Fitbit

My Fitbit Alta HR

Leave a Comment / Lifestyle, Wellness / By / April 28, 2021
Sunflowers and the Fitbit Alta HR.

I bought my Fitbit Alta HR in September 2018. I have to say, our two years together have been quite productive. First and foremost, it helped me get the most out of my gym membership. I joined my current fitness center (now temporarily closed) in July 2017. Prior to wearing my Fitbit, I felt obligated to visit the gym every day and to maximize every workout to its fullest potential. That was too much pressure, so I hardly went at all.

After I started tracking my physical activity, I realized that every step I took improved my overall fitness. I initially set my goal to 10,000 steps (~4.25 miles) a day but raised it to 15,000 (~6.25 miles) one month later. The walks to and from the gym and on the treadmill were opportunities to get more steps. The thrill of meeting my daily goal incentivized me to take walks at every opportunity. Determined to see the victory rocket fly across the screen before midnight, I’d pace in my kitchen or hallway in the evening. (In fact, I’m pacing in my kitchen as I draft this post on my phone.)

My steps serve as the base of my daily physical activity. Unfortunately, I stopped using my Fitbit for about four months whilst getting acclimated to working from home. I’ve since recommitted. Oh, how I’ve missed its benefits: lower resting heart rate, pounds easily lost, and toning in unexpected places. I’ve started back up with a goal of 10,000 but anticipate aiming higher when the time is right.

How to Establish a Color Palette

Leave a Comment / Lessons, Style / By / July 19, 2021
Lauren Ralph Lauren dress, J.McLaughlin basket bag, and Superga 2790 Acotw.

Establishing a color palette is an essential aspect of developing your personal style. A wardrobe’s palette is made up of base colors, accent colors, and patterns (note: I’m not going to acknowledge prints on this blog unless they’re on silk scarves). The base colors are the ones that appear in your lineup most often. Unless you are Elle Woods, your base colors are probably neutrals (as they should be). Their job is to anchor your outfits while the accent colors and patterns add interest to the mix.

If you’ve read Develop Your Personal Style with These 3 Habits, you’ll recall that you can discover a lot about your clothing preferences by window shopping. To uncover your color palette, observe the hues that appear in your wardrobe. If you are overhauling your closet, think about your ideal clothing selection. Rank the colors according to quantity in a hierarchy pyramid. Whatever color(s) you see on the bottom of your pyramid is the base of your palette. The colors that appear less often are the accent colors. I’ll illustrate this point using my own palette as an example.

Blue, specifically navy, is my primary base color, followed by black. I incorporate white, cream, camel, and grey into my wardrobe too, but I don’t consider them base colors per se. They exist somewhere between the base and accent categories. I’d wear all navy or all black but probably wouldn’t wear a monochrome outfit in white, cream, camel, or grey. My true accent colors are purple, pink, red, and (occasionally) green. The shades I favor within these five color groups pair well with one or both of my base colors. The same is true for my selection of stripes, seersucker, gingham, and occasional polka dot.

Establishing the base colors of your wardrobe will make getting dressed a lot easier. Not only is navy the primary base of my palette, but it is also the one I feel most powerful in. It’s not out of character for me to wear five navy dresses in one week. In fact, I’ve even been know to wear the same dress on two consecutive days, washing it in a bucket between wears.

Works Sighted: Lauren Ralph Lauren dress (old); Superga 2790 Acotw (navy); J.McLaughlin basket bag; Fitbit Alta HR; Kate Spade sunglasses (old)

Everything You Need to Know About the Superga 2790 Acotw

Leave a Comment / Shoes, Style / By / September 10, 2020
Superga 2790 Acotw in navy.

If you haven’t read the preceding post on the Superga 2750 Cotu Classic, have a look at it before diving into this one. Unless you’re a Spice Girl, I recommend getting acclimated to the Superga 2750 before acquiring the Superga 2790. In the preceding article, I discuss the comfort of the 2750’s 1-inch, vulcanized sole, which cushions the impact the wearer receives while walking. The sole of the 2790 is half an inch higher than that of the 2750, and, although you may not think a half inch would be significant, traversing the pavement in the 2790 is equivalent to walking on air. I am especially grateful for them when I am on my feet all day.

That being said, there’s one caveat. While the 2790 is exceptionally comfortable, I can’t wear them every day like the 2750. I tried wearing them every day for three weeks in 2018 whilst hopping around the U.K. My feet hurt after a week, and I had to buy a new pair of sneakers without a platform. However, let it be known that I was probably averaging 30,000 steps a day during this period—far more than usual. I’m still wearing my first pair of 2790s, which I purchase in September of 2018. The heels are a little worn down, but I haven’t replaced them yet. In contrast, I wear down several pairs of 2750s each year.

Originally, I ordered the 2790 in white, black, and navy. The white version looked like boats, and I decided against them. When it came down to choosing between the navy or the black, I gravitated towards the navy pair. I wondered if it made sense to own both the 2790 and the 2750 in the same color. Then, I came to my senses. You can never have too much navy.

