Outfits Not Just Clothes

We are in the midst of a freezing January day after some major snowfall and school closures.  But LAST week was much more mild and sunshiney and we got some outfit pics featuring my new favorite cardigan!  cardigan- Nordstrom Rack , shirt-Woolrich(similar here ), pants / necklace -J.Crew Factory, sunnies- Diff Eyewear , boots-Nordstrom(similar here ), socks- Bombas I think it's clear from these pictures that the center-part is not doing much for me. Sorry, I'm a geriatric millennial and side-parting all the way baby! As for the outfit, this shirt and pants pairing is a great base for the cardigan and boots. The bold pink stripe is really making this sweater pop and a squared-toe and neutral hue is an unexpected shoe choice for winter.  You could swap out those pieces with other statement items, like a blazer and loafers and change up the vibe of the whole look while still being grounded.  I think for winter, you need to be strategic when outfit planning, and while this was a

 With winter in full swing it's fun to experiment with layers. Not only are they a practical means of dealing with the cold, but when done well, can also create new shapes and silhouettes. Here I've layered a wrap crop-top over a very warm gingham shirt for a corseting like effect that cinches in this oversized shirt.  coat-J.Crew(similar here ), crop top/boots-Nordstrom(similar here and  here ), gingham shirt-Mango(similar here and here ), skit-Uniqlo(similar here ), sunnies- Diff Eyewear There's a Victorian feel to this silhouette, no? This gingham print makes me think of Anne of Green Gables  especially when paired with this full skirt and lace-up boots.  This coat, that I've had for over a decade(which really speaks to the value of investing in outerwear) "chic-ifies" the over all look, which being in black and white is also kind of edgy. So there's deceptively a lot going on in this outfit, which just goes to show you the power of layers! 

Over the holidays we stayed close to home, but were able to get outside a bit. Spent most days wearing a version of this outfit. Over the past year I've gone more casual in my looks, but am always looking to elevate your basic sweatshirt and leggings. So it's a forest-printed pullover and colorblock leggings!  sweatshirt- Signals , leggings-Old Navy(all the leggings here ), scarf-American Apparel(similar here ), bag-- Herschel via FabFitFun , sneakers-Asics(similar here ), ring- Skelton Jewelry It was a very grey overcast (yet oddly warm) December day when we took these pictures.  I felt silly wearing sunglasses, so it's a rare bare face post. Well not bare, I'm wearing some Glossier , I'm not insane. As mentioned above, causal/active wear doesn't have to be shclumpy or boring, finding and pairing standard pieces rendered in prints and fun colors takes the boring out of basics.