The Colorist Edit Week 004

This Week at The Colorist

This is Week 004 of the roundup!

First, I just want to give a shoutout to all the cool moms out there, Happy Mother’s Day. Being a mom is truly the most special thing in the world. Hearing the pitter-patter of little feet coming down the hall this morning made my heart so happy.

And really, being a mom, being a parent, is the foundation of so much of what this space is about: showing up intentionally and authentically for ourselves and for our families.

So here’s to continuously finding ourselves, while raising the next generation.

Now, back to fashion. As always, think of this as the edit behind the edit: the deeper view into the reels, the “why” behind them, and a little more context than Instagram allows. Things move fast over there, so here’s a closer look at what I posted this week, how I was thinking about it, and why it matters.

Fashion is Art

Started off the week with a bang, covering the Met Gala, whose theme was Fashion is Art, with the through line idea of the dressed body.

I broke down my three most on-theme looks, three major misses, and three best dressed. I always love this night in fashion because it’s one of the rare moments where fashion is appreciated purely as art and entertainment, watching designers and their muses interpret a theme together.

That said, this year left me a little underwhelmed. The theme was more open-ended than in years past, but still, so many people looked like they were dressed for any other red carpet. Like… hello, did you get the memo? It’s the Met Gala.

There was also some controversy around the sponsor and co-chairs this year, but one piece of context I found really interesting is that the Costume Institute is the only curatorial department at The Met required to fund itself. The Met Gala is its primary fundraiser, supporting the department’s exhibitions, acquisitions, publications, and operations.

So while the politics of major donors can get complicated, the reality is that this event is also the lifeline for one of the most important fashion archives in the world. Fashion history, preservation, and exhibition depend on funding and this is the night that helps make that possible.

I also put together a fun carousel below breaking down the color I saw at the Met Gala, and there was a lot of it.

A lot of red, especially, which felt interesting after last week’s Color in Culture discussion. Red keeps showing up as a signal of expression, visibility, and wanting to be seen. You can watch that here.

There were also some really strong color theory moments: high-saturation palettes, tonal dressing, strategic contrast, and unexpected pairings that still felt intentional.

The Met is a great little case study in how color can turn a look into an actual statement.

Hands Free

Then we moved back into cool mom fashion. I’ve had a lot of requests for practical but still stylish bags, because yes, sometimes we really do need our hands completely free.

And listen, I get it. I’m a mom of two. I go to the park. I bring all the things. Sometimes we just need to be practical.

With all the advice I give here, the point is never to make your life harder. It’s about having discernment and making it work in the context of your actual life. So if a backpack genuinely makes your day easier, then by all means, wear the backpack.

But we can still do it with intention. The goal is not to let practicality become an excuse for “whatever works” or “I don’t care.” We can be functional and intentional at the same time.

So I broke down some of my favorite crossbody bags, belt bags, and ways to style a fanny pack more intentionally because cool mom style still has to work in real life.

World’s Best Boss

And now, on to the office for cool dads.

Summer is here, the weather is warmer, but you still need to look professional which can be a tricky balance.

I rounded up seven key pieces to help build out a summer office wardrobe that feels polished, but not stiff. The goal is to think about lighter fabrics that still hold their shape, pieces with texture to add depth, and a little bit of color to keep things interesting.

And for shoes, look for lighter-weight materials, softer structure, and rich colors that still feel elevated.

Because summer office style shouldn’t feel confusing or like you’re trying to force your winter wardrobe to work in July. It should feel lighter, sharper, and still put together.

I also created a carousel with inspiration for these seven pieces.

Sometimes it helps to see everything broken down visually, so it’s easier to save, reference, and come back to later when you’re trying to build a wardrobe that actually works. And yes, this one is also for the cool moms to send to their husbands, because we all know the cool moms are usually the ones looking out for everyone’s style.

I’m like a cool mom, IRL

Hello from the other side, this week I shared my first “try-on” video.

This was a big deal for me: getting in front of the camera, showing more of myself, and being a little more personal. But I also think it’s such a fun way to build community and show that yes, I do in fact take my own styling advice.

