I’ve been incredibly uninspired lately. Strolling through all my usual go-to stores, I find nothing I even want to pick up to inspect. I walk in, regret my decision, and walk right out again. I figure it’s just not my season, and go home to my same routines, chonking through work in my cut-off shorts and white T.

I scroll through a lot of e-commerce sites for my work at InStyle. My shopping experience has solely existed online as of late, so much so that I haven’t had much opportunity to visit the brands I’m writing about in real life… that is until fashion week rolled. With exactly one hour to kill in between events, I walked my pretty little kitten heels through Greene Street in Soho just to stumble into a store I frequently talk about in my articles: Staud.

Founded in 2015, the relatively new LA-based brand rose to fame quickly with its sleek and feminine designs. Their popularity sky rocketed even further as celebs like Emily Ratajkowski and Bella Hadid were seen dressed in them, and where Emrata and Hadid go, so do the masses.

I felt that delicious flicker of fire light up the minute I stepped into their beautifully designed store, which has been open for less than a year now. A combination of wood and brick framed the room, and their infamous bags, shoes, and accessories were being praised by a soft light lining the walls. I was instantly drawn to every single item on display. It took less than half the first room for me to find something I wanted to try, and I could finally feel that familiar thrill that I had been missing for so long.

Stroll deeper into the store, and you’ll come across their new Staud Court collection, which is so aesthetic it makes me want to learn how to play pickle-ball just so I can buy one of their racket cases. Refraining from this urge, I picked up a delicate knit jumper and a white midi dress instead, just to get to see myself in their beautiful designs. That flicker is now a fully fledged fire.

I realized I had been looking for inspiration in all the wrong places. Turns out, I’m no longer all that young, and my appreciation for quality fabrics and thoughtful design has become loudly present. Simple cuts, Instagram-famous outfits, and ephemeral fabrics don’t tickle my fancy. In a sea of clothing made solely for a Kodak moment (am I dating myself here? Should I say Insta-moment?), the simplicity in Staud’s strong yet beautiful designs felt like a new home. And while my wallet is saying ahh shit over this revelation, my heart is finally jumping with excitement.

I guess it’s a sign to get off the internet and indulge in the full shopping experience of visiting a store. I can’t expect to find inspiration while wearing the same clothes, doing the same job, and going to the same three places over and over again. It may take ages for me to finally find something I truly love, and that piece may not even look all that special to someone else, but if that specific stitch, color, weight, or feel speaks to me directly than that’s more important than anything else. Those are the items I will invest in.

PS: Can we talk about this Micro Moon Poop Bag Carrier for dogs??? NEED.