Like the 2750, the 2790 is extremely versatile. I wear this style with skirts and dresses in lieu of heels. They also look amazing with skinny pants. I’ll now reiterate some points from my Superga 2750 post that also apply to this one. It is important to lace and tie these shoes during the fitting process. Your size in the 2790 and 2750 will probably be the same; this is true for me. They don’t have arch support, but the comfortable sole is fair compensation. You’ll have to break them in, but the process isn’t terrible. Don’t attempt to meet your 15,000-step Fitbit goal in these shoes during the break-in period. If you buy them in white, you may clean them in the manner descried in the preceding post. I wear Bombas socks with these too. Lastly, the 2790 is the most affordable platform sneaker of quality that I’ve found. I’m not paying $200 for a sneaker that can’t be resoled.

Works Sighted

Superga 2790 Acotw (Navy)

Everything You Need to Know About the Superga 2750 Cotu Classic

4 Comments / Shoes, Style / By / March 25, 2023
Superga 2750 Cotu classic white.

I bought my first pair of Superga sneakers six years ago in Firenze. We were walking by the Palazzo Pitti when I noticed a Superga sale sign in front of a shop by the name of Sportando. I’d tried on a pair in the past but had decided then that I was in between a size 39 and a size 40. Since the canvas sneaker didn’t come in a 39.5, I’d resolved that it wasn’t meant for me. Superga was born in Italy, and the opportunity to acquire a pair whilst in Firenze was too appealing to pass up. I left Sportando with a pair of the 2750 Cotu Classics in navy, and I’ve been wearing that style constantly for the last six years. Although I’ve owned them in black and white, I always have a navy (or blue graphite) pair on hand.

I’m not sure what happened the first time I tried them on, but I discovered that a size 39 fit me perfectly at my second fitting. According to the size chart, a 39 in European sizes is equivalent to a U.S. women’s size 8. I wear a U.S. 8.5 or 9 in shoes depending on the brand/type. To ensure the best fit, I highly recommend trying on two sizes. This may sound like a hassle if you are ordering online rather than trying on in store, but these shoes are worth the effort. I order most of my shoes from Zappos because shipping and returns are fast and free. When you are trying on your Supergas, you’ll want to lace them up properly and tie them too. The vulcanized rubber sole is heavy, and the shoes will not stay on your feet if you skip this step.

If you have any doubts as to whether this sneaker is for you after trying them on, I’d like to encourage you to sleep on it. Try them on again the next day. Walk around in your house a bit. The thick, vulcanized sole is the best part of the shoe. Vulcanization is the process by which the rubber is hardened. Thanks to this process, the 1-inch sole acts as a cushion and absorbs the impact from the pavement. I don’t think this information appears in any official writing; I know from experience. The 2750 Cotu Classic withstands a beating on old Italian streets like no other sneaker. I never leave the country without a pair. In fact, the one time I swapped this style for the 2790 Acotw, I regretted my decision not to bring both styles. The 2750 Cotu Classic is essential.

If I buy a pair right before a trip, I spend about a week breaking them in prior to taking off. You will need to break them in, but the process isn’t terrible. However, I don’t recommend trying to meet your 15,000-step Fitbit goal in these shoes during the break-in period. I know it is time to replace my sneakers when the heel has been run over with wear. I replace my navy pair approximately every 2-3 months. After they’ve expired, they become very uncomfortable to wear.

If you are wondering if these sneakers provide arch support, they don’t, but I find that the shock-absorbing sole is fair compensation. I don’t require a high level of arch support in general, so I wouldn’t be able to predict how comfortable these would be for someone who does. Also, I suspect that there wouldn’t be enough room to place an insole inside. They are cut a bit low on the ankle, and I couldn’t imagine wearing an insole on top of the already-cushioned sole anyway.

Now to cover the topic of cleaning. I don’t usually clean my Supergas. I might rub the sides of the cream-colored sole with a disinfecting wipe if I’ve worn them in the rain. However, the white pair is a different story. I don’t recommend submerging your sneakers in water and neither does Superga. The following are the official cleaning instructions to follow if you choose to use a washing machine: While we do not recommend washing your Superga shoes, you may be able to wash our Cotu styles. The best way to wash our Cotu shoes is in a pillow case, cool wash and powder detergent (not liquid), leave laces on so you don’t lose the shape of the shoe and hang to dry naturally, not on a radiator.

You won’t find me putting my sneakers in the washer; I clean mine with a firm toothbrush and a small cup of Tide (in liquid form) over the bathroom sink. I wet the toothbrush, dip it in Tide, and scrub the outer surface of the shoe. I rinse the brush clean and swipe it in a downward motion on the canvas to remove the detergent. Being careful not to get the inside of the sneaker soaking wet, I also hold the shoe upside down under the faucet to aid in the rinsing process. Placing washcloths inside the sneaker may be helpful, as is holding it with your hand inside for stabilization purposes. If you choose to wash your sneakers in my preferred manner, remove the laces before you begin. Wash them by hand in the bathroom sink and hang to dry.

It goes without saying that Superga sneakers are extremely versatile if you purchase a versatile color. I’ve even worn the navy pair with dresses to holiday parties. More often than not, I wear them with Bombas no-show socks (no other socks will do). Sometimes I wear them without socks, but I try not to make it a habit. I often wear them with tights in cooler weather. Supergas are truly a year-round staple.

Works Sighted

Superga 2750 Cotu Classic White; Boden skirt (old)

Update (25 March 2023): I no longer recommend Bombas no-show socks due to a change that was made in the composition of the fabric towards a higher percentage of polyester/spandex/nylon. When I started buying these socks in 2018, all colors except for white were made mainly (if not 100%) of cotton and lasted for years. With the current style, a hole appears after the first wear.