Notable Purchases, Vol. 4

Working at a university on the cusp of fall is kind of invigorating. There’s a buzz in the air with students moving back to campus, and the thrum of excitement as events and large-scale meetings ramp up for the semester. Plus, it definitely puts a girl in the mood for back-to-school shopping — even if lecture hall days are long forgotten!

Here are this month’s most noteworthy purchases:

Sezane “Nicia” dress in black – Over the summer, I wore my black linen shift just about every week. It was just a matter of time before I found its cold-weather counterpart. This is such a beautiful dress and it’s really made me want every item in my wardrobe to be as pretty and well made as this. The wool is substantial and, while hard to see in the stock photos, there are darts near the bust to give it some shape.
Sezane “Freja” sweater dress in charcoal – This dress is so cute and cozy with a pair of tights and flats — and since my office is on the casual side, I’ll be able to wear this sweater dress to work (which is how I’m justifying the cost). Joking aside, I’m really happy with the quality of this Sezane piece and I expect it to get a lot of love this fall. I’m considering the green one, too.
Madewell “Greta” flats in studded ecru – I don’t buy a lot of trendy pieces. It’s not that I don’t enjoy them; it’s just that I feel like it was a waste of money when the trend fades away. When I do indulge, I try to make sure it’s a piece that’s versatile enough to wear with other items and has a core feature that I tend to gravitate toward regardless of trends. In the case of these Madewell shoes, the Mary Jane strap and studs caught my eye, but the flat sole kept me enamored enough to buy a pair. What can I say? I love my flats.
J.Crew mid-rise cropped kickout jean in super-stretch – I can’t begin to express how happy I am that J.Crew brought these back. I had a pair in a nearly identical wash that I had to retire because they ripped in the thigh. This Madewell pair was close, but not as good as the O.G. I genuinely might need to buy another pair to keep on reserve.
Better Homes & Gardens vintage-inspired fan (more styles here) – I have to give it to targeted ads because minutes after seeing these affordable fans, I went over to Walmart of all places to buy not one, but two! Most of the fan is metal, with exception of the knobs and it’s a shame they overlooked that detail, but they made up for it with a fabric-wrapped cord.
Athleta seasoft mid-rise straight crop pants in black – I wanted a new pair of pants for neighborhood walks or long-haul plane rides that weren’t yoga pants. I like a legging as much as the next person, but sometimes you just don’t want something digging in, you know? These are surprisingly flattering and feel lightweight and soft. However, do be aware that these are more of a charcoal grey than a true black. They run a little on the large side, but not enough that I had to size down.
Paravel “Main Line” duffle – Without exaggerating, this duffle bag was on my wish list for years. A recent sale was enough for me to take the plunge and add it to my ever-expanding Paravel collection. It’s so beautiful! And it’s a lot lighter than my leather duffle bag. Now we just need to book a weekend away!