever experienced and I’m pretty sure the same goes for all our Pretties out there. This is the time of year where I lovingly light my fall scented candle, today it’s Pumpkin Pecan Waffles from Bath and Body Works, pretend it’s not 105 degrees and search out all the fun fall trends to share with you. And although I’m not a big shopper (honestly, I really don’t like to shop) I AM always a big fan of getting pieces at a great price, enter the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale (NAS). This is one of the only sales where you can get the pieces you’re looking for BEFORE going into the season instead of at the end of the season and today it’s open for everyone to shop! I said this in my post last week about shopping for closet staples and I’ll say again here, shopping a sale doesn’t mean you have to buy everything. Remember, it’s not a good deal if you don’t need it! Instead, this sale is an opportunity to fill in any gaps you may have, upgrade pieces to a better quality item or even add a few fun trends to keep your closet staples fresh.
Now on to the fall trends. With so much going on in the world, new fall trends have kind of taken a back seat and what I’m seeing are a lot of trends that have carried over from last year or they are things we’ve already seen before, maybe even over the summer. Bonus is that we may already have a lot of these items in our closets and if not, now is the time we can add them if we want. I picked out the trends I am loving for the fall from prints to colors and cuts, then pulled some great pieces from the NAS.
As you may already know, I’m a pretty big fan of leopard print. I think it’s an easy way to amp up any look and even though I consider it a closet staple, it’s making a huge appearance in everything this fall from totes to shirts and shoes to pants. Add a cute pair of leopard boots to an all-black ensemble for a complete, polish look or go bold with a great leopard print dress. The best part, even though this trend is really big right now, you’ll still be able to wear these pieces again in the coming years.
Camo is another great print that is also very versatile because it’s a neutral! I’ve seen this print used a lot in the spring but I’m excited to see it used a lot this fall. Pair up some skinny camo pants with a cozy black sweater and some metallic shoes or perhaps try some black joggers with camo slip ons and a gray top. The possibilities are endless so if you have some camo in your closet, don’t pack it away just yet!
I wasn’t sure how long snake print was going to stick around but the staying power is fierce for this print. I love snake print especially going into the fall and winter months with it’s cool black and gray color tones. It’s perfect as an accent piece or even as the centerpiece of your outfit. Plus it’s a neutral so it goes with everything making it very versatile.
We saw this color last year and while some loved it others weren’t too sure about it. It’s a great, cozy color for fall with shades ranging from soft gold to mustard and even a buttery yellow. If this is a color you don’t feel is flattering on you, you can still try this trend, just don’t wear it around your face. Try pairing a gray top with a pair of dark wash jeans and some goldenrod shoes or even a yellow handbag.
Another color I’m seeing a ton of this year is rust. This rich color is an orange, red, brown mix and the result is the perfect color for fall. It reminds me of the beautiful fall leaves and I can’t decide if I want to wrap myself up in a cozy rust cardigan or maybe a soft scarf or perhaps a great pair of rust boots.
I originally bought a moto jacket as a trend piece but quickly realized how much I loved having it in my arsenal. It’s a great layer that adds tons of interest even to the simple outfit formula of white tee + jeans. If you’re not sure if this is a trend you’re going to love or enjoy for multiple seasons, there are jackets available at a lower price point, but if this is something you’ve been looking to invest in, now just may be the time. Don’t forget too, moto jackets come in an array of colors and styles. For longevity I suggest opting for a neutral color however if a bright red is speaking to you, go for it! I have a few different color moto jackets but decided to trade up my black one for an investment piece and I’m so happy I did. It still looks great and I know it will last for many, many years!
Many of you are curious about what styles and silhouettes of jeans will be sticking around for the fall and I’m happy to report that anything goes! If you like high rise, boot cut, or skinny jeans they’ll all be sticking around. Feel free to rock the styles you have in your closet or if you’re in the mood to try something new, I’ve put a few different options for you below.
Your turn! What fall trends are you most excited about? What pieces do you already have in your closet?
After many years of requests, I’m so excited to announce the Menswear Closet Staples Capsule Wardrobe! This capsule wardrobe is a year-round capsule wardrobe that includes 15 outfits per season, plus 8 workwear outfits and 8 athleisure outfits. The capsule wardrobe includes a shopping list, daily outfit guide, one-page calendars, and recommended shopping links on the membership site. This capsule will be offered at a limited-time introductory price of $29 for one week, Aug 19th – 25th. On Aug 26th the capsule will be available at the regular price of $39.
Ever so slowly we are starting to get back out into the world whether it’s by choice or the fact that our kids are starting back to school. Most of our shopping is still being done online and we are relying even more on having a great foundation of closet staples to put together our looks be it for sanity or that we’re actually leaving the house. That’s why for today’s post I’ve partnered with Walmart to not only bring you a fantastic look, but a classic one, one that will be just as on-trend today as it was last year and will be again next year. To add even more interest I decided to pair it up with some fun pops of color like the yellow earrings and a great print, the snake print slip-ons, which happens to also be a neutral making them very versatile.
