Fashion Inspired By Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life

How was everyone's Thanksgiving break? Apart from some brief family drama and an unfortunate case of bug bites, my Turkey Day was largely uneventful (and included no turkey, considering I've been a vegetarian for five years). I spent the holiday in Arkansas with my dad and Ryan, eating sides like mashed potatoes and scalloped corn and trying to stay away from my crazier relatives. Overall, the break was relaxing, enjoyable, and just what I needed before finals. I hope yours was the same!

One of the more exciting parts of my break occurred not on Thanksgiving, but on the day after Thanksgiving: a six-hour Netflix binge-watch. That's right, I'm talking about the Gilmore Girls revival!

If you're anything like me, you're probably still reeling in the aftermath of those final four words (which I solemnly swear I will NOT reveal here). If you're not a fan or just haven't watched the show, you're probably groaning right now and wondering when the fandom will finally shut up. Both responses are completely acceptable.

However, as much as I'd love to gush about the plot of the show, this isn't a TV blog. Thankfully, the revival offered me just as much fodder as a fashion and beauty blogger as it did for me as a longtime Gilmore fan.

Lorelei in flannel! Emily in jeans! Jess with facial hair! There were so many style moments during the revival that I think will go down in Gilmore Girls history as truly iconic. I could write an entire post on Rory Gilmore's work wardrobe alone.

Honestly, I would probably have to re-watch the entire six-hour series and give you my running commentary to fully do the costume, hair, and makeup pros the justice they deserve. But looking back, a few style and beauty moments in each episode stood out to me as truly inspiring. I'll walk you through them here.

But before I jump into my analysis, I'd like to give you full disclosure: if you have not seen the series yet and you do not want me to spoil it for you, do not read this post! As I mentioned before, I promised I would not blab the final four words of the finale. However, specific details from each of the episodes will be revealed, including some other major plots spoilers, and I don't want to be responsible for ruining your Gilmore Girls binge.

Now that that's out of the way, let's talk style.

Winter

When we first meet Lorelei and Rory again after their nine-year absence from television, it's winter in Stars Hollow. Though I'm sure there were plenty of other looks that deserved mention, this introductory moment saw the advent of some amazing peacoats, which subsequently became all I could think about when I decided to write this post. So, I've singled out both Lorelei and Rory's opening outfits, if only for their amazing outerwear. 

First, an homage to Lorelai's pink coat. Supposedly, the original pink coat first appeared in the original Gilmore Girls series, but when the costume designer couldn't find the original, they bought the one we saw in Winter. 

Personally, this pink coat might have been my favorite standalone costume piece of the entire series; it was both memorable and stylish, and suited Lorelei's bubbly, snow-loving personality to a T. 

However, as I mentioned before, I also fell swiftly in love with Rory's work wardrobe, including her similar tan peacoat. First of all, I think it's adorable that they did a little bit of mother-daughter matching here. Both Lorelei and Rory wore coats with a similar silhouette; however, Rory's coat was a bit more austere than fun-loving Lorelei's, so I thought it was clever that they used this costume moment to highlight the similarities and differences between the duo.

I loved that Rory felt a little Audrey Hepburn during this scene. The navy blue dress she wore beneath that tan peacoat especially draws this comparison for its classic lines and high neckline. To me, this outfit signifies right off the bat that the Rory Gilmore we all knew and loved has grown up and become a fully-fledged woman.

When it comes to beauty, this initial scene introduced a trend that carried throughout the entire miniseries: rosy cheeks. So. Much. Blush. Went into the making of Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life - at least, as far as I could tell from my binge (and subsequent stalking - I mean research - on Google Images).

The girls championed a natural look throughout most of the series, but there were some touches of color that helped amp up their beauty. Blush was one of those things that I thought truly helped the girls' natural beauty shine through. Subtle lip color was another.

In this first scene, I especially loved Rory's subtly berry lip. Her lip color in this scene was one of those "My Lips, But Better" shades that gave off a beautiful, just-bitten effect. Lorelei wore a similar shade - both of which screamed tinted lip balm rather than straight-up lipstick - but hers was a rosier, more age-appropriate hue.

Honestly, I was a bigger fan of Rory's slightly more noticeable berry lip color, if only because it grew up her character even more and flattered her skin tone. Lorelei's lip color was maybe a little too natural for camera, in my humble opinion, as it gave off the impression that she wore nothing at all on her lips.

However, in her favor, Lorelei's skin looked incredible during this scene and throughout the entire revival. Rory's did, too! Both girls looked like they hadn't aged a lick in the past nine years, which just made me think "Whatever cream or foundation they're using, I want it, too."

Finally, Rory's eyes were amped up with a lot of black liner during this scene. Rather than favoring the cat eye that's been so popular in recent years, the makeup team lined her whole eye, which was a cool sixties-style throwback and really helped them pop on-screen. Needless to say, I was a fan.

Overall, there was nothing I disliked about this scene's looks. The first scene of Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life established a lofty precedent for what fans could expect from the style and beauty evolution of Lorelei and Rory over the past nine years. As we move forward to talk about the other three episodes, I think you'll see that our fave girls will continue to live up to that high standard.

Spring

I'll just go ahead and say it now, because I don't think I can hold it in any longer: PARIS GELLER'S PINK BLAZER. 

There. I said it. Paris' blazer in the Spring episode of Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life might just be my favorite fashion look from the entire show, or from any show, ever. Clearly, Liza Weil brought back some of her boss woman sensibility from How to Get Away With Murder and lent it to the costume department on set.

That being said, the rest of Paris' outfit during this episode was just as amazing as anyone could have hoped for. Her black stilettos were so sharp they could kill a man, and I cracked up during that bit with the briefcase. And don't even get me started on that haircut.

I'm sorry, Rory, but though I do want to highlight one of your looks, too, I think Paris wins the beauty prize as well. Specifically, Paris' contour was on point. I'm not sure if she just has naturally high cheekbones, but there seemed to be a subtle bronzed effect in her makeup look that gave me serious face envy.

Additionally, Paris' nude lipstick echoed that natural, "My Lips But Better" theme running throughout the entire series. When it comes to lip color, the makeup artists of Gilmore Girls know how to enhance an actress' natural features. So, if you're looking for bolder lip inspiration, this might not be the show for you - but if you love a good nude lip, then binge-watch away.

Overall, though, Paris...congratulations on blossoming. Your lovably aggressive personality might not have changed much in the past nine years, but you've certainly gotten a handle on that beauty and fashion thing.

My second favorite look was Rory's navy blue dress and cardigan combo from the Gilmore girls' trip to NYC (you know, the Wookee-humping outfit). Mainly, I loved this outfit because it was one of the only times that Rory mixed up her hair game, opting for a high ballerina bun instead of her typical wavy lob. But I also enjoyed the fact that I continued to get that Audrey Hepburn vibe off of her, an old-school Parisian look translated into Rory's modern everyday life.

