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, cardicoats, and coatigans

[wearing]
dress: loft
giant cardigan: cos
boots: loeffler randall

[three things]
1. Fall booooots!

2. Can I just keep the weather where it's crisp enough for big sweaters and boots, but not tights and hats?  Please, Midwest?

3. This cardigan is on the border between sweater and coat--which makes it perfect for a cold office since wearing a legit coat all day makes typing much more difficult.

dotty, crisp white, and...well, a bunch of dots.

[wearing]
dots top: catherine catherine malandrino
jeans: vince
flats: vince

Since any "three things" commentary would mostly be about how I managed to successfully not impale any toddlers at daycare this week while unfolding Maddie's stroller or how baby food bananas smell really good, we'll go with a little more structure for today's post.

creative: This top seems like the prefect combination of pattern and texture.  And yeah, I like me some dots.

young: This is essentially just jeans and a white top, but the longer sleeve length makes the top a bit more serious.

professional: This was a Friday outfit, but it could have been another day of the week with no client meetings since my office is pretty casual.  (Or I could just swap the jeans for some gray dress pants.)

dotty, little navy dresses, and last hurrahs

[wearing]
dress: tibi (similar)
necklace: target
flats: vince

[three things]
1. Navy!  After a few years of being particularly devoted to black dresses, wearing some blue seems like a good idea.

2. Where did my shoes go?  Oh, don't worry, they are there...they just match my skin ridiculously well.

3. I'm trying to squeeze in a last hurrah for all my Summer dresses before Fall really arrives.  I find it much harder to find dresses that work with tights and boots for some reason, so my closet definitely favors the warmer months.

dotty, tiny dots, and helmut

[wearing]
jacket: helmut lang
dress: h and m
flats: justfab

[three things]
1. This long jacket with a long dress combination definitely makes me look shorter, but you just can't look taller than you actually are every day.  And really, I'm not tall, so there's that too.

2. This jacket is pretty awesome, but oddly hard to pair with my collection of more casual-ish dresses.  Whenever I pair it with a more tailored dress it gets an 80s vibe real quick.  #cutproblems

3. Flats with tiny dots on them have gotta be one of the happiest shoes out there.

dotty, maps, and dresses

[wearing]
dress: Y.A.S.
flats: cos
bag: rebecca minkoff
watch: mvmt

[three things]    
1. I wore this dress throughout my whole pregnancy (even though it is definitely not maternity) and was wearing it the day that I was induced.  Oh, memories.

2. Is this dress supposed to look like a topographic map?  That might be why I bought it.

3. These flats are really more like leather slippers.  And I am totally okay with that.

dotty, shoppies, and pants problems

[wearing]
tunic: zara
pants: j.crew factory
shoes: vince camuto
bag: rebecca minkoff
necklace: maslo jewelry

[three things]
1. I was sorting through my work pants and I need to do some serious pant shopping.  Ugh.  Shopping for work pants has got to be one of my least favorite types of shoppies.  I might just wear dresses all the time if I didn't have to do site visits.

2. This tunic is from the Zara Woman line.  What am I?  A grownup or something?

3. I am super tempted to order this necklace's lighter colored cousin.  The only thing stopping me is that it's a rather distinctive/memorable necklace, so I probably don't need two versions of it.

dotty, pattern questions, and bonus points

[wearing]
dress: loft via thredup
bag: rebecca minkoff
flats: vince

[three things]
1. Patterned dresses are by far the easiest way to get dressed for work in the summer.

2. Bonus points for also wearing patterned shoes.

3. What is this print supposed to be?  Smushed moths?  Abstract chromosomes?  Sad bowties?

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, black pants, and stapling

[wearing]
jacket: banana republic
tank: old navy
pants: banana republic
flats: justfab
bag: madewell

[three things]
1. My next desk neighbor at work bought this same jacket last week.  This could get awkward.  Or just like a grownup twin day.

2. Comfy black dress pants are definitely the foundation of my whole work wardrobe.  And my weekend wardrobe too.  Funny how that works.

3. We spent our weekend Pitchfork-ing, so the transition back to desk life is extra tough.  Blergh.

dotty, whitewashed, and monochromisity

[wearing]
dress: rachel rachel roy
jacket: banana republic
heels: charles by charles david
bag: banana republic

creative: All white instead of my typical all black.  (Monochrome still wins though.)

young: This dress is a smidge short for work, but for a day with no big meetings it's fine.  As long as I stay away from spaghetti and paintball guns.

professional: This is definitely a more pretty than professional combination, but it's Summer and I found two off-white pieces in my closet that work well together!

dotty, linen stripes, and casual days

[wearing] 
tunic: old navy
jeans: vince
heels: charles by charles david
bag: banana republic

[three things]
1. Things have been a little quiet for the interwebs version of me because the work version of me has been super busy the last few weeks with all sorts of (v. boring) midwestern travel and (v. exciting) Neocon festivities.  So yeah, hello again!

2. I'm also in the middle of some sort of wardrobe identity crisis.  Ugh.  I've been shopping less the last few months (which is good!) but I've been very unfocused in what I have been buying.  And it's been mostly super casual pieces.  Which totally doesn't work with the fact that I need to be dressing more professional-ish for work.  You can see where this disconnect would cause some problems!  Having a closet full of comfy/casual pieces is great for the weekend, but not so much when Monday morning rolls around.

3. In other news, I am loving this light neutrals color palette of grays, whites, blushes, and tans.  Now I just need to figure out a version of this outfit for meetings days.
    

dotty, tall day, and fun shoes

[wearing]
dress: cos
wedges: target
bracelets: j.crew factory, forever21, fitbit
necklace: forever21

[three things]
1. So tall.  Like really tall today.  Like I had to adjust the standing height memory on my desk to accommodate my tallness.  #sittostandproblemz

2. My Fitbit bracelet has paint on it...it might be due for replacement.

3. Comfy dress, tall shoes, and a pile of bracelets.  I am ready for you this year, Summer.

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, elmo's world, and diamonds

[wearing]
dress: j.crew factory
muppet sweater: h&m
heels: vince camuto
bag: banana republic

creative: This dress is just the right amount of pattern for me.

young: Elmo sweater!  Can you tell that this sweater is approximate furryness of a muppet?  If it was bright red it would be much more obvious, but with the dark color in flies under the radar.

professional: Heels, a whole stack of bracelets, and a shift dress.  Done and done.
  
Find more posts like this one over here.

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