Burgundy / Purple / Pink

Friday, January 30, 2015

pink trench cape, burgundy lace top, purple tee
pink trench cape, burgundy lace top, taupe satchel
pink trench cape, burgundy lace top, brown suede over the knee boots
sunglasses: Walmart aviator (similar)
lips: MAKE UP FOR EVER Rouge Artist Natural in N9 (sold here)
top: Zara - gift from Elle (similar; similar)
tee: Ann Taylor jewel neck long sleeve (sold here - $15)
bag: Sole Society Shay textured vegan satchel (sold here - on sale)

Snow.

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

No, we didn't even come close to getting white out conditions from the blizzard. I'd say... 2" of snow at most judging from these photos taken the morning after. The roads were clean and perfectly drivable. Darn it, I was hoping for day(s) off. To my friends up north -- stay warm and safe!

gray scarf, black parka, gray ruffled sweatshirt, colorblocked crossbody bag, red rain boots
gray scarf, black parka, gray ruffled sweatshirt, colorblocked crossbody bag, red rain boots
gray scarf, black parka, gray ruffled sweatshirt, red rain boots
sunglasses: Walmart aviator (similar)
lips: MAKE UP FOR EVER Rouge Artist Natural in N9 (sold here)
scarf: H&M woven (sold here; similar - on sale)
top: Clu Too ruffled sweatshirt (sold here; similar - $23.99 w/code SALETIME)
gloves: Everlane the classic glove (sold here)
socks: Forever 21 (similar; similar)
boots: Hunter original Tour packable rain boots (sold at Bloomingdale's / Victoria's Secret / Zappos)

Brown Fur / Cargo Brown

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

faux fur vest, striped button up shirt, cargo pants, cognac brown tote
faux fur vest, striped button up shirt, cargo pants, brown suede ankle boots
sunglasses: Walmart aviator (similar)
lips: MAKE UP FOR EVER Rouge Artist Natural in N9 (sold here)
vest: Zara Girl fur waistcoat (this season's sold here; similar; similar)
shirt: Ann Taylor striped perfect button down (this season's sold here)
tee: Uniqlo heattech crew neck t-shirt (sold here - $9.90)
ring: Elizabeth and James Windrose (similar - on sale; similar)
pants: Zara (similar; similar - on sale)
bag: J.Crew Downing tote (sold here - 25% off w/code FINDAFAVE; similar)

Winter Pastels

Sunday, January 25, 2015

Sale alert at Ann Taylor:
Extra 70% off sale styles until Mon. 1/26 at 3am EST with code FLASH70.
Extra 65% off sale styles after Mon. 1/26 at 3am EST with code FLASH65.
40% off full-priced styles until Tues. 1/27 at 3am EST (no code needed).

Recent buys include:
- Striped mock neck sweater - $15 - $17.50 w/code (torso TTS, arms run small - I went up a size and am wearing XS / outfits: here, here, here)
- Ponte skinny ankle pants - $58.80 (TTS - I'm wearing 00 / outfits: here, here, here)
- Jewel neck long sleeve tee - $9 - $10.50 w/code (runs a bit small - I'm wearing sz XS / outfit: here)

Other picks: $136.80 trench cape (love my light pink version); $76.80 Kylie suede pumps (love and wear my blue suede pumps an awful lot); $23.70 twisted ring (my cross ring is probably my most worn piece of jewelry ever); $22.50 - $26.25 w/code chambray oversized shirt (can't ever go wrong with chambray, especially in a longer length).

gray scarf, lilac pink leather jacket, gray top, white jeans, metallic rose wedges
gray scarf, lilac pink leather jacket, gray top, white jeans
gray scarf, lilac pink leather jacket, gray top, white jeans, metallic rose wedges
sunglasses: Walmart aviator (similar)
lips: MAKE UP FOR EVER Rouge Artist Natural in N9 (sold here)
scarf: H&M woven (sold here)
jacket: Balenciaga original moto leather jacket in parme (sold here; similar - 35% off; similar)
top: Vince jersey slub tee (similar - on sale; similar)
jeans: Blank NYC spray-on (sold at Shopbop / 6pm - $26.99)
shoes: Loeffler Randall Rae in rose gold (similar; similar)

Winter Layers from Work to Weekend

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

One of the reasons I gravitated towards this particular no-fuss black parka was for its versatility. It works well with a casual outfit and also looks great with business casual attire. The two outfits below are essentially the same with a few key pieces swapped out. I felt chambray and plaid shirts are both fairly casual, but the black/cream plaid pattern is in the same monochromatic color family as the rest of the "work" outfit (minus the shoes). Jeans for the weekend and black pants for work are obvious choices. Same for the brightly colored rain boots vs. metallic wedges. Knit gloves were chosen for the casual outfit, while for the work version I upgraded to a more "luxurious" pair of leather gloves.