The outfit was complete with Rory's delicate gold earrings. I genuinely appreciated this final touch, because you could really tell that the costume designers thought through her choices down to the tiniest details.

As a whole, Rory's NYC outfit was another great visual communication of the Gilmore girls' personalities. The fact that Rory was so dressed up just to go about her daily job as a journalist demonstrated how much she cared about getting that job with Conde Nast, and made me feel even more sorry when she didn't achieve her goal. Additionally, the fact that she had looked so pretty and polished before emphasized how mussed-up she was after that whole one-night stand fiasco, helping the audience understand just how unsettled Rory's life has become.

When it came to Rory's beauty look for this scene, I loved the natural eyeshadow palette that reappeared throughout all four episodes. In those six hours, I saw more shades of taupe than I ever knew existed - but I was totally into it. Clearly, the revival changed my life in more ways than I expected!

But what stood out most to me about Rory's beauty look in NYC was actually her highlight. I loved her illuminated cheekbones almost as much as I adored Paris' contour.

Though the Gilmore Girls' costume designer claims that they try to keep trends from affecting Stars Hollow, I saw the subtle infiltration of the highlighting and contouring phenomenons into the world of Gilmore Girls. While I appreciate that the Gilmores aren't treated like fashion plates, I also liked seeing some of these modern-day trends incorporated into the show. Since Amy Sherman-Palladino pays so much attention to pop culture, it feels only fair that beauty and style get their fair share of trend-watching as well.

The Spring episode was definitely a high point when it came to the cast's looks, but I hesitate to single out this chapter as my favorite, if only because of what comes next!

Summer

As much as I loved Spring (PARIS GELLER'S PINK BLAZER, Y'ALL), Summer was host to some of my favorite style and beauty looks from the entire revival. 

I was particularly excited for this episode because one of my favorite O.G. Gilmore Girls characters finally returned. Looking at the set I designed, it shouldn't be difficult to single out who that might be, but for those of you who haven't guessed it on your own, I'll just come out and admit it: I'm #TeamJess all the way - and dare I add that with the way things left off at the end of the series, I think our odds are looking pretty darn good! 

But we can talk about that later, once I finish gushing over just how much I loved Rory's pool outfit. 

First of all, I have a couple of questions I'd love to ask Rory - namely, how did she and her mother convince two elementary school boys to hold their umbrellas and follow them around with their beach bags? But more importantly, where did she get that silk vest? I looked so hard for a silk vest similar to the one she wore in the revival and couldn't find anything with the same tie dye print. Kudos to her closet for being truly one-of-a-kind!

I love that Rory embraced the seventies vibe in this episode with a cute, casual peasant top, colorful shorts, and headband. To me, this outfit signified a more childlike, playful vibe. Maybe all these bright, Crayola colors were meant to show audiences how small and young Rory felt after moving back into her childhood home. 

However, my downright favorite part of this outfit - or any outfit (besides maybe that gosh-darn blazer) of the revival - was the lace parasol that both Rory and her mother carried around. On some level, the parasols elevated these outfits to so silly and absurd that Gilmore fans began to speculate that the girls were wearing costumes after first seeing these stills. But on another, Lorelei and Rory fell right into line with the vintage 70s vibe that's permeated the fashion world since our real-life summer, and I simply cannot get enough.

In the world of beauty, Rory continued to channel a vintage vibe with her doll-like sixties eye look, complete with jet black liner and amped-up eyelashes. I wouldn't go so far to say that Rory was definitely wearing falsies, but most of us just aren't blessed with so much lash that we can simply throw on some mascara and suddenly walk around looking like that. Topped off with Rory's signature berry lip, the look was eye-opening, to say the least - to make a pun that Lorelei would be proud of (and that Luke would probably groan at).

And now that we've discussed Rory's breezy 70s glamour, let us turn our attention to my personal favorite character, Jess Mariano.

As soon as I decided to include men's fashion in this post, I thought of Jess - not only because he's my favorite character, but also because I think he's gone through the most dramatic style transformation of any of the Gilmore guys.

When we last saw Jess, he was only a slightly more grown-up version of the punky teenager who first wooed Rory. Now, I think it's safe to say that our boy Jess has grown into a fully-fledged adult - and man, did I love it. Milo Ventimiglia has aged like a fine wine, if I do say so myself.

With age, Jess seems to have developed a little more personal style. Now that he works at a publishing house, he's elevated himself to wearing short-sleeved collared shirts that give off a definite hipster vibe - though I have to admit, I fell in love with the navy blue jacket he wore while eating at the diner with Luke. It was the perfect touch of old, bad boy Jess that all of the longtime Gilmore Girls fans were waiting for.

The best part of Jess/Milo's transformation, however - hands-down - was the hair/beard combo he had going on. I felt like the shoulder-length locks and the facial hair were exactly what I would have imagined his character looking like nine years after we last saw him.

While Jess grew up, Rory might have regressed just a bit back to her childlike roots - but that doesn't mean that her fashion choices were any less satisfying. Between Jess' mature, yet still bad-boyish charm, and Rory's playful, colorful pool-going ensemble, Summer offered some of the most daring fashion looks of the revival.

Fall

Fall offered a simultaneously satisfying and dissatisfying conclusion to this four-part revival series. As much as I'd love to spend these next few paragraphs spewing up fan theories about the last four words, I promised I wouldn't reveal them, so I'll try to get through this fashion review with as few spoilers as possible.

During the end of the Spring episode, Lorelei made a decision that many have credited as the "least Lorelei-like decision" Lorelei Gilmore has ever made: to go hiking along the 2,000-mile trail in California that inspired the book (not movie) Wild. But as much as the words "Lorelei Gilmore" and "nature" clash, this decision brought me one of my favorite fashion looks of the revival.

I loved the flannel and puffer vests Lorelei wore on her hiking trip - though they have been controversial to some. After seeing promo pictures of Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, a lot of fans remarked that Lorelei had suddenly begun dressing like Luke and seemed to be in shock about it. 

However, I personally loved the mountain girl look on Lauren Graham; I thought she wore it naturally. And who knows? Perhaps the costume designer intended for us to draw comparisons to Luke, so that we would feel reassured that it wasn't over between them. I don't know about you, but I knew the whole time how this series would end - and let me tell you, I wasn't dissatisfied in the least.

We'll get to talking about the juicier parts of the finale in a little bit, but first I'd like to remark yet again on the liberal (and excellent) use of blush on the Gilmore gals during this series. I thought the peachy-pink color Lorelei wore on her cheekbones throughout much of Fall gave her a lovely, flushed glow. Considering that I don't think anyone would expect Lorelei to come out as a makeup fanatic, the natural look suited her personality as well as her inherent beauty. 

