I hope everyone had a very happy holiday season! I feel like a broken record when I sheepishly acknowledge an unexpected blog break, but I needed the time to get everything checked off my to-do list during the frantic season. Now that the busiest weeks are over, I feel like a weight has been lifted and I have so much more free time again.

On the sartorial front, like last month, I didn’t purchase many items, but I did welcome plenty of new things to my wardrobe with some generous gifting by my loved ones. Dave gave me a new beach tunic for our upcoming trip to Florida, a monogrammed pouch, a glittery pair of studs, and the scarf I’ve been crushing on; my parents gave me this oversize pendant necklace; and my grandma let me rifle through boxes of her vintage jewelry to snag whatever captured my fancy. (That treasure trove included a pair of on-trend colorful, translucent lucite earrings that I can’t wait to wear.)

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

• J.Crew ruched bandeau one-piece swimsuit – Dave’s parents rented a Florida condo for the month of January, so we’re planning to visit them for a long weekend. Few things make me more excited to hit the beach than a new swimsuit. I already have this one in red, so I knew the true-to-size swimsuit would fit me. I love the colors of the dark floral print.
• & Other Stories hanging pendant earrings – I was like a kid in a candy store when we were at & Other Stories in New York. I didn’t have much luck when it came to clothes, but I did fall in love with a couple of pieces of jewelry including these earrings and a ring that isn’t available online at the moment. The earrings are stunning. They’re sculptural and eye-catching without being too over-the-top for daytime wear.
• Banana Republic chunky metallic crew neck sweater – This was a surprising hit of the holiday season. The metallic flecks make it festive, and the slouchy shape means you won’t feel uncomfortable after indulging in too many cookies! I wore it to just about every casual gathering in December from getting drinks with friends to hosting my parents. I even wore it to work with an a-line black skirt and black ballet flats. It runs large, so you’ll want to go down at least one size.

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

• Nothing this month!

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Earlier this year, I toyed with the idea of adding only one clothing item and one accessory to my closet each month. I don’t have that kind of self restraint just yet, but I’m getting there and I have to admit that I’m happier with this approach than I am when I reflect back on a hoard of new items. I’m beyond happy with the items I purchased this month and I think I’m going to get a lot of wear out of everything — even that ultra-trendy bag! I did purchase one more thing on Black Friday and I’ll add it to next month’s roundup if it makes the cut!

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

• Madewell ‘Lilyblossom’ button-front dress – I have a Madewell dress in a similar cut that I bought last year and absolutely adore, so it’s probably not a surprise that I added this to my wardrobe. The color and print are so pretty and I loved the nipped-in waist.
• Staud ‘Shirley’ bag in white – I haven’t been able to get this bag out of my head since I ordered the small brown faux-croc version earlier this fall. While I didn’t like the color or texture of that one,  I realized that my heart was really aching for the white one I fell for last year. Do I think it’s best use of my money? No. But I am crazy about it and happily took money out of my “splurge” savings account to cover the cost, so it’s a wash for my budget. As far as practicality is concerned, the zipped pouch holds a decent amount, including a sunglasses case, so I think I’ll actually get a decent amount of mileage out of it. I just hope that transparent accessories aren’t totally passé next year!
• Ugg waterproof insulated wedge booth – I had been looking for a cute pair of winter-ready wedge ankle boots for years and these are it! Plus, they’re easy to pull on and off, which is not always a given with boots that don’t have a side zip. I think these will be a great option for going to and from work this winter and for jaunts around the city. I went up a half size to allow room for a pair of thick socks.

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

• Gap mid-rise skinny jeans in black – These are the absolute worst. I wanted a pair of black jeans earlier this year and ordered these, but they didn’t fit in my regular size. I found myself thinking about black denim again and ordered a variety of sizes in these to see if I could find one that worked. Nope. The most obnoxious part is that they’re a magnet for dust and pet dander.

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All of the purchases I kept last month were made at the tail end of September and didn’t arrive until the very beginning of October, giving me a misleading sense of frugality for the month! But if we’re looking at cost-per-wear (the fashionista’s convenient rationale for overspending), I nailed it with these three items. All have been on heavy rotation, especially the shoes which have become such staples that I’m surprised I’ve only had them for a month!

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

• Madewell ‘Frances’ loafers in black – I’ve wanted these loafers since they debuted last year, but I missed out on my size at the time and they fell off my radar over the summer. The reviews claim the stretch and to go with a snug size. I disagree. My normal size 7 was way too tight. Yes, they stretch a bit because they’re leather. But if they’re not comfortable right out of the box, I’d recommend going up a half size. You can wear loafer socks with them, too.
• C/Meo Collective sculpt knit top – I bought this during the Shopbop sale at the beginning of October. I wasn’t sure if I’d like it that much in person since it’s a lot sportier than my typical style, but it was really a ride-along item to get me to the 25% off threshold rather than the 20% off. (I was also ordering two sizes of the Vince sneakers to try.) I was shocked by how much I liked it. The wrap style is flattering, and it’s incredibly soft and warm. However, I don’t recommend it at its full price; wait for a sale.
• Vince ‘Blair’ slip-on sneakers in navy tweed – I finally caved and bought a pair of Vince sneakers. I honestly wasn’t sure I’d like them, but I wanted something that felt more elevated than a traditional lace-up style and everyone seems to like them. Well, there’s a reason that bloggers rave about these — they’re so comfortable! I went with my normal size.

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

• J.Crew ‘Daphne’ topcoat – I bought my usual size 8 for J.Crew coats and I was swimming in this. It was sold out online by the time I received it, so I didn’t have a chance to order it in a size smaller. However, I’m not sure I loved it enough anyway. It felt unfinished without a lining inside.
• J.Crew plaid front-pocket cardigan sweater – I get that this is supposed to be oversize, but I was drowning in the size small. It looked sloppy (the shaggier knit didn’t help), so back it went.
• Halogen x Atlantic-Pacific Bow Detail Tweed Jacket – This was cute, but I didn’t have that “oh-my-goodness-I-need-to-have-it” feeling that I should for a $170 jacket. I also felt the tweed was a bit too loosely woven and would easily snag.
• Halogen x Atlantic-Pacific Cashmere Beanie with Faux Fur Pom – This was another adorable piece from Blair’s collaboration, but I thought it was too long for my head. Besides, I much prefer this winter hat.

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