dotty, really tall boots, and really long cardigans

[wearing]
dress: j.crew
cardigan: old navy
bag: everlane
boots: old navy
necklace: target

[three things]
1. Hello!  It's been a minute, eh?  If you want to catch up on the places I've walked and a bajillion photos of my baby, then those two things are very well documented over on the 'gram.

2. These extra-tall boots recently joined my closet as part of my new-coats-and-boots-make-winter-slightly-better plan.

3. This dress has been in my closet for years now (evidence!) and that makes me strangely proud that I might just be finally making better purchases.  There were way too many years when it seemed like I was continually cleaning tons of stuff out of my closet that just didn't work out.  I still have to move things along, but the quantity is waaaaay less.



[previously on] j.crew camille dress

dotty, easy peasy, and summer outfits

[wearing]
dress: cos
heels: charles by charles david
bag: madewell
necklace: forever21

[three things]
1. I had a big bruise on my calf last week from a run-in with a very heavy suitcase of material samples and couldn't wear dresses.  Putting together pants outfits when it's hot out is way harder, but this bruise was seriously icky-looking and I didn't really want to explain that I'm not capable of getting myself to meetings without my luggage injuring me.  #grownupfail  #dressesfolife

2. In the past I've tended to belt this bag-like dress, but lately I've just been wearing heels with it and ignoring the shapelessness.

3. Whoa hey, August is almost here.  How did that happen?  #sneakybugger

 

[previously on] cos knit dress

dotty, smidges, and stretchy pants

[wearing]
dress: rachel rachel roy
pants: j.crew factory
heels: vince camuto
bag: madewell
necklace: forever21

[three things]
1. I work with some very stylish designers, so I can't take any credit for this dress+skinny pants+heels combination.  This dress is just a smidge too short for work, but makes a great tunic-ish top.

2. I feel like this tote can work with any outfit because it matches the ends of my hair where old highlights have gone awry.  I'm just going to pretend I'm in on that ombre craze.

3. Word to the mother: Look, our floors totally look blue sometimes!





[previously on] cream dress

dotty, fronds, and big cardigans

[wearing]
cardigan: twelfth street by cynthia vincent
dress: joie
crop top: forever21

[three things]
1. It's about time to put away this cardigan for the summer.  With leather sleeves, it's definitely not a year-round piece.  Also, a serious vegan I work with touched the sleeve by accident once and totally freaked out.  #leathahproblemz

2. With that said, it's definitely going out with a great borderline-too-cray-cray pattern mix.  Palm fronds and geometric lines?  Oh yyyyeah.

3. Hey there, holiday weekend!  We're off on a bit of an adventure starting today.  Hooray for teeny tiny vacations!
    



[previously on] geometric cardigan

dotty, easy peasy remixes, and concrete mixes

[wearing]
blazer: banana republic
dress: joie
crop top: forever21
boots: clarks

[three things]
1. When I bought this print crop top back in March (a very un-grownup purchase) I was hoping that it would work out to wear it over one of my black dresses to mix things up in my work wardrobe.  Aaaaand we have a winner!  The shoulder situation is a little weird, but it's nothing that my trusty black blazer can't hide.

2. This dress has been in my closet for four years now and is definitely an easy one to remix.  (I know, earth-shattering information here that it's easy to wear a simple black dress with a variety of jackets!)

3. Our condo has a giant concrete wall running through it and everyone that visits feels the need to get really close to it and touch it.  #architectfriendz
  





[previously on] black joie dress

dotty, winter whites, and a few spots

[wearing]
dress underneath: rachel rachel roy
sweater: rebecca taylor
fleece-lined tights: free press
wedges: elie tahari
scarf: marc jacobs x target

[three things]
1. A few spots.

2. A summer dress.

3. And gray tights.  (Black tights totally did not work with this.)

[previously on] Cream Shirtdress

dotty, vest layers, and party dresses

[wearing] 
dress: cos
cardigan: gap
vest: zara
tote: madewell
necklace: forever21
shoes: bcbgeneration

[three things]
1. This vest doesn't get too much wear due to its tendency to have a 80s vibe.  It's kinda like a party dress in my closet...I'm going to keep it around for just a few occasions per year.

2. I used to be such a cardigan person, but now I'm much more of a jackets person.  This cardigan and vest combination was way more comfortable than a jacket though.