A great denim jacket is a long-standing closet staple so I always suggest getting one in a medium wash with a classic cut. That way it will always be in style. A denim jacket is also very versatile because it’s great to layer over everything from a dress to your favorite graphic tee. When pairing it with denim bottoms a recommend wearing two different washes to keep it looking like denim overload.
Stripes! I can’t say how much I love a striped tee and this one is so soft! I love the boatneck detail and the 3/4 length is perfect for going into fall! For this look, you can tuck it in, leave it out or even finish it off with a half tuck. Either way will look great!
Olive is considered a neutral and a great alternative to jeans. This particular pair of olive bottoms do have some distressing but what I like most is that the pockets are flat creating a more flattering silhouette.
Another neutral piece and just as versatile are these snake print slip-ons. If you aren’t sure about wearing snake print or even feel a little intimidated by this print, these slip-ons are a great, casual way to ease into it.
I’m all about pops of color and these yellow earrings were the perfect complement to style this outfit. They are light and airy so they won’t feel overwhelming. If yellow around your face doesn’t work for you then feel free to swap out for a color that does. Perhaps a coral or maybe even a turquoise.
A neutral crossbody is a great closet staple and this one can actually hold more than just your wallet and cell but is still a manageable size. With different compartments, it’s sure to help keep your things organized.
Your turn! What’s your favorite piece? What items do you already have in your closet?
*Below are links to all the great items listed above as well as plus size options.
A huge thank you to Walmart for sponsoring this post and continuing to support small businesses like GYPO!
To all the Pretties out there, Happy National Lipstick Day! I had no idea there was such a thing until I was talking with our fabulous business manager, Lauren, and she told me about it. I shouldn’t be surprised though, there’s a National Ice Cream Day, which was July 19th in case you were wondering and International Coffee Day, which is something I can get behind, coming up on September 29th. So in honor of National Lipstick Day, I wanted to share with you a roundup of some fan-favorite lipstick brands and colors plus some application resources and of course a few of Alison’s favorites.
Now let’s address the elephant in the room. I know this may seem like a weird topic to cover right now. It’s not lost on me that many of us are spending the majority of our time at home and even when we go out our lips are covered by a mask. So why are we even talking about lipstick? Because as Coco Chanel once said, “If you’re sad, add more lipstick and attack!” Taking a few seconds to apply a fabulous color to your lips may be just what you need to smile, feel great, and attack the day! Plus it’s an absolutely perfect time to dip your toe out of your comfort zone and experiment with different colors. There’s nothing wrong with smiling every time you catch yourself in the mirror and see how wonderful you look after finally finding the perfect shade of pink or how fierce you look after finding your perfect red. This won’t last forever, we will find our new normal and when that happens, I can’t wait to step outside showing off my perfect shade!
MAC was the brand trusted and used most by the Pretties. They love the array of colors and the feel of their lips when wearing it. It’s a creamy formula with buildable coverage allowing you to more easily get your desired color. Plus you can play around with the colors right from the comfort of your own home by either uploading a photo or using your live camera. Swapping out shades has never been so easy! Right now MAC is running a National Lipstick Day special. Select lipsticks are $15!
Coming in a super close second was LipSense lip colors and glosses. I personally use this brand too and I can vouch that their staying power is AMAZING! They have so many colors and when paired with their selection of glosses the combinations are endless. In order for this product to work successfully, you’ll need to purchase a color as well as a gloss because it’s the gloss that sets the color. Recently one of our Pretties put it to the ultimate test, from her mask to the dentist chair and back to her mask and it stayed put the whole way through!
Another fan favorite brand is Mary Kay which offers lipsticks in both semi-matte and semi-shine as well as lip glosses and sheer lipsticks in a wide variety of colors. The highly pigmented colors are moisture-rich so lips won’t dry out. They also have a line of lipsticks called True Dimensions® that can smooth fine lines and make lips looks fuller.
Beautycounter boasts safer, high-performing products without harmful or questionable ingredients and their lipsticks have certainly caught the attention of the Pretties. Their color-rich formula has all the things you want in a lipstick without drying out your lips!
A portion of all sales from Color the World go to a different charity that corresponds to the lipstick purchased. I always love to see when companies give back! The lipsticks are creamy and won’t feather. They are also offering discounts on their lipsticks in honor of National Lipstick Day and free shipping!
Coming in at around $5.00 a tube, Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick is super budget-friendly but don’t let the price fool you, this pigment-rich color packs quite a punch!
