I have this idea for a series on Reels/TikTok that my boyfriend helped me research—he even wrote a script for it. It’s been on my to-do list for what feels like a couple of months, but I finally started working on it this past weekend and realized he wrote his script around the beginning of January. It’s been more than half a year already! What is time?! I’ve heard that with each passing year of your life, time seems to pass more and more quickly… I hope that’s not true because it’s already too fast for me at the ripe age of 24.
What’s New?
- I crossed off a new country this month (Mexico) which was not on my 2024 bingo card but a very exciting addition. I visited Ensenada and Cabo on my first cruise with my boyfriend’s family. You can read all about the experience in this blog post. Growing up, my family always took “trip” vacations, not relaxing vacations, so the cruise was very new to me. I think I still prefer spending my travel money seeing the sites, BUT I really get the relaxation angle now and will definitely be incorporating more of that into some of my trips moving forward.
- I have been quietly working on a rebrand for Graceful Rags!!! I’ve been brainstorming all summer and spent the past week or so getting really serious about the changes I want to make. If all goes according to plan, I will be rolling out a new website and new NAME on September 16th. I can’t wait to share it all with you!
Today’s Outfit
I’ve shown clips of this fabulous red dress in a couple of different Reels, but it deserves its own moment on the blog. When I first received this piece from Clara Sunwoo, I was surprised by how fancy and luxe it felt in real life (I was expecting more of a maxi dress vibe than a gown). Once I put it on I did not want to take it off—I was prancing around the apartment late into the evening! It just fits like a glove and is so glamorous. I’ve never felt more like a movie star.
Since the dress was much fancier than I expected, I wasn’t sure where I would wear it. Finally, my boyfriend convinced me I could dress it down a little for our cruise. I saved it for Friday, “elegant night,” and got so many compliments! To make it a little more casual I paired it with a raffia clutch and nude heels—as well as layered necklaces. I love the contrast of the turquoise against the red. It’s still quite the statement piece, but I think the thoughtful accessories made it perfect for the cruise. My hair was at the mercy of the wind, though!
Oh, and I purchased the viral Cakes nipple covers to pair with the dress, as the fabric by itself is very revealing. The nipple covers stayed on all night, but I think they would be better suited with a slightly more form fitting bodice.
Top Performing Blog Posts in August
Top Performing Social Media Posts
Favorite Outfits from August
Both of these outfits are fairly recent! I’ve worn the one on the left before, but it’s still one of my favorite work outfits (with one of my favorite blouses of all time!). The look on the right was new for me, and even though it’s simple, I just felt so cute and put-together while wearing it. The photo really doesn’t do it justice.
What I Watched
- Black Bird—This show is based off true events of a man who was sent to prison for 10 years and presented an offer by the FBI—if he could elicit a confession from suspected serial killer Larry Hall, his sentence would be commuted. The six-episode series started slow but was really good by the end. Such a fascinating story.
- Deadpool and Wolverine—My boyfriend and I saw this in theaters, and while it wasn’t as good at the first one, we both still enjoyed it enough and laughed out loud several times.
What I Read
I didn’t end up reading much this month, but I’m *almost* done with In Cold Blood by Truman Capote, which I’ve been really enjoying. It was written in the 60s and details the real-life murders of a family in Kansas in 1959. It’s really sad but really well written—and as I understand it, it kind of started the genre of non-fiction that reads more like a story (though I could be wrong about that).
August Spotify Playlist
This month’s playlist is short and sweet—a couple of songs I heard on the cruise, a couple from the waiting room for my laser appointment (ha), and a few randos. You can check it out here. I heard the song “I Started a Joke” by the Bee Jees in Baby Reindeer (I think) and I can’t stop listening to it.
What I’m Looking Forward to in September
- My new website launch!!! As I already mentioned, I’m beyond excited to share this new name and vision. I’ve never felt particularly proud of Graceful Rags, and I think the much sleeker, more modern website I’ve been building will go a long way in helping me feel like my blog is an accomplishment worth celebrating.
- September 18th marks three years that my boyfriend and I have been dating, so we’re thinking about recreating our first date to celebrate. I also imagine we’ll squeeze in one or two fall dates before we officially enter Spooky Season!
This Month on Graceful Rags
- Outfits I’m Packing for My First Cruise
- Outfits of the Week #31
- Weekly Recap #31, 2024
- Keep or Return: Can I Make 3 Outfits with This New Sweater?
- July 2024 Month in Review
- TJ Maxx Try-On Haul
- Outfits of the Week #32
- Weekly Recap #32, 2024
- I Just Needed a Holiday
- Outfits of the Week #33
- Weekly Recap #33, 2024
- Brunch Fest Outfit Ideas
- Swim Coverup In-Store vs. Styled
- What to Expect on Your First Cruise
- Weekly Recap #34, 2024
- What I Wore on My First Cruise
- Outfits of the Week #34
- Fall Transition Outfits Already in My Closet
Hope you had a great August and are looking forward to the new month. As always, thanks for reading!
Miles of smiles,
Grace
Dress: Clara Sunwoo, gifted for collaboration, $165 ($165 per wear) | Nude Heels: Amazon, $46 ($3.07 per wear), last worn here | Raffia Clutch: Amazon, $16 ($3.20 per wear)