Month: June 2019

Welcome to “I Tried It” Week. From our editor in chief purging over 19 shoes from her closet to our assistant editor dressing exclusively in vintage, follow along this week as the Who What Wear editors take on personal wardrobe challenges and document the process along the way.

I would like to preface this by admitting that this whole story is honestly embarrassing for me to write. I first downloaded Instagram back in 2010 before everyone else was doing it (not a flex, just the truth). Back then, Instagram was so different. You didn’t really have “friends” to follow; you just had the small pool of other people who were posting artsy pictures that weren’t important enough to have taken with a real camera. At first, I did not understand what the app was for at all. I remember thinking, why would anyone post a photo here where no one will see it versus on Facebook where you can get validated by all your friends? My best friend had to explain the intention of 2010 Instagram to me, and she was the one who ultimately convinced me to get it.

Fast-forward to 2019, and I am now fully addicted to the app. Not to make snap judgments, but I feel comfortable saying most other people are too. Throw in the fact that I’m a fashion editor and a large portion of my job deals with the sartorial side of Instagram, and before you know it, I’m basically on the app all day every day. It was time for a break. Deleting the app was something I had been thinking about for a long time. I hated how much time I was spending on it, I hated how it was clearly affecting my mindset about outfits and experiences, and I really hated how it was affecting certain relationships in my life. Writing a story about my experience sans Instagram was just the excuse I needed to finally pull the plug.

I didn’t do a dramatic post telling everyone I was deleting it because I felt like that kind of defeated the purpose, relationally at least. I told my closest friends and my family so that they didn’t think I died or something, but besides that, I just simply deleted the app from my phone and went from there. So far, I have been without Instagram for a week straight. I used this past week to really reflect on how my day to day has changed without mindlessly scrolling on the app. Beyond spending significantly less time on my phone (which I have loved, by the way), not having Instagram has impacted my overall style choices in more ways than one—five, to be exact. Some of the realizations are more difficult to admit than others, but hey, I’m all for transparency these days.

Ahead, read all about the five style realizations I experienced when I deleted Instagram for the first time in nine years. Did I download the app immediately after my one-week stint was up? Duh. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t learn a lot along the way.

As I mentioned before, my job frequently involves taking photos of my outfits. I will admit this is actually my least favorite part of my job, but I do it anyway to either better inform stories or to support the brands I love. Because of this, getting dressed each day felt like a bit of a chore. It wasn’t until deleting Instagram that I realized I was choosing pieces I thought would look good in a photo over the pieces that I actually felt comfortable in. When I say comfortable, I don’t mean hoodies and leggings. I mean things that make me feel like the true me. That’s a hard thing to admit, especially since I pride myself on my confidence and not giving a crap about what people think about me, but I discovered this week that I care a lot more than I realized. 

Without the app, my outfit choice for the day was solely determined by my mood and the weather. Removing any pressure I was putting on myself to look some type of way for other people freed me up to be more in touch with what I was actually feeling. It was really nice. 

To piggyback off of the previous realization, that pressure I felt to have an Instagram-worthy outfit day in and day out resulted in me spending way too much time getting ready in the mornings. I am not a morning person as it is, so believe me when I say I need all the time I can get when it comes to prepping in the a.m. Ever since this Instagram break, I have found that my mornings are much more enjoyable, and that doesn’t just include the time I spend ideating outfits. Upon waking up, I don’t have this unnecessary urge to check Instagram right as my eyeballs are still opening. I don’t re-check the app before I put on my makeup or again before I walk out the door. If I’m being honest, I probably used to waste 15 to 20 minutes every morning dillydallying on Instagram. I don’t know about you, but I would much rather spend that time sleeping. 

I have a lot of stuff—like a lot. Not just because of what my job entails but also because I’ve always been a too-much-stuff kind of a girl. Clearly, I love Instagram, but the app is designed to give you FOMO—FOMO on experiences and products. I’m less of a FOMO freak when it comes to experiences (I’m honestly kind of a loner), but in the shopping realm, I definitely fear what will happen if I don’t own the newest Ganni cowboy boots. It’s a sickness. 

I really was. I would scroll through Instagram saving and liking photos up the wazoo ultimately with the intention to purchase in the very near future. It’s hard to not want to buy the newest By Far shoes when you open Instagram and see five of your favorite influencers styling them in the sickest ways. But I realized that I was letting Instagram dictate an embarrassing amount of my purchases. Did I really want those By Far shoes? Or had I just seen them so many times on my Instagram feed that I was somehow convinced to feel like buying them was absolutely necessary?

I absolutely love wearing new things, but contrary to most people (I would assume), I love wearing new things because I enjoy supporting my favorite brands, especially on Instagram. So yes, maybe I am stoked to wear my new Cinco anklets because they are chic as hell, but I also love wearing them because sharing the brand with my followers brings me just as much joy as the items themselves. Without that ability, I felt a tad less excited to don my latest purchases, but that didn’t mean I loved them any less. Does that make sense? 

In conclusion, I actually loved not having Instagram this week. It was challenging, but taking a break from it was something I realized I really needed. Moving forward, I plan on being more mindful with my intentions while scrolling on the app, but overall, I will admit that I am excited to download it once again tomorrow. See ya on the ‘gram! 

Welcome to #WhoWhatWearing, a series in which we highlight you, our stylish community of readers. Each of the following looks came straight from a photo you tagged us in on Instagram. Want to be featured next time? You guessed it: Use #WhoWhatWearing on the outfit posts you want us to see.

Personal truth: I’m a creature of habit. Once I find something I like, I tend to continue to gravitate toward it over and over again without realizing. This rings especially true for my Instagram saved collections—I find myself repeatedly saving the same pieces from multiple accounts. The saddest part is I don’t even notice I do this until I take a look back at my recent saved posts and they all look eerily alike.

