TBMD

A month ago, I wore this top and skirt combo with "summer" accessories. As the seasons change, so do the accessories. I probably went a bit overboard piling on all the cognac colors from my closet, but really, who can resist this warm brown color? It's gorgeous and such a great transition color for fall. Not to mention, it pairs wonderfully with navy and white. So, bring on all the cognac!

Usually by this time of the year, I would have already jumped the gun and busted out my fall jackets. Multiple times. Sweating just a tad in the early stages of fall while sipping a pumpkin spice latte is like a rite of passage. Nope, not this year. I waited until I absolutely had to without jeopardizing my health. True to form though, once I'm in, I'm in. There's no such thing as going overboard with all the fall accessories -- scarf, suede (love this bag, btw! drapes so well), and of course bare legs while I'm bundled up like an eskimo on the top half. Welcome to fall and happy layering, everyone!

Details are what makes an outfit fun. The striped top and cap-toe shoes are bold and bright. Upon closer inspection, what I really love are the pom poms and twilly scarf. The pom poms came with the top, so it's not like I spent painstaking time sewing each one on. But the twilly scarf tied around the purse handle? Definitely an amateur job as I started over like five times... and parts still ended up lumpy. I really love how a patterned scarf easily tones down the formal-ness of the purse. Practice makes perfect, and I will be trying this look on other purses!

The longer I stare at today's outfit, the more I'm getting flight attendant vibes. The brooch can be mistaken for an airline pin. The knotted cardigan sweater taking the place of a neck scarf. The dark pencil skirt certainly is uniform-like. I suppose all I'm missing is a dark blazer? It's funny how inspiration can be drawn from anywhere... and if I'm smart, I will heed the universe telling me to stop working so damn much and please take a relaxing vacation, preferably by plane to a destination far away.

Up until today, I've lived by the motto: scarves in the winter are for warmth; scarves in the summer are purely decorative. Boy, was I wrong. I literally discovered Starbucks' London Fog Tea Latte yesterday, so decided the trek to Farbucks today (what everyone at my work calls the "far" Starbucks, ~0.5 miles away) was worth it in this sweltering humidity all for an iced cold, delicious drink that reminds me a bit of milk tea. What I didn't count on was how much of a sweaty mess my "purely decorative" scarf made me (and especially my neck). Once I made it back to my building, I'm sure I looked like a lunatic experiencing AC for the first time in my life.

Third time's the charm as I finally wore this linen sheath dress as it was intended -- with the accompanying belt. (See previous outfits here, here). I gotta say, the designers were onto something. The fabric belt is the right width and has enough give that the bottom of the dress flared out nicely. I felt quite ladylike. There's nothing wrong with experimentation, but my track record is certainly one of an amateur. Never doubt the professionals.

I had the most fun I've had in awhile playing around with this outfit. There were just so many opportunities to mix and match to create completely different outfits (small details matter!), that it actually took me awhile to settle on this one. Now did I achieve the look I was aiming for? If you're seeing a fun yet glam business casual outfit, then hell yeah.

One of my most (if not the top) pinned outfit on Pinterest is this gray/black/leopard outfit from 4 years! ago. It's a work classic for a reason, given the items can be found in most closets as well as their neutral color palette. So in a trip down memory lane, I decided to re-create the outfit using current pieces I had on hand.

The more things change, the more they remain the same. I swapped out the black pencil skirt for a textured navy one in the same silhouette. As my tastes have matured, out went the oversized watch and in with all the jewels. What has stayed the same? My trusty gray tote that I still love to this day. Oh, and apparently the way I still side-tuck my sweaters.

I'm embracing this recent heatwave by stepping out of my comfort zone completely. Talk about lots of skin baring (for me!) in a sleeveless top and cropped pants. I chose thin fabrics that are loose but yet still fitted. (Side tangent: the pants are unlined and a tad itchy, so even in this heat, I wish there was an extra layer). I stuck to a neutral palette because... well, the cropped pants already kind of stand out at the office. Of course, a cardigan (in white) is tucked away in my bag for when indoor temps become unbearable.

When you're having a great hair day (trust me, this is a rarity for me, and my standards are so very low), it's okay if the outfit isn't 100% on point. The tweed blazer is just a bit too long with the dress (see last photo), and perhaps a bit heavy for summer. It was actually on back-order for awhile, but instead of waiting patiently to wear it during appropriate weather, I just had to take it out for instant gratification. When I tried it at home, the tweed blazer fits and looks amazing buttoned with girlfriend jeans. Outfit to come this fall!

I've styled this dress two ways thus far -- paired with a wide belt the first time, then now with a skinny belt. You'd think the dress came belt-less (or perhaps just ugly) given my decision making, but there's actually nothing wrong with the matching belt in the same color and fabric as the dress. I will pair the two one of these days... just having fun flexing my styling muscles for the time being.