FINDING INSPIRATION IN THE LITTLE THINGS

I love a good shirt dress.  Always have.

-Shop The Post-

Photographed by Kate Robinson

I found this one on sale and immediately snagged it before it was gone.  I am wearing it with heels here, but it is the perfect casual look to pair with these oh-so-popular mules (budget friendly pair).

When we were downtown shooting this look it definitely took me back to my days working in the corporate world as a buyer.  For those of you who don’t know, I worked for Neiman Marcus and Gilt Groupe before focusing on HOUSE of HARPER full-time. Working in fashion your whole wardrobe is black (even in Dallas) and then when I moved to NYC for Gilt, the whole city dressed in black.  Despite my southern upbringing, this is definitely where I adopted my primarily neutral and understated style.

Honestly, it isn’t very often I find myself missing my old world.  Don’t get me wrong, I miss the people all the time.  But I don’t often miss getting dress to go to an office to work on someone else’s agenda and deadlines.  (Or the Monday Reports and the spreadsheets.  Oh, the spreadsheets.)  But on this day in downtown, wearing what I would wear on a typical day at my old job(s), I got a bit of nostalgia.  Nostalgia for the prestige that can come from working for a big institution such as Neiman Marcus or the hot new startup like Gilt Groupe.  Nostalgia for co-creating with some of the best in the industry, meeting with major brands on a weekly basis and just having that interaction that can keep you inspired and excited for what’s to come.

This day (and many other days of working from home) inspired me to set some time aside each week to make sure I am getting out of my bubble to have lunch with someone I admire and to actually attend one press invite a week.  I typically am of the mindset that I can’t possibly step away from my family or my daily responsibilities to get away for these ‘luxuries’, but I am beginning to realized how important they are to my productivity and creativity.

What keeps you inspired?  How to you prevent yourself from burnout?  I’d love to hear your thoughts!

outfit details: dress: VINCE | shoes: VINCE (old, similar) | bag: FENDI | watch: Michele

-Create The Look-