“My husband teases me that I’m scared of trying ‘schlumpy,’” my good friend Alison Piepmeyer informed me, which is humorous as a result of she at all times seems so polished and brilliant. Right here, the advertising exec and mom of two shares her secrets and techniques, together with the perfect balloon pants, thrifting hacks and her stunning recommendation on grieving…

Costume: SZ Blockprints. Mary Janes: Amazon. Clutch: Clare V., out there second-hand. Earrings: Mejuri, related. Coronary heart necklace: Catbird. Nail coloration: Huge Apple Pink by Opi. Lipstick: NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in By no means Say By no means (“I get breakouts, so it’s the one lipstick I can use as a result of it doesn’t have wax”).

“I work at Shade Manufacturing unit, and I really feel like a part of my job as CMO is to look the half. For that purpose, a piece of my wardrobe may be very brilliant and completely happy. I like a maxi costume, and I like stripes, so once I noticed this costume, it was a match. I’ll put on once I’m giving a tour at work or assembly with buyers, and I’ll put on it on date nights with my husband.”

“Actually, I’m a really phase-y particular person with my wardrobe. After we lived in San Francisco, I known as my fashion ‘French Fisherman’ and wore beanies and canvas pants. Then there was a season once I traveled to Tokyo, obtained into Japanese fashion and purchased all my garments from Muji. These days, I’m impressed by Sienna Miller‘s minimal fashion and Meg Ryan’s ’90s seems.”

Shirt: Mille, bought out, related. Overalls: Levi’s. Sandals: Birkenstocks. Hoops: Mejuri. Nail coloration: Huge Apple Pink by Opi. Lipstick: NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in By no means Say By no means.

“Once I was pregnant with my daughter, who’s now eight months previous, I wore overalls on a regular basis. Should you’re working errands however need to really feel attention-grabbing, right here’s your outfit. And I at all times put on ruffled shirts beneath; I like that distinction between delicate issues and workhorse denim.”

“With my hair, I’ve experimented with each coloration and size — once I obtained married, it was all the way down to my waist; proper after our marriage ceremony, I obtained a pixie. However 5 years in the past, I lastly discovered a minimize that seems like me. Once I go to a brand new stylist, I’ll present them a Pinterest board with a bunch of images of the identical haircut. Once I confirmed my new Brooklyn stylist, he was like, yeah, I obtained it, you loopy nutso girl!”

Shirt: classic, related. T-shirt: Uniqlo. Pants: COS, related. Sneakers: Veja. Baseball cap: Amazon. Necklace: Catbird. Bracelet: Banana Republic. Nail coloration: Huge Apple Pink by Opi. Lipstick: NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in By no means Say By no means.

“Seventy-five % of my garments are from shops, and 25% are thrifted. At thrift shops, I’ll look just for denim or cotton or linen, versus artificial fibers. In any other case you will get caught within the retailer eternally. I additionally like the lads’s sections as a result of they’re much less picked over — I discovered this outsized males’s chambray shirt for like $4.”

“For normal shops, Alex Mill makes cute classics. I flip to COS for sculptural shapes, just like the balloon-y pants I’m carrying right here. And all my fundamentals are from Uniqlo as a result of their stuff lasts eternally.”

Blazer: Everlane, bought out, related. Shirt: Uniqlo. Pants: Uniqlo. Sneakers: Sézane, related. Bag: Clare V. Lipstick: NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in By no means Say By no means.

“My dad died all of the sudden this previous June. That night time is seared into my reminiscence as a result of I used to be excited — my brother had simply come over, and we have been going to have fun his birthday with burgers and an enormous bottle of Champagne. The sky was a vivid blue. My husband had the stereo exterior taking part in this French radio station he’s obsessive about known as FIP. Our children have been sitting on a playmat. Then I obtained a name from my mother, and she or he stated, it’s not trying good. In that second, so many bizarre issues undergo your thoughts. I used to be supposed to go away on a enterprise journey the subsequent day, and I instantly was like, who’s going to run that enterprise journey?”

“I grew to become the defacto one who was connecting all of the members of the family. I used to be very calm. Nothing felt actual, it felt like I used to be in a film. The primary time I cried was a number of hours later when my mother went to the hospital and so they pronounced him lifeless. Then I used to be like, wait, what? Since then, it’s been this surreal summer season. Small issues will set me off and I’ll cry. And different occasions life feels completely regular. After which I hate that it’s regular. His dying nonetheless doesn’t make sense to me. I’ve talked to different individuals who’ve misplaced their dad and mom and so they stated they felt numb. I’ve two little youngsters who want my consideration on a regular basis and a demanding job, so I compartmentalize. And now that it’s fall, my son goes again to high school, and work is calming down, and in some methods I’m nervous — what’s going to that imply once I can come up for air? Will I lose it?”

“My four-year-old son Linus tells EVERYONE. His dialog starter on the playground is, ‘My grandpa died!’ However I get it. When somebody asks me how my summer season was, I can’t assist saying, ‘Effectively, my dad died in June.’ It makes me really feel higher getting it on the market. It’s like a mosquito chew that you just need to scratch — it hurts nevertheless it feels good. It’s a ache that I would like. It hurts so good, is that the phrase?”

Shirt: Alex Mill (“I fold the cuffs the best way Jenna Lyons does on this YouTube video“). Pants: Muji, bought out, related. Loafers: Deliberately Clean. Hoops: Mejuri. Sun shades: Warby Parker. Nail coloration: Huge Apple Pink by Opi. Lipstick: NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in By no means Say By no means.

“Issues that make me really feel higher: Abbott Elementary is so cute and effectively performed. My son loves Harry Kinds, so we take heed to his songs combined with spooky Halloween music. And also you simply need to get up and dress and go exterior. Then I like when folks give me an enormous hug and say, ‘I’m so sorry, this sucks, I like you, and I’m right here.’”

P.S. Extra girls share their weeks of outfits, together with a bike-riding dietician and a color-loving architect.

(Images by Christine Han for Cup of Jo.)

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