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...

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.  

blazer/pants- Uniqlo (similar here and here ), shirt / necklace - Le Tote , pumps- Nine West , watch-Micheal Kors(similar here )  All sorts of texture happening in this outfit--velvet in the blazer, leather in the top, and tweed in the trousers. When wearing a monochrome look texture is key, especially for darker shades like black and grey. Have contrasting fabric brings visual interest AND makes the overall ensemble more dynamic. Don't you agree?