Monday Morning Shoutout To A Really Fabulous Shirt Dress.

Taking Size Out of the Conversation with Universal Standard.

xxx

Ok this dress. It’s Universal Standard. The color and feel of the fabric, a style that I can easily wear all year long, details like hidden snaps between the buttons on the chest - hello no gaping, genius! - it has me dancing in public, much to my 11yr olds dismay. 

And I LOVE that the dress is available in sizes 00-40. 

I’m always telling people to wear what brings them joy but I’m embarrassed to admit I never thought about not having access to great design. Universal standard is working to make sizes 00-40 just that - the industry standard. And in their commitment they have not compromised design or quality one single bit, I’d say they’ve even raised the design bar. Let’s take size out of the conversation and make great clothes for all women. 

Bonus bonus bonus is their Fit Liberty - buy from their Core Collection now and wear it now. Feel fabulous now. And if your size changes in the next year - exchange for your new size free of charge, and Universal Standard will donate the used items to charities such as Dress for Success. 

Use code thekirstyfiles-xusp for 20% off your entire purchase till Oct 3rd. 

dress - Universal Standard (gifted)

boots - Vintage, Seattle Goodwill Glitter Sale Score!

bag - Find it at my shop! Queen Anne Frame

necklace - all at my shop.

belt - oldie.

You can also visit a Universal Standard 1:1 space for shopping, styling, perhaps a glass of bubbly and community.  

best,

Kirsty

Intentionally Shopping.

Staying on my resolution theme....

This year, I want to wear outfits that bring me joy, head to toe happy - is that possible?  I'm gonna try.  This outfit is a great start.  From my hat to my heels to my handbag I love it.  I feel like I have super powers.  I totally admit fashion therapy is a thing for me.

And I want to shop with intention.  If I think about my favorite pieces from the last year, and well always, they all have great stories behind them.

Like those Marc Jacobs shoes I scored for 85% off that I crawled on my hands and knees, through a crowd, 10 weeks pregnant, to find in my size.  Wow what a cure for morning sickness.  Those stories are great.

But also the stories with heart behind the companies.  Like this beautiful handbag, the best deep eggplant color and such an easy shape, that doesn't weigh a ton to begin with, because it definitely does after I mom bag it out.  The handbag is made by Jo, I originally discovered this brand at the shop across the street from my shop, Nat & Sus, a store wonderfully curated with natural and sustainable clothing and accessories.  Jo bags are unique and simply showstoppers, made with sustainably sourced leather and dedication to minimal waste.  Love that.  Their pieces are meant only to get better with age.  Really love that.

If only we all could adopt this mantra, only getting better with age.  Wait, why haven't we??

I'm writing this on my bathroom mirror tomorrow.

shirt - Nation LTD c/o

pants - Frye on sale

boots - Frye 

handbag - Jo Handbags c/o.  find locally at Nat & Sus

necklaces available at Queen Anne Frame

hat - Brixton

Carrying forward into 2019 wearing what I love and shopping more with intention, and getting better with age - I really like this plan.  Good thing I have this blog to catalog my favorite outfits.  What are the favorite pieces in your closet and why?  I wanna know.

thank you for reading.

best
Kirsty

photos by Sarah.

Less Talk, More Action.

 Well it's been a LONG time since we've done a 4-way, but inspired we are - hey yoda hey - to share how much we are LOVING this belt bag by TAH.

First, who's we?  My dearest fashionista friend Jenn.

Second, what's a 4 way??  Well just what you think it is, ha!  Throughout this week we are sharing 4 ways we are wearing our belt bag on our blogs.  Jenn and I have many similar items in our closet but our own slightly different styles.  Both of us have been wearing this bag ALL THE TIME, like every time we see each other out, we are bag twins.  Love that.  Actually do.  Not like growing up in a small town before there was internet *gasp* and showing up to prom in the same dress as 3 others.

Now I've come to realize it's great minds think alike.

So without further ado, let's just let the photos do the talking.

And these boots do the walking.

 

sweater - Queen Anne Dispatch. (call they'll ship)

skirt - super oldie from J. Crew

tights - Target, similar.

shoes - Rag & Bone, Nordstrom. currently price matching on sale!

bag - Tah c/o, find here.

ring - Queen Anne Frame

Check out Jenn's blog today as well, and then come back Thursday and Friday for even more with our belt bag and TAH.

I know I go a whole week without a post and now 4 in 5 days.  Clearly I have no balance.  So enjoy it!

best
Kirsty

photos by Sarah.

Cold Shoulders and Shuffleboard

Hmmmm how about when your hair is the color of the fall foliage?  Ha.  Right?  But really how about this fall foliage, we have had the most stunning fall.  It's been gloriously rain free so the leaves have had days and days and days to show off their glorious colors. 

And I've had days and days and days to wear whatever shoes I care to wear, with no care of rain ruining them.

So white booties it is.

And hands up if you love off the shoulder tops.  Well this can be a bit tricky in off the shoulder tops, but you should just do it anyway.  They are just the right amount of sexy, and a universally flattering style.

The perfect outfit for a casual date night out.

