After going to Milwaukee for an afternoon of shopping for a few fall staples, it became apparent that I can’t step foot inside of a store or — god forbid — a mall. I can usually talk myself out of items when I have a screen and miles of distance between myself and a covetable piece. In person? All bets are off. It wouldn’t have been quite so bad if I hadn’t already purchased the Kate Spade heels and the DVF romper. But, c’est la vie.

The upside in a month of overindulgence is that I have exactly one item on my October wish list: this coat. I have an emerald green version from a previous year, and I’d love to add the camel one to my coat collection.

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

• Diane von Furstenberg “Henrietta” romper – I’m a sucker for a good DVF piece, especially in the form of this flattering romper. It runs big, so you’ll want to size down. The v-neck is low, which makes midday removal easy, but you might want to use a safety pin or add a snap for modesty — although, it might be due to my small chest that it gapes open!
• Kate Spade tortoiseshell pumps (also here)- I love a classic shoe and this pair from Kate Spade ticks all the boxes with a wearable height, wear-with-everything neutral print, and a patent upper. They run true to size.
• Banana Republic merino sweater in green and black – My wardrobe was void of slightly-boxy sweaters that I could wear to work and on weekends. I loved these because of the thicker material that layers well. (I hate when you can see hints of what’s layered underneath a sweater because it’s too thin.) They ran true to size for me, but I probably could have sized down for a more fitted look.
• Joe’s Jeans skinny ankle-length, raw-hem jeans (similar) – I gained weight in Portugal that I haven’t lost yet (oops) and I needed a pair of jeans that fit. These aren’t the same style exactly, but I bought a similar pair at Nordstrom Rack. I’ve always loved how soft Joe’s Jeans are.
• J.Crew pavé daisy chandelier earrings – The photo doesn’t do these justice. They’re much more sparkly and eye-catching in real life and will be perfect for the holiday season. I wore them to an event already and received a lot of compliments. They’re on sale with an extra 50% off today — get them before they sell out!
• Banana Republic chunky pointelle cropped sweater in cream – Fair warning for those with long torsos, this sweater is definitely cropped. It just covers the waistband of a pair of non-high-waisted jeans on me. The knit is really pretty with flecks of yellow and black in it. I went down a size.

PURCHASED – FOR HOME

• Target plaid throw pillow in green – This wool-blend pillow is better quality than you’d think for the price. It’s a zippered cover with an insert, rather than the sewn-in ones that you usually get at Target. It’s perfect for adding an autumnal touch to your home without going overboard. (My mom was in town a couple of weeks ago and also loved it. I ordered two more for her when they came back in stock.)
• Target striped shower curtain in grey – While we’re planning to do a full bathroom remodel eventually, I decided I wanted to give it an in-between update now. We’ll need to work with the existing beige tile, beige tiles, and beige linoleum flooring, and I thought this shower curtain would work well with the neutrals in the room. The fabric is really soft and seems like it’ll drape well.
• Crate & Barrel wood taper candle holders – I stopped by the brick and mortar store when we were in Milwaukee recently and fell in love with these acacia wood candle holders. They’re a great modern shape and the wood lends warmth to a table setting.

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

• Madewell “Roadtripper” jeans – The waist was higher than I expected. They ran true-to-size for me, though.
• Diane von Furstenberg “Savilla” dress – I was hoping to add some more business professional attire to my wardrobe and tried this dress, but I hated it on me. It felt matronly despite the wrap style that’s usually flattering on me. I think I just hate dresses with short sleeves.

–
Let’s keep in touch!
Instagram / Facebook / Pinterest / Bloglovin’

Not surprisingly, there were a fair amount of purchases while I was on my blog hiatus that I didn’t share. For home, there were deck lights, a grill, a cute wood box, a side table that’s on backorder, a vase, a surprisingly chic doorstop, and a vintage brass tray that looks like a patinaed version of this one. All in all, a good few months on the home front! Wardrobe purchases were more modest with a sweater, sneakers that are no longer available, my first foray into the headband trend, a formal dress, and a few workout items from Athleta and Target. (I’m obsessed with this hoodie that I bought in navy.) It was actually kind of refreshing to step back from the blog — and the pressure of always scouting out new items — and just enjoy what I already owned with just a few things sprinkled in to keep me from being bored!

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

• Madewell ruffle strap polka dot dress (available here, here, and here) – I was trying to get through summer without purchasing many new items, since I do love what I already own for the season. But the truth is that I was getting bored and craved something new to add into the rotation. (Plus, I gained weight in Portugal that I haven’t lost yet and some of my favorite dresses and my favorite wigs just didn’t fit. Oops.) I bought this in my typical Madewell size and absolutely love the lightweight material and fit. It’s on the verge of being too large, but the buttons pull a little without a safety pin for modesty and a smaller size would have left too much gaping between them when I moved.

PURCHASED – FOR HOME

• A Meditation art print by Brian Sostrom – I love this print more than I can possibly tell you. I originally bought it for the bedroom, but Dave thought it was too moody (pssh — I think it’s calming) and I moved it to our entry. I went with the 18″ x 24″ print with the matte black metal frame. It has two hooks on top for hanging and I didn’t want to deal with getting two nails correctly spaced and level, so I used this tutorial to add picture wire.
• Schoolhouse Electric pillow shams in “Blooming Field” – I wanted to purchase these when they debuted this spring, but I kept hesitating. $36 on a king pillow sham is pricey, even though I loved them. I finally decided to go for it at the end of May and was crushed to see that they sold out. Schoolhouse said they’d be back in stock at the beginning of June. I checked every day that month. Nope. Then they said beginning of August. Nope. I finally received an email on Tuesday indicating they were available in limited quantities and I placed the order. I normally wait until items arrive to wax poetic, but if you want anything from the Blooming Field collection, now’s your chance. (I’m sure I’m going to adore them in person. I crushed hard on every item at the Schoolhouse flagship store in Portland last year.)

–
Let’s keep in touch!Instagram / Facebook / Pinterest / Bloglovin’