ThingsAmongMany

Every few months I hit a familiar realization: it’s time for my wardrobe to grow up a little. Then, of course, I try to go shopping and I realize that I can’t quite afford to make that happen (or maybe I just don’t know how on a reasonable budget). But I’m trying to learn. A recent mom-fueled trip to one of the uptown dept. stores left my wardrobe a bit better stocked and a slightly updated (thanks ma!), which, in turn, brought about those old feelings. Only this time – and I don’t know exactly what was different – there was a bit more fire involved.

Since then, I’ve been rethinking my purchase habits and poring over some online resources. The Sartorialist, in particular, has been a source of vast inspiration and insight. Of course, part of “figuring it all out” involves determining where your personal style falls – something I’m still, in many regards, working to determine for myself. It’s a little easier being in NYC where there’s endless sources of inspiration wherever you turn and plenty of opportunities to shop if you can stomach it.

The trend that seems to be overtaking the streets today of combining a bit of vintage with a bit of modern is also eye-opening – it seems to fit my comfort zone (or interest zone) rather nicely. Take the blog Nerd Boyfriend for example. They do a fantastic job of taking a classic photo and dissecting the look to share up-to-date sources for the pieces involved. And suddenly I can’t help but thinking back to my grandfather - I have this image of him indelibly etched into my brain – sitting in the corner of the wood-paneled TV room of the house that my mother grew up in wearing a classic blue oxford shirt and a pair of khaki pants with his thick-rimmed glasses on and yellow paisley tie tossed aside.

Then, of course, there’s a few spots that have been almost-daily reads for quite sometime, but for some reason have just set in as points of true inspiration. I’m talking about resources (some digital, some real-world) like Valet, Secret Forts, A Continuous Lean, Billykirk (who’s founders Chris and Kirk Bray couldn’t be more awesome), and Billy Reid (who’s windows I’m forced to walk past on a near-daily basis as POKE is just a few doors down).

I’m sure I’m forgetting some, but I digress. There is a question in all this. Where are some of your favorite places to supplement your wardrobe without going broke (or feeling tired of an item a few months down the road)? Any hidden gems you’d like to share?