As for that whopper of an ending, I fell in love with Lorelei's wedding dress. This look was a strong contender for my favorite look overall, right up there with that pink blazer from Spring.

It took me awhile to notice that Lorelei's dress was not, in fact, one piece, but actually a dress and cardigan combo, a clever move on the part of the costume design team. I'm not sure which separate I loved more: the classic, Peter Pan-collared shift, or the sheer lacy three-quarter sleeved sweater. Together, however, they created a dress that was as simple as it was elegant.

I also think it's worth mentioning that the dark colors they chose for Lorelei's wedding look were the polar opposite of what one might expect from a wedding dress. But considering the nontraditional path that Luke and Lorelei took to get to this point in their relationship, Lorelei's fashion choice for this special occasion makes a lot of sense.

Lorelei wasn't meant to be a blushing bride, or to have a big white wedding; it's not what either her or her fiance would have wanted. They got married quietly, in an understated civil ceremony - and Lorelei's understated, yet glamorous dress perfectly fit the occasion.

The taupe eyeshadow made a comeback for Lorelei's wedding scene, as did the bouncy curls that both Lorelei and Rory wore throughout much of the revival. However, as is appropriate for a wedding, Lorelei's curls looked a bit more prim and proper - a bit more finished, if you will - than they would have on any ordinary day.

Overall, Lorelei's beauty look didn't exactly shatter our expectations for the character. If we are to assume that Lorelei's no-makeup makeup look is her everyday average, then this slightly enhanced version suits her wedding night perfectly.

One of the best parts of Lorelei's character, I would argue, is reflected in her wedding night look: she isn't at all unrealistic. Watching Lorelei Gilmore on a screen feels like watching someone you know in real life. We wouldn't want that character to be rocking overstated sequin gowns or a deep mauve lip in her everyday life; we just want her to feel familiar, a character who can break the fourth wall and permeate our hearts off-screen as well as on. That's what I think Lorelei's subtle makeup and style looks accomplish, and even as a fashion and beauty blogger, I wouldn't have it any other way.

As long as we ignore the final four words, I think each character of Gilmore Girls got the happy ending they deserved, both plot-wise and style-wise. All of the characters grew up in their own special way. Paris became a businesswoman. Jess settled down (somewhat). Rory found some direction (I repeat: some), and Luke and Lorelei got married.

When it comes to the fateful conclusion, only time will tell what the final four words mean for our beloved cast. But one thing feels certain to me: they aren't really "final" in any way. For all we know, I could be sitting here again in 2025 - another nine years later - writing another review of another revival's fashion and beauty trends.

Love coffee? Love the Gilmore Girls revival? Check out this printable Lorelei Gilmore quote in my Etsy store!

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Why I Quit The Pill

For the longest time, women have felt like they have to keep their menstrual and reproductive health problems secret, for fear of offending male ears or disgusting their coworkers. Personally, I never felt comfortable talking about the problems I experienced on birth control with anyone but my doctor. (Thanks, period stigma!) But I also don't think that menstruation or reproductive health should have to be a secret. 

Lately, it feels like there's been a bit of a revolution against hormonal birth control. I became part of that revolution back in August, when my doctor urged me to quit taking birth control for health reasons. Around that time, I was seeing a ton of articles on Pinterest and elsewhere explaining how the hormones in birth control pills could cause a host of problems, ranging from low sex drive to depression (both of which I experienced on birth control).

Lots of women nowadays are fighting back against the common assertion that the birth control pill, or any other form of hormonal birth control, is the best or only choice for anyone.

Over the summer, as I became more and more fascinated by women's health topics, I even read a book about endometriosis, that challenged the common use of birth control pills as a long-term treatment option. It's not just another natural health phenomenon propagated by the fitness industry. Even the medical community is fighting back.

While it's true that I quit birth control pills amidst this medical revolution, I would also like to add that there's nothing wrong with using birth control pills or other hormonal birth control. If you don't experience any negative side effects on the pill, you shouldn't feel like you have to quit just because of something you read on the internet. Choosing to start (or stop) a birth control method is a personal choice every woman should make on her own. 

However, I know that a lot of women are probably asking themselves, "Why all this fuss about the pill?" Before my health problems developed, I probably would never have thought twice about my choice of birth control.

I may not be able to speak for every woman who has denounced the pill, but I can certainly say that while oral contraceptives, aka birth control pills, work great for some women, they didn't for me. 

This is the story of how and why I quit.

Why I Started the Pill

I was fifteen when I started birth control pills. I wasn't exactly sexually active yet (that is, I wasn't having "real" sex), so that wasn't my primary reason for using it - though its birth control function did come in handy later.

The real problem was that I developed heavy, irregular periods and painful cramps about a year or two after I started my period. I got my first period when I was 11, and for the first year or so, I suffered from light, frequent periods (we're talking sometimes every two or three weeks) that didn't really bother me, aside from the near-constant cycle of bleeding. 

But around 12 or 13, something started to change. I started to get deep, throbbing aches in my lower back and abdomen. Every time I got my period, I had to dope up on Aleve just to get through the day at school. My flow also started to change as my periods started to become somewhat-more regular, becoming heavier and brighter in color. 

I grudgingly dealt with these problems until high school, accepting that a woman's period was just a burden she had to bear. But constantly needing to sit down and take a break every time you get your period, because your cramps are just so bad, eventually takes its toll on you.

As a freshman in high school, I found myself on my period, laying on the cafeteria floor at lunch with my friends because the cold linoleum felt good on my aching back. An upperclassman took a picture making fun of me and posted it on Instagram.

The following year, I took the MCAS (Massachusetts' state standardized test) for the last time. Halfway through the essay-writing portion, my cramps became so bad that I felt dizzy and nauseous. I had to excuse myself to go to the bathroom and take an Aleve because I absolutely could not concentrate. Embarrassingly enough, I explained to my teacher what was wrong, but she was nothing but sympathetic, saying that even she had noticed how bad I clearly felt.

When period cramps interfere with your life to that degree, you lose your confidence. And that's where my journey with birth control begins.

That August, I had my yearly checkup at my pediatrician's office. My mom was in an exam room a couple doors down with my little brother, who was also having his yearly physical at the time.

Unexpectedly, my mom popped into the room during my exam. I had been planning to ask my doctor about birth control pills in private, but I wasn't about to let my mom's presence change my plans. My mom later claimed to be "shocked" that I had asked for them "out of nowhere," without consulting her at all.

In all honestly, I had been too afraid to ask, because I didn't want her to think I wanted them for "the wrong reasons." My mom had me young, claiming that she had been too afraid of her parents finding out she was on birth control (see any similarities?).

My mom left me with the exact same feeling, even though all I wanted them for was to make my quality of life a little better. Even if I had wanted them because I was sexually active, there shouldn't have been anything to fear.

