Deep Breath. How are you doing? Overwhelmed? Anxious? Depressed? … we were all those things before. This requires a new vocabulary.

I find that every time I see an article which references the toll this pandemic is taking on WOMEN, I stop in my tracks. I recently started wondering why I do this. Am I looking for validation of the facts that I already know? Or the situation I am currently living and already too familiar with? Or of the stories I am already hearing not just on tv, but in my own life from those close to me?

We don’t need a study to tell us what we already know. We are finding a way to make it work but only by the skin of our teeth. It’s hard. It’s grueling and it’s way past old. We’re living the previously unimaginable. And we’re bearing the brunt of it ladies. We’re juggling way too much on plates that already have HUGE cracks… whatever your situation.

There are days I feel it more than others. The gray overcomes me. The stress aches in my muscles. I have to fight like hell to stop the overwhelming anxiety from keeping me in bed. But I know I am not alone. You are not alone. We are all fighting right now.

Yet somehow we are still standing. We put one foot in front of the other and we keep going. And this is where I look every day for the inspiration I need to get through. Because I see you Ladies. I see you fighting through the exhaustion, the pain, the stress, the hurt… just get yourself and your families through another day.

You are amazing to me. And we don’t stop often enough to appreciate what we’ve accomplished in the face of what is currently unprecedented.

Stand tall ladies. We might be beat up but we’re still here. We have a resiliency that’s unmatched. We are strong, beautiful and determined. I see you.

I want to believe that we’re all in this together. Especially that we WOMEN can find an opportunity in this situation to care for each other in ways maybe we haven’t before. We’ve always needed to watch out for each other in a special way. Now we need each other more than ever. How can you help? If you’re in a position to do so, donate to your local food pantry. Show a little extra kindness to your child’s teacher… chances are her stress levels are a bit elevated as well. Notice a mom in your neighborhood struggling? Drop off a meal, a dessert, a bottle of wine… a simple kindness can go a long way. We can support each other even now… especially now.

So while I love fashion and dress up this pandemic has turned me towards the basics… the essentials I need to get through the day. Starting with coffee in the am and wine in the pm. But where my wardrobe is concerned, I’m living in loungewear. Loungewear can range from your workout leggings to a cozy worn in pair of jeans. Loungewear is whatever you are comfortable wearing while you sit around your house. Loungewear combines comfort with style. It reflects your personal style and should flatter your body type to make you feel great when you wear it. So even if you put it on to sit around your house, you can also wear it out… in public… to run your errands, get a coffee, shuttle around kids, go for a walk, go to your kid’s soccer game, pick up a bottle of tequila… ect.

Find a few “loungwear” suggestions below from Athleta. And remember to be kind to others and yourself as we continue to navigate through the haze. You are amazing.

What do you want your style to say about you this year? How do you want your style to make you feel? What changes do you want to make to your wardrobe to better flatter your body and your personality? Have you ever thought about your wardrobe in this way?

I would say that most of us don’t think about our wardrobe in a strategic way. But we should. How do you decide on what to buy and how to fill your closet? We should be choosing items that fit not only our bodies but also our lifestyles. We should be choosing items that compliment what we love about your current wardrobe. We should be donating items that sit in our closets unworn month after month.

When you start to think about your wardrobe in this way it can be both overwhelming and empowering. In order to feel more empowered than overwhelmed, try to think of it in steps. First steps are to clean out your closet and donate items you no longer use. Only keep what you love and what fits. Now look at what is left and make a list of what you need to fill out that wardrobe. Start with the very basics. What do you need for your everyday life? This answer will be different for everyone. Think about where you go, the places that you frequent, and what you need to wear to those places.

Perhaps you got hung up on the part where I mentioned “fit”. Perhaps you sped right by it but shouldn’t have. Let’s stop here for a moment. How do you define the right fit for your body? We need to be brutal when trying things on. Take a good look in the mirror. Are the seams hitting all the right places? Is the hem where it should be? What about the length? The right fit for your body should flatter your shape. And because everyone is shaped differently the clothes you try on will not fit you the same way they do the model… any model.

This is where it makes sense to focus your efforts first. You might be thinking… what comes next? Once you’ve got a handle on the basics, you can start thinking about colors, textures, patterns. What silhouettes and necklines flatter you most? What clothing gives you confidence and why? When you start to break down your wardrobe this way, it can actually make shopping and deciding what you wear in the morning, much easier.

So here is to a bright and bold new year! Make all your style goals now and let’s get started.

It’s hard to find styles that are universally flattering. In lieu of such, see some examples of simple silhouettes from J. Crew below to give you an idea of where to start.

We can do this... time to get comfortable

Set Your Style Goals for 2020