LINKS

• Boden ‘Emilia’ cardigan in red – This is one of Boden’s new arrivals and I purchased it as soon as it was available. It arrived earlier this week — just in time to wear it for the holidays. (Plus, the University of Wisconsin’s colors are cardinal and white, so it’s basically workwear.) I went a size up so that I could wear it buttoned up without a layer underneath without worrying about any gaps at the placket.
• Margaux “The Demi” in red – I already have these ballet flats in two colors and have been really happy with how comfortable they are and how well they wear. They’re a splurge, but they’re my go-to work shoe.
• Undo Hairware No. 2 Claw Clip (red and brown) – I bought a couple of these back in July and use them frequently enough that I figured I’d get use out two more colors in rotation. They’re such nice quality.
• Lands’ End oxford stripe sheets (navy) – I was sick last month and coughing a lot at night. I didn’t want to keep Dave up, so I slept in the guest room. The guest bed had a set of Ralph Lauren cotton sheets I bought on sale over a decade ago when we had a queen bed. I had planned to use them on our bed at the time, but we upgraded to a king before I ever had the chance. After one night’s sleep on the queen bed, I hated how stiff and scratchy the sheets were and immediately placed an order for these oxford sheets that we also have on our bed. They get softer with each wear.
• All Modern artificial juniper wreath – This wreath has such a nice mix of different faux foliage that gives it a nice texture and doesn’t look as cheap as some artificial wreaths do.
• Sezane ‘Lauren’ jumper (navy) – This is yet another item that I have in another color and loved enough to buy another. I bought it in grey back in October and wear it all the time. The sweater has a nice heft to it where it feels like it’s high quality, and it doesn’t pill very much. (As with all sweaters, it will pill, but it’s easy to fix with a sweater comb.)
• West Elm offset stripe pillow (camel/red) – I thought this was such a nice way to add some holiday cheer to our living room without being a full-on holiday throw pillow.
• J.Crew rhinestone earrings (crystal) – J.Crew always nails it with their rhinestone holiday earrings. These are incredibly sparkly and lightweight. Plus, the crystal version is only $9.50 right now!
• Quail Ceramics owl salt and pepper shakers – I realize these are so ridiculous, but I couldn’t help myself. They’re quirky and charming! I’m tucking them away to use at a future Thanksgiving table setting.

Find previous “Notable Purchases” here and click here to see what I’ve added to my wardrobe this year.

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Not only has it been the season for barn jackets, it has been Old Navy’s time to shine with its selection this year. If you had asked me a few months ago if I’d buy multiple Old Navy jackets this year, I would have scoffed at the suggestion … and yet here we are with three. I started with the viral canvas barn jacket, then fell in love with this quilted one online (it’s thin, but great as a light layering piece), and then found this one in store which must have been an online return as it was the only one and in my size. Kismet.

Better yet, I bought all of them at 50% off — which is basically what you should pay at Old Navy. I almost returned the canvas one because I’m not keen on the feeling of an unlined jacket and how it catches on the fabric of your top. But it has such a nice hint of stretch to it and looks especially cute with striped long-sleeve t-shirts. For the sale price of $30, it earned a spot in my autumn wardrobe.

I also purchased the green Freja Dress from Sezane last month. I bought the grey one back in August and love how cozy it is (and how it doesn’t get stretched out or pilled during the day). My style has been all over the place after the pandemic, and this dress with a pair of tights and ballet flats made me feel like myself again.

And, finally, my annual day planner. I like going analog with my to-do list (don’t worry, I opt for digital calendar reminders for scheduling). This has been my favorite planner for the past three years largely because it breaks down your tasks by week. For my job, that’s more realistic than assigning to-dos to each day.

LINKS

• Sugar Paper – 2025 Planner
• Old Navy – Canvas Barn Jacket
• Old Navy – Quilted Barn Jacket
• Old Navy – Quilted Long Jacket
• Sezane – Freja Dress

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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!

Find previous “Notable Purchases” here and click here to see what I’ve added to my wardrobe this year.

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A few more recent purchases that are worth keeping on your radar:

• Boden ribbed striped long-sleeve t-shirts (also available with a v-neck) – I bought one of these Boden long-sleeve tees on sale back in November and loved it so much that I refreshed the page almost daily to see if other colors would come back in stock. They never did, so you can imagine my delight to see this style part of the new pre-fall arrivals! I immediately ordered it in navy and yellow, along the the v-neck version. I go up a size so it’s not too snug across my midsection. I’ll likely buy another navy one to replace an old J.Crew tee that I’m not too keen on.
• Undo Hairware claw clips – These are the prettiest claw clips that I’ve come across and they’re comfortable for all-day wear. (I hate when you can feel claw clips poke the back of your scalp!) They come in a variety of beautiful shades and are handmade in Italy. Yes, they’re pricey for what they are, but I’m over the moon with them. The 2″ clip is my favorite for securing a low bun. I’m planning to order the espresso one for autumn.
• Monica Vinader turquoise pendant necklace (also available here) – This necklace was the only thing that tempted me into making a purchase at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. It’s dainty, but the turquoise shade is so bright that it’s still eye-catching.
• H&M printed dress – This is such a great dress for late-summer and early-fall when you’re eager for fall colors, but the temperature doesn’t support wearing heavier materials. Plus, this is such a unique color combination that you don’t find often.
• metal slat platform bed (also available here) – As I shared in a recent post, we’re working on our guest room and bought a bed! This was tricky because I wanted a platform bed that felt sturdy, was a combination of traditional and modern, and didn’t cost an arm and a leg — and would arrive before my parents stayed with us recently. Enter this bed. We bought it over the Fourth of July weekend when it was on sale for $520, which is about what I’d recommend paying for this. I will say that the quality is better than expected, and it doesn’t creak or otherwise make noise when you’re lying on it. I’m really happy with this purchase and appreciate that it goes with a more classic aesthetic without feeling old-fashioned.
• Cocofloss – I realize that floss is such an odd thing to add to a roundup of notable purchases, but hear me out. I first heard of this brand from a dental hygienist and since I’m one of those odd people who actually likes to floss their teeth, I was intrigued. It’s thicker than your standard floss, but unlike most drugstore brands, it’s not overly waxed and slick. I wouldn’t say it’s gritty, but you can feel and see the fibers in the strands. This helps to remove plaque more efficiently. I’m on my fourth refill.

Find previous “Notable Purchases” here and click here to see what I’ve added to my wardrobe this year.

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