As a budding woman with period cramps and a (unbenownst to me at the time) mental ilness, that was my first of many experiences with societal stigma. And while stigma wasn't the ultimate reason why I had to quit birth control pills, it factored into my (voluntary) decision to take back my reproductive freedom by going off of them.

What I Experienced on Birth Control

The first two years of birth control were great. My periods became lighter and more manageable, with less pain and cramping. My cycles also became regular, whereas before they had varied from too long to too short.

Then, as a senior in high school, I broke up with my boyfriend. I met a new guy. I fell in love. And like so many other teenagers, we decided to "do it" for the first time.

Every girl's first time is more than a little awkward - and every guy's, for that matter. (Honestly, whose first time actually goes the way it was planned?)

Thankfully, I had prepared myself for awkward. I had even prepared myself for pain, though experts claim that your first time should never really hurt the way people say it does. But what I hadn't prepared myself for was just how much pain I would experience.

My boyfriend was careful and loving and kind, and our first time shouldn't have hurt. Still, it did, and I immediately put the blame on myself, feeling angry that I hadn't been turned on enough to please him.

Admittedly, it wasn't a healthy reaction to losing my virginity. But I don't think the problem was that I wasn't ready. The problem was that I wasn't expecting it to hurt that bad.

Sex seemed to get a little easier for awhile. We discovered the beauty of lube, which we had (foolishly) ignored, like most teenagers, the first time. But around Christmastime, I started to experience a new type of pain that I hadn't experienced before - a rubbing, chafing sensation. I acquired other unpleasant symptoms as well, like (TMI, probably) thick white discharge and burning pee.

I wasn't a stranger to vaginal infections, so it only made sense to assume that was what I had. At 13 years old, I'd mistakenly self-treated for a yeast infection only to find out I'd had bacterial vaginosis, a completely different animal of a vaginal infection.

This time, I recognized the yeast infection symptoms from the information on the back of the OTC-medication package from all those years ago. So, I scheduled an appointment with my doctor about a week later. She asked me a lot of questions, performed a (painful) gynecological exam using a speculum, and send samples off to the lab for testing.

In the meantime, concluding that I was probably right and most likely did have a yeast infection, she prescribed me fluconazole to treat it. The way the fluconazole worked was that I was supposed to take the pill one time only. Ideally, the single dose would be enough to rid myself of the yeast, but in case the infection decided to stubbornly hang around, she prescribed me a second dose to be taken a few days later.

I took both doses, with not much improvement to my symptoms. Shortly after, the doctor called with an explanation: I hadn't tested positive for yeast, after all. In fact, my lab tests had come back completely normal.

Christmas and New Year's both went by before I scheduled another doctor's appointment. In the meantime, my relationship with my boyfriend was starting to struggle emotionally from the sexual dysfunction I was experiencing.

The fact of the matter was that sex hurt. No matter how much lube we used, it always seemed to dry out faster than expected. Or, certain products would just sting when we applied them, causing me even more pain.

Something a lot of women don't mention when they talk about these issues is the emotional toll that it takes on a relationship. A lot of sex sessions that should have been fun, frisky, and flirtatious ended in tears. As you can imagine, the pain I experienced as a result of my vaginal problems didn't make sex very fun for me, nor were these circumstances exactly conducive to an orgasm.

At some points, I even felt so low that I believed I was "less of a woman," that I wasn't really in love with or attracted to my boyfriend, or even that I wasn't attracted to men at all. (Though there wasn't anything fundamentally wrong with me questioning my sexuality - many young people do, and many people draw the conclusion that they aren't straight, which is completely healthy, normal, and fine - in my case I found out that these were just fears, fears that resulted from a combination of my anxiety disorder and the low libido I experienced on the pill.)

On top of that, my boyfriend started to lose confidence, too. He sometimes thought it was his fault I was hurting. Because I knew it wasn't, I started to feel guilty for making him feel bad, which just led to an endless spiral of negative emotions. And because of those negative emotions, I actually think the sex hurt worse, because neither of us felt as aroused as we could have under normal, healthy conditions.

Two more painful gynecological exams later, I was pretty much just apologized to and told to try a plethora of at-home remedies.  I read online that I could try taking hot baths or painkillers before sex, so I did. I watched Laci Green's sex ed channel on YouTube and found out that certain kinds of lubricant can cause unhealthy bacteria to grow in your vagina, so we ordered special, all-natural lubricant online.

Even my doctor recommended remedies that hadn't been scientifically proven simply in the hopes of offering me relief, such as taking a probiotic supplement. Though she said there wasn't clinical evidence that it would help, she told me many women experienced some relief with the addition of the supplement, and that it would be worth a shot at any rate. I've taken a probiotic ever since then.

Only one idea offered a short-term remedy that didn't last: we quit using latex condoms, and switched to polyisoprene instead. Since quitting the pill, I've actually discovered that I have a latex sensitivity - but since that was only about 50% of the problem, it didn't provide 100% of the solution. I think the sheer belief that quitting latex condoms would solve our problems convinced us at first, but after a few weeks passed by, we realized that something much deeper was going on, a problem that couldn't simply be fixed with shiny new condoms or all-natural lubricant.

Unsurprisingly, the topic of birth control came up more than once at my appointments. I switched up my birth control prescription once or twice before realizing it did no good to replace harmful hormones with more harmful hormones, or different types of harmful hormones.

But at the time, quitting simply didn't feel like an option. To me, going off the pill meant a certain pregnancy - and neither me nor my boyfriend were ready for that, obviously. We were just two kids in high school, and the prospect of raising a baby scared us both equally.

At my third and final doctor's appointment, I was finally referred to a gynecologist (believe it or not, at seventeen years old, I had never visited one before). The referral felt like a glimmer of hope. My doctor built me up to expect the appointment to give me answers that she, as a generalist, hadn't been able to give me.

Getting into the gynecologist proved almost as difficult as the journey that had led me there. I had first tried to schedule an appointment in February or March, and hadn't been able to get in until April. Then, a cancellation had forced me to push the appointment out until June.

That time wasn't easy for our relationship. I don't care to relive it here, but I'll just say that it was full of the same tearful sexual encounters and fights as before - only now, these issues were becoming so deep-seated that they began to chip away at the previously rock-solid foundation of our relationship.

For that reason, my gynecologist's visit became even more of a holy grail. I didn't care about relieving the pain anymore so much as learning how to enjoy sex and please my partner again. But after an hour of intrusive questions about my sex life and the same gynelogical exam and swabs I'd received countless times before, I simply received a diagnosis of "vaginal dryness" and was sent on my merry way.

