real deal // huge steal = cardigan

Good morning from Ohio! This weekend was a busy one, and I found myself eager to get back to blogging this morning! For the past couple weeks, I've been putting together save/splurge posts on Mondays (see here and here), and I've really been enjoying it. Have you all been experiencing the same sort of satisfaction from these posts? Either way, let me know! And let me know if you have a piece in mind that you'd like to procure on the cheap.

This week - long cardigans. I'm always mild to moderately offended by the price of snuggly long sweaters ($1695? Seriously?), so I was pleased to find two very pretty options that are quite affordable. Please see below:

$144 / $48

Yeah? I love how both of these are chic enough to wear to work and comfy enough to throw on over sweats and a tank (that would be me). The top sweater is almost a blazer, which is so exciting to me because, as much as I love a great blazer, it's just so obvious when one needs to look professional. Let's take a break from blazers; these sweaters got me buggin'.

Have a lovely Monday, friends. I've got some great posts lined up for this week.

xoxo,

work to wedding

Friends, I am loving this crisp weather. I wake up a little chilly, with a pup snuggled by my feet (under the covers!), and the breeze is bringing in some of that delicious Fall smell that I couldn't describe if I tried. Are you sick of me talking about Fall? This year there's a lot of Fall hate going around - or, rather, a lot of acknowledgement of those of us who go a little emo crazy about Fall. I get it, I do, but when did everyone stop letting themselves feel wistful? This time of year makes me pine for back to school (as I've mentioned before, I used to write down my BTS purchases and pair the obvious choices and then make a list of other pairings to make more outfits - so this career has been a long time coming for me). This time of year also reminds me of college with my best friends - before everyone freaked out about pumpkin everything (myself included). I think what people love most about this feeling is the nostalgia of it all. And flavored lattes and trips to the pickin' patch are just little ways to try and recreate those memories. ANYWAY - this post is not about that at all. I just finished my coffee so I'm sure that's how that little rant happened :). Speaking of Fall - weddings. And being a wedding guest. And being all, wait I know how to dress for a summer wedding but this is hard. That's okay cause I spelled it out for you today. I found the most delicious dress from a Canadian designer that my friend Jenn introduced me to...and I knew immediately that it's too special to just be a work appropriate dress. But it is that, also, so here's how to take it from Friday at the office to Friday night at your friend's wedding:

dress // vest // tote // flats // earrings // mini bag // sandals

I'm pretty proud of this board because each piece is a stand alone item that absolutely elevates your wardrobe on its own. Rules are: keep is way casual during the day. Leather and denim dress down the fanciness. For the wedding, no need for tons of accessories - keep it simple with some big old, colorful earrings, and heels to die for.

What do you think? Any fun weddings coming up this Fall?

xoxo,

and all that plaid

Two Saturdays ago, during the uber inspirational Monarch Workshop, my friend crush Victoria and I snuck away during a break and had a super mini photoshoot. You know when you just vibe with someone? The instant I heard the click of her shutter, I was all "Mmm hmm! This feels right." Mini though it was, we had a blast. Check it out...

plaid shirt as jacket // jeans // tee // shoes, similar here // bracelet

You know that phrase, "the clothes make the man"? Well, I think the accessories make the outfit. And I know I say this all the time, but I'm just wearing black jeans and a black tee! Could be boring, but it's not, thanks to my ridiculous sequined plaid jacket.

What's your favorite accessory that makes every outfit better?

xoxo,

all photos via Victoria Gloria.

real deal // huge steal = Isabel Marant

Good morning, friends! Hey, thanks for all the kind words about the new layout of the site. Every time I see it, I love it even more. I spent a few hours this weekend ironing out some kinks and I have to say I'm pretty impressed with my coding skillz. Of course, anything is possible when Google is at your fingertips.

Every couple of weeks, my sister and I find a piece that makes us crazy. We'll send each other the link and say something like "How perfect is this??" and the other one will say "Don't get me started..." It's a conversation that usually ends up making us both a little sad not being able to have the piece in question, but it's a sisterly tradition nonetheless.

Last week the item in question was this:

Isabel Marant, you make leopard print so much cooler than it has ever been. She took leopard print here and removed all the cheese and these beauties are what were left. These boots are why getting dressed doesn't have to be that serious. These shoes ARE your outfit, right? Let them do the talking and anything, I mean anything, can go on top. But they are $660, so, us normal folks probably won't have the privilege of putting them on our feet.

So, I did some digging...

Isabel Marant $660 // Loeffler Randall $395 // Corso Como $92

Thoughts?? I think Those Corso Como booties might even be CUTER than the Isabel Marant booties. Which would you buy?

xoxo,

10 Fall finds under $50

top (left to right): stripe // polka dot // headband // cardigan // sweater

bottom (left to right): houndstooth // loafers // coat // pants // scarf

Had so much fun putting this together for you guys! Let me know what you think!!

xoxo