Lately, I’ve been doing my best to settle into a rhythm with Pippa, but most days she has other plans. :) She’s not on a set schedule yet, so I’m trying to make the most of the time I have while she’s napping. I’m currently typing this while watching her on the monitor half-sleeping, half-waking up!
One thing that helps me differentiate one day from the next (or day from night) is actually getting dressed in the morning, even if that’s putting on a different pair of sweatpants. I’ve been loving these and these that I bought while pregnant and after a summer of not wearing them, they feel new again. I also recently bought this pair of denim overalls. Since I’m not back to my regular pants size and not ready to purchase pants in a size or two up (I’m just not sure what my body will do over the next few months), I thought overalls would be a great addition to my closet. Denim without a waistband! :)
I’ve also been loving these Raw Generation juices. It’s such an easy way to get veggies. They sent me their set of 18 juices. You can do it as a 3-day cleanse, but I’ve been having one a day as a little boost to my nutrition and make sure I’m getting some veggies. They’re incredibly easy to keep on hand: you store them in the freezer and move a couple to the refrigerator the day before you want to drink them. I’ve had all of them, and other than the “tarte greens,” which is just a little too green tasting for me, they are really delicious.
A couple other little things that have been making me happy lately: these red sunglasses and these gorgeous hand towels. Probably for the better part of my entire adulthood, I’ve wanted red glasses (regular or sun), and have just never found any that I like or fit me well. These are perfection!
I recently ordered two hand towels from Autumn Solana, one for our kitchen and one for our bathroom. The colors and patterns were what initially caught my eye, but what convinced me to buy them was that they're easy to clean and don't feel like something I have to be precious about. We have a couple of gorgeous kitchen towels that have been ruined because they’re hand wash only, so I love having these as a more practical option.
And speaking of color...
I’ve been thinking a lot about brown.
Brown has always been one of my favorite colors to wear and design around, which probably explains why I’ve made so many brown bags at ABBY ALLEY over the years.
Our current lineup includes: Latte, Miel, Cognac, Mocha, Chocolate, and Espresso. I don't think of them as variations on the same color so much as six different neutrals that happen to belong to the same family. Each one does something a little different.
Over the years doing shows and events I’ve heard a lot of commentary on brown. It seems brown can be polarizing - some people love it and some people are stumped by how to wear it. I think the key is finding the right brown for you that works with the other colors you love to wear.
Do you like your browns deep and tonal, or do you want a little contrast? Are you drawn to warm cognac and camel, or rich chocolate and espresso? Do you like brown with cream, denim, black, or something unexpected?
Rather than try to answer all of that for you, I thought it would be more fun to make a quiz.
Consider this your very unofficial, completely unscientific Brown Personality Test. Think 1990s Teen Magazine, but instead of finding out which Friends character you are, we’re figuring out what you’re drawn to and ultimately how to wear brown in a way that feels like you.
Don’t overthink it. Just pick the outfit you’d reach for.
This or That: What’s Your Brown Personality?
1. You’re getting dressed for a fall Saturday. Which outfit would you rather wear?
A. Cream jeans + chocolate sweater + brown bag
B. Dark denim + camel sweater + brown shoes
2. You’re wearing your favorite brown bag. What are you pairing it with?
A. Blue jeans + a white shirt
B. Black trousers + a black sweater
3. You want to add a little color to an otherwise neutral outfit. Which combination feels more like you?
A. Brown + powder blue
B. Brown + tomato red
4. You’re wearing brown from head to toe. What sounds better?
A. Different shades of brown, mixed together
B. One brown shade repeated throughout
5. You’re choosing a brown trench. Which one do you grab?
A. Khaki
B. Chocolate
6. You’re wearing denim and a button up and a brown bag. Which texture do you gravitate towards?
A. Suede
B. Croco
So, How Do You Actually Wear Browns?
The quiz is obviously not to be taken too seriously. It’s really just an excuse to look at the little decisions we make when we’re getting dressed.
But looking at all of those combinations together got me thinking about why some of these pairings work so well, and why mixing browns or finding the right brown can be tricky.
When putting an outfit together and thinking about color, consider three things: tone, temperature, and texture.
I get into these three Ts more below and why certain combinations work and don’t work (for paid subscribers), but before we get to that, if you’ve been convinced to add some brown to your wardrobe, I’ve rounded up the best 60+ pieces of what I’ve seen on the market here.
