Friday Fashion Finds - WOMEN'S FALL BASICS

Click the links below to shop all my favorites!

Jumpstart Your FALL WARDROBE

Today I'm rounding up 5 of my favorite recent fall fashion purchases of basics in neutrals that are so great for layering, everyday! I call this my Fall Capsule Wardrobe.

What is the point of a capsule wardrobe?

The purpose behind a capsule wardrobe is to maintain a collection of essential and classic pieces in your closet that can be mixed and matched over time. It is a practice of personalizing your wardrobe with items you love and that fit your lifestyle but on a scale of 30-40 pieces.

Simply put, a capsule wardrobe is a limited selection of interchangeable clothing pieces that complement each other. Consider this my mini introduction with these 5 basics below!

VINCE

Cabria Lug Combat Boot

https://amzn.to/3xuv4P1

(more colors available)

Amazon

Casual Plaid Jacket in Beige

https://amzn.to/3xuIPgL

(more colors available)

ANINE BING

Saffron Canvas Oversized Bag

https://amzn.to/3LmEh1p

AMAZON

2 Piece

Long Sleeve Waffle Lounge Set (Green)

https://amzn.to/3RSjIML

(more colors available)

Amazon

Long Sleeve Button Down Cardigan Dress

(Deep Camel)

https://amzn.to/3Sf8MZH

(more colors available)

Where I was on September 11, 2001

During my college years, I worked as a receptionist at Morgan Stanley in New Jersey. Naturally, my job mainly consisted of answering & transferring calls. I had a big television across my desk where the news would flood in all day long.

On September 11, 2001 at 8:14 am, about 14 minutes after sitting at my desk, the world was never the same. I looked up at the t.v. as they showed a plane crashing into the buildings - was it a horrific accident? Did something go wrong with the plane & it accidentally crashed into the building? This must be from a plane malfunction....My co-workers starting filtering around the lobby area where the t.v. was in front of my desk.

My heart felt like it was beating out of my chest. I texted my brother, Anthony immediately as he worked in New York at the time. He was not in the city & just happened to be sick that day. I ran to the bathroom & for a few minutes straight cried in relief....eventually returning to my desk.

Because Morgan Stanley had an office in one of the World Trade Center buildings, phones starting ringing and ringing and ringing - I picked up my phone and I can still hear the voices of husbands & wifes, mothers & fathers, daughters & sons asking me to connect them to their loved ones in the building.

When I answered the first call, I think I must have disassociated out of shock. I spoke almost robotic-like saying, "Yes, of course let me see what I can do to connect you...Don't worry, your husband, wife, mother, father, daughter or son is probably trying to leave the building to safety. Don't worry. It's going to be okay."

I tried to connect them to their loved ones. I could not. The phones were down everywhere. The land lines inside the World Trade Center, cell phones - everywhere was a busy signal. You could not connect with anyone throughout the city.

....I have a lot of PTSD from that horrific day. The voices of loved ones trying to connect to their family one last time during a terrorist attack. It makes me think of everywhere else this is happening all over the world today in 2022.

My whole body was shaking with each call that came in....I finally broke down in tears from holding in all my emotions and the horrifying reality of what was actually happening. Everything started to become a blur & sound became muffled. I just remember my boss telling me that we were going to close the office early at some point but that I should just go home.

I can't quite explain the extreme sadness I felt that day and still feel from it all - it's a different kind of sadness that I just can't quite put my finger on...It's like you are close but not close enough to help. You hear the voices asking you for help and you cannot. I know it was out of my hands with the phones being down, but I felt like I had the hearts of these families in my hands. I felt like I was there with them trying to reach a loved one during a nightmare that you cannot wake up from.

Years later, I moved to Malibu, California and every year Pepperdine University would put out flags all across the entire front lawn to remember & honor those that were murdered that day. The flags go on for what seems like forever....I can still picture what it looks like right now. I can picture the families visiting & sitting on the lawn paying their respects & remembering loved ones. I remember passing by on my drive to work along Pacific Coast Highway, trying to focus on the road and then pulling my car over to break down in tears before heading into work that morning and continue my day as "normal" as possible.

I will forever hold all the beautiful souls that became angels that day in my heart forever. To the families & friends who are missing a loved one, I'm holding you in my heart forever as well.

This week, I'll be sharing a post about grief that I'm in the middle of writing, so until then, hug your loved ones, say what you need to say, make time for one another, don't hold grudges and remember that everyday is a gift.

Peace & Love,

Nicole

Friday Fashion Finds - WOMEN'S SWIMWEAR

Click the links below to shop all my favorites!

Today I'm rounding up some of my favorite recent swimwear fits. There is something so classic and flattering about a one piece! I love the eternal chicness of the "Sydney" belted one piece by Beach Riot and the "Cha Cha" one piece by L*Space

I also love me a neutral color palette and the Hunza G. "Xandra" two piece bikini set above totally fits the bill!

When I came across the pink and sherbert 80's throwback zip front one piece by Body Glove above, there was no doubt in my mind that I needed to add it to my swim collection. The colors just make me so happy and nostalgic for a brand that has been around for over 60 years!

Rounding out my Top 5 is another fit by Body Glove - the long sleeve paddle one piece with an added bonus being that the material is UPF 50+ which means that sun protective clothing is clothing specifically designed for sun protection and is produced from a fabric rated for its level of ultraviolet protection. The higher the UPF rating, the greater the protection it offers. For example, UPF 50 allows only 1/50th of the sun's UV radiation to reach the skin. There are three categories for labeling UPF garments. Good is 15-24%, Very Good is 25-39%, and Excellent is 40-50+%.

Beach Riot

"Sydney" Belted One Piece

https://amzn.to/3AMK4bK

Body Glove

80's Throwback Zip Front One Piece Swimsuit

https://amzn.to/3wSzwH4

Hunza G

"Xandra" 2 Piece Bikini Set

https://amzn.to/3KG6Zu3

Body Glove

Long Sleeve Paddle One Piece Swimsuit with UPF 50+

https://amzn.to/3cFzwDk

L*Space

"Cha Cha" One Piece

https://amzn.to/3wUiNmO