outfits worn to camp pick up (vol. 2)
some days it’s adam sandler. some days it’s camp pickup couture.
Last year around this time I wrote one of my favorite posts, Outfits I Wore To Camp Pickup. It was all about not waiting for an event or specific plan to wear your special pieces.
With a few weeks of camp down, I decided to write the sequel! I kept in mind that same idea of getting dressed for joy and not caring if it’s a bit overdressed for the day.
A few weeks ago I published a post where I shared some outfits from a person who “claims they don’t get dressed” over the summer. Someone fairly asked, what does that mean, you don’t get dressed?
I answered it as follows: My default outfit is often basketball shorts and an oversized Comfort Colors tank (men’s XL) with rainbow flip flops. To be clear, I am not living in a nudist colony. I still wear clothes. I just happen to prefer the ones that feel like pajamas.
I still wear this outfit, especially when I’m at the lake, because it’s basically my unofficial uniform for life. Very Adam Sandler. Very much the way I like it.
Sometimes it’s my reward for having to get dressed professionally from September to June. A chance to rebel and choose comfort. Which will last for a while... until I get that itch to start exercising my creative muscles by putting together outfits that make me happy.
So here are the actual outfits I wore as a mom of two, a teacher on summer break, as I crossed the hot turf to bring my sunscreen-bathed children (which is an act similar to catching a greased pig) to rec camp.
CAMP PICKUP LOOK 1:
I snagged these track shorts on Depop, and you know when you absolutely nail it on the secondhand market? It has to be the equivalent of winning the Super Bowl. This is my Super Bowl. This outfit was heavily inspired by Lindsay Sword’s post on casual summer fits!
CAMP PICKUP LOOK 2:
This fit served a dual purpose: camp concrete jungle runway and a seamless transition to a nice little date night with the Four-Shirted Husband™. Might I add it was a date night WITH a seasonal tasting menu. NEVER turn down the tasing menu.
The outfit felt a little bleh, so I added a few tiny pops of red: a cashmere sweater draped around my shoulders and a striped crochet bag.
CAMP PICKUP LOOK 3:
Trying to add more color to my daily fits (a la Xue’s post from last week). She confirmed that I’m not, in fact, a boring beige babe, and I realized maybe I’ve been maintaining a completely inaccurate personal brand.
CAMP PICKUP LOOK 4:
It was getting toward the end of the week, and somewhere between my irrational fear of lettuce1 and my refusal to breathe air that hasn’t first been processed through my HEPA filter, I found the courage to be bold(ish). For me at least.
CAMP PICKUP LOOK 5:
I really wanted a pair of Margaux flats, but the price was just not sitting right with me. I found a similar pair I liked and immediately had a vision that, with a few personal edits, I could turn them into the flats of my dreams.
So, I grabbed my scissors, sent myself thoughts and prayers and got to work…
…Voilà! Exactly the way I wanted them.
CAMP PICKUP LOOK 6:
This should be titled: What I wore to camp pickup and then to the medspa after. An easy B&W fit courtesy of Madeline Rose Nachbar’s post. Low-key my stomach clearly never sees the sun.
BONUS - FAMILY PARTY FIT
Because sometimes it’s just too damn hot for pants. Wore this dress to my nephew’s pool party. Melissa McCarthy in Bridesmaids knows the deal (IYKYK).
RECENT UNSUNG HEROS
THERMAL BRUSH - When Paige DeSorbo talks, I listen. She made the bold statement that this brush does what she wishes her Dyson would do. Naturally, I had to try it. It gave me that fresh blowout feeling and, unlike my Amazon thermal brush, I was really impressed by how well the style held throughout the day.
HAIR OIL - I looked up my Amazon orders and realized I purchased this hair oil three years ago on Prime Day. I don’t even think I’m 1/4 of the way through the bottle. It’s a great product to finish any look with instant smoothness and shine.
TANNING WATER + BRUSH - I saw Tricia Torley singing the praises of this tanning water so when Saltyface offered to gift me one to try, I was all in. I consider myself a highly experienced self-tanner (St. Tropez, Loving Tan, Tan-Luxe, Isle of Paradise… I’ve tried ‘em all!) I laughed at the little brush because I thought, “I don’t need this. I’m a professional” Turns out, the brush was a game changer. I woke up with the most perfect natural glow.
More RaMbLiNg you might enjoy:
Anyway, the moral of the story: you don’t need a fancy occasion to wear the outfit. We know this by now! Camp pickup is an occasion. The grocery store is an occasion. Existing on a god damn Tuesday is an occasion.
Love ya, mean it!
💓 If you enjoy reading (or listening to) Rambling in Style, here are a few ways to show your support: tap the heart, restack this post, leave a comment, subscribe, or share with a friend!
Feeling generous? Buy me a coffee here—just a tip for my work, all love, no strings.
The fear of lettuce mostly comes from the fact that I didn’t realize I needed to be moderately fearful of it.
Omg what do you think of Tan-Luxe? I’m looking for a really natural-looking self-tanner but I’ve never tried one because I’m terrified of the orange effect.
Inspired by your looks Traci! I love the purple sundress!! and great idea with the ballet flats. Happy Summer!