Sex hurt, but not as much as the disappointment of having to drive home feeling as if my problems were invisible. Even this gynecologist, the specialist who was supposed to have cured me and my relationship problems, had no answers for me. I started to wonder if I was a medical anomaly. I began to oscillate between believing that my body was fundamentally broken, or that my problems were all in my head....

In short, I lost hope.

Why I Finally Had To Quit

The last straw for me was when my birth control started to affect my mood. My physical health was already trash, but I wasn't about to let some stupid pills negatively impact my mental health.

I already had so much wrong with me physically. By that point, no doctor had offered me a solution that had worked for more than a couple of weeks - maybe a month if I was luck. At that point, I was willing and able to accept that the pain and the low sex drive were just something I might have to deal with for the rest of my life.

While I felt a deep and incommunicable sense of grief and disappointment that other girls didn't have to live this way, I understood that some people are just dealt unlucky hands in life. The way I saw it, painful sex and all these other symptoms were just my bout of bad luck.

What I wasn't willing to accept was the damage this medication eventually caused to my mood. It just so happened that I was in the middle of battling a second beast when these physical problems arose: my mental illnesses.

Anxiety had become so deeply ingrained in who I was that I had simply accepted it as a personality trait. My mom tells countless stories of my neuroticism and perfectionism from my childhood that seem funny to her, but to me just seem like hallmarks of my developing disorders.

I was depressed for the first time when I was a sophomore in high school. On top of that, I had intrusive thoughts about suicide that confused and frightened me. I knew in my heart that I didn't want to die, but the thoughts - as so many obsessive thoughts do - popped into my head every time I saw a bottle of pills or a pair of scissors. I didn't know yet that those thoughts were symptoms of my obsessive-compulsive tendencies (my therapist's term for my OCD-like symptoms, which aren't quite enough to warrant a diagnosis but certainly deserve recognition nonetheless).

It actually wasn't until I finally started to open up to my boyfriend about my feelings that he suggested I had reason for concern. He told me that I should ask my parents to see a therapist, which had never crossed my mind before.

At first, we fought every time we talked about the idea. My anxiety made me less than receptive to the idea of opening up to my parents about my feelings, especially because my dad's anxiety became a sore spot in my divorced parents' relationship toward the bitter end. But in the end, I am forever grateful to him for bringing up the subject. Without him, therapy would never have been on my radar, and I wouldn't be where I am now, feeling healthier than I ever have.

I finally started to feel like I could make progress toward getting better. I'd resolved to talk to my mom about therapy, or seek treatment on my own once I became an adult. I was devoting more and more time to self-care practices despite my busy schedule; I started to take baths, write in my journal, and color in mindfulness coloring books. I also read self-help books and pinned mental health articles on Pinterest like nobody's business. My untreated anxiety and depression even became the subject of my second blog, Love, Haley.

And for maybe the first time in my high school career, I didn't do these things because they were productive or would help me get into college, but because they made me happy and I enjoyed them.

Things had finally started to look up for me - until they took a dramatic turn for the worse. The summer before I went to college, just a few short months ago, I entered my third or fourth depressive episode since I was fifteen.

The mental strife, and the strain on my personal relationships, that my depression placed on me opened my eyes to the potential role that birth control may have played in all of my health problems. Around the same time, I started to see articles cropping up around the web that blamed birth control for negative side effects much like the ones I'd experienced: low libido, vaginal dryness, painful sex, anxiety, panic attacks, and depression.

My mental health problems were simply too much for me to deal with. I was desperate for a solution, and if birth control pills were to blame, I wanted them out of my life forever.

In August, I scheduled a physical for my freshman college paperwork. At the appointment, I finally took a bold risk by addressing the mental illness I'd tried so hard for so long to conceal. Subtly, I suggested that I thought birth control might have been linked to my symptoms, so my doctor gave me a questionnaire that tested for anxiety and depression using a numerical scoring system.

Silently, I filled out the survey as honestly, as vulnerably, as I could. Then, I handed it back to her. She tallied my answers, then looked up at me with a serious expression.

I'll never forget what she said to me: "These scores cannot stay this high."

Hearing those words, a glimmer of the hope I'd lost finally returned. Having someone validate your emotions always feels amazing - but the best part was that she acknowledged that my birth control might have been doing this to me.

It wasn't all in my head; I wasn't crazy; I wasn't any less of a woman. I was normal, 18-year-old girl whose medication was making her sick. And so on my doctor's advice, I decided to talk to my boyfriend about quitting the pill.

Why It's So Important To Talk About Birth Control

The narrative of the medical drama I experienced last year contains innumerable examples of stigma. Throughout my birth control journey, I felt ashamed of my body, my health, and my womanhood.

I didn't know how to talk about my problems with my friends, my mom, or even my doctor, sometimes. I constantly felt like I wasn't explaining myself properly, or that other people weren't listening. I also consistently downplayed the amount of pain I had, and what my symptoms were, in order to avoid telling my parents that I wasn't a virgin anymore.

My fear of slut-shaming, and of being punished for having sex, forced me into silence about a very real medical problems I was having. Personally, I feel that this is inherently wrong.

The worst part about stigma, especially when it comes to medical issues, is that it makes us reluctant to talk about what's bothering us, which then makes our problems more difficult to treat. Imagine trying to explain that you hurt your arm without using the word "arm." That's basically how it feels to go to the gynecologist, when you grew up believing that "vagina" was a dirty word - a swear only suitable for porn movies and Amy Schumer skits.

During that year, I learned more about sex, birth control, and my vagina - that's right; I am no longer afraid to say it - than I ever knew before. My school didn't have sex ed, and my parents didn't give me 'the talk,' so when it came to sex, I was on my own. The only thing I knew was that if they found out I was doing it, they probably wouldn't be happy. Not only did I suffer in secret, but I also suffered with very little information available to me. The little information I did have came from my doctor or the Internet.

One important thing I learned in my research? Going off birth control doesn't automatically mean you will get pregnant.

I shouldn't have put up with the physical pain my birth control caused me as long as I did - but for me, the fear of getting pregnant was too great. I had a college scholarship; a bright future ahead of me. Getting pregnant simply wasn't an option, so it wasn't until I began to fear for my mental well-being that I started to realize just how poorly my birth control was treating me.

When I first thought about quitting birth control, getting pregnant felt unavoidable. Unless I replaced it with another hormonal method, like an IUD or an implant, I thought the chances of pregnancy off birth control were much higher than they actually are. Thanks to what I'd seen on TV (since that was pretty much all the sex ed I'd gotten), I was certain that all condoms would inevitably break, and that without a back-up birth control method, I would be doomed.

It wasn't until my doctor told me that condoms, when used correctly, can be just as effective as the pill that I felt comfortable even entertaining the possibility of quitting. Even then, the idea still scared me. Some days, it still does scare me, knowing that someday I could need to take Plan B or even have an abortion - but I feel much more comfortable in my decision now that I have so much more information available to me about different birth control methods, and how my prior birth control method affected my health.

