Outfits Not Just Clothes

 The volume for this year's Halloween was turned up all the way! And now it seems we're ramping right up for Xmas. But there's still some fall to be had and while this look might not immediately bring you autumnal vibes, it does have a bit of a dark romance that fits with the darker days of daylight savings.  blazer-Ines de la Fressange X Uniqlo(similar here ), shirt-Anthropologie(similar here and here ), trousers-Banana Republic(similar here and here ), sunnies-Versace(similar here ), necklace/bracelet- Slide Jewelry   I first featured these pants in this post  styled similarly with a patterned blouse and tailored outerwear. Here, I feel this is a more romantic take, which how can it not be with this velvet blazer. Sadly, Uniqlo is no longer making collections with Ines de la Fressange. But wonderfully Banana Republic Factory is having a HUGE sale check out suiting here .  Also, I'm wearing another necklace and bracelet set from Slide Jewelry. If you would li...

 Hi Friends! It's been a while, what with the holidays, traveling, back to school, cold and snow weather. I hadn't planned a post today, but a Facebook memory popped up from way back in January 2016 and got me thinking... (warning I do mention mental health struggles and weight loss after both rounds of pics)  Original post  here . Look at her, at 35, about 8 weeks from having her first baby, on a January day freezing to get these outfit pics. Trying to hide how exhausted and out of touch with her body she was feeling. I'm wearing a wrap dress from Banana Republic and a velvet blazer from an Ines de la Fressange collab with Uniqlo .  She does not look happy here, and in heels in the grass to boot!  What an odd time it was for me that first maternity leave. We had moved a month before Charlotte was born, so new house, new neighborhood, new baby, parents and in-laws over every weekend to be around new baby. I struggled with breastfeeding and while the weekends h...

coat-J.Crew(similar here ), blouse-Forever 21(more options here ), pants- Ines De La Fressange for Uniqlo (a less formal version here ), gloves-Neiman Marcus (more options here ), loafers-Nine West(similar here ) I love how the ties on this blouse, when left loose, mimic an undone bow tie for a whole after-hours tuxedo moment. These trousers, are in fact a tux-style pant from a collection by Ines de la Fressange for Uniqlo  from a number of years back. Other great features of this shirt are the polka dots and pleats. Note the pleated front AND pleats on the sleeves. This blouse is quite romantic when you take in the sheer fabric and dramatic sleeve, when paired with the menswear-inspired trousers and straight overcoat you get an interesting mix of feminine and androgynous style. The studded gloves throw an edgy vibe into the mix, for a surprisingly dynamic look!

blazer-Ines de le Fressange for Uniqlo(current collection here ), blouse-Urban Outfitters(similarish here ), skirt-BCBGeneration(more skirts here ), tights- J.Crew , loafers-Zara(a badass version here ), bracelet-Gifted from World Finds Last week I was all about staying comfortable with leggings and a knit hat in this post, here . For today's OOTD I'm bringing classy-chic-realness in mixed prints and velvet. All of these pieces have done the rounds in various other outfits, but this is the first pairing of this blouse and skirt, which is surprising because each print speaks so well to the other. I only happened to notice it when these two garment ended up near to each other in a closet reshuffle. Just goes to show you, it helps to revise your wardrobe organization every so often.