Casual Friday- my favorite day of the week! This week I am going for a very clean, fall look. It is simple and sophisticated all while being very comfortable. I was definitely inspired by the gloomy weather and rain we’ve been having here in San Francisco. It’s actually weather that I really love if I am dressed appropriately for it. But this got me thinking, are rainboots work appropriate?
To answer this I think it all depends on the culture of your office. If it is a more laid back workplace- then go for it. I think rainboots that look like boots are actually the best way to go. If your office is more business and less casual, I suggest bringing a pair of flats or heels to change into after battling the rain on the way to work.

Blazer, Rainboots, Top, Scarf, Pants

What do you think- are rainboots appropriate to wear at work?

For more Casual Friday, click HERE

This one, coming in at a whopping $758, is my favorite -

On an entirely different scale but the same level of quality, Everlane, one of my favorite small luxury brands, recently released a preview of their fall collection, a carefully curated selection of cashmere sweaters, silk blouses, and the like.

This brushed silk blouse, coming in three colors, with a rounded, buttoned collar, filled me with particular, instant love.

It’s a color that just screams fall fashion! If you decide to try any trend this fall I suggest this one. Oxblood is such a great color for the workplace because it’s deep and almost muted. It’s not like a bright red that could be too much for work. And it surprisingly goes well with numerous other colors.
Coat, Heels, Skirt, Top, Tights
I absolutely love this skirt! It is a super appropriate length for work, unlike numerous other skater skirts I’ve seen. Pair it with tights and you are prepared for the fall chill. The top is also superb. It has a super chic studded color that goes well with the studded pumps. Finally the coat is a must have! It is so girly and looks perfect for the season.

Clutch, Dress, Pants, Skirt
Here are some pieces for you to play with. What do you think of this color for fall?

Is “old timey” even a phrase anymore? I don’t know. But I do know that I loved tromping around in these darling thrifted t-strap heels, my flowy skirt fluttering around in the crisp autumn breeze, my teeth chattering because I couldn’t find a jacket that matched. Honestly, as long as my shoes click-clack when I walk around, I’m golden.

Consequentially, today was golden.

Ta ta for now!

Mary

In last week’s Dress Me I highlighted a lacy, feminine, gorgeous dress from Champagne and Strawberry; in this week’s we have something completely different, a beige, boho poncho. Tonya of Moptop wears it with casual abandon, as well she should. This is a cozy, everyday look which gives tons of ease of movement and can just be thrown on, which I love. She wears it with vintage brown boots, a vintage brown bag, and a brightly-colored ring or two. Poncho can be bought at the Swank Boutique.

I’ve always been a huge fan of mixing hard and soft in one outfit. This fall trying out the leather trend can help you acheive this look. Leather is such a badass fabric that you need to tone it down a bit to make it work appropriate. This is why I chose a soft, mint top to really balance you out. I really do love this trend because it gives of that vibe that you are a confident woman that means business.

Top, clutch, skirt, coat, heels

I’m wearing:
Sheer top from Target
Black skinnies from Kohls
Plaid quarter length blazer
Snakeskin flats from SE boutique
Changed to tan boots
Navy blazer from Target
Arrow bracelet from Little black bag
Watch from Kohls

Peace, Love & Lipgloss
Ana Maggie

Trends

1. Moto. These are boots with an edge. Mostly black, with a flat heel and some kind of hardware on them. Great with skinny jeans, but try them with a super feminine outfit for a more unexpected look!

Report.

Steve Madden.

rag & bone.

I will admit – the moto trend isn’t really my style. But I really like all 3 of the boots above!

2. Flat [or very low heel] ankle booties. I love this trend because they are a great alternative to ballet flats! If you don’t want heel height but want to wear ankle booties, opt for some of these!

Sam Edelman.

Zara.

Topshop.

Joie.

I give this trend a big thumbs up!

3. Animal print. Snakeskin, leopard, etc. This trend is for the the boot risk taker, if you will.

Sam Edelman. I am obsessed with these.

BCBG.

Calvin Klein.

I think I could be convinced to wear leopard booties

4. Black and Gold. Which happens to be my very favorite color combination lately.

Seychelles.

DV by Dolce Vita.

Kate Spade.

5. Rain boots. But not your average galoshes – super fun colors and patterns!

Sperry.

Kate Spade. KS is all about the dot right now.

Burberry, of course.

6. Riding boots. These have been a trend for the past couple of years and they have proven that they are here to stay. They are possibly my favorite style of boots!

Merona at Target.

Chinese Laundry.

Zara.

Frye. I am completely obsessed with Frye boots and am 1-bad-workday away from selling my eggs so I can afford them. I told my hubs that if he was ever at a loss for what to get me for a gift, Frye boots are always accepted

Tory Burch. These are a close 2nd to Frye.

7. Any and all booties. There are some specific bootie trends right now [chelsea booties, etc.] but they are all on trend right now. So just find a pair you love [or 5]! Here are some of my favorites:

DV by Dolce Vita.

Sam Edelman.

Via Spiga.

Nine West. I have been looking for the perfect pair of black dressy ankle booties that hit right at my ankle bone! I think these are it. Mark – if you are reading this, I want these for Christmas. Or the next time you are bad and need to make it up to me

Vince Camuto. On my wishlist, MG!

Zara.

Naya.

Hinge. Burgundy!

I could go on and on and on about my favorite booties! Instead, read on to find out about boots for wider feet and calves!

Special Sizes

Some boots can be super narrow, so a wider foot is uncomfortable in them. Here are some of my picks that are available for these ladies!

Gabrielle Rocha.

Naturalizer.

Halogen.

I found Nordstrom, Zappos and Amazon all amazing resources for finding a huge variety available in wide!

