With my new job came a realization that I kind of hated most of my professional wardrobe. Or, if we’re being honest, I hated it on me as it no longer fit as well as it did pre-pandemic when I was going to an office regularly. So, I had to buy a few things and as we know, shopping for something specific opens up a Pandora’s box of other “must-haves.” Let’s just say that it’s been a spendy few months since my last “Things I Bought” roundup, but I’ve collected some lovely pieces I hope will become wardrobe staples this year.

WARDROBE
See this year’s sartorial additions here.

• Madewell sling crossbody bag in straw – This little bag holds more than you’d expect, making it perfect for weekend errands and outings. I liked using it last week for a bike ride when I wanted something more elevated than a Lululemon belt bag.
• Warby Parker “Gabriela” sunglasses in denim blue – I can’t step foot into Warby Parker without buying a new pair of sunglasses and these were my latest acquisition. I love the oversize frames in a pretty periwinkle blue.
• H&M linen-blend t-shirt in light green – I bought this t-shirt last year in a different color and wore it a ton, so I was ecstatic to see that it was reissued in new neutrals. The low v-neck is wonderful.
• H&M caftan – I’m in love with this piece and it’s very much what I want my summer style to be every day. As with most H&M items, it runs large.
• H&M balloon-sleeved blouse – This also runs large. However, it’s on the shorter side, so I stuck with my regular size for the length. There’s a generous amount of fabric and it looks best half-tucked in.
• Old Navy oversized French-terry tunic hoodie – This is such a great “throw on and go” sweatshirt for spring and summer. I bought it in white and blue.
• J.Crew bungalow popover dress in dot linen – This will be an effortless summer dress that I can wear to work. The neckline didn’t seem that low on me, but I have a small chest so your mileage may vary.
• J.Crew bungalow popover linen top in green – Given how much I liked the dress, I thought I’d try the top. I liked it when I first tried it on, so I clipped the tags and wore it for the day. It wrinkled so much and I’m not terribly keen on it now. So, maybe skip this one.
• Boden gingham sweater set (shell and cardigan) – How cute is this sweater set?! I’ve been watching Palm Royale and it reminds me of something the cast would wear. The shell runs a bit large, but not enough where I think it’s worth trying a smaller size. The quality is excellent.
• Sezane “Selita” dress – I bought this for our last cocktail event at my former job. It was fun to wear, but it does run awfully large.
• Boden long-sleeve wrap top in navy stripe – This is such a flattering top! I went up a size in this since it’s so fitted.
• Madewell kick out crop jeans in “Oneida Wash” – These run a size smaller than the darker wash of Madewell’s kick out crop jeans.
• Old Navy linen-blend button-down boyfriend shirt in blue stripe – I’ve been wearing this regularly on work-from-home days when I want to look nice on camera, but be comfortable. It’ll be wonderful this summer since the linen is lightweight and breezy.
• Jenny Bird “Doune” chunky hoop earrings – I had been looking for a pair of chunky hoops and Jenny Bird doesn’t disappoint. These are beautiful and high quality.
• Boden jersey midi tea dress in “floret stripe” – Like the aforementioned wrap top, this is incredibly flattering and it has pockets! I’ll be wearing this quite a bit now that it’s getting warmer out.
• Margaux ballet flats in saddle brown – I bought my first pair of Margaux flats last fall and they’re by far the most comfortable pair of ballet flats I’ve ever owned. Since my brown J.Crew flats were looking worse for wear (and wearing a hole in the leather), I upgraded to these.
• J.Crew gauze popover shirt in red and the matching shorts – By far one of my favorite purchases of the past three months. I’m always on the lookout for cute summer outfits that I can wear on a bike. (I’m not graceful enough to wear a dress while biking and I hate wearing bike shorts underneath.) I’ll be buying this set in black soon enough.

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New year, new me things! I’m joking, of course, but isn’t that sort of the case with a new year and a renewed intention to make the very best purchases to upgrade, refresh, or improve your life? Let’s just say there was no shortage of “upgrades” around here from a newly organized utensil drawer to lofty pillows to a ladylike coat. And, a recent collaboration certainly helped with some kitchen refreshes at the start of the new year. I can’t imagine any other month this year will be as indulgent!

