I can barely believe this is the penultimate wardrobe update for 2017, and it was an expensive one at that! As you’ll see below, the heavy hitters to my wallet  were the coat and boots. I actually don’t mind spending more on winter wear when it needs to be practical (or as practical as those boots can be), warm, and not terribly boring. It’s just that I don’t typically buy both of those items in the same month! I also have a couple of Black Friday purchases heading my way, and I’m waffling between keeping and returning these spring shoes, so I’ll add those to December’s recap.

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

• Anthropologie ‘garden party’ earrings in red – I couldn’t help but treat myself to these festive earrings when I saw them in the store last weekend. They remind me of poinsettias.
• Sam Edelman ‘Bronte’ hiking boots – I was on the hunt for a pair of chic, ankle-high winter boots and these fit the bill perfectly. I especially love the marled faux fur trim. They run true to size. I doubt I’ll wear them on the snowiest days, but it’s nice to have a weather-proof option that isn’t heavy L.L. Bean boots or a pair of Hunter wellies.
• Madewell star-print silk dress – As you may have gathered from this post, this dress is one of my favorite purchases in a long time. Could you believe that I almost didn’t order it, assuming that the star print would look too much like a nightgown? I’m glad I went with my gut. I love the length, the cheeky row of buttons down the back, and the long sleeves. I went with my regular size medium. I’ve alternated between wearing it with red and turquoise flats, but I do love it with black shoes. I’ve just been putting off a visit to the cobbler to have my beloved black flats resoled. (I wore them approximately three times a week for two years, so it’s not surprising that I wore a small hole in the sole.)
• LOFT ‘Woodland’ cutout ruffle yoke blouse – Do you also find yourself leaving with something when you head to a store to do a return? Yeah… This was an impulse purchase the other week, but it’s already become a well-loved item this month. I’m all about loose blouses with jeans lately, as mentioned here, so it was nice to add a new one to my wardrobe. I went with my typical size small with the brand and it’s still awfully roomy.
• J.Crew swingy wool coat in grey – I happen to buy a new coat each year without really meaning to. I think it’s due to living in a climate with a very pronounced (and long) winter season. I wore the coat here for its blog debut and I’m still as enamored with it. The a-line body allows for bulky sweaters. This also runs true to size with enough room for curvy hips. (Speaking of which, one of my sartorial pet peeves is when brands don’t put a double zipper in a coat that goes past the waist. It can’t cost that much more to add it in!)

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

• LOFT herringbone flare skirt – I was hopeful that this would be a cute work staple, but the fabric was pretty flimsy and I worried that it might snag the first time I wore it. I also wasn’t crazy about the seam that cut right across my butt. It’s a weird placement and not that flattering.
• Target smocked dress – I really loved the fabric and the idea of this dress. I went with a medium and wonder if I should have went down a size because it seemed overwhelming on my frame. I also would have preferred it to be a couple of inches shorter.
• LOFT flowery blouson shirtdress – The print is so cute and the weight of the fabric is wonderful. It’s polyester, but doesn’t feel like it’s going to be staticky and clingy. I just wasn’t crazy about the fit on me. Give it a shot, though!
• LOFT smocked halter shell – My family’s holiday gatherings are on the casual side and I was hopeful that this would be a cute option to wear with jeans and a pair of statement earrings to feel festive, but not over-the-top. The idea of this top is there, but the fabric selection is pretty bad. It’s really thin and clingy.
• LOFT plaid blanket scarf – I have a lot of scarves (don’t we all?), so one needs to be pretty great to be added to my collection. I didn’t like the feel of the fabric. It was obviously synthetic and felt thin, which isn’t the best for a Wisconsin winter. Great colors, though.
• H&M faux fur jacket – For the record, I don’t think any faux fur coat is particularly flattering, but this one was really awful.
• Banana Republic merino turtleneck – I need a replacement turtleneck for one that shrunk. This was too thin, though. I’m going to try this one next.

DAYDREAMING ABOUT
The items I just might add to my wardrobe next month.

• Getting my black flats resoled.
• A black turtleneck sweater to try.
• I’d love this grey cashmere sweater if it’s included in a future promo.