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Everyday Style & Recipes. Est. 2010

OOTD

Camel Jacket & Striped Midi

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Can you tell I’ve been kind of obsessed with midi skirts lately? I gotta say I am a big fan of them! Here’s why: maxi skirts are a bit too bulky while some above the knee skirts can be a little too short–but midis are just right. You can wear them comfortably in warmer Spring weather without leggings or tights.

Another thing I’ve been into lately is mixing splurge items with more affordable ones. For example, this Forever 21 skirt and tank top were very affordable but the shoes and jacket were slightly pricier. It’s really all about deciding what you want to splurge on and knowing when things are worth it. These shoes, for example, are 100% worth the splurge (though I did find them marked down a bit–score!). I had been eyeing them for a little over a year, waiting for them to go on sale, and when they finally did I pounced. These shoes, called the “Royale Flat,” are manufactured in Spain and the leather and overall workmanship is quality. I was pleasantly surprised since it’s hard to find shoes that are well made these days. I can tell I will be living in these this Spring and Summer–they have a lovely shape and look great paired with skirts! Included in this look are a few very inexpensive accessories–these Civion sunglasses and a lovely vintage Cameo necklace found at a thrift store. Gotta love those thrift store finds!

Outfit Details: Jacket: Lulu’s, Top: Forever 21, Skirt: Forever 21, Shoes: Free People, Sunglasses: Civion, Necklace: Vintage

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Dusty Rose Midi

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Just when I think I have enough tank tops, a new one pops up that inspires brand new ideas and outfit inspiration and I have to snap it up. Dang it, they just keep pulling me back in with these pretty patterns! I am definitely a sucker for pretty dark florals–it’s a bit of an obsession. Thank goodness tanks can be easily stored and don’t pose too much of a storage problem (unlike shoes, but that’s another story). This is actually one of my favorite floral patterns and is the perfect length to pair with a cardigan, pants or a skirt. It’s just short enough to be tucked into a skirt without a lot of extra fabric floating around underneath (for some reason this really annoys me when this happens–I could be the only one).

Now that it’s mid-March, I have been craving a lot of warmer weather outfits that also won’t cause you to freeze your butt off if the weather goes south (or North might be more accurate). Midi skirts paired with layered tops like cardigans, tanks and jackets make for a good compromise for the the early Spring months. I have been into rose and tan color combos for Spring and darker florals that usually pop up in the Fall for a surprise Spring appearance as well. But really, when isn’t it a good time to wear pretty florals? All year sounds perfectly good to me!  To complete the look I added these great minimalist sunnies from Civion and an incredibly comfy pair of Steve Madden loafers that really can’t be beat.

Outfit Details: Cardigan: Bajee Collection, Skirt: Forever 21, Tank Top: American Eagle, Shoes: Steve Madden, Bag: Hustle & Hide, Sunglasses: Civion

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Chiffon & Smoking Slippers

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It’s late February and I’m starting to feel the itch for Spring! I’ve also been anticipating more Spring outfits and brainstorming Winter to Spring transition looks. It can be kind of a wacky time in terms of how to dress. Early Spring can still be pretty cold so sweaters and knits are definitely still a thing. However, as the days slowly get warmer and longer the anticipation to wear flowy skirts and lighter layers grows! I paired this Springy midi skirt with a cozy, cable knit sweater–the perfect closet addition for cooler days. I never got super into crop tops but cropped sweaters do look nice when paired with a natural waisted skirt. The shorter length prevents the look from getting too bulky and oversized.

I was recently gifted this gorgeous perfume from Sonoma Scent Studio called “Forest Walk.” It’s quickly become one of my favorite Winter to Spring fragrances. The scent has strong cedar and sandalwood notes paired with lighter, powdery floral notes. I sometimes find flowery scents in perfume to be a bit overpowering but I loved it in this one. It is perfectly balanced with the deeper notes from the Cedarwood. I am absolutely obsessed with this fragrance and have taken to spraying it on my pillow at night as well as using it as an everyday fragrance. The best part is that it is very long lasting so a little goes a long way!

