January 1st

Happy new year to you! This NYE year I relieved myself of any expectations to celebrate, as I’m usually fretting about going somewhere or gathering a get together. Gemma is still getting over being sick, so we had a little park date, grabbed a burger and called it New Year’s Eve. I was in bed by 11 and awake by midnight because everyone has figured out that the park behind our house is only patrolled by police BEFORE midnight on NYE. After 11, you’re good to blow your illegal fireworks to your little heart’s desire. Brave to do it within city limits, bold to do it on city property. Bryan slept through it, Gemma slept through it, the dogs slept through it and I counted every boom and wondered who funded that hour-long show, that was more sound than visual effects, in this economy. A good time was had by all.

Along with your feedback, I’ve been wanting to make changes around here. I would love if time could actually stop so I could really figure things out, but alas it’s already a new year and new content is calling my name. I’m actually writing a long post (of course I am) about everything I’m thinking about changing but in the meantime I wanted to start a new challenge for myself this month.  You see I took last week off, well, really I took the week before, too. It’s been a mental break / holiday break / I just like hanging with my kid. I’ve been in what I call ‘give up’ clothes for everyday of the last two weeks except for a few hours on Christmas when I borrowed an outfit from my December capsule. So let me explain this ‘give up’ outfit I’ve spent weeks perfecting; it could be leggings, sweatpants, joggers with the biggest sweater, sweatshirt, hoodie or t-shirt I own. Sometimes all the things join in and create a really gorgeous combination. The thing about my give up clothes is that I don’t have to look into the mirror because I KNOW I look good and I definitely wore it yesterday so I know it works. You too can wear this ‘give up’ outfit! And the best part is, if you choose to leave your house, you can wear sneakers, Uggs, house shoes, it literally doesn’t matter because ALL footwear goes with give up clothes. The best part is absolutely no one will look at you or talk to you when you are in public in your give up clothes. It’s like an invisibility shield.  But as I was on my 12th day and 8th give up outfit, I was thinking… ‘you know kendi, this looks a lot like depression.’ To be clear, I am not going through depression right now. No, no this isn’t chemical issue, but more of an aesthetic issue and I thought I need to change this as I don’t want my brain chemistry to get any ideas for 2024.

I thought to myself: you need to get dressed and with the new year coming around, I realized I could make it a challenge! Like a good OG blogger would. So I am going to challenge myself to get dressed every single day, photograph it and put it on here. Now this might not seem like a ‘challenge’ to you because I am, after all a style blogger and this is what I have been doing here for the last 14 years. I get it — it’s not novel or new but it is different. The past few years I’ve lost myself I fear in the influencer race so actually getting dressed for myself, not for an algorithm, or even commissions, not for anything but myself is kind of foreign to me.  Which wild enough this was actually in a lot of the feedback I received — you guys requested to see what am I ACTUALLY wearing vs. what I wear on the blog. I found that so interesting that you wanted to know my actual everyday outfits. But truth be told, I fear they are boring but I suppose we will see. So this is my January challenge to myself: a real outfit a day here on the blog. January 1 – January 31st. No fancy photo shoot needed, but a tripod + camera doing the trick. (I mean I can do a photoshoot but I figured a tripod in my hallway was the easiest set up I could do for a challenge!) No thoughts on if it looks ‘internet perfect’, just an actual outfit I would wear and honestly it has been a minute since I’ve thought about my own style with no string attached.

So January 1st outfit is here so, let’s review. This is an outfit that I would wear a lot, especially in the winter. A sweatshirt, my Lulu leggings — yep, this is my go-to. However, I must point out this challenge was actually to get me OUT of leggings and here I am first day …in leggings. But hear me out: I am trying to get all of my steps in this month (as another challenge for myself) and so my main January goals today were to get this post up and go for a long walk. Leggings make the most sense for the gym and I don’t want to change twice, that feels inaccurate to what I’m actually going to wear today. Plus I was starting down the path in my closet of…what would look best on the internet instead of what I am actually going to wear today. So my friends, I present to you this possibly boring but very real outfit for today. My favorite sweatshirt, leggings, slick back bun, light jewelry and my backpack because I wanted to write a little bit today at a cofee shop after my walk.

I’ve realized one thing though — if dressing like a college basketball coach is an aesthetic you’ve been looking to achieve, I’ve got you.

See you tomorrow friends.