casual vs. work | black parka + striped sweater
[left outfit]: details here / [right outfit]: details below
striped sweater, buffalo check shirt
black parka, striped sweater, buffalo check shirt, rose gold metallic wedges, red gloves
striped sweater, buffalo check shirt, rose gold metallic wedges
sunglasses: Walmart aviator (similar)
lips: MAKE UP FOR EVER Rouge Artist Natural in N9 (sold here)
coat: Canada Goose Victoria parka (sold at Bloomingdale's / backcountry / NM / Shopbop / BG / Moosejaw)
sweater: Ann Taylor striped mock neck (sold here - $29.99)
shirt: Zara checked shirt with pocket (sold here; similar; similar)
gloves: Lord & Taylor (this season's sold here - on sale; similar - on sale)
ring: Elizabeth and James Windrose (similar; similar)
pants: Ann Taylor ponte skinny ankle (sold here - $49.50)
bag: Longchamp large Le Pliage (sold at Bloomingdale's / Nordstrom / NM)
shoes: Loeffler Randall Rae in rose gold (similar; similar)

Navy + Black with Gold Accents

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

black infinity scarf, navy pea coat, chambray shirt, black crossbody bag, black faux leather pants
black infinity scarf, navy pea coat, black crossbody bag, black faux leather pants
black infinity scarf, navy pea coat, chambray shirt, black crossbody bag, black faux leather pants
sunglasses: Walmart aviator (similar)
lips: NYX round case lipstick in NYX (sold here)
scarf: Cuyana alpaca infinity (sold here) - thanks to the ShopSense team
turtleneck: H&M (similar)
pants: Blank NYC faux leather skinny (sold here)
bag: Chanel reissue in 226 (buy pre-owned; similar)
shoes: Sam Edelman Felicia ballet flats (sold at Nordstrom / Shopbop / Zappos / Lord & Taylor)

Snow Day

Sunday, January 18, 2015

floral printed scarf, gray toggled coat, red turtleneck, pink striped shirt, colorblocked crossbody bag, red rain boots
floral printed scarf, gray toggled coat, red turtleneck, pink striped shirt, colorblocked crossbody bag, red rain boots
sunglasses: Walmart aviator (similar)
lips: MAKE UP FOR EVER Rouge Artist Natural in N9 (sold here)
shirt: Polo Factory slim style button up (tag info; similar)
turtleneck: J.Crew Factory tissue turtleneck tee (this season's sold here - $6.99 w/code TICKTOCK; non-factory version sold here)
gloves: Everlane the classic glove (sold here)
socks: LOFT charm knee high (sold here - $4.50)
boots: Hunter original Tour packable rain boots (sold at Bloomingdale's / Victoria's Secret / Zappos)

Pink / Purple / Red

Thursday, January 15, 2015

pink trench cape, camel sweater, burgundy/purple gloves, red crossbody bag, long necklace, white jeans
pink trench cape, camel sweater, burgundy/purple gloves, red crossbody bag, long necklace, white jeans
pink trench cape, camel sweater, burgundy/purple gloves, red crossbody bag, long necklace, white jeans
sunglasses: Walmart aviator (similar)
lips: MAKE UP FOR EVER Rouge Artist Natural in N9 (sold here)

6 Ways to Wear a Gray Sweatshirt

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

A sweatshirt is a fairly common staple in most closets. I own five myself and they're placed right at the closet entrance for easy access. I happily admit that all five are worn regularly, though a bit ashamed to say that one is so well-loved that it's starting to fall apart... but too comfortable for me to let go yet.

My "dressiest" sweatshirt is a gray version with a white ruffled hem by Clu Too. I've round up six ways that I've worn it on the blog over the past year, from casual Fridays to weekend wear. I don't always remember how I've styled specific items in the past, so it's always fun to look back and spot styling patterns. In this case, I'm a fan of stripes, neutrals (taupe, navy), pop of color -- or a combination of the above as pairing options.

A couple similar sweatshirts at lower price points: via J.Crew ($30 w/code SHOPNOW), DKNY ($47.60 w/code WINTER).

6 ways to wear a gray sweatshirt
Outfit details:
Top Row: one, two, three
Bottom Row: one, two, three

Oversized

Monday, January 12, 2015

plaid scarf as shawl, black faux leather pants
plaid scarf as shawl, black ribbon necklace, black faux leather pants
plaid scarf as shawl, black ribbon necklace, black faux leather pants
sunglasses: Walmart aviator (similar)
lips: NYX round case lipstick in NYX (sold here)
scarf: Zara two-tone checked (may still be in stores; similar - on sale; similar)
necklace: Ann Taylor winter sparkle (similar - on sale; similar - on sale)
top: Vince jersey slub tee (similar - 62% off; similar)
ring: Elizabeth and James Windrose (sold here; similar; similar)
pants: Blank NYC faux leather skinny (sold at Lord & Taylor - $44.10 w/code WINTER / Shopbop)
bag: Longchamp large Le Pliage (sold at Bloomingdale's / Nordstrom / NM)
shoes: Sam Edelman Felicia ballet flats (sold at Nordstrom / Shopbop / Zappos / Lord & Taylor)

