Real Life Outfits: An Overwhelming Week of Work
Retail Chaos, Reality TV, and a Week of Barely Getting Dressed
Welcome! Every week I share real-life outfits for busy women who want to feel pulled together without overthinking it. This week was chaos—sales, work, family—but I still managed to get dressed (barely).
Let’s dive in, and if posts like this are your thing, tapping the ❤️ at the top lets me know—and helps more people find it too.
I knew when Nordstrom and Amazon decided to run their biggest sales of the year on the exact same days that it would be bananas. And I was right.
We—and when I say “we,” I mean me and my oldest daughter, Maddie, who’s working with me this summer—have been going nonstop. We’ve been combing through inventory, organizing content, tracking price drops, and pulling together roundups I hope have been helpful.
It’s been a lot. Early mornings, endless open tabs, and lots of coffee. But it’s also been so much fun.
I was pregnant with Maddie when I launched the very first version of this business. Now she’s 18 and getting ready to head off to college, and I get to spend my days with her as she scrolls through our analytics, asks smart questions about content strategy, and starts to understand not just how women shop today—but what it really takes to build and run a business like this.
The best part of the week was hearing her reactions as the Nordstrom sales came in—“Mom! They love the Veronica Beard bag!” and “That Ralph Lauren jacket is already sold out—I knew that was a good one.”
It felt like such a full-circle moment.
At one point, Maddie put Love Island on in the background, and somehow it just... stayed on. All week. I ended up watching the entire season.
It’s absurd—but also, Team Amaya Papaya forever.😉
Long story short, I barely changed out of my gym shorts for most of the week. I looked a wreck.
So, the outfits this week are light, but I still have a few worth sharing.
There are just three looks this time, and on honorable mention on sale, but they include some fun pieces that are still in stock—and maybe serve as a little reminder that not every week needs to be packed with outfits or plans or polished looks. Sometimes, it’s just gym shorts and a lot of work and trying to keep up.
Let’s get into it.
📍 Wednesday Night – Not Cooking
On Wednesday, I hit a wall. I was exhausted, had zero capacity to cook, and with Maddie and Ava off doing their own thing, Bri and I scooped up Vivi and went out for dinner. It was low-key—we colored, I had a glass of wine, and when we got home, I jumped back on my laptop without having to clean up the kitchen. A small win.
It was also so hot out, so I threw on the Dune Cotton Gauze Short Sleeve Popover from Faherty. I’m wearing the small. (Use my code THEWELLDRESSEDLIFE20 for 20% off.)
I paired it with these super affordable shorts from Gap Factory—they’re currently $22, and I’m wearing the medium.
My sandals are last year’s J.Crew, but they have an updated version here. The bag is also Faherty, and such a cute, summery piece. My earrings are the Tapered Huggies from Monica Vinader—use code MEGKMV for 20% off.
📍 Thursday Night – Celebratory Dinner with Mads
On Thursday, Maddie and I found ourselves home alone—Bri was golfing, Ava was at the beach, and Viv was having a sleepover with MomMom and Pop. So we closed our laptops and went out to dinner to celebrate all the work we’ve been doing.
It was a last-minute plan, so I pulled my hair back and threw on this dress you’ve seen before. It’s from Nordstrom Rack and only $50—such a great find.
I paired it with my Jeffrey Campbell Linques Sandals. I’ve had them for at least two years and wear them constantly—and if I’m not wearing them, one of the girls is. They love them too.
I kept the accessories simple: my Monica Vinader Signature Link Bracelet (a splurge, but so worth it), and this under $20 Amazon clutch I’ve carried over and over again.
📍 Friday Night – Pool Birthday Party
Friday was one of those days where one second it was 7 AM, and the next it was 3 PM—and Vivi had a birthday pool party at 4. So I completely forgot to take a photo.
I wasn’t sure what to wear and I had no intention of getting in the water, so I threw on this cute linen set from Gap Factory in Raspberry.
The shorts are on sale for $27.99 with an extra 50% off, and the matching button-up is $35.99. I added simple flip flops and a baseball cap, and it ended up being the perfect outfit—comfortable, pulled-together, and easy for a chaotic afternoon.
📍Sunday – Fun-Day Afternoon
On Saturday, I started breaking down Maddie’s room and packing for the dorms. While we’re doing that, Maddie and Ava are also switching bedrooms, so the entire house is a disaster and so was I.
That night, our neighbors—some of our favorite people—stopped by, and we ended up hanging out on the patio late into the evening. Don’t you love friends who can show up without any pretense? I looked like a full-on bridge troll, and they didn’t even flinch..
So by Sunday, I needed a quiet day. I worked in the morning and then we went over to my best friend’s house—her kids are Viv’s “cousins”—spent the afternoon together, walked to an early dinner, and were home by 7. It was easy, fun, and exactly what my heart needed to end the weekend and start another busy one.
I wore the same Gap Factory shorts as earlier in the week, just in white. I paired them with the Montauk striped pullover from J.Crew, which is currently 30% off. I sized down to a small—it runs big.
My shoes are old—at least four years—from French Sole at Tuckernuck. They don’t make this exact color anymore, but I found a similar style at Zappos, and these Steve Madden sandals are a great alternative too.
I finished the look with my Tapered Huggie Earrings from Monica Vinader—use code MEGKMV for 20% off.
That’s a wrap! I hope these posts are helpful and maybe even inspire you to get dressed—at least a few times a week—in a way that feels good, easy, and like yourself.
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