Only Looking Up Dearly Bethany

I think all of us this year have felt at some point like it’s not worth it to get ready for the day. A lot of people experienced working at home for the first time or just being at home more in general… and so I think we all went through a slump of PJs-all-day, no makeup, hair in a bun, etc. But if we don’t break out of that eventually, it can do some serious damage to our motivation and life outlook. So I want to be your personal Edna Mode for a second and just say, "Pull yourself togetha!"

My 4 reasons why getting ready every day still matters:
It’s a mood lifter.
When you’re just in your home, dressing for your day can lift your mood and make you feel more prepared. It’s just like the psychology behind making your bed; it can be a small way you tell yourself that you’ve got this.

Instead of staying in PJs (or sweats, or any combination thereof), pick out a pair of pants that are still comfortable. Match it with a cute top and some shoes that elevate your knees while sitting down at a desk. You can skip the makeup if you like, but a bonus is to spritz on perfume. You’ll be aware that you got ready for the day and that you smell amazing.

This is the magic to making work-from-home work for you. A 2012 study called this "enclothed cognition," where clothing such as a lab coat can be connected to a new outlook such as feeling more intelligent. The study noted that wearing specific pieces of clothing can influence a person’s psychological well being.

Style is more noticeable than ever before.
For those wearing masks when you go out, you’ll be showing less of your facial expressions and your makeup. Your outfit will speak more toward your self expression than ever before. And while I’ve kept my distance, I feel more bonded with strangers and friends because clothing can be a conversation piece (albeit a muffled one).

Use this time to find your personal style.
If you're spending less time with coworkers or people you know, this can be a great season to find your personal style without feeling any judgment. You can figure out which styles of clothing work for you and find your personal self expression, or just figure out how clothing can fit your frame properly.

Take photos of yourself in the clothes you already own, and reassess what matches YOU while dressing for YOURSELF. If you feel comfortable enough in wearing something around your house, then you’ll hardly notice that you’re wearing it out in public.

BTW- I did this personally. I wanted to figure out my personal style, so I posted a photo of my outfit every day. Even if I would have kept those photos just for reference on my phone, it gave me self awareness and dedicated time to assess how I want to dress myself.

You might still see another human being.
IDK about you, but I hate being caught wearing my PJs past noon. Instead, part of why I get dressed is:


to keep my marriage hot! (I went there, folks)
to be that chic neighbor next door walking to the mailbox (it's the new catwalk)
to wave hi to the food delivery person (the hero of 2020)

These interactions still mean something, and getting dressed is a form of manners. As life gets more push-button-easy and we come in contact with fewer people, I hope that we don’t drift into apathy of just existing half asleep still wearing our sweats all day. What if instead we paid this attention to ourselves? How would that self respect ripple through our community and push into a healthier outlook?

My dream is this: fight the drift, squeeze every ounce of joy and fulfillment out of this life, and be ready for your day with a renewed sense of energy and confidence. And it all starts with getting ready in the morning.

xo, Bethany

My video podcast guest is Katie Talbot. She is my vocal coach, neighbor and friend. She performed weekly out in LA and worked alongside Nashville’s best coaches such as Brett Manning. She has taught over 4000 lessons, touring and vocal producing with artists. Some of her artists include Noah Cyrus, Raelynn, and Chris Bandi. She helps singers find their personal style and confidence in their unique voice.

Today we sit down to just chat about life and learn a little bit more about each other. We’ve only been friends for a few months, so it was fun to share her with you guys today and learn more about her.

Watch the video version: https://youtu.be/id9wFz8CeGA



// Where to Follow Katie Talbot //

Katie’s website https://www.vocallabcollective.com

Katie’s YouTube channel https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCa9GyTms1Kyve7Pyj3i-Vnw


Her latest video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ykxgp8hWxs

Katie’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thekttalbot/



// Mentioned //

Brett Manning https://www.youtube.com/user/SingingSuccess

Pietramelara Italy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLqXb_TxK0Y

Céline Dion https://www.youtube.com/user/CelineDionTV



// Socials //

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/dearlybethany

INSTAGRAM: http://www.instagram.com/dearlybethany

PINTEREST: https://www.pinterest.com/dearlybethany

LIKEtoKNOW.it: https://www.liketoknow.it/dearlybethany

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/dearlybethany

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/dearlybethany



// Music from Musicbed //

Musicbed Membership for Creators (get a 30-day free trial with my link): http://share.mscbd.fm/dearlybethany

These are the brands I have on my wishlist for the upcoming season. Some of them I have shopped from in the past that I want to revisit, while other are on my radar.