Outfit Details: Sweater: Forever 21, Skirt/belt: eBay, Shoes: Joie and Bag: etsy

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Cozy Neutrals

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As you can probably tell I have been into clean and simple neutral looks lately. Neutral tans, beiges and charcoal greys look so good when paired with complementary textures like leather and velvet. This outfit has been one of my favorite travel outfits in the recent months. I’ve been kind of obsessed with menswear inspired looks and this windowpane button down has become a bit of a staple in my closet.

My favorite travel outfits usually involve layers. Layers are a smart idea, especially when flying, because temperatures in the airport can vary so widely. It’s always handy to have some wiggle room when you’re stuck somewhere. It can get a little complicated traveling from a cold area to a warmer one too. I wore this outfit when I traveled from Chicago to Los Angeles and it worked out nicely. To buffer from the cold while I traveled from Chicago, I added this cozy scarf as well as my new favorite leather jacket from Zara. I’ve only had it a month or two but it’s quickly become a prominent accessory in my closet! It’s surprisingly good for cold weather too. Then when I arrived in warm and sunny California, removing the layers was a cinch!

Outfit Details: Shirt: Banana Republic, Jacket: Zara, Jeans: Joe’s Jeans, Shoes: Asos, Scarf: H&M (Old) and Bracelet: Civion

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Cognac & Cable Knit

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Lately I’ve been kind of obsessed with comfy, over-sized sweaters. They have definitely become a winter-time favorite of mine, especially this one from H&M! My preferred sweater material is a slightly lower percentage of wool so you don’t start sweating the moment you head indoors.  This one has just the right blend of materials and has a lovely cable knit pattern.

Over the holidays I received a couple amazing gifts, one of them being this gorgeous rucksack/book bag sold on Etsy. It has a roomy main compartment along with a smaller outer section that is big enough to fit a small laptop, tablet and books. I plan on making this one of my go-to travel bags in the future, especially since it’s made out of a very sturdy leather! Travel bags can take a beating but I think this one will be able to withstand the wear and tear. Also an Etsy find, this pretty necklace is made from a rough cut Citrine stone. I really love rough cut stones in necklaces –they’re just so pretty! Another recent find has been this great jewelry and accessories boutique, Civion. They have super cute and minimal designs. I am especially a fan of their bracelets. This one is a simple, pretty design which goes with so many outfits that I find myself wearing it all the time. This week I’ll be collaborating with Civion on Instagram, so make sure to check out my Instagram page for a 25% off promo code in the next few days!

Outfit Details: Sweater: H&M, Pants: Adriano Goldschmied, Shoes: Lucky Brand, Bag: Etsy, Necklace: Etsy, Bracelet: Civion, Hat: Outdoor Market

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Leather & Leaf

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Sometimes black Friday can really come through with amazing steals! I had been on the hunt for a quality leather jacket for months and I was having pretty bad luck finding the right one at the right price. Real leather jackets can be super expensive but I didn’t want to give up on the search. On black Friday, I just happened to be poking around on Zara’s site and saw this fab leather jacket marked down for only one day. This jacket is a moto-style and made from sheepskin leather. I couldn’t pass it up! I was hoping this jacket would be as soft and flexible as it looked and I wasn’t disappointed. It turned out to exceed all expectations! I was really pleased with the softness and quality of the leather.

Zara also had this lovely 70’s inspired shift dress on sale and I instantly fell in love with the pattern. The colors of the falling leaf design is just too pretty. It reminded me of a late fall day in October. I pictured this being worn to a festival or concert, especially with the 70’s vibe of the dress. My favorite pair of Chelsea boots came in handy for this look again; they seem to always be popping up in my looks lately!  

Outfit Details: Jacket: Zara, Dress: Zara, Tights: ebay, Boots: Marc Fisher

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Window Pane & Suede

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It’s New Year’s Eve and this year has absolutely flown by–especially the last few weeks! Lots of traveling, planning and decision making. It has been a seriously crazy last few weeks. Traveling can be super tiring as well so it’s important to wear the most comfortable outfit possible. I also read recently that it’s good to wear reasonably comfy closed-toe shoes on a flight in case there’s a problem which admittedly I hadn’t even considered. This outfit is one of my favorite travel looks because everything about it is comfy and low maintenance.