3. Seeing the mirrored photo of our portrait wall really makes me want a twelve portrait situation to happen someday.

[previously on] white zara vest

dotty, brown coats, and red cups

[wearing] 
coat: vince (this year's version)
hat: uniqlo
tights: free press
boots: old navy
bag: marc by marc jacobs

[three things]
1. I'm taking a little break tonight from holiday festivities to actually post on my bloggity-blog.  Also, my toes are frozen from our market segment ice rink holiday party.

2. These fleece-lined tights are the best ever.  And they're $7.97 at Nordstrom Rack.  You are welcome.

3. I went dress shopping last week for a work-holiday-cocktail-party dress and ended up buying purple coated jeans.  This is a bit of a logistical problem for what I'm going to wear tomorrow night, but a major upgrade for my jeans collection.



[previously on] vince felt+leather coat

dotty, leopard maximums, and summer dresses

[wearing]
dress: madewell
jacket: zara (sim.)
wedge boots: bcbgeneration
bag: phillip lim for target
  
[three things]
1. This is a summer dress.  As much as I want it to work for cold weather, I think it might need to pack it up with the sundresses.

2. I bought a couple of Zara jackets last year, but now they are all showing signs of wear.  I think it might be time to step up my jacket game and invest in some nicer ones.

3. My leopard print coat was hanging on my chair at work when I wore this dress (the one seen in this old post) and I was totally called out on wearing double leopard print.  I keep seeing awesome gray leopard print things, but I think I might already be at the maximum number of animal print things that you should have in your closet.



[previously on] madewell leopard print dress

dotty, green tights, and wardrobe wins

[wearing]
dress: tahari
jacket: zara
tights: simply vera vera wang
wedge boots: bcbgeneration (sim.)
bag: marc by marc jacobs
necklace: forever21

[three things]
1. These muted green tights date back to when I was in grad school and wore all sorts of color.  Sadly, I totally snagged them today, so this is their last hurrah.

2. I've been trying to build up a wardrobe with more patterns and textures (to keep this whole neutrals thing from getting too boring) and so pairing this jacket and dress together is definitely a closet success.  Yay!

3. I'm trying to not just wear black tights all winter this year...or at least wear gray sometimes.  I feel like black tights always look better with black shoes/boots though.  Hmm.
 



[previously on] muted green tights

dotty, leopards, and claws

[wearing]
dress: j.crew
jacket: zara (sim.)
talon necklace: forever21
leopard tights: forever21 (sim.)
flats: j.crew
tote: madewell

[three things]
1. I was sorting through my big box of tights and while I'm a bit short on warm black tights, I've got tons of novelty patterns and colors.  This leopard pair has been part of my collection for years apparently (proof!) because they don't get worn more than about twice a winter.

2. This necklace used to have two talons, but one got lost somewhere (#cheapnecklaceproblems).  It makes it harder for me to pretend that they are claws now though.

3. This dress.  I bought it at the beginning of the summer when I started my new job and it's definitely a year-round wear-to-everything dress.





[previously on] j.crew camille dress

dotty, sandwich ratios, and a new dress

[wearing]
cardigan: twelfth street by cynthia vincent (this year's version)  
dress: tahari
boots: stuart weitzman
bag: phillip lim x target

[three things]
1. I tried on a bajillion dresses last weekend and this one was the winner.  And it's greeeeen!  Okay, it's barely a non-neutral, but I think it's going to lead to some good dress+jacket+boots combinations this winter.

2. Slouchy boots.  I finally bought leather boots last year, so they get to make a comeback this year!  Pleather boots and salt really don't mix too well.

3. I'm having an amazing week for fun lunches--even though one of them was a work lunch about chairs, my sandwich had the perfect turkey-to-provolone ratio, so I'm counting it as a good lunch.   Anywho, I'm having lunch with my bestie today since we're working only a mile apart today.  Yay!  We're usually twenty miles apart at the lunching hour which is about nineteen too many to meet up.







[previously on] geometric-print cardigan

dotty, fresh whites, and inclement weather

[wearing]
jacket: c/o sheinside (exactly)
tee: gapfit (similar)
jeans: old navy (exactly)
flats: old navy
tote: madewell (exactly)
necklace: lightinthebox

[three things]
1. rainy day ponytails.  my frizzy-curly/fake-straight hair doesn't fare so well in 97% humidity with 100% chance of thunderstorms.  i need to get my hair trimmed, but it's always a struggle between the perfect short length and being ponytail-able.  blergh.

2. after four summers, my old white jacket is ready for retirement.  this slouchy ponte version is ready to step in and kill it for the next few weeks of warm weather.

3. light gray jeans.  (i'm obviously a fan.)





[previously on] light gray jeans