WARDROBE
See this year’s sartorial additions here.

• Monica Vinader “Groove Chunky Knot Ring” – I tried on this ring at Nordstrom in Chicago back in December. It reminded me of an heirloom piece and the textured finish is unique. I didn’t splurge on it at the time (mostly because I didn’t want to pay Chicago sales tax) and found it on sale right after the holidays.
• Madewell “Signature Poplin Oversized Straight Hem Shirt” – This oversized shirt has a flattering, feminine shape with well-placed buttons that aren’t too low or too high. I especially love it paired with shorts and Birkenstocks. I went with my typical medium, but I bet a small would have fit, too.
• Madewell “Gianna” coat – My weight has been fluctuating and my favorite winter topcoats are a bit snug right now, so I wanted an oversized one that I would make me feel pulled together and less bummed out that my other coats don’t fit. I’ve been ordering all sorts of wool coats to try this year and haven’t been thrilled with any of them until this Madewell coat. It has an oversized menswear-inspired drape, but it doesn’t look overwhelmingly big — so long as you go down a size; it runs very large. The “woodrose” color is more of an elegant mauve in person.
• Bembien “Alba” shoulder bag – This is my first Bembien purchase and I bought it on sale with an additional percentage off to bring the price down to the $160 range. That might be steep for the quality of this bag and I absolutely would not recommend a Bembien page at full price. I brought it with me to Florida and used it for four days straight. It already had some of the finished leather worn away in some spots. I do like the style of the bag and the woven leather and braided strap, but I can’t in good faith recommend it. It’s a bummer because I really wanted this to be the type of bag that looks even better when worn in.

HOUSEHOLD

• Phoenix Down pillows – We stayed at the Intercontinental in Chicago last month. I was absolutely smitten with the down pillows they had and peeked at the tags so I could order a new set for our home. I bought the “medium” loft and they’re perfectly squishy and soft. I’m all for splurging on nice bedding.
• Target fluted ceramic trinket dish – No notes. Just a cute little trinket dish for $5.
• SpaceAid bamboo drawer dividers – Our utensil drawer was an absolute nightmare — until now.

FOOD52 – SPONSORED
I had a wonderful opportunity to promote Food52 — a company I adore (it owns Schoolhouse after all!) — in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving last year. The payment was in the form of a gift card, which I used to purchase a few practical items that I needed and to upgrade some of our basics. So, while the items listed below were gifted, I wanted to share what I selected and my thoughts on each in case you’re also looking to overhaul some of your kitchen items.

• Mepal salad box – At the beginning of November, Food52 had sent over a gift with a few pantry staples, a wooden spoon, and a 15 oz. Mepal food storage container. I hadn’t heard of Mepal before and it turns out that it’s a Dutch brand that specializes in kitchen storage, lunch containers, and unbreakable dinnerware. In any case, it was adorable and it got me curious about the brand. One of the things I decided to buy was the brand’s salad box for the days I actually need to work at the office and bring a lunch along. There’s a second compartment under the lid for cutlery and a smaller included box for dressing. I’m quite fond of this.
• Nordic Ware aluminum loaf pans – The nonstick coating on my other loaf pan was starting to flake off and I didn’t think risking my health was worth it to continue using them.
• Dreamfarm fold-flat whisk – This whisk is great because you can twist the handle to make it flat, taking up less space in a drawer.
• Peugeot 5″ salt and pepper mills – This felt like such a luxurious upgrade to the grocery-store salt grinder we’ve been using, and they’re pretty to look at. I went with the “natural” version.
• JK Adams reversible carving board – Oh my word, I can’t even begin to describe the frustration we felt carving our first Thanksgiving turkey last year. The bird was sliding around our plastic cutting board (which wasn’t even big enough for the turkey) and it was too juicy — even after letting it rest — for the channels to contain even a portion of the liquid that was spilling onto the floor instead. It was a whole thing. I vowed that either we were never going to host Thanksgiving again or we needed a better cutting board. I haven’t done another turkey yet, but I’m optimistic about this carving board that has a deeper well and — the best part — an indent to nestle the bird so it doesn’t shimmy away.
• Dansk “Bistro Cafe” flatware set – Using the gift card toward a flatware set felt like such a splurge, but it was also such a welcome upgrade. We had been using a Walmart flatware set that I bought for my first college apartment — two decades ago! This Dansk set makes me feel like such a grownup! The handles feel sleek and the pieces have a night weight to them. I picked the 43-piece set that includes eight settings and serving ware. I’d like to add a 20-piece set when it comes available again to bring the collection to 12 settings.

