Hi, I'm Audra

A great wardrobe starts with a solid foundation, and there are few pieces more classic or versatile than those below. Investing a little more money into quality core items not only looks more polished, but will save you money in the long run. Well-made garments won’t wear out nearly as fast, and they don’t have to break the bank.

Shopping secondhand is one of the best ways to build your wardrobe sustainably, and often times you will end up with a more interesting and personalized closet than if you had gone to the same trendy fast fashion store everyone else shops at. However, shopping secondhand is not without it’s challenges. Not everyone has access to great thrift and consignment stores like those in major cities, so online is a great place to look!

Gone are the days where eco-conscious fashion was only shapeless hemp dresses. There are tons of amazing modern brands that create beautiful clothing with a lower environmental impact, have ethical production practices, and/or philanthropy programs to improve the communities around them! Below are 7 of my favorite labels to shop at. I hope you find some to connect with!

Sustainable fashion can mean many different things, but one of the most important is undeniably material composition. Synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon have become extremely popular in fast fashion because they’re cheap and versatile, but since these garments are created to be thrown away each season, they generate an incredible amount of textile waste. These types of fabrics are not able to biodegrade, and can even harm environments further by releasing microplastics. In 2018, 11 million tons of textile waste was put into landfills in the US alone, making up 7.7% of all consumer waste. While there’s no easy solution, taking a closer look at the tag before purchasing an item can significantly reduce the amount of synthetic (i.e. petroleum based) non-biodegradable fibers that we generate.

The fashion industry produces 10% of all humanity's carbon emissions and is the third most polluting industry, right behind fuel and agriculture. What’s more, clothing production has almost doubled since 2000, and being thrown away at a far faster rate. The equivalent of one garbage truck full of clothes is burned or dumped in a landfill every second. That needs to stop, and how do we do that? By ditching fast-fashion.

2020 has certainly been a crazy year, and undoubtedly one that has changed the way we dress. Office-attire and party shoes were abandoned for sweats and slippers, but with hope of a more-normal future in sight, we can once again look forward to getting dressed.

However, some elements of the way we’ve been dressing will carry forward into the future. A focus on comfort, ease, and versatility paired with the need to wear items that feel special and exciting will define the new year.

Read on for 7 essentials for your 2021 wardrobe:

The sale that only comes once a year is finally here, and if you’re in need of some retail therapy to calm election/pandemic anxiety, then there’s no better place to go! I typically use the Sephora Sale to stock up on my favorites at a discount, and to try out new items or shop for gifts! Use the code HOLIDAYFUN for a discount, depending on your member-status with Sephora

While wearing a mask daily may not be our first choice, there are now so many different options that using them as a fashion accessory is easy and fun! I have loved getting to match patterns and textures to my daily outfits, and they can be such an easy way to add a pop of color to basics! I’ve rounded up 12 of my favorite reasonably-priced masks, and I hope you’ll find a couple to make putting it on before heading out exciting instead of annoying.

We’re finally able to venture out of the house a bit more, and just in time for the summer heat! That means breaking out the summer sandals, and luckily, there are tons of cute options on sale right now! I’ve broken them down into Casual, for around the house and running errands, Updated, for a comfortable but elevated shoe to pair with shorts and a tee, and Dressy, for when you want to get a little more dressed up.

There is so much to see in New York that planning can be overwhelming! Every neighborhood has it’s own unique charm, and there are so many iconic locations to check out. However, there are a few tourist destinations that in my opinion, can be done without or done better. From a local, here are 12 tourist trap locations to avoid, and what to do instead:

By now you’ve probably blown through most of the new TV shows and baked more banana bread then you’ll see for the rest of your life, so why not mix things up and try a book? I’ve rounded up 10 of my favorite recent novels that are perfect for curling up on the couch with for a nice long quarantined day. Whether you’re in the mood for a murder mystery, a trip to Paris, or Downton Abbey-esque scandal, there’s definitely something in here for you.

Just because you don’t have access to a nail salon doesn’t mean your nails have to suffer. I started doing my own gel manicures at home over a year ago as a way to save money, and it’s surprisingly easy! All it takes is a little patience. Keep reading below for the exact tools I use and the tricks I’ve learned to make them perfect!