The West 5th Weekender No. 03
Emily Deisler
Hello friend!
I missed you last Sunday!
The last couple of weeks got the best of me. Between work, life, and trying to keep all the plates spinning, I realized I needed to let something go for a week—and this newsletter was it.
This week has felt like a fresh start in a lot of ways—a new haircut, fun projects in the studio, and a few little things making summer life easier. So let's catch up.
WHAT I’M WEARING
This week I decluttered and organized my closet. If I could give one piece of wardrobe advice, it would be this: create a personal color palette.
It can be as limited or as varied as you like. Mine is based on the colors I naturally gravitate toward and the ones that complement my coloring. I have a little bit of a head start since I studied color theory and work with color every day as an artist.
I'm drawn to fresh, cheerful colors. My closet is mostly light neutrals, pinks, yellow-greens, and soft blues, with an occasional pop of red and orange. Pink and green are complementary colors on the color wheel, so I know they'll almost always work beautifully together. While I enjoy lots of colors, you'll notice they all have a similar bright, light quality. My wardrobe leans much more spring than fall. You won't find many jewel tones, mustard, or deep purple—not because they aren't beautiful, but because they just don't fit my color palette.
Limiting the colors I bring home means almost everything in my closet can be mixed and matched. Before I buy something new, I try to ask myself, "Can I wear this with at least three things I already own?" If the answer is yes, it's much more likely to become a favorite instead of sitting in my closet unworn.
Having a handful of go-to colors makes getting dressed easier and your wardrobe feel much more cohesive.
I even made a little graphic to show my personal color palette! Homework: organize your closet by color to see what you’re drawn to. Then build a palette around yours favorites!
WHAT I’M LOVING
MY NEW BOB!
I love change and have been wanting to cut my hair for about a year. So last week, when I got to see my sister (who also happens to be a very talented cosmetologist) I asked her to do the chop.
I've always loved a classic French-inspired bob. They're chic, timeless, and have just the right amount of personality. After showing Autumn a handful of inspiration photos, she got to work. I wanted a cut below the chin, that would work with my natural texture.
The result was perfection—thanks, Autumn! I feel so much lighter and maybe a little more sassy. Doing my hair no longer takes an hour (praise!), and I feel more like myself. I'm still figuring out the best ways to style it, but I've been having fun with it. Here are a few photos from the week!
Sometimes a haircut is just a haircut...and sometimes it gives you the little reset you didn't realize you needed.ake a walk. Bring a friend if you can.
WHAT I’M CREATING
One of my favorite things about my job is that no two weeks ever look the same. So when a request for a large group portrait featuring 20 people landed in my inbox, I knew it would keep me busy for a while!
I create these illustrations digitally using Adobe Illustrator and a drawing tablet. Projects like this take a lot of planning, starting with gathering photos of everyone so I can capture each person's likeness. I illustrate every individual separately before bringing them together into one final composition. Most group portraits go through two or three rounds of revisions because with that many personalities, there's almost always a detail or two to fine-tune.
My favorite part of this one was the costumes. They gave each person so much personality and added little splashes of humor throughout the illustration. It was such a fun reminder that artwork can tell a story just as much as it can capture a memory.
The finished portrait was gifted during the company's annual retreat on Madeline Island, and I love imagining everyone seeing themselves in the artwork for the first time. That's one of my favorite parts of what I get to do.
FREE WALLPAPER
This week’s free phone wallpaper is inspired by my intention to slow down this week and enjoy.
Thank you for being here and supporting this colorful little business of mine.
Until next Sunday,
Emily