[dropcap custom_class=”normal”]W[/dropcap]henever I wear this coat, I’m stopped by elderly men wondering if I’ve altered a vintage hunting jacket. If only I had been that innovative! Instead, the buffalo check piece was a find from Gap five or six years ago. I pull it out every autumn and fall more in love with it each year, even if I curse the bracelet-length sleeves in Wisconsin’s weather. It’s an item that reminds me of my parents’ home in the Northwoods without being too woodsy. There’s plenty of crimson plaid at Gap this season and while I like the moto jacket and the sherpa-lined topper, this car coat is my favorite piece. It’s a sophisticated take on the seasonal fabric that won’t be outdated next fall.

DETAILS

Coat: Gap (similar)
Dress: BB Dakota
Shoes: Kate Spade
Bracelet: c/o Julie Vos
Purse: DVF
Sunglasses: Prada
Lips: Stila “Beso”
Nails: Essie “Spaghetti Strap”

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[dropcap custom_class=”normal”]T[/dropcap]here are so many women who love J.Crew’s Schoolboy blazer, but I could never get on board with the shrunken style. Paired with ankle-length pants, I felt like an adolescent sprouting out of her clothes. I had considered springing for a more traditional cut, but that seemed too stodgy for my style. (Such a Goldilocks moment, huh?) Enter the brand’s Regent blazer, which is juuust right. It has feminine tailoring with crisp lines and a modern standing collar (accentuated by a forest green inset in the case of the heather carbon version). I wore it to our annual business expo with a knee-length black dress similar to this one, but it transitions to weekend wear with a short, flirty frock.

DETAILS

Blazer: J.Crew (runs a size small)
Dress: J.Crew (similar splurge, similar save)
Sunglasses: Dolce & Gabbana c/o SmartBuyGlasses
Necklaces: c/o Gerard Yosca, c/o Julie Vos
Bracelet: Hermes (similar save)
Ring: c/o Julie Vos
Bag: Coach (similar splurge, similar save)
Shoes: Tory Burch
Lips: Stila “Beso”
Nails: Essie “Spaghetti Strap” (my favorite nude)

[dropcap custom_class=”normal”]T[/dropcap]ry as I might to branch out from my sartorial comfort zone, a short frock is my perennial fallback and this dress has more than earned its keep in my wardrobe. I purchased it over a year ago and have worn it year round, swapping out accessories to keep it seasonally appropriate. This weekend was unseasonably warm, which gave the dress one last bare-legged hurrah before tights make regular appearances in my OOTDs.

Dress: ASOS (also love this one) | Coat: c/o Elie Tahari x DesigNation | Necklace: Lele Sadoughi | Sunglasses: Prada | Bag: Coach (similar) | Shoes: J.Crew | Ring: vintage (it was a flea market find in Brussels, but this ring has a similar geometric vibe) | Lips: Stila “Fiore” | Nails: Essie “Spaghetti Strap”