1:04 // Brand 1: Apparel https://rstyle.me/+I8PqRgOPedkWhJWnEJkb9A

- Tee I purchased from them, XS https://rstyle.me/+P0OHi7SqSCf7pM5nkEuHQg

2:28 // Brand 2: Shoes https://rstyle.me/+88XiKAJ0Xy7CrVAkLT4a8Q

- Sandal: https://rstyle.me/+R-D9L69zl1FYbjekUIuDFQ

- Boot: https://rstyle.me/+yN8NqYESmWnb9NHKj8eZSg

- Mule: https://rstyle.me/+8fKb6_SVn5qwVFUnpqtcuw

- (Similar Brand) Nisolo: https://rstyle.me/+8GlKoLUgGQcIz-gNHl559Q

4:35 // Brand 3: Beauty https://rstyle.me/+l4v3eBM1U1tl1B51nMQ71w

- Eyeshadow: https://rstyle.me/+PHXVCXidYDCUVMNgaTHG1A

- Lip & Cheek duo: https://rstyle.me/+KHRS3v_9zQtaT3wk5GrNbw

6:16 // Brand 4: Home (Splurge) http://bit.ly/luxury-linens-BN

- (Similar/Cheaper Brand): Parachute Home https://rstyle.me/+nmrVswhqGw7PAA8rvks83A

- (Similar/Cheaper Brand): Brooklinen https://rstyle.me/+iCBD2njel77VxRqE8b2yCA 

8:26 // Brand 5: Fitness https://rstyle.me/+uGVIVZ-KswCrO8g62lPGdQ

 - (Mentioned) Brittany Bathgate's channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClSU1QnAmx4F1wA4cf2PSYg

- (Similar Brand) Girlfriend Collective: https://rstyle.me/+ZiC5XgqlFt1_8n7DdY2MFg

10:32 // Bonus! http://bit.ly/cgd-planners 



// Socials //

MY PODCAST: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/only-looking-up/id1450961584

INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/dearlybethany

PINTEREST: https://www.pinterest.com/dearlybethany  

LIKEtoKNOW.it: https://www.liketoknow.it/dearlybethany

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/dearlybethany

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/dearlybethany 

*Nothing about this video podcast is sponsored, and no pieces were gifted for the sake of this post. When you shop some of these items, you are supporting this channel by using affiliate links. Thank you for supporting this channel! 



// Music from Musicbed //

Musicbed Membership for Creators (get a 30-day free trial with my link): http://share.mscbd.fm/dearlybethany 

Make the next six months of the year the best ever. 

Well guys we’re half way through the year already. It’s a great time to dust off that New Year’s Resolutions list we made 6 months ago. Here’s my plan on how to live these next 6 months out to the fullest and win at all your goals. 

// Mentioned & Resources //

High Performance Habits https://rstyle.me/+DJu2XxHipzSRBVEB8ENjMw

Dan Miller’s Podcast (48 Days to the Work You Love) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/48-days-to-the-work-you-love-internet-radio-show/id178145160

I started over on my personal style a little over 2 years ago. Before that I didn’t have anything to wear that I felt confident in or that matched. I felt like it was holding me back as a petite woman in a design field. I started over with a basic color scheme and really a capsule of just the most basic items I needed to survive that season. Each item was made with fair-trade practices and quality in mind, so I spent more on those initial pieces that I ever had spent before. I had to tell myself that I’m paying for quality and craftsmanship, and I felt pride in what they made. I took care of those pieces and I still have most of them today.

I started taking my OOTD photo every day on Instagram for a full year, and since then I’ve developed a closet that works together well. EVERYTHING matches. I no longer have cheaply made jewelry or fabrics that just fell apart on me anyway, and I did that with intention. So even though naturally I’ve expanded my collection over time, I’m never flippantly buying things that I’m going to throw away.

So 5 fashion Items I’ve started investing in:


High Quality Fabrics
Gold or Brass Jewelry
Higher-end Lingerie
Versatile Shoes
High Quality Purses and Bags

These investments are almost all accessories. Invest in daily higher-end items that people won’t get sick of seeing you in. If you will be interacting with many of the same people every day, then I would avoid wearing anything easily recognizable like “Oh you’re wearing the polka-dotted hoodie with the bunny ears again”. 

Investing in the right parts of your closet is important. Hopefully this is a good direction if you’re not sure where to begin. Hopefully it helps you find the best return on your wardrobe investment.

I break a ton of "petite" rules with my wardrobe. 

Life is too short to stick to strict laws when it comes to fashion. You need to have fun with it. However, these are the clothes you will rarely find in my closet, things I try to avoid as a 5'1 woman. 

// Music from Musicbed //

Musicbed Membership for Creators: http://share.mscbd.fm/dearlybethany 

// Things I Mentioned //

Book by Emily Henderson (Interior Design) https://rstyle.me/+X59wiCZvAdgdgEgvipRemg

When you shop some of these items, you are supporting this podcast by using the affiliate links.