We started with my favorite look, and the one I will absolutely have on rotation all summer: the sporty park mom outfit.

I broke down a few different ways to style it, plus the main tip that makes the look feel intentional instead of like you’re just wearing gym shorts.

Spice Up Your Life

Rounded out the week with a Colorist classic: the Three Color Rule, this time for Mother’s Day.

Color is such a powerful way to shift your mood and change how you see yourself, so I created a few fun color combinations to bring a little more energy, softness, or polish to your Mother’s Day look.

And because sometimes it’s easier to see the formula visually, I also broke it down in another carousel so you can save it, reference it, and try it later.

A Few Things I’ve Been Thinking About

These are the questions that have been sitting with me this week, and they’re the foundation of everything we’re building here:

1. Summer dressing, how do we stay true to our style while still being practical and keeping cool?

I live in Arizona and the summer heat here is not joke. We’re talking 115+ degree temps, and let’s just say that makes it hard to get dressed. Or honestly, to do anything at all.

I’ve heard people say you can tell if someone has true style by the way they dress in the summer, and I kind of agree. There aren’t as many layers, jackets, or accessories to hide behind, so you really have to know your taste, understand fit, and be intentional with the details. Summer style forces you to simplify, but simple doesn’t have to mean boring.

2. Fashion as a social construct and social signal, is that actually a thing? How does style signal class, taste, belonging, or even difference? And if it does, why?

I’m not just talking about who can afford luxury items. I’m more interested in the quieter signals: what you wear, how you wear it, how much effort is visible, what reads as “polished,” what reads as “too much,” and how all of that changes depending on where you live.

I’ve received messages from people asking how to find this balance in their own lives. Maybe they live in a small town or somewhere more rural. Maybe they love getting dressed, but feel misunderstood, judged, or like they stand out too much in their environment.

So how do you navigate that? How do you stay true to your taste without feeling like you’re performing for people who don’t understand it?

These are all really interesting concepts, and ones we’ll continue to dive into here.

3. It’s become incredibly clear: most of us were taught how to shop, but never taught how to see style.

I’m feeling really inspired by the community - the questions, conversations, outfit dilemmas, and ideas that keep coming up here every day.

And the more we talk, the more I realize how many of us are craving something deeper than just another outfit idea or shopping link.

Behind the scenes, I’ve been working on something that expands on what we talk about here: developing your own sense of color, taste, discernment, and personal style. Not just what to wear, but how to build your eye so you feel more empowered in your own expression.

It’s still in the early stages, but the idea is to create a deeper space for learning. Think monthly themes, guided style concepts, color theory, taste development, and the kind of fashion education most of us were never really taught.

Because style isn’t just about buying better things. It’s about learning how to see what you like, what works for you, and who you are.

Would this be something you’d be interested in?

What’s Been Catching My Eye (In No Particular Order)

• I’ve been looking for a good minimal sandal that can be dressed up or down but still has a slight edge. I love these in red! I feel like they’d look great with the sporty mom park, great with any pair of denim or super summery/vaction-y with white pants.

• I just discovered the jewelry brand, AGLAGLA, and this piece is like a color wheel in a necklace. I think I might need it!

• I’ve been using Merit Beauty since they launched, and I really do love their products, especially because they sit on the cleaner, more minimal end of the beauty spectrum. I recently tried their foundation, and it’s been really lovely. It feels light and dewy, but still buildable, which is exactly what I want for everyday makeup.

  You can find your shade here.

• My husband got these shorts recently and has been wearing non-stop. He went back and got two more colorways. I will say they ran a bit big for him and he had to size down. PLUS they’re 50% off right now!

• I’ve also been using this Crown Affair leave-in conditioner, and it smells so good like a spa day in a bottle. It feels like a tiny little ritual every time I get out of the shower, and honestly, for moms, sometimes that’s all we need.

If you missed any other shopping links, be sure to bookmark my shopmy or LTK.

As always, I’m so happy you’re here! Until next week, hope that helps!