I noticed this phenomenon happening with all of my latest shoe photos. Each one of my many saves features the same five summer shoe trends, which tells me that I’m really into them, and they’re everywhere. From strappy ’90s sandals to nouveau flip-flops, below are five of summer 2019’s biggest shoe trends. Keep scrolling to see my favorite posts and shop these trends for yourself.

This year’s most flattering shoe trend is still going strong. Nicknamed the “floss heel“, these strappy sandals give a nod to the ’90s with barely there details. They pair well with everything, and as an added bonus, make your legs look instantly longer. 

Blame Chanel, but summer 2019 is all about slides. Not only are these the most comfortable sandal style, they also go with virtually any outfit combination you can think of. 

Sandals with unique toe detailing are all over the internet right now—and are actually surprisingly comfortable. I love the way this style pairs with skirts and dresses for summer. 

Heeled flip-flops are a thing, people! Don’t hate the messenger but this is one polarizing trend I’ll admit I’m super into. When it’s paired with vintage denim, I really can’t think of anything else I’d rather wear right now. 

The sneaker trend is still going strong (I mean, was it ever not?), and fashion people are pairing them with everything from dresses to pantsuits to midi skirts right now. 

Ready to show us your looks? Tag @WhoWhatWear on Instagram and use #WhoWhatWearing for a chance to see them end up here!

Next up: The 21 pretty summer dresses I’m buying because of our readers.

To put it simply, giving birth is no easy feat. But once you’ve already gone through the process of pregnancy—and the maternity clothes that come with it—it’s time to focus on spending as much time as you need with your newborn bundle of joy. But with that in mind, you were just carrying your baby for nine months. Needless to say, your body has gone through a series of drastic changes in a seemingly short amount of time, and your postpartum period is no different.

As you adjust your life to the newest addition to your family, there’s a good chance you’ll be spending the new handful of months in your most comfortable clothes yet (hello, pajamas and loungewear!). But for the moments when you want to give yourself a little more lift, it doesn’t hurt to have some postpartum shapewear for added support.

Whether you want a bodysuit to wear under a sleek dress or a pair of tummy control panties or shorts for your favorite jeans, there are plenty of shapewear pieces to suit your post-pregnancy sartorial needs. Scroll down to see them below. 

Tummy-control underwear is the easiest way to give your postpartum middle section an extra lift, no matter what you decide to wear. Look for those high-waist silhouettes. If you want ultimate comfort, opt for seamless styles.

Waist wraps and bands are perfect for new mothers looking for additional support to their everyday ensembles. Pair them with other shapewear options, such as shorts or a bodysuit.

Anything with extensive tummy-control is a great option for new moms. And if you decide to wear a skirt and want extra coverage, these are the perfect styles to own.

For those of you who prefer something that gives you control for all areas of your torso, opt for a shaping tank top or bodysuit. Just be sure to go for styles that help make nursing easier.

Now, see the most comfortable wedges you can wear all day long.

Summer is an exquisite season for many reasons. It’s warm and sunny, everyone’s in a pleasant mood, vacations are booked, and wardrobes are light and airy. On top of all of that, it also happens to be a season when a ton of crazy-good sales go down, which means adding to your collection of breezy separates and stocking up on sweaters and such for autumn is an affordable and stylish affair.

Right now, we have our eye on a slew of markdowns from some of our favorite brands. There are floral dresses from Reformation, designer heels from the likes of Rejina Pyo and Cult Gaia, gorgeous straw bags from artisanal labels like Alienina and Nannacay, and so much more. In other words, if you love fashion and love getting it at a budget-friendly price, it’s time to act fast. Continue ahead to shop these amazing sale finds before they’re gone for good.

Up next: How to shop the Zara summer sale according to your personal style.

A pretty quick way to know if you’re dressing well for the office is to consider what your career idol wears and compare your wardrobe to theirs. Don’t worry, you don’t have to invest the same amount of money in your closet as they might, but rather, think of these powerhouses as your own personal professional dressing gurus whenever you’re putting together a 9-to-5 look.

Take, for instance, Anna Wintour. Vogue‘s editor in chief dresses for the job she has. She’s a powerful, creative businessperson who always looks polished and professional, yet somehow her style doesn’t feel stale. Rather, it feels bold and exciting. This is in huge part thanks to the fact that she’s cultivated a personal aesthetic that works for her everyday look. From her staple sunglasses to boldly printed dresses to statement necklaces that typically adorn her neckline, she’s got it nailed down.

Whether or not you work in the fashion industry, it’s safe to say that most of us would enjoy getting a few style tips for the office from this mogul. So why not settle for the second best thing and see which budget-friendly pieces from Topshop, Zara, and Mango she’d pick for your boardroom look? Continue ahead to find out what they are and shop the picks that’ll reinvigorate your work week.

It’s no secret that Wintour’s accessory of choice is that of the statement bauble. That’s why a bold jewelry piece should be in your office rotation; it elevates even the simplest of staples from a button-down shirt to a sheath dress.

If you’ve followed Wintour’s style advice over the years, then you already know she’s a huge advocate for wearing color, which is why we suspect she’d be in favor of your 9-to-5 wardrobe being chock-full of them.

Wintour is rarely seen not in a boldly printed piece, and that’s why a floral dress ought to be in your office repertoire right now.

Though Wintour is usually in a pair of heels, she’s rarely wearing a pair that feel too high or uncomfortable. 

When in doubt, a matching set by way of a skirt suit or something in a similar vein is a smart choice for the office.

Up Next: Anna Wintour discussed the five basics everyone should own.