For wider calves!

rsvp.

Naturalizer.

Steve Madden.

Jimmy Choo. WORTH IT!

For soooooo many more options, visit Nordstrom, Zappos, and Macy’s.

Boots under $100 It can be tricky to find great quality boots at under $100, but that’s what I’m here for, no?

Sole Society, $60

Target, $30

Steve Madden, $99

Wanted, $60

Franco Sarto, $80

Kelsi Dagger, $90

Report, $45

Zara, $99

Target, $40

Nine West, $70

Zara, $99

Zara, $99

Target, $35

Whew. So many boots! Leave me a comment on your favorites or any trends you love that I didn’t include!

This ribbed, burgundy knit dress from ASOS is perfect fall wear; warm, cozy, and easy to move in. Pair it with cowboy boots, and, if the weather’s extra cold, throw on a three-quarter-sleeve coat over it (a look very popular in South Korea), or a trench coat, so that you’re warm but still get to show off that smashing dress.

Another thing about sweater dresses – some of them have short sleeves. Some have short sleeves with a turtleneck top. I don’t understand the point of wearing a sleeveless or short sleeved sweater dress, especially if the fabric is wool. It is my feeling that they should all have at least a 3/4 sleeve for them to make sense. If you want to wear a jacket or blazer over a sweater dress, just buy it in a fabric that isn’t thick and bulky!

So even if I can’t wear them all, I am still a sweater dress enthusiast and I have rounded up some of my faves!

I actually really like this dress from Topshop. The seam at the waist is perfect, separating the top from the bottom!

This Trina Turk dress might also work for me. The tie at the waist, again, will define it and the seam down the front is very elongating and slimming.

I love the warm colors and the coziness of this Vanessa Bruno sweater dress!

I really love this dress. I love the way it’s styled with the shoes. It’s just adorable.

Target!

This v-neck dress from Mango is a great simple sweater dress. I also love that it’s belted. Try a leopard belt!

Old Navy – love the buttons at the shoulders!

The leopard might be a bit daring, but the shape is very simple and classic, it isn’t super short and if you pair it with neutral accessories and get the correct size, why not wear a leopard dress?!

Another selection from Mango!

This Joie sweater dress is probably my fave. I just love that flared skirt!

Victoria’s Secret also has a lot of cute sweater dresses, but unfortunately the website is blocked at my computer at work. Because, you know, VS is a gateway site into all kinds of inappropriate material. So browse their site for more!

Like I said above, sweater dresses look great with boots and booties. I also think they work really well with flats! If the dress is on the longer side, though, wear something with a heel or else a long dress + a flat heel = short legs. One more note: make sure the dress is long enough. I wouldn’t recommend wearing a sweater dress that barely covers your bum, nor do I condone wearing a long-ish sweater as a dress

This dress is so great and versatile that I had to include 3 types of shoes to illustrate that! It would also be adorable with flats!

This dress is on the shorter side, so flats won’t make your legs look super short. I realllllly like this dress!

What’s your view on sweater dresses?

Gorgeous corduroy from Dockers for the fall/winter season

It has been so hot here in Sacramento, and the season of fall has yet to arrive! I am eager to wear my warmer clothes – my sweaters, heavy denim, boots and hats! I did make my way to the cooler parts of California and was happy to find that fall was there. The leaves on the tress filled with color, and leaves on the floor piled ready to be jumped in! Fall is my favorite time of the year. Along with the change of the season, there are changes in the air! The mood of people, happier, for the holidays are now just around the corner! And changes in life! I am happy to announce that I am going to FIDM in San Francisco to pursue my dream in fashion design!

Thank you to everyone who has helped me in pursuing what I love, and making my dreams possible. Special thanks to my family and close friends, for you love and support. And an extra special thanks to all my fellow bloggers and readers who visit The Little Black Lookbook!

Have a wonderful week!

Love,

ANI

p.s. A few people have asked me questions about the first two images that have the mannequins in them. I have created the images by dressing up my mannequin in the outfit, photograph them, and then create the backgrounds using Photoshop and Illustrator. I did a set in a previous post Fashion Night Outfit (click here to see post), and just loved the way it turned out! So look out because you will be seeing more of these!

~Outfit~

~Dress: Zara (old) ~ Pants: Target ~ Blazer: Forever 21 ~ Jacket: BCBG Max Azria (similar here) ~ Purse: Coach “Willis” ~ Shoes: Paprika ~ Jewels: Coach, Zales, Forever 21

I don’t think there is a real trick to wearing corduroy. Because the shapes are so similar to jeans, just make sure they fit really well – in the waist, hips and the length. That will ensure that your cords are interchangeable with your favorite jeans. My favorite cords over the last few years have been Gap, and I still stand by them! The only thing about their selection this year is that they’ve replaced their skinny cords with legging cords. As an outspoken hater of jeggings, I’m not a fan. But if you don’t mind jeggings, go for it! I can absolutely vouch for their bootcut cords, though, and this year they are available in a wide array of colors!

They are so great to wear with boots!

For the price of these H&M cords, branch out and get them in a color, like this cobalt-y blue!

This pair by BCBGeneration remind me of the ’70s. Love the burgundy!

Again, for the price of this pair at Target, opt for a bold yellow!

LOVE these gray skinnies by Hudson!

Cords are in abundance in most stores I’ve been to in the past month or so. Find a pair with a great fit and in a color you love and starting switching up your jean routine!

1. Pumpkin everything. Lattes, cakes, cookies, cupcakes, breads, soups, etc. Fall is all about pumpkin. And BONUS – it’s super good for you! Maybe not combined with a lot of sugar and butter, but adding pumpkin to something won’t wreck the nutrition facts. Plus, canned pumpkin