5 Years Later: Maximum Style
Every month this year, I’m picking an outfit that I first wore and blogged back in 2016 (a whole five years ago, if you can believe it!) and recreating it using the same (or very similar) pieces! I actually could have started this series in 2020 or even 2019, but 2016 is the first full year I used a DSLR for blog photos, and no one needs to be reminded of the photos I took with the camera prior to that (lol).
My goals with this series are to put together updated versions of some of my favorite past outfits, see how much my style has changed over the years (if at all), highlight the items that are still in my closet five or more years later, determine if it’s time to pass on some of my older items, inspire you to evaluate the longevity in your own wardrobe, and most importantly, remind you (and myself) that it’s cool to rewear your favorite outfits/items!
Let’s dive into the next 5 years later outfit of summer!
MAXIMUM STYLE — 2021 vs. 2016
Summer 2016 was when Korri and I started hanging out (we actually consider our anniversary to be our first date—June 26th!). I wore this outfit, called Maximum style (because of the maxi skirt, of course), on one of our “dates”—I met him at his house and we walked in 100°F heat to dinner. I sweat a massive amount. In hindsight, it was a terrible decision. LOL. But this is still one of my favorite outfits from that summer! I’m 99% sure one of my brothers took my outfit photos since I was still getting to know Korri. In 2016, I wore a Madewell tee, ASOS skirt, Sandelles sandals, and a Gorjana necklace. I still own the tee, sandals, and necklace from the original 2016 look!
I bought the Madewell crop tee clear back in summer 2014. It felt like a bold choice at the time because I was just getting into high-rise bottoms, and I’m not brave enough to wear a cropped top that doesn’t at least meet the top of whatever jeans or shorts I wore with it. It has been a mainstay in my wardrobe since then but hasn’t gotten as much wear since I started my full-time job four years ago. I’m pleasantly surprised that it still fits! I managed to knot it perfectly in 2016 and was unable to replicate that in the new version, haha.
I love a good simple piece of jewelry. I did dabble in the bubble necklaces of the early blogging days (since I started mine in 2013!) but quickly realized that minimal jewelry is what I like best. (Though, I do still wear statement earrings—those are my favorite for dressier events!) I wanted this necklace by Gorjana but didn’t want to pay full price, so I managed to snag one off of Poshmark. It has held up extremely well all these years. I still love it even though I hate that it gets stuck sideways when I move around since it’s so lightweight! I adjusted it between every other photo during this shoot.
I no longer own the skirt that I wore in the original 2016 outfit, and I do still own the original pair of gold sandals but they are looking quite beat up after taking them on a few beach vacations. Luckily, I had very similar pieces to wear for the new 2021 look!
I sold my black maxi skirt from the original outfit because it was thin and cheap and not the best quality. I had purchased it from ASOS and to be honest, I have struck out with everything I’ve purchased from ASOS so far and have basically given up. I added the Amour Vert wrap midi skirt a couple of years ago and it’s been a fun addition; the fabric is heavy and high quality. I love it even though I don’t find opportunities to wear it that often. I haven’t tried wearing it to work even though I should! It is a TRUE wrap so I have to be careful about exposing too much. The vibe of this outfit definitely feels different with the midi skirt versus the maxi.
As I mentioned above, I do own the original sandals. They’re by a small brand based in Cyprus called Sandelles that unfortunately does not appear to be around anymore. I love these sandals so much that I wore them to death, lol. They came with me on every beach trip since I got them and sand tore them up. So I opted for my other pair of gold sandals for the new look—a heeled pair from J.Crew Factory. These sandals instantly make any outfit feel dressier.
Which outfit is more your style—the updated 2021 version with the wrap midi skirt or the 2016 original with the maxi skirt? I have a soft spot for the original because I still think it’s fire and the longer length skirt offsets the cropped tee so well!
OUTFIT DETAILS
Madewell tee / old; similar or similar from Nordstrom
Amour Vert skirt / similar by Lucky Brand or 1 State (last seen here)
J.Crew Factory sandals / old; similar from Amazon
Gorjana necklace / exact
Le Specs sunglasses / exact via Shopbop, Nordstrom, or Net-A-Porter
Dior Lip Glow in rosewood / exact