Currently Bookmarking: Hannah Allen
On great jeans, good taste, and what she's wearing this season
The best part of the internet right now isn’t what’s trending. It’s discovery. The feeling of stumbling across someone and instantly thinking, wait, how have I not been following her? The saved posts. The tabs left open. The Substack you actually read instead of “saving for later.” That’s how Currently Bookmarking was born.
This is a new series on Katie's Edit where I share the women I’m reading, following, and quiet literally obsessed with. The girlies whose taste feels considered, whose writing feels grounded, and whose perspective cuts through the noise.
First up: Hannah Allen.
I found Hannah the way we find most good things now: mid-scroll on Instagram. Her style stopped me. Casual but intentional. A little undone. Modern without trying too hard. The kind of outfits that look simple until you realize the proportions are perfect and the accessory is doing just enough. Then I subscribed to her Substack, Save for Later by Hannah Allen, and I’ve been reading it religiously ever since.
Instead of just quietly bookmarking her, I asked her to have a conversation. Here’s ours:
Katie Durko: Hannah, thank you for doing this! I have loved reading Save for Later by Hannah Allen and following your style evolution, so it felt right to start here.
Let’s rewind a bit. For anyone just discovering you, can you share where you are based and how you found your way into fashion?
Hannah Allen: Hi! I’m Hannah. I currently live in Cincinnati with my husband and toddler where we recently bought our first home. I was born and raised in Alabama but spent most of my 20s in Nashville where I first began working in fashion. I give so much credit to what I know from working at Natalie Busby — a small sustainable brand where I was able to wear many hats and learn so much about the industry. Since having a baby, I dove head first into content creation and here we are.
KD: Naturally, we have to talk about personal style. How would you describe your personal style right now, and how has it shifted?
HA: Casual, a little undone, and approachable with modern touches. If I find my outfit falling a little flat, I like to add an unexpected item to create interest. I’ve really tried to hold on to my personal style since becoming a mom, but I’ve definitely ditched crop tops and cheeky bikini bottoms. Maybe again one day when I’m not chasing a toddler.
KD: Are there any styling rules you’ve completely abandoned?
HA: That everything has to be matchy matchy. I’ve also ditched the idea that certain color combos shouldn’t be paired together. I had a few comments on a recent video telling me I should never pair navy and black together, while I was wearing navy and black, and it made me laugh. It feels so outdated.
KD: What’s one piece that instantly makes you feel confident, even on low-energy days?
HA: Levi’s or any great fitting pair of jeans. Not groundbreaking, but I feel most myself and comfortable in a great pair of jeans. Oh, and sunglasses for the days I don’t have the energy to put on makeup.
KD: What’s your go-to uniform when you don’t want to think too hard?
HA: Still Here jeans, a black flip flop, and a Dôen top.
KD: Motherhood inevitably shifts the equation. What surprised you most about how it changed your relationship with getting dressed?
HA: How little headspace I have to think through an outfit every day. I used to really work hard on making my outfits interesting and unique, but I genuinely struggle to get myself to do that anymore. That’s why I’ve stuck to pretty simple outfits while throwing on a fun accessory. If you follow me on TikTok, you’ll see I’m in jeans basically every day.
KD: Do you feel like it clarified your style or complicated it?
HA: I’ll say complicated. Only because there are so many fun tops and dresses I want to wear that don’t always make sense with a baby or toddler. I can’t be out at the grocery store in a mini dress in the summer and risk flashing everyone when I have to lean down to pick her up.
KD: Who do you love reading on Substack?
HA: So many. how to wear it, 5 Things You Should Buy, The Wardrobe Edit, and Elevated by Kim J Brannigan to start.
KD: What advice would you give to someone navigating a similar stage of motherhood and identity?
HA: Invest in nice basics that you feel good in and can be worn in different ways. Try throwing on a pair of jeans to go to the library instead of leggings — it helps me feel like a real person again and so much more productive. Also, seek help if you need it. Reaching out and finding help has been a game changer for me mentally. We can’t do it all.
KD: And finally, what feels exciting right now?
HA: So many things. Owning our first house and continuing to make it our own. Watching my toddler grow into a tiny little person and see her personality come through — I love twos. And business wise, this has been a really huge few months for me that felt really out of reach when I first started. I’m so excited to work with brands I love and see where the rest of this year takes me.
Five Spring Looks For Real Life
After talking through uniforms, good basics, and not overcomplicating it, I asked Hannah to show us what that actually looks like. Because there’s often a gap between the aspirational outfits we save and the ones we actually wear. Most of us aren’t heading to fashion week. We’re running to Trader Joe’s. We’re answering emails between errands. We’re getting dressed for real life.
These are five realistic spring looks Hannah will actually be wearing this season, built around pieces you probably already own, just styled with a sharper eye.
HA: I feel like there’s sometimes this gap when it comes to realistic, everyday outfits for us “normies.” The ones who work from home, those heading into a casual Monday-Friday office, or stay home with a baby. While I love beautiful elaborate outfits with statement pieces, that’s just not my real life most days. Most of the time we’re all just trying to look somewhat put together while running to Trader Joes and answering an email in between. I dress pretty casually day to day while adding modern touches to keep things feeling fresh. Here’s what you might be seeing me in this year..a lot of which you probably already have some version of in your closet.
LOOK 1
I’m dreaming of days when I can wear exactly this: jeans and white tee, something we all have. But we’re throwing in a few modern elements to add a little personality. The mixed metals, sunglass shape, and this Call it By Your Name Bag that I really can’t stop thinking about.
LOOK 2
This fleece is what spring dreams are made of and no one does is quite like Donni. I’m also really digging these black pony hair flats opposed to a ballet flat to add some edge.
LOOK 3
The star of the show here are these incredible Kyoto Pants that can be worn a hundred different ways to a hundred different places. Realizing this whole look is Leset and I’m not mad about it.
LOOK 4
These Still Here Sport Jeans are the next best thing to sweatpants when it comes to comfort. I’ll be getting my hands on them when they’re back in stock. This feels comfortable but still elevated which is basically what I’m always aiming for.
LOOK 5
For the work from home days when you need to step out and run a few errands. Really into athleisure at the moment (the cold and never ending snow is to blame) and have about a million track pants in my cart right now.
What I love about Hannah’s perspective is that it’s grounded. It’s not about reinventing yourself every season. It’s about refining what actually works. Great jeans. Good basics. One unexpected accessory. Letting go of outdated rules. Not overcomplicating it.
There’s a difference between content you consume and content you return to. Hannah is one I keep coming back to. That’s the bar for Currently Bookmarking. More soon. xx
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Love that bandana tote!!
These outfit boards are so good