BEDKNOBS & BAUBLES

The Coveted

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The Coveted | Bedknobs & Baubles

ONE | TWO | THREE | FOUR | FIVE | SIX | SEVEN | EIGHT

Every now and then I inadvertently create what becomes my wish list for the upcoming season and this, my friends, is the one. Everything from preppy basics like a camel a-line skirt and a black crewneck sweater to updated designs like that transparent mini tote and those sculptural earrings are just what I’m craving to update my closet this fall.

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Wardrobe Update: July 2018

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nautical stripes

So, here’s the deal: I’ve been discontent with my wardrobe lately. There’s a lot in there that isn’t quite where I want my 30-something-year-old closet to be. (Jewelry and accessories excluded; I’m really good at picking pieces with longevity there.) Plus, I’ve been growing tired of the shapeless dresses I tend to gravitate toward. I still appreciate a shift dress’ ability to be a blank canvas for jewelry and it’s a godsend on nothing-to-wear days when you just need something easy, but I get that it’s not the most flattering on me. (To be completely honest, another reason I love those so much is a long, emotional answer wrought with insecurities that I don’t really want to spell out here, but is fodder for a future post.) So, I’ve been putting more cash toward a wardrobe refresh that feels more grown up and shows off the best parts of my body. (#WaistAndBooty #SoVain) My favorite piece of the month was an unexpected hit: this body-con tank dress. It’s such a sexy little number without trying too hard. It looks cute with sandals or sneakers, but it can be easily dressed up for the office with a jacket and heels. For next month, I’m crushing on two things at the moment: this skirt (assuming it ever comes back in my size) and this ultra trendy bag (I’d be on board with an inspired-by version, too, but I do have qualms about doing that with a small designer). Add my beloved black sweater and flats, and we have an outfit that I’d wear all autumn long. I’m also still contemplating these pretty kitten heel pumps. What about you? I’d love to know what’s on your fall wish list!

PURCHASED
See all of this year’s sartorial additions here.

  • Madewell tiered tank in black ($30) – I bought the pink version last month and loved it so much that I wanted to add the black to my wardrobe, too. It’s really cute with an a-line black mini skirt and kind of has the effect of being a tiered mini dress.
  • Free People ‘French Quarter’ ruffled wrap dress in yellow ($64) – This is such a pretty and feminine dress! The fabric is substantial enough where it doesn’t feel like the slightest breeze will lift the wrap panel. I ordered it in two sizes to try and liked the extra coverage of the larger one. I bought the yellow version, which is available in a couple of sizes here.
  • Hunter quilted gloss Chelsea boot ($100) – Chelsea boots are out of my sartorial comfort zone, but I wanted to try these when they were part of the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. They’re a nice alternative to tall wellies and they look pretty cute with jeans. The ankle is tight, which makes them difficult to get on and off without tugging at the loop. I don’t mind the temporary annoyance when it means they’re not overly wide and boxy.
  • Leith wrap dress in navy ($38) – This dress is incredibly body-conscious and incredibly sexy. I ordered my regular size medium and found it a bit too body-hugging and ordered a large, which was entirely too big. After going back and forth, I decided to keep the medium for now. I’ve been losing weight, so another ten pounds will be perfect.
  • Leith body-con tank dress in black ($56) – After ordering the aforementioned dress, I bought the crewneck version to try. The fabric is more like a t-shirt material, unlike the other dress which is stretchier, so I preferred sizing up for this. It’s really cute with flat sandals for a casual look, but can easily be dressed up.
  • WAYF sleevless blouson midi dress in stripe ($50) – This was such an unexpected hit! I loved the colors of the striped version and ordered it on a whim, half expecting it to go back. Instead, I loved it. The fit in my regular size is perfect and I love the figure-flattering nipped-in waist and v-neckline.
  • H&M striped sweater ($40) – This sweater looks so much more expensive than it is! I love it paired with denim shorts or jeans.

DIDN’T WORK OUT
Things I tried and didn’t love.

  • H&M cropped pants in floral – I thought I’d try a new silhouette and totally missed the mark with these short, boxy pants. If you’re slim, though, try them! They were cute!
  • H&M v-neck cami in black – This was fine, but I have one that’s similar and didn’t think it was worth spending money to keep this one.
  • Zara dark floral fit-and-flare dress – The lining didn’t lay correctly, but it was a pretty dress otherwise. I didn’t care for how much fabric was in the skirt and would have preferred something less full.
  • Zara diamond sweater – I bought this as a ride-along piece for the dress above and hated the slightly cropped fit.
  • J.Crew linen wrap dress in black – This is really pretty, but I just couldn’t get the fit right for my bust in multiple sizes.

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Weekend Links

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Weekend Links on Bedknobs & Baubles

Goodness! Another week has passed with just one other post. I suppose that’s what happens when work and social activities keep me occupied! Earlier this week, we went out to the Tornado Steak House in Madison with Dave’s department from work and I tried escargot and frog legs for the first time. I’ll pass on frog legs in the future (they were pretty bland), but I loved escargot. (Honestly, how could I not love it? It’s just a vehicle for butter and garlic.) We also went to Concerts on the Square. Each Wednesday in July, the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra puts on a free outdoor performance at the state capitol. It’s a really fun experience where thousands of people (a rough average of 20,000 to 30,000 per concert) come early to picnic, enjoy a pass on open container laws, and listen to the music. And for today, we’re heading up north to Dave’s parents’ cabin in a few hours to spend the weekend at their lakeside home. I hope your week was just as fun and left you shirking some of your responsibilities, too! 😉 (I do have a full content plan scheduled for next week, so we’ll get back into this posting groove soon enough!)