Canada Goose Victoria Parka

Friday, January 09, 2015

*** See outfit photos with the coat ***

My "heavy duty" coat for the extremely cold winter days is an old Columbia ski jacket from the late 90s (15+ years old!) It's a size medium -- roomy on me then, roomy on me now. Oh, let's buy you one a couple sizes bigger for you to grow into, said my Mom. I guess she never fed me enough, lol. The coat has served me well throughout the years and didn't start to show wear and tear up until about last season. I figured it's probably time for an upgrade. I had my eyes on the LOFT packable puffer jacket as a potential replacement. I loved everything about the jacket online, but not so much in person. The quilting on these puffer jackets made me look top-heavy and too much like the Michelin Man. Not flattering whatsoever, so back it went. For reference, I found the puffer jacket to run small, so size up.

Katherine introduced me to Canada Goose coats with her recent post on the Kensington parka. Intrigued by her rave review and the cool details CG put into their coats (interior shoulder straps!), I started exploring around. My only requirement was to stay far away from quilted patterns. Three styles stood out enough that I took under serious consideration:

1) Trillium - $695 (buy at Bloomingdale's / Nordstrom / NM / backcountry / Shopbop)
The warmest of the three, this coat is rated a 4 on CG's thermal index (1=lightest, 5=warmest). A 4 is supposed to keep you warm even between 5℉ and -13℉. I also liked the longer length, which helps trap in the warmth. This style is also the least fitted of the three.

2) Kensington - $745 (buy at Nordstrom / NM / BG / Bloomingdale's / Shopbop / Moosejaw / Revolve Clothing / backcountry)
This coat is rated a 3 on CG's index, so should keep you warm between 14℉ and -4℉. It's slightly longer than the Trillium and has more hardware details, but the fit is supposed to be slimmer. I tried on sz XS and thought it fit very comfortably with a shirt and sweater underneath without movement restriction (for reference, I'm 5'4", 107 lbs). What I didn't like was how the coat flared out from the waist down (didn't even cinch the drawstring waist), which made my hips look huge. This style is probably best for straight figures. I did like how the front pockets were fully lined (the Victoria only has half-lined pockets).

3) Victoria - $695 (buy at Nordstrom / Bloomingdale's / Saks / Shopbop / Revolve Clothing / NM / BG / SSENSE / Blue & Cream / Intermix)
The coat that I ended up buying and keeping! Like the Kensington, this coat is also rated a 3 on CG's index. Of the three, this one's the shortest in length and hits me about mid-thigh (see photos below). Unlike the previous two, this one has a minimalistic style with a lack of hardware down the front. I really like how the look is streamlined and less "parka-like", which meant I could possibly pull double duty between casual-wear and business-casual looks. I chose black also for its versatility, slimming effect, and because I don't own any coats in this color (I know, I'm an odd one).
Canada Goose Victoria parka with coyote fur trim
[photo above] The hood is supposed to be pulled down lower so the fur "frames" my face, not sitting on top of my head in a crescent shape. Didn't realize this was the best photo until I was editing, sorry.

Wear All the Things

Thursday, January 08, 2015

Winter is here! ...and that means it's time to pile on all the cold-weather accessories -- scarf, coat, gloves, turtleneck, and boots. Though I suppose I could've also used a beanie/knit cap of some sort; otherwise... winter, I have you covered.

chunky knit scarf, red turtleneck, plaid shirt, gray toggled coat, brown suede ankle boots
chunky knit scarf, red turtleneck, plaid shirt, gray toggled coat, cognac brown tote
sunglasses: Walmart aviator (similar)
lips: MAKE UP FOR EVER Rouge Artist Natural in N9 (sold here)
scarf: Zara cashmere-feel (similar - on sale; similar)
turtleneck: J.Crew Factory tissue turtleneck tee (this season's sold here - on sale; non-factory version - 40% off w/code SALENEWS)
shirt: Gap fitted boyfriend plaid oxford (similar; similar)
gloves: Everlane the classic glove (sold here)
bag: J.Crew Downing tote (sold here - 40% off w/code SALENEWS)

Burgundy Leather / Blue Suede

Wednesday, January 07, 2015

Looking through today's photos, I felt my choice of blue suede shoes looked the best while I was in the office -- sans coat and gloves. The dark burgundy (purple-brown?) gloves look great with the gray-coat-with-a-hint-of-lilac, but not so much with the blue shoes together. Hmm... perhaps a brighter colored pair of gloves would work better? Or a more muted pair of shoes?