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After last month’s spending extravaganza, I’m happy to report that this month’s spending (at least on gifts for myself) was more conservative with a couple of basics that will be wardrobe staples in the coming year.

WARDROBE
See this year’s sartorial additions here.

• Madewell kick out crop jeans in ‘Colleton Wash’ – My favorite pair of cropped jeans from J.Crew got a hole in them and I had heard great things about this cut from Madewell. They really do live up to the hype. However, if you’re between two sizes, opt for the smaller one. I ordered my usual size and they fit out of the package, but stretched out at least one size while wearing them over the course of a day. I had to order a new pair in a smaller size. Also, do run them through the wash once before wearing them as the dye transfers quite a bit on light-colored fabrics.
• Uniqlo 3D knit cotton striped sweater – The relaxed cut of this sweater drapes well and I like the slight-boatneck opening. It’s not as chunky as cotton sweaters tend to be. You can go with your regular size or up a size — they fit similarly on me.

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November wasn’t kind on the pocketbook, but I’m incredibly excited about all of the purchases I made this month — with exception of this stunning necklace that broke after 10 days of ownership. The center stone and its setting fell out while I was wearing it. I’m so disappointed about it! It wasn’t cheap and I had expected more from the brand as I had heard so many good things. I complained on Instagram (as one does) and the brand did offer to replace it, but I didn’t want to run the risk of having another dud after spending $300 so I returned it to Neiman Marcus, where I originally made the purchase. Let me tell you, Neiman Marcus does not have the kind of customer service that you’d expect from a high-end department store. It was only after I suggested I contact my credit card company to issue a charge-back did they elevate my concerns and provide me with a return authorization. You know where I’ve never had a problem? Nordstrom. Spend your money there this holiday season instead. 😉 And with that, here’s what I purchased and loved this month:

WARDROBE
See this year’s sartorial additions here.

• Boden snaffle detail loafers – I just love the unexpectedly large buckle detail on these loafers. It’s a welcome update to an otherwise classic silhouette. I tend to wear either a 7 or 7.5 and found that the size 38 fit perfect, so they might run a hair large. They’re not the most cushioned, so I’d recommend an insole if you prefer more padding.
• Margaux ‘The Demi’ ballet flat – I’ve admired these classic ballet flats all year and finally purchased a pair after reading hordes of glowing reviews. And you know what? They’re perfect. They’re well made with a decent amount of cushion. The best part is that the bow is functional, allowing you to tighten the top to cinch in the heel if it slips. I’m eyeing up the cerulean pair next. I went with their size 37.5, which is equivalent to a US 7.5 as my feet tend to swell at the end of the day.
• J.Crew pave crystal and pearl drop earrings – I can’t help myself when it comes to J.Crew’s holiday jewelry collections. These are lightweight and have just enough sparkle.
• Boden ‘Anna’ rib crew t-shirt – I received a $25 gift card from the brand and couldn’t think of anything I “needed,” so I browsed the sale section to see if there were any basics that I’d likely get some use out of and ordered this. I don’t like long-sleeve t-shirts that are too tight, so I went up a size in this one. It’s so fun! The ribbed finish adds visual interest my other striped tees don’t have. I keep hoping that other colors come back in stock!
• Sezane ‘Cody’ jumper – This is my first Sezane purchase and I’m impressed! First of all, this sweater blissfully does not have drop shoulders. I’m sure it’s a cost-saving measure, but drop shoulders often look sloppy — unlike the raglan sleeves on this sweater which look effortlessly laid back. I also really like the femininity of the deep v-neckline. I went with my regular size medium.