Lately I’ve been into more menswear inspired looks and this slightly oversized button down has been a perfect addition to my closet. I tied it in front to help keep the slightly long ends more tidy. One of my favorite recent purchases have been these desert style boots from Lucky Brand. I’m pretty much obsessed with them! They keep popping up in my daily outfits because they go with so many different looks. To complete the look I added my favorite travel friendly suede backpack and these extra comfy Joe’s skinny jeans.

Outfit Details: Shirt: Banana Republic Factory, Jeans: Joe’s Jeans, Backpack: Gap (old), shoes: Lucky Brand

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Heather & Fawn

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I was recently inspired to try out a bit of menswear styling–you know, slacks, button downs, loafers and oversized cardigans. All of which I happen to be a big fan of! I had the idea of wearing something that you might see your English professor wear but I wanted to make it more feminine and updated. 

This big oversized cardigan is perfect for such an occasion. It’s so cozy comfy it feels almost like a blanket! The jeans are nearly as comfortable as the cardigan as the material is extremely soft sateen. I am absolutely obsessed with this fawn color–it’s just so pretty. These suede loafers from Steve Madden have been one of my favorite closet additions. They go with so many things and have a simple, classic look. They’re also made out of a super soft suede so there was really no break-in process at all! 

Outfit Details: Cardigan: American Eagle, Shirt: Conversation Pieces, Pants: Adriano Goldschmied, Shoes: Steve Madden and bag: Cocoono

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Cathay Spice Sweater & Denim

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It’s that time of year for cozy sweaters and traveling for the holidays-oh joy! The former is definitely a better thing than the latter. I have been into pretty colored sweaters a lot this year. This one is from Banana Republic and has a cute tie back design. I almost never get clothes with cut outs but this one spoke to me for some reason. It might have something to do with the lovely golden mustard-ish color. I paired it with my favorite go tos: Levi’s high waisted jeans and ankle boots. Chillier weather is the best because you can cozy yourself up in sweaters like these!

In a week or so I will be doing a lot less cozying and a lot more traveling. I will also be flying “basic” economy which should be interesting. It’s really just a couple steps above hanging onto the wing outside of the plane. Basic economy doesn’t allow you to bring any carry ons with you, except for a small backpack. I am going hard on the minimalism and there is no room to over-pack one extra ounce! That’s why I was super happy to receive this little minimalist travel/makeup bag from Aifaifa. It’s made from an eco-friendly paper material and is even recyclable and biodegradable. The paper material actually feels quite durable and thick. It’s a good, compact size for traveling light which is imperative for me in a few weeks! I plan on bringing just the essentials in this bag–details on products are at the end of the post.

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Outfit Details: Jeans: Levi’s, Shoes: Lucky Brand, Bag: Vintage, Sweater: Banana Republic

Makeup bag: c/o Aifaifa, NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Chantilly, ColoreScience SPF Mineral Powder, ELF blush in Cabo Cabana, MAC Liptensity lipstick in Smoked Almond, NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Zurich

Midnight Rainshower

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As I’m typing this it is lightly raining outside. After moving to California I still miss rain and of course a good thunderstorm. While this is just barely a shower, it is lovely to listen to the rain and smell the wet pavement and grass coming in through the window. Since this is a rare treat I decided to look into something that reminded me of a rain storm. I started looking for a perfume that could help recreate it. It seemed like a difficult thing to recreate–how to get that smell of clean water, pavement and grass in a bottle? I then found the perfume company, Demeter and found exactly what I was looking for. I had heard of them for a long time but only recently tried out the scent, “thunderstorm.” They have several different options for watery scents but I wanted something more like an actual summer storm. The brand is super affordable but the perfume is not very long lasting. The scent is a perfect recreation of a rain storm. There was the rain, wet grass and soil all in a bottle. I was amazed! It was the answer to my “rain cravings” as it were.

The latest addition to my ever growing cardigan collection has been this one from American Eagle. I’m kind of obsessed with the in-between brownish purple tones. It’s one of those cardigans that you can wrap yourself up in it’s so soft. The cami is also by American Eagle and I love the darker daisy/floral pattern on this one. To complete the look I went with my tried and true chelsea boots. They go with so many things it’s hard not to reach for them for every look!

Outfit Details: Cardigan: American Eagle, Cami: American Eagle, Jeans: American Eagle, Hat: Brixton, Shoes: Marc Fisher

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