plaid scarf, striped sweater, wool trench coat, dark purple gloves, blue suede pumps
plaid scarf, wool trench coat, dark purple gloves
plaid scarf, wool trench coat, dark purple gloves, blue suede pumps
sunglasses: Walmart aviator (similar)
lips: MAKE UP FOR EVER Rouge Artist Natural in N9 (sold here)
sweater: Ann Taylor striped mock neck (sold here - $27.50)
gloves: H&M leather (other colors sold here; similar)
pants: Ann Taylor ponte skinny ankle (sold here - 40% off w/code GET40)
bag: Longchamp large Le Pliage (sold at Bloomingdale's / Nordstrom / NM)

New Year, Not New Outfit

Thursday, January 01, 2015

The mind is a funny thing. I remember wearing a variation of today's outfit awhile back. I also remember not having the time to take proper photos before, so made time to document today's outfit. What I didn't remember is that I've already taken proper photos and blogged about it last May! D'oh! Uhh... I did add a jacket and bracelet, so today's outfit is slightly different? If this memory loss is indicative of how the upcoming year's going to play out... oh boy, am I in trouble.

trench coat, peach silk blouse, faux leather pants, leopard flats
peach silk blouse, faux leather pants, leopard flats
sunglasses: Walmart aviator (similar)
lips: MAKE UP FOR EVER Rouge Artist Natural in N9 (sold here)
necklace: gift from aunt (similar; similar)
bracelet: Ann Taylor modern classic skinny bangle (similar - extra 40% off w/code EXTRA40; similar)
ring: Elizabeth and James Windrose (sold here; similar; similar)
pants: Blank NYC faux leather skinny (sold here)
bag: Chanel reissue in 226 (buy pre-owned; similar)
shoes: Nine West Shindig (sold here - on sale; similar - on sale)

30 for 30 abercrombie abercrombie & fitch accessories adidas adrienne vittadini agnes b alejandro ingelmo alexandre birman ali ro alternative apparel american eagle amrita singh ann taylor anthropologie apple aqua armani exchange articles of society asos award bag balenciaga banana republic barbour bath and body works bcbg bcbgirls beauty bebe bensoni biltmore for madewell blank nyc blog every day bloggers do it better bois du boulogne bp. brian nagourney burberry by malene birger c. wonder c/meo collective canada goose cara accessories carlos by carlos santana carolina bucci cartonnier caslon casual cb2 celebrities celine chanel chantecaille chelsea28 chicwish china glaze chloe christian louboutin citrus clothing clu too club monaco coach coffee shop cole haan collection collection 18 color brigade columbia crate & barrel crewcuts cuyana cynthia rowley david yurman dc deborah lippmann decor delman disney couture diy dogeared dressy dsquared2 ebay elizabeth and james elleme equipment esprit etsy everlane express featured fendi forever 21 frank & eileen free people gap gara danielle gibson giles & brother giveaway gorjana goyard grace gift gucci h&m halogen halogen x atlantic-pacific halston heritage haul hearth & hand heirloom finds hollister how to hue hunter ikea ilnp in real life inspired by iris & ink isabel marant ivanka trump j.crew jennifer chamandi jenny yuen jewelry jimmy choo john hardy jones new york joules julie vos kate spade kristin coffin l'oreal lanvin lanvin x h&m lesportsac levi's loeffler randall loft longchamp look for less looks like summer lord & taylor lou & grey love 21 lucy m.gemi mac macy's madewell maje make make up for ever manolo blahnik marc jacobs mary katrantzou massimo dutti maybelline mercedes-benz merona michael michael kors misc miu miu mlb modcloth mossimo moulinette soeurs msgm mvmt nadri new balance new balance for j.crew nike nina ricci nine west nordstrom north face nyc nyc new york color nyx old navy olivia burton opi oscar de la renta pfc pierrepont hicks piperlime plastic island pleione polene polo prabal gurung at j.crew proenza schouler ralph lauren ramblings raphaella booz reader mail rebecca minkoff red valentino reed wilson design review revlon river island robert rodriguez ross-simons rsvp saint james saint laurent sales sally hansen sam edelman schutz shashi shinhwa shoes shopbop shopping shopstyle simply vera vera wang sinful colors professional soia & kyo sole society sony sorel sorel for j.crew sperry sponsor spotted moth stella mccartney stephanie b strathberry stuart weitzman style file superdry t3 tadashi shoji tagged talbots target the container store the horse the limited theory tips & tricks too faced topshop tory burch tous colors toys travels ugg uniqlo uniqueen unknown valentino veque for j.crew vera bradley via spiga victoria's secret vince vince camuto vineyard vines walmart ways to wear west elm white house black market wishlist work xhilaration xoxo yearly summary ysl zac posen for target zara zella