Weekend Links:

Finds Under $50:

Earlier This Week:

  • I bought the striped dress in this week’s roundup and it’s so much prettier than I expected it would be. I’m also contemplating the necklace in that post.
  • We’re going back to the Pacific Northwest in September. Let me know your recommendations for Seattle!

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image via Unsplash

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The Coveted

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The Coveted | Bedknobs & Baubles

ONE | TWO | THREE | FOUR | FIVE | SIX | SEVEN | EIGHT | NINE

I don’t know about you, but I just can’t deal with the autumnal posts in the middle of summer. I understand the temptation with so many pretty fall items starting to infiltrate stores, but this summer-to-fall color palette is the best I can muster. One of my favorite late-summer pieces is this dress that I purchased on a whim from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. I half expected it to go back, but I was sold once I tried it on. It runs true to size and looks adorable with bangle bracelets and nude sandals. I’ll feature it in an outfit post next week on the off chance that the pattern is restocked before the sale is over.

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Weekend Links

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Washington-DC-Outfit-2-v3

I didn’t intend to only publish one post this week, but I had been feeling a bit morose and uninspired. When I get in these lulls, I’ve found that it’s best to just step away and do my own thing offline rather than force content. I can’t even pinpoint what has been bothering me, other than a general feeling of discontent. For one, I decided I hate how full my closet is with things I don’t wear anymore, so I’ve been forcing myself to wear old favorites again and pack away things that I’m lukewarm on. I’m not quite ready to sell or donate some of those unworn things, but I think I need a break from seeing all of those options that I skip over every morning to [hopefully] break any emotional ties to them.

Clothes aside, I’ve been throwing myself into house projects because I’ve been annoyed by the recent stalemate in home improvements. (It’s hard to stay in and paint when we can go for a bike ride and enjoy the weather!) I really want to do a “State of the House” post soon and show you where things are compared to when we bought the house. Don’t expect any awe-inspiring reveals, though. We don’t have the budget for that, but we are proud of how things are coming along. (We ran into our realtor at a neighborhood festival last weekend and she asked if we had installed the wallpaper I so badly wanted when we looked at houses. Unfortunately, I picked out the most expensive wallpaper to go in a place that we can’t DIY, so no, not yet. Haha.)

And in other life updates, Dave had a work trip to Washington D.C. I’m jealous that it coincided with a work event for me, otherwise I would have loved to go with him. (I’m now planning a late-fall trip to the city.) So, I was home alone for the better part of the week for the second time in as many months. I have to admit that it wasn’t quite as bad this time around. It helped that Bacon actually hung out with me instead of sitting by the front door anxiously awaiting Dave’s arrival and then getting mad at me later as if I had something to do with his disappearance. Plus, ZzzQuil. A 90-year-old house sure makes a racket when it settles.

And with that, I hope you have a wonderful weekend! I’m counting down the hours until Dave’s plane lands and we officially start date night with a fish fry. (Not familiar with Wisconsin’s most popular Friday tradition? Head here to learn more.)

Weekend Links:

  • So, there’s a big sale this week that just opened to the public. 😉 I bought Chelsea-style rain boots. They’re not something I’d typically wear, but I like have an option other than tall wellies. I ordered this dress on a whim and it’s sexy AF. (Order a couple of sizes to try. My regular size was too snug in the midsection and made me feel self-conscious, so I’m waiting for the larger one to arrive.) I also placed an order last night for this dress in the striped pattern. The colors look beautiful online.
  • Handbags and apparel prices are expected to rise thanks to the trade war.
  • I came across Gardenuity the other day and it seems like the perfect way for wannabe-green-thumbs to get into gardening. They send everything you need to plant a one-square-foot vegetable and herb garden that’s suitable for your location and climate.
  • A frozen margarita pie is the dessert your dinner party has been missing.
  • My new favorite Instagram account.
  • There’s a movie about Ruth Bader Ginsburg that’s coming out this December and it looks incredible. Watch the trailer here.
  • Artificial intelligence is being used to combat counterfeit luxury goods.
  • The lowdown on intermittent fasting.
  • Pairing mint with banana is unexpected, but sounds delicious.
  • If you have a young daughter, please get her this backpack for school. It’s everything I wish I had as a kid.

Finds Under $50:

  • A lightweight scarf is always a great piece to have on hand for travel.
  • Does anyone else remember those Tiger Pop suckers we had as kids? For whatever reason, the colorful swirls of these earrings remind me of them!
  • Target does it again with a cute woven bucket bag.
  • This camisole is so feminine and understated, which is exactly what makes it perfect.
  • I don’t need to spend more money, but this skirt in camel is perfect for the office.

Earlier This Week:

  • Just one post. I ordered the wrap dress featured in the roundup. It’s really pretty, but you’ll want to size up. The one I received didn’t fully cover my chest, even though there was more than enough fabric on the bottom. I’ve exchanged it for a larger size to see if it’ll cover everything up top!

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image from this post
(That dress ripped and I miss it!)

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