HOUSEHOLD

• Cuisinart stainless steel roasting pan – We hosted Thanksgiving for the first time and that meant cooking our first turkey … which meant getting our first roasting pan. I did a lot of research on roasting pans to find one that suited my needs: would hold up to a 15 pound bird (I have zero interest in hosting if we need a turkey larger than that; we don’t have the space in our house!), was triple ply stainless steel, had a stainless steel rack (nonstick racks can’t be used in high heat and I wanted this pan to be versatile for future needs), and would fit in the oven alongside a 9×13 pan. I ordered the Cuisinart one initially … then there were shipping delays. I was really concerned it wasn’t going to come in time for Thanksgiving, so I went back to the internet for more hours of research to come across this 14.5-inch one from Hestan. The Hestan one was beautiful and I preferred the offset handles on the rack to keep your fingers from burning on the roaster’s handles. I spent days hemming and hawing over which one to keep and ultimately went with Cuisinart just because it could handle a slightly larger turkey if I ever needed to cook a bigger one. If I had time to reorder the Hestan one in the 16.5-inch size, I would have kept that instead. (Clearly this roaster deliberation took a lot of time!)
• Faux linen tablecloth – This was another pre-Thanksgiving purchase. Our kitchen is fairly large, but the space is not utilized well. (We’ll get around to that project eventually…) So, we needed to put up a folding table to use as a buffet and I needed a tablecloth for it. This one fit the bill based on its affordable price and that it would arrive the next day, saving me a trip to Target. It’s actually pretty nice in person. I’m not sure how stain resistant it actually is since I treated food and wine spills immediately, but it came out of the wash clean! I line-dried it, so I don’t know how it’d do in the dryer.
• East Fork cake plates – If you want to know if you have enough serving pieces, host a holiday. I quickly realized that I was lacking for appetizer plates during our Thanksgiving celebration and used that as an excuse to indulge during East Fork’s Black Friday sale. I bought eight of these petite plates and they’re the perfect size for snacks or cookies.
• East Fork mugs – I don’t often select the color red, but there’s something about this seasonal color that I couldn’t say no to. They’re cheerful and perfect for holiday lattes!

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WARDROBE
See this year’s sartorial additions here.

• Madewell cashmere oversized crewneck sweater – I’ve wanted an oversized grey cashmere sweater for the past three years, but I kept coming up short. Most sweaters were fitted and going up a size just made it seem like I bought the wrong size. I even considered a men’s sweater, but didn’t like the cut. It was always one of those items that I kept wishing I had in my wardrobe every autumn and winter. I was very optimistic when I saw the Madewell one on their site this year and ordered it during a recent sale. It’s perfect! While I normally hate drop-shoulders, it works here as an intentionally oversized piece. As far as cashmere goes, it’s on the thinner side and I can’t speak to how it’ll wear over time, but it drapes wonderfully and I’m just so delighted with it. I’m planning to buy a second one if it goes on sale again to have as a backup. After waiting so long to find The One, I’d hate for something to happen to it!
• Tory Burch small ‘Kira’ quilt shoulder bag – Make no mistake that this was a splurge for me, but I could not stop thinking about that perfect brown hue on a supple leather bag. Tory Burch had their fall sale earlier this month, which brought the price down by 30%. Even then, it was still a bit of an investment and I dipped into my “Splurge Savings” to cover the costs. It’s a beautiful addition to my wardrobe and it fits all of the daytime essentials easily. The chain strap allows the purse to be worn as a crossbody bag or doubled up and worn over the shoulder. It feels so grown up and ladylike!
• Amazon gold-plated hoop earrings – Grace posted about these recently and I thought they’d be a smart option to pack for our trip to Switzerland — if I lost them, no biggie! Since they’re small, they’re convincing enough to pass for fine jewelry.

HOUSEHOLD

• Let’s Eat by Dan Pelosi – Dan’s recipes haven’t lead me astray yet, especially this pasta salad! While I haven’t made anything new in this book yet, I’m very much looking forward to digging in. The photos are beautiful and Dan’s anecdotes peppered throughout are charming.

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Thanks for visiting! As a reminder, I may earn an affiliate commission if you buy an item through my links. This is at no cost to you. I appreciate your continued support!