Stigma surrounding my health issues affected the other people in my life, too - not just me. When my boyfriend told his mom he was bringing me to the gynecologist, her first question was an angry "Is she pregnant?" Once he explained what was going on, his mom then turned to wondering in fury why my own mother couldn't take me.

In actuality, it wasn't my mom's fault. It was mine. I wasn't comfortable asking for company, or even having anyone else in the room when I got my exam.

But ultimately, the hardest part of adjusting to my life after birth control wasn't the heavy periods or the cramps, neither of which were as bad as I remembered them. Instead, the greatest challenge I faced was getting my boyfriend to hop on board.

He'd had about the same sexual education that I had, relying on the Internet and porn, and didn't know much of anything about birth control methods. All he knew was that he wanted me on one. For him, getting me pregnant wasn't an option either, as we were both students with our own career goals and paths - but as grateful as I am that he wanted to take precautions against pregnancy, I found myself frustrated as I tried to explain that condoms were just as effective as other forms of birth control.

You see, we weren't always as responsible as we should have been about using condoms when I had been on the pill. Like many men, my boyfriend thought that it "felt better" without one. So did I, because not using a condom had eased some of the pain I had previously been feeling.

When we first started to argue about it, I thought it was my fault for giving him expectations, and for "letting him" have sex without one in the first place. I thought I had set an unhealthy, damaging precedent, when in reality, I had the full right to change the sex rules - and to be comfortable with them - whenever and however I wanted.

After a few days of debate, I finally got through to the real root of his concerns, which wasn't really that sex "felt better" without a condom, but that he still felt uncomfortable without a backup method of birth control. He urged me to try a copper IUD, the only non-hormonal IUD on the market, but I said no because I wasn't comfortable with the risks associated with it.

In the end, I found that the problem wasn't getting him to agree with me, but educating him on the issues. As a guy, he hadn't been taught (or done research on) any information about birth control. As a guy, who doesn't have the birth control options that women do, he never had any reason to.

Put simply, my boyfriend didn't know the facts. He didn't know the risks associated with IUDs, or the efficacy rate of condoms. Once I explained those things to him, he gradually began to come around to seeing things my way, and learned to accept my decision.

It wasn't that my boyfriend was an asshole or wanted to dictate my birth control choices - it was that he just didn't have all the facts necessary to making educated decisions. Once he was given the information that I had, my boyfriend slowly began to understand why my birth control wasn't a good fit for me. Now, we are both comfortable with my choice and enjoy sex much more, since my libido is higher and sex doesn't leave me in excruciating pain.

In that sense, my boyfriend, too, became a victim of women's health stigma. Men have the right to know these things as much as women do. Educating men helps them be better, more understanding partners. We might assume that they don't care or don't need to know, or will try to meddle in our personal health decisions - but in reality, many men are happy and willing to learn these things, if they are only given the opportunity.

My health issues gave my boyfriend the opportunity to learn - something not every man gets in his lifetime. That's why we need comprehensive sexual education for both sexes, about both sexes.

Stigma is a drain on everyone, and over the course of last year, it drained me. I was constantly exhausted from fighting a war with my mind and body. Now, without birth control, I am free in more ways than just one. I am both free of pain - mental and physical - and free of the stigma that society imposed on me.

If there's anything you take away from this blog post, it's not that you should quit birth control. That's not my message. My message, put simply, is educate yourself. You deserve all of the information available to you about what birth control methods are right for you, and how they might be impacting your health. Don't let your parents, your sex ed teacher, or your conservative neighbor hold you back!

Your health is your responsibility. You cannot rely on anyone else to take care of it for you. If you want to feel better, then "vagina" cannot be a dirty word. Sex cannot be a sin, or something reserved for sluts. You cannot be afraid to speak up, and tell a doctor when something is wrong with your body.

Stigma is real. It's real, and it hurts. We all face it every day, regardless of our gender. But the good news is that we can fight it, and that's what I ask you to do today.

I hope I have succeeded in changing your perceptions about birth control. I hope I have challenged your beliefs and the way you think about your body. Most of all, to anyone who has struggled the way that I have, I hope I give you hope.

Help break the stigma! Share your period or birth control story in the comments below.

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The Future Is Female (My Thoughts on the 2016 Election)

Dear Millennial Women,

When I first started blogging, I never thought to use my voice for anything more than writing book reviews, sharing Polyvore sets, and snapping pictures of food porn. (Bit of background: I started my first-ever blog, the Chick Lit Kitchen, to showcase my 15-year-old self's favorite books, fashion, and recipes.) Today, as a somewhat-more-enlightened journalism major, I realize that as a writer, I have an inherent responsibility to advocate for my audience.

While this isn't a political blog by any means, it is a blog for millennial women. I am a part of this demographic, and this demographic largely constitutes the audience of my work. Consequently, millennial women are also one of the demographics I fear most for over the course of the next four years.

My heart hurts for the outcome of the 2016 presidential election. I ache for the little girls whose dreams of becoming the President of the United States have been brutally crushed (I, too, was one of those hopeful girls, once upon a time); for the black girls facing cries of "White supremacy wins" (to me, it never will); for the Muslim-American women who are terrified to wear the hijab in public; for the LGBTQ ladies who fear they won't be able to marry the women they love, or that they'll be brutally beaten for using the wrong public restroom.

My own fear of a Donald Trump presidency stems from a lot of places deep within me. I am a sexually-active college woman who isn't currently using birth control for health reasons. I don't think I'll start birth control again, but I'm afraid that if ever I want to, I will no longer have the choice, nor the privilege of having my prescriptions provided to me for free. That being said, I also fear the ominous possibility that if Trump follows through on his campaign promise to ban abortion and "punish" women who seek them, I won't be careful enough and will end up bearing a child long before my time.

But this isn't just about me. Many of us share these similar fears. Many of us are college-age women, who not only fear for Planned Parenthood, but fear for our own educational careers. Under Donald Trump's presidency, there is a very real possibility that the United States' economy could tank. Next year, after filling out the FAFSA and receiving our aid packages, I expect we'll feel the effects of that economic burden.

For all the ladies who will graduate into the working world throughout Trump's presidency, I worry that the job market will be tougher than ever. Under President Obama, the United States saw historically low unemployment rates. Trump will not maintain the policies that have healed our country from economic recession. He will deregulate the economy, giving too-big-to-fail economic giants the same broad authority and discretion that brought about the financial disaster of 2008.

As a journalism major, I am also terrified by Trump's embrace of Russia and China, two countries where the state limits dissent and censors the media. I will be graduating into the America that Donald Trump has shaped to his volatile whims, and I do not have a hopeful view of what my profession will look like in 2020.