And that is just what we did....a little shuffleboard with friends, a giant plate of house made chili waffles fries, and fun cocktails.  If you caught any of my instastories over the weekend, we definitely had quite the laugh working on our shuffleboard technique, and quite the plate of fries.  I can't even tell you who won but I can tell you someone definitely claimed the last waffle fry.   

A casual fun setting with great service and over 50 beers on tap, thank you Henry's for a great double date night.  If you live in the Seattle or Bellevue area, head on over this weekend and mention code "KRSTYFLS" to your server for a buy one get one free appetizer (good through Oct 31st.)

Check out Jenn's blog for the other half of our double date, maybe she remembers who won the game.

thank you for reading,

Kirsty

This post was done in partnership with Henry's Tavern.  

Anthro Head to Toe

Confession:  I'm a bit of Anthro Addict.

Sometimes the clothes speak for themselves.  As is often the case with Anthropologie.  Almost always a weakness for me.  Especially for shoes, denim, statement coats, dresses -especially the sale ones...

Today I have my eye on these socks because I love the sock with dress shoe trend.  Always have.  And all of the luxurious textures and embellishments, it makes everything more bright and happy. 

And of course their home decor.  My bedding is from there, as are many of my pillows.

What I love about Anthro is that you can pick a statement piece, like this fur collar coat, and it will give a your staple fall wardrobe new life.  These jeans and shoes, oldies from Anthro, have a whole new fresh look with my new coat.  The lace shirt, also from Anthro, is still available.  I was hesitant to spend 50$ for a lace white shirt, but I have worn it all the time.  It's a basic I keep reaching for to go with all my high-waisted denim.  I have also worn it backwards to change up the neckline.

I had been stalking this coat and waited until they had a sale to finally purchase. 

coat - Anthropologie

shirt - Anthropologie

shoes & jeans - Old Anthro purchases

cocktail ring - Queen Anne Frame

PSA:  make your wishlist now, as I'm sure Anthro will have great Black Friday deals.  Check back on my blog to find out.  

photos by Jessica.

Thanks for reading.

best,

Kirsty

School Spirit in Style, Because On Saturdays We Wear Purple.

University of Washington apparel has got a new star player.  

I am super excited for my beloved alma mater this year.  Devoted fans through the highs, watching the Huskies win the Rose Bowl my senior year, and the lows, not winning a single game all season.  Besides all sports having to do with my little men, Husky Football is the only sport I care about, or care to watch.  

So as I started looking for collegiate gear this year, bracing myself for the always lack luster results, I was pleasantly surprised.  Hillflint has gotten college apparel right.  So right.  I love the vintage style of this sweater, and the quality craftsmanship to know it's gonna last - hopefully through a championship and beyond!  It perfectly shows my school spirit but is stylish enough that I can wear it outside the grand stands.  

Hillflint wanted to create something that would outlive all those souvenir tees of our glory college days and I think they nailed it.  So many great styles, it was hard to narrow it down to one but the tailgating sweater got me with its purple and white stripes, I have my eye on the Colorfield Sweatshirt too.

Let's be clear,  I love my college souvenir sweatshirt from the first dance I went to with my now husband, but it's reserved for lazy days around the house. 

sweater - Hillflint c/o 

note on size, I am wearing a size S because I wanted to be able to layer underneath it, but a size XS would fit just right.  The sizing is unisex.

jeans - Levi's

shoes - Kelsi Dagger c/o.  similar

earrings - made by me, avail at Queen Anne Frame.

photos by Jessica.

Go Dawgs!

Kirsty

Some Days You Just Gotta Get It Done.

This is my get it done mom outfit for fall.  

So I sit here trying to come up with something witty and new to say about this flannel shirt.  Cozy and layerable, it's the quintessential PNW piece when the days get gray.  And why shouldn't it be?  The updated blue and red plaid give this shirt a fresh bright look, but it's still the classic you reach for when presented with a day in the elements.  It keeps you warm and comfy and paired with great denim it's PNW classic chic.  

So no whit needed.  

I love layering a henley underneath with exaggerated cuffs.  And I pretty much live in these rain boots.  Rainclouds enter - goodbye suede hello rubber.

For sure the coolest piece about this outfit though is the bag.  I can honestly say for once it's all about the bag.  I feel a little bit badass, carrying this as my mom bag throughout my day.  

This bag was born from a vision that Filson had when they realized that the bags they replace through their lifetime guarantee can have a new life.  FDR specialists in the Seattle flagship store start by taking these returned bags apart by the seams and repairing all aging and damaged parts.  Then the bag is put back together, often using uniquely found pieces including drop cloths, tin cloth from pants and cast off leather pieces from other projects.  These bags are original works of art that tell a story.  Which is of course my favorite part.

If you visit the Seattle flagship store you can watch these specialists in action.  Many of these designs and pieces are only found in the Seattle store.  

 

flannel - Filson

henley - PJ Salvage, Queen Anne Dispatch.

jeans - J Brand

boots - Rag & Bone Gray on sale.  More sized in black avail here.

Happy Monday.

best,

Kirsty

The post was done in partnership with Filson.