The Pink Suit

Back in June I had this brainwave that for my Master's ceremony I wanted to wear a pink silk suit. Not sure how I went from 0 to pink suit. Maybe all of those episodes of Dynasty my friend Liz has suffocated me with? So I started looking around for suits, and of course my girl Rachel Zoe was ahead of the trend 2 years ago in her 2017 resort collection with a killer pink suit. I managed to find these silk pants for $25 (originally retailing $295) and bought the blazer from a girl on IG for an amount larger than I originally intended, but still quite a bit cheaper than retail.

When I first bought these pants I was nervous because they were sheer and see through! My friend Maggie told me I just needed some shapewear so I bought some Assets from Spanx and they work pretty well! Shapewear is something I'm still learning about. They're definitely uncomfortable (how do the Real Housewives do it?) but slimming and removes lines.

I brought my Chanel bag out to play because this suit deserved it tbh!

I paired this suit with my favorite $2 sweater my friend Liz got me during undergrad. I'd also wear this suit with a turtleneck or a button up.

I am still on a hunt for some versatile and durable blouses to wear with this suit. I will get a lot of wear out of this blazer undoubtedly but the pants is where I struggle with finding alternative wears. Any ideas? Red, yellow, and a light pink blouse would be nice additions. I could also see myself rocking these pants with a neutral scarf over a monochromatic top.

I'm proud to say that this entire outfit minus my shapewear is sustainable! Everything was purchased secondhand. I feel like there is a stigma about purchasing clothes secondhand but this outfit is living proof that shopping secondhand can be stylish and great for your wallet + the environment. I'm reading a book right now called the Art of More for Less Savvy Chic. The author Anna Johnson has a great section about changing the food chain of fashion. This chapter really stood out to me because I am such a strong advocate for the slow fashion movement. "Stealth chic means wearing your labels on the inside and applying the same ethics for food, water, and shelter to clothes. If you are conscious, there is no such thing as a guilty pleasure when it comes to clothes or shopping. With a little sense you can buy a fair-trade cotton T-shirt and a pair of Manolos for less."

It feels so weird to be done with grad school. I have all this time to just hang out, exercise, read, and watch the West Wing. No deadlines (minus work), no lingering homework or projects or tests. I can finally relax, run errands, and feel normal for a bit. It feels like a wave of stress has been lifted off of my shoulders, but I know I'm going to miss it all. I'll miss the discussions, seeing my school friends, and learning so much. Yet, when a door closes a window opens and I'm curious to discover what that window might be.

Photos by Brooke Billings

Wearing: Blazer - Rachel Zoe  (sold out, but similar),  pants - Rachel Zoe (sold out, but similar) sweater - American Eagle, pant - Rachel Zoe (sold out, but similar),  shoes - Jessica Simpson

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