I know that many of us are sick and tired of hearing about the election and its consequences. On some level, so am I - but I refuse to condone hatred. That goes for both our president-elect, and the people who elected him. Their hate is inexcusable, but so is ours. Whether we support Trump or not, we cannot take our anger out on those who hold views different from our own, simply because they are different. That would make us no better than him.

Wednesday night, I stood with the roughly 10,000 protesters in Boston, Mass who spoke out against Trump's victory. As cathartic as it was to scream "F*ck Donald Trump" with one of my best friends from high school, I can honestly say that the vision of so many saddened, enraged, terrified Americans shook me to my core. How did we become so filled with hatred? How did I, someone who wants nothing more than her safety and her rights protected by her government, become a part of this deplorable, worldwide phenomenon?

Still, I'm not done protesting. Admittedly, I will probably continue to scream, and shout, and rant on social media for a long, long time. My heart is hardened by this election. I am angry about what happened this year - not only in the presidential election, but overall, both in America and around the world. Between terrorist attacks abroad, mass shootings, police violence, and now this, I will probably spend much of my lifetime overcome by grief.

But I am also hopeful for a different approach: taking action.

Today, I signed up for Amnesty International's Write for Rights campaign. Each year, Amnesty International takes on twelve human rights cases worldwide. For example, this year, one of their cases is encouraging President Obama to pardon Edward Snowden. I hope that by helping Amnesty International address human rights abuses around the globe, I will somehow be able to atone for the past and future abuses of our country's next president. You, too, can Write for Rights by signing up here.

Write for Rights alone is not enough to overcome the absurd amount of hatred in this country and around the globe. I know that, and you know, that there are not enough volunteer opportunities, campaigns, protests, or human rights organizations in the entire universe to atone for all of the sins humankind has committed throughout its short history here on earth.

Yet still, we can try. And we should try.

As millennial women, I believe we have an inherent responsibility to stand up for our own rights, and for the rights of others, that are being abused. On that note, here is a brief, incomplete list of ways I would encourage you to get involved in the democratic process in the aftermath of 2016:

• Donate or volunteer. Organizations like Planned Parenthood, Americorps, and the ACLU will all need your help now more than ever. A short, but by no means exhaustive, list of suggested organizations can be found on Buzzfeed.
• Attend a love rally or peaceful protest in your city. Not all protests right now are aimed at venting anger - some, like the love rallies occurring around the nation today, direct support at groups who might feel victimized after the election. Peaceful protest is a safe and legal way to fight back against hatred.
• Become a listener on a site like 7 Cups. Suicide hotlines received a record number of calls after the results of the 2016 election. Volunteering your time to provide emotional support to people who are left feeling vulnerable, scared, alone, angry, or depressed by American politics right now will have a direct and measurable impact on these people's lives.
• Write to your congressperson. Trump can only do so much by executive order. Many of his policies will require the approval of your local congresspeople. Reach out to them - they are there to hear your concerns. Encourage them to vote in a way that protects your rights and the rights of victimized minorities.
• Help elect officials who will protect your rights. Some elected officials' terms will expire during the Trump presidency. Work with political organizations and campaigns in your community to elect officials who will vow to protect your rights against the abuses of this demagogue.

I promise that after this election season, I will try not to bring politics back into this blog for a long time. America has healing to do, and part of that healing is learning how to turn our attention back to self-care and everyday life. However, this is an extraordinary time in our political history. I cannot and will not remain silent.

This blog gives me a unique platform to speak out against hatred. I will exercise that right as freely as I can, for as long as I still can. Under the dictatorial leadership of a man who condones a state-owned media, I wake up every day wondering for how much longer this right will still exist.

That man, Donald Trump, is not, and will never be, my president.

Writing, protesting, and speaking out against hatred are my ways of healing from the aftermath of 2016. I hope that you, too, will find your own way to recover and cope with the results of this year's devastating and tragic election. Please stay safe, take care of yourself, and do what you have to do to feel as good as you possibly can about the future of our country.

American democracy is not dead. Planned Parenthood refuses to go down. Blacks and Muslims and LGBTQ people are here to stay. The revolution lives on.

In that revolution, for me, lies hope.

Wishing you love, kindness, peace, and hope,

Haley Marie

P.S. If any of you are feeling scared or unsafe, or just need to talk about what happened, please do not hesitate to reach out to me in the comments below, on social media, or privately via e-mail. 

Free expression and open political discussion are encouraged, but hateful speech will not be tolerated and will be removed.

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How to Build an Affordable Work Wardrobe

For many millennial women, what to wear to an internship or entry-level job is one of those dilemmas that haunts them throughout their college careers. Putting together a professional wardrobe can be a daunting task - especially when you barely have the funds to buy pizza on a Saturday night.

Luckily, your career isn't the runway by any means, unless you happen to be a model, designer, or other member of the fashion industry. Most of us can easily put together a simple, yet elegant work wardrobe from ready-to-wear separates sold at any old department store.

Think of this wardrobe as a "starter kit." These probably aren't the pieces you'll own for the rest of your life. Unfortunately, cheap clothing doesn't tend to last that long. But this wardrobe will achieve its true goal: getting you through your broke-ass twenties. You may need to invest in a new purse in a few years, have a tailor repair a rip in your pants, or pick up a piece here and there, but you'll never be stuck without an appropriate outfit for a job interview, internship, or entry-level position.

Most importantly, you'll have a 12-piece professional wardrobe - and only a $270 dent in your bank account. Spread out over $50-60 purchases every paycheck, you'll hardly notice the dent at all. Think of it as an investment in your career! The better dressed we are, the more confident we feel, the more professional we're viewed by others, and the more likely we are to knock that important presentation out of the park.

My picks:

Black purse. Primark, $12.  

A little black bag is an important staple in any work wardrobe. Stuff it with workday essentials, like hand sanitizer, bobby pins, and, of course, snacks for the ultimate survival kit.

Leather watch. H&M, $20.  

Always have the time when the cute guy at work (not to mention your boss) asks. The leather wristband and gold face give it a vintage feel that translates into every season.

Navy blouse. Primark, $13.  

Neutral navy keeps this blouse versatile for every outfit. The short sleeves make it perfect to pair with a blazer or cardigan for winter/formal occasions - but it can still stand alone for the hot summer months.

Blue pants. Primark, $18.  

A blue pinstripe gives these pants a classy vibe, while the bow waist keeps it fresh and edgy for the fashion-forward employee. You'll look smart and feel comfortable during every meeting.

White blouse. H&M, $10.  

Every lady needs a white blouse in her closet. Ruffles add a feminine detail that keeps this work essential from getting too stuffy.

Navy skirt. H&M, $25.  

The pencil skirt, like the white blouse, is a staple in any girl's work wardrobe. Perfect for when you're not feeling pants, but don't want to show too much leg to the guys at the office.

Pink blazer. Primark, $26.  

Blazers push an outfit over the edge from stylish to professional. Throw it over pants for a menswear vibe, or take it a more feminine direction by adding a pretty pink touch to any dress.

Grey pants. Primark, $16.  

These pants dress up the jogger trend in a work-appropriate way. Pair them with a blazer for casual comfort, or a blouse for serious board room power.

Colorful dress. H&M, $50.  

Splurge on this figure-hugging patterned dress to add a pop of color to your wardrobe. Bonus: the grown-up silhouette will mature your wardrobe, so you'll never have to worry about being taken seriously as a millennial!

Nude flats. Primark, $18.  

A touch of silver keeps these shoes and young and fashion-forward, while the nude body means they'll match everything. Wear them to dress down an overly-formal outfit for a coffee date or brainstorming sesh.

White dress. Topshop, $50.  

Every girl needs a power outfit in her work wardrobe - well, this is yours. You're guaranteed to get sh*t done in this stunning wrap dress that will have the whole meeting's eyes on you.

Black heels. Primark, $11.  

A good pair of black heels is one of those basics no girl should have to live without. At just $11, these beauties are an absolute steal.

My advice:

Buy one outfit at a time.

This piece of advice is an oldie, but goodie from my mom, who was forced into the working world in her early twenties: for your first couple of paychecks, set aside enough money to buy one work outfit. In just a couple of paychecks, you'll have enough clothes to fill an entire wardrobe!

Splitting up your outfit purchases into manageable chunks will help you afford the economic burden of putting together a whole new wardrobe. You won't have to shell out crazy sums of money all at once, meaning that you'll still have enough money to buy groceries, pay off student loans, and get sh*t done - all while building up your professional closet. Plus, as an added bonus, you get the amazingly fun experience of getting to go shopping once a paycheck - if only for a little while.

In the meantime, while you wait to build up a canon of professional clothing, you probably have more work-appropriate fashion hanging in your closet than you may even realize. Between the blazers, nice dresses, pencil skirts, and blouses you already have, you'll certainly be able to make do during the adjustment period of shopping for new clothes.

Know the dress code.

Many workplaces have their own specific codes of dress; however, if you're a college student or still searching for a job, knowing the basic rules of your industry will help you put together an affordable wardrobe that's both cute and appropriate. That way, you can hopefully avoid the sticky predicament of getting in trouble with HR on the first day!

Most workplaces probably follow a business casual or business dress code. For business casual, nice tops or blouses, pants or skirts, and semi-casual dresses are all acceptable. With business casual, you also have a little more room to play with color and accessories than you would in a business setting. Business dress codes, on the other hand, require you to dress a little more formally and use a little less color. Think pantsuits, blazers, and pencil skirts in shades of black and gray.

In general, how you dress depends on what field you work in as well as where you work. For example, a nurse knows she has to wear scrubs to work no matter where she's employed, whereas a lawyer knows she probably shouldn't wear bright pink in the courtroom. It's also important to note that the rules of dress differ a little bit for creative fields, like tech startups and design, where it's important to incorporate color and patterns that show off your imagination!

At any workplace, you'll want to avoid wearing anything your grandmother wouldn't be proud of - meaning, hemlines below the knee and no low-cut or see-through tops. One tip I have is to always check both sides of your reflection before you leave the house. That way, you won't miss an important wardrobe malfunction around back, like a too-short hemline or being able to see your panties through your skirt (oops!).

Also, keep in mind that you'll want to have business formal and business clothes no matter where you work, as different occasions might require a different dress code. For example, at an interview or when starting a new position, it's always a good idea to dress more formally than you think you need to. Once you start working there, you can follow the example of others in your office for wardrobe inspiration - but until then, it's best to dress conservatively.

Stick to a color palette.

3-5 colors is all you need to keep your wardrobe versatile, yet still fresh and interesting. Choose one or two favorite shades (in my example wardrobe, I chose pink) and complement them with neutral colors like whites, blacks, browns, navies, and nudes.

When choosing a color palette, always keep in mind the dress code of where you work. Neutral colors are more appropriate for business or business formal settings than bright primary or secondary colors - whereas for a creative internship or job as an elementary school teacher, bright colors might even be the norm.

To get the most wear out of your separates, don't depart from the color palette. Having one brightly-colored skirt that can only be worn with one, specific shirt in your closet won't help you get the most value out of your money. Instead, choose pieces that largely match the others in your wardrobe.

Don't forget to consider how often you'll wear certain pieces, too. Pieces like blazers, pants, and skirts that you'll wear with a variety of different outfits will serve you better in neutral shades. On the other hand, you can almost certainly afford that "pop" of personality you're craving with a colorful blouse or dress.

Mix & match separates.

If you want to put together a professional wardrobe with a minimal number of pieces, the key is to choose pieces that can be mixed and matched. Sticking to a color palette helps, because it ensures that you won't wind up with a canary yellow blazer in a sea of baby blues and lilacs. But it's also important to consider characteristics that would make it hard to wear a certain piece. For example, is a blouse difficult to tuck into a skirt or pants? Can you wear a jacket with this dress?

Before you buy anything, experts recommend that you think of three ways to wear the piece using clothes you already own. This helps you ensure that you can mix and match your wardrobe before you even buy anything! 

Here are some examples of ways I would mix and match these picks for an affordable professional wardrobe:

Pink blazer + white dress + heels

Pink blazer + grey pants + flats

Pink blazer + white blouse + navy skirt + heels

White blouse + blue pants + heels

White blouse + grey pants + heels

Navy blouse + gray pants + flats

Navy blouse + blue pants + heels

Navy blouse + navy skirt + heels

Invest in functional accessories. 

One purse, one watch, and two pairs of shoes - those are all the accessories I included in my professional wardrobe. In my opinion, you shouldn't need more than that, at least in the beginning. 

The key to stretching your shoes and other accessories is choosing neutral colors that can be worn with every outfit. For bags and shoes, black, grey, brown, nude, and white work well with every outfit. You can also choose an accent color from your color palette if you're feeling a little friskier with your fashion choices.

As far as jewelry goes, chances are you already have plenty of jewelry in your collection, and don't need to buy more specifically for work. I generally wear jewelry I've been given as a gift rather than going out and buying my own.

Regardless, when dressing for a job, I recommend choosing one color of jewelry - silver or gold - that matches your color palette, and sticking with it. Mixing and matching silver and gold looks cool on the street, but doesn't necessarily leave a sleek and professional impression on your coworkers.

The one piece of jewelry you might want to invest in, if you don't already have one, is a watch. Watches are business-appropriate and helpful in situations where it might not be okay to keep your phone attached to your hip. Plus, dainty leather ones like the one I picked out from H&M are just as trendy as they are practical! (Everyone on campus is wearing them.)

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