Outfits – Page 23

Through the Fog

December 14, 2015 by jessica 11 Comments

To say it’s been unseasonably warm in southern Wisconsin would be a bit of an understatement. It feels like spring with 60-degree temperatures, almost-constant rain, and foggy evenings. I know I’ll regret wishing for snow the moment flakes start to fall, but I really want a white Christmas this year … just a half inch that melts on Dec. 26. On the bright side, it has given me the chance to bring lightweight jackets out for another spin and wear shoes without worrying about snow and salt damage!

This grey wool shift has been a perennial favorite ever since I purchased it back in 2009 or 2010. I can’t think of another piece in my closet that has had such longevity. It’s a classic shape, has pretty brass buttons on the back, a flirty little ruffled hem, and makes for the perfect backdrop to new jewelry, like these gorgeous pieces from Ben-Amun. They’re from designer Isaac Manevitz’s “Roman Coin” collection. The collection is marked by pewter coins set in brass, reminiscent of treasured archaeological finds. You’ll learn more about the designer in this week’s “Behind the Baubles.”

Eyelet

December 1, 2015 by jessica 8 Comments

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, I almost made it through November without purchasing anything … and then Anthropologie offered an additional 25% off all dresses and this little number made its way home to me. I fell in love with it when I tried it on in October, but couldn’t justify spending full price on yet another dress. (I swear, my side of the closet is filled to the brim with dresses!) I loved the exaggerated swing shape, though, and was delighted to snag it on sale. Our holiday gatherings this year will be on the casual side, so I’ll probably wear this dress to some of the festivities. However, I’m most excited to tuck it away for spring and wear it with bare legs, sandals, and my colorful Tory Burch tote (it’s no longer available, but this one is even prettier).

Windy City

November 23, 2015 by jessica 13 Comments

We’re back from our weekend jaunt to Chicago! Between the festive decorations throughout the city and shopping at the Christkindlmarket, our visit to the city was the perfect way to kick off the holiday season before returning to Wisconsin’s winter wonderland last night. One of my favorite stops was at Three Dots and a Dash, an oasis topping countless lists of best American tiki bars. While tiki drinks get a bad rap for being overly sweet, the concoctions at Three Dots and a Dash are well-balanced with fresh fruit flavors and meticulously garnished. (My daiquiri came with a banana fashioned into a dolphin.) I was so enamored with the place that I had to buy the glasses our first two drinks came in. The rest of our trip was spent wandering the city, visiting the zoo and contemporary art museum, standing 1,353 feet above Chicago at the Willis Tower, cozying up in bars, and watching the holiday parade. We didn’t do much shopping, other than a stop at Uniqlo where I purchased a couple of merino v-neck sweaters (they’re inexpensive and hold their shape) and the most ridiculous furry earmuffs.

Mod Squad

October 29, 2015 by jessica 10 Comments

I’m in love with the Lulu Guinness handbag I received from ASOS (and already wore in Monday’s post). As with any evening bag, there isn’t much room inside for anything other than the essentials: lipstick, breath mints, keys, and credit cards. It’s even a tight squeeze to get the iPhone 6s inside without the case. No matter. We usually have our phones out to Instagram and Snapchat anyway, right? While I’ve been wearing the quirky piece from Lulu Guinness’ “Tape Face” collection as a daytime accessory, you can bet it will be my go-to evening bag this holiday season. After all, a glittery conversation piece is a holiday must-have!

If you’re at all interested in the bag, it’s available on the ASOS website for $81, which I suspect is a mistake given that it’s $205 on the designer’s website. Order it now before ASOS discovers the discrepancy.

Caped

October 19, 2015 by jessica 34 Comments

My shopping M.O. usually comes down to “if Blair wore it, I probably won’t look good in it,” but I couldn’t resist at least trying DKNY’s “Blythe” hooded cape that made a reappearance this season after quickly selling out last winter. As you may recall, I struck out with J.Crew’s cape in September. I hated the color in person and I couldn’t really justify outerwear that restricted my ability to drive. This cape, on the other hand, is perfect. It’s kind of a stadium blanket-coat hybrid that’s amazingly cozy with a thick wool-blend fabric. Openings on each side allow for ample movement, while snaps give the illusion of sleeves. I wore it out for the day on Sunday (more house hunting!) and was actually a little too warm when the temperature reached the mid-50s, which is reassuring since I plan to get as much use out of it as possible until the first snowfall. Prices on the cape vary wildly. 6pm.com has the black version available for $90, while Nordstrom has both black and grey available for $158. Zappos and Bloomingdale’s are significantly more expensive at $240 and $354, respectively.

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linking up with Rachelle, Jenna, and Caryl