NYX Butter Gloss was the most mentioned gloss of all the Pretties and coming in at around $5 it’s really budget-friendly. While one the fan favorites, Toasted Marshmallow is unfortunately not available anymore, they just released some more new colors giving you a total of 24 colors to choose from. Other favorites included Creme Brûlée and Angel Food Cake.
If you’re not into lipstick but still like a little color, Burt’s Bees Lip Tints and Lip shimmers are the perfect middle ground. They are super moisturizing and provide just the right amount of color plus they’re considered a clean beauty product.
Not only is this one of Alison’s favorites, but this was also a Pretty favorite too! Boasting rich color and long-wear, this easy-to-use lip crayon comes in 17 gorgeous shades and runs for around $8.00.
Application Resources
Whether you’re new to wearing lipstick or you’ve been applying it on the fly your whole life, there are some things you can do and use that will enhance your lipstick’s staying power, create a smoother finish, and keep your lips feeling soft and moisturized. Below are some fun resource links that can help you achieve a perfect pout!
In the world of fashion, or more specifically the fashion I have in my closet, there’s something I like to call a “one and done” outfit. It’s one simple piece that you can throw on, add an accessory or two, and look complete and ready to go. One and done pieces include dresses, jumpsuit, and rompers. I love a good one and done piece and they’re perfect for the summer. There’s so much flexibility in these types of pieces and they can easily be dressed up or dressed down.
For this month’s Style Your Budget I decided to focus on one such one and done piece and that’s the jumpsuit. Now I do realize this can be a polarizing item meaning you either love it or you hate it but hear me out. They come in so many different types of material some say they’re almost like wearing pajamas but really cute, sophisticated, and trendy ones. They also come in fun patterns or simple solids meaning you have tons of options and even different lengths so if you want something a bit cooler for summer you can opt for some cute crops or if you’re a shorts gal, a romper is a perfect substitution. Then add in some great shoes and some earrings and you’re done! Plus, here’s a fun little tip I learned from the Pretties Group, it’s sort of like a faux jumpsuit. Pair up a top and bottom in the same exact pattern or solid and presto! Instant faux jumpsuit! This is an awesome way to create the jumpsuit look without actually wearing a jumpsuit.
Before I get to this month’s Style Your Budget formula, I want to give a warm welcome to all our new Pretties and tell them exactly what Style Your Budget is. It’s a bi-monthly feature where I share a versatile and easy to follow outfit formula and then showcase five different looks each with a different price point. Then you can shop your closet, which I always recommend doing first, and if you have any gaps you want to fill you can shop where you want and at the budget you want. And can I say I always LOVE seeing how you all take the outfit formulas and run with them! I can’t wait to see what you’ll do with this one and done piece! Below I’m pairing it up in several different ways just to show you how versatile this formula can be. Now because it’s a one and done piece the formula is short but don’t let that fool you because the possibilities are endless once you add in your accessories! Bonus, top off any of the below looks with a cute jacket or cardigan for even more options!
Do you struggle to put outfits together? Are you stuck in a yoga pants rut? Not sure if you can make the latest trends work for you? You’re in the right place!
I’m Alison, a mom of three and recovering yoga pants addict on a mission to make getting dressed and feeling pretty the easiest thing you do all day! Learn more about my story HERE.
I am so glad I was part of the Fall 2019 Style Challenge. It gave me confidence and so many great outfitt ideas. The ladies in the group were very supportive and I will defintetly be doing another challenge in the future.
Betty Weyandt December 20, 2019
I’ve been participating in the GYPO Style Challenges for three years now and I’ve loved it. I’ve always loved clothes, but I didn’t know how to put outfits together. My closet is now full of mix-and-match outfits, I have learned how to dress myself, and there is no more stress in figuring out to wear. The private FB group is full of wonderful ladies that build each other up. It’s so fun and is seriously the best group on FB.
Kirstin Rasmussen November 20, 2019
Get Your Pretty On has changed my life, seriously. I have always chased what is trendy but found from season to season, that things go out of style and I was wasting money on items that I would only end up wearing a few times. GYPO has enabled me to simplify my closet, helps me make smarter purchasing decisions, and I feel so put together and confident using the outfit formulas that are provided. This program is a GAME CHANGER. I've been following GYPO for a few years now and my only regret is not jumping on board sooner.
Michelle Kline November 20, 2019
Great community of ladies, helping each other look stylish, without breaking the bank, and using much of what you already own.
Chosen Faith November 19, 2019
GYPO challenges have been one of the best things I have done! It had taught me so much more than just creating a closet of clothes that I love but also to have confidence in myself, how to pick and choose colors that work for me instead of against, and had given a wonderful community of Pretties who are so special.
Maraline Freeman October 16, 2019
I love GYPO!!! I finally feel put together and stylish! The shopping lists and outfit combinations make shopping and getting dressed effortless.
Krista Probst October 16, 2019
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