I'll confess, I haven't been feeling Fashion Week for a while. The past couple of seasons didn't really excite me and I've been getting increasingly bummed out with the state of social media sharing (every single piece is out there in the ether even before the final walk-through), Then there's the nagging feeling that designers keep churning out the same pieces show after show and calling it something new. Honestly, these past couple of trips down the runway have seemed a little contrived when stacked up against the capsule wardrobes of late and the normcore movement urging me to 'invest in classics', 'dress for comfort' and basically abandon the couture ship for a steadier, more even-kilter boat.

Even though I've yet to attend New York Fashion Week and buying a bit of Balmain is way outside my realm of possibility, I've remembered delighting in fanciful fashions and dramatic presentations in years long gone. Usually, the excitement of scrolling through street style and saddling up to the live runway shows has injected my spirit with a much needed kick in the palazzo pants and guess what? I've found that lovin' feeling! Something about SS2017 is completely different. I've rediscovered a fervor for seeing my favorite designers trot out a #girlsquad in full regalia. I'm inspired again and keeping up with everything that's happening in the city is a fun new real-time obsession (think Pokemon Go for the fashion obsessed... gotta catch all the front row snaps).

Lines may not be groundbreaking and I've yet to see a MqQueen-esque performance art piece but there's a new attitude in New York. Presentations are moodier, models are model-off-duty-er and there's a newfound sense of cool surrounding the tents. I'm loving all of the behind the scenes snapshots cropping up this week and leave it to the backstage chaos of NYFW to cement why I love what I do, remind me of where I want to be headed and to make the local fashion show I'm currently coordinating a little sweeter!

A few favorite shows (so far):

see the full collections: zimmermann | ulla johnson |marissa webb

photos via Zimmermann

I have such a strong affinity for the month of September! Nostalgia always sets in when the air gets a little crisper and the bell tolls for back to school season. Somehow the presence of spiral bound notebooks and pink erasers smelling of rubber motivates me to refocus and get the ball rolling in ways that the New Year simple does not.

With a new month also comes a new mindset and I must admit, I'm pretty much starving for an overhaul. The past month has been a transitional time (to say the least) and I've been thinking a lot about priorities and opportunities. Although I love to keep things glossy and perfect for the internet, the beauty of blogging is sharing real life and it's been real this Summer. As I try to shift my perspective to one of positivity, here are the goals (big and small) I'd like to accomplish in September:

create boundaries & balance // A lot of the reason this Summer has been so tough is the sheer amount of plates I've been spinning at once. I've been firing all cylinders and I'm starting to experience a whole lot of burnout. Never one to commit to something half-way, I've started taking on more than I can handle and it's time to downshift. This month I'm focused on leaving work at work, being in the moment (and not thinking too much about what's to come), not pressuring myself to create when inspiration simply isn't there and using my time a little more wisely. I'm slowly realizing that it's okay to let a few things go and that my 80% capacity might be 100% to someone else (meaning that not everyone expects you to be totally invested in everything and that's okay).

pursue passion projects // Although I've been creating a lot of fun things, I want to make an effort to create a few more things with no real aim. Whether it be more lowkey shoots or finally finishing our house's paint job, I'm excited to get my hands dirty.

usher in one year of marriage (with a bang) // Ainsworth and I are celebrating one year of marriage (I can't believe it's been a whole year since our wedding!) and we're heading to Nashville for a little staycation. We have tickets to see Kanye (!) and a whole weekend of Airbnb bliss planned.

begin the first steps of something different // I've been thinking a lot about Hazel + Scout and what it offers you. There are things I'm passionate about (motherhood, feminism, politics, art, etc.) that I rarely talk about but as I approach 6 years of blogging it seems like the perfect time to take back my content. I have something cool planned and am hoping September is the month that I get the ball rolling!

keep finding my zen // Lorelai started Kindergarten this year and we've been doing the drop-off / pick-up thing for 9 weeks already. Typically I have about an hour each day to sit alone in the car and wait for her to make her way out of school. The quiet time has been great and I've even started reading again (The Girls... pick it up!). I'm on a quest to keep carving out time for myself whether it means solo walks in the evening, trips to the salon for a quick mani/pedi or a yoga session before everyone wakes up in the morning. I'm slowly realizing that putting myself first isn't selfish, it's necessary.

* These seem like lofty ambitions and will likely carry over through the next several months but there's something motivating about getting them out in a written format. Are you making new goals this fall? Please share!

Happy Labor Day! While everyone is soaking up the last weekend of Summer, I've already bed farewell to the season and am fully excited about Fall. Whether you're spending the day at the beach or curled up with a stack of September issues, I hope you have a great holiday Monday!

I love three day weekends, don't you?! Although today might not be full of rest (I'm photographing an event for Finery), it's nice to have an extra few hours of sleep in the morning and a few extra moments to scroll through Pinterest during the holiday weekend. I'm all about stockpiling inspiration these days and I've been on a pinning spree with future projects in mind.

Admittedly, things have seemed a little bleak lately (damn you Mercury in Retrograde!!!). There's a feeling of change in the air and I've been a little overwhelmed with everything on my plate. All is not lost though because when the tough gets going you throw on some rain sounds (just me?) and brainstorm with new focus. Stay tuned for new features but in the meantime, here's what I've been loving lately...

the Chloe FW 2016 collection
a cozy and modern San Fran home via Home Polish
how The Everygirl quit body image wars
Sophia Amoruso's career code on Who What Wear
Elle dispels myths about gender norms
Gia Coppola's video series for Gucci and Vogue (swoon!)
& 5 things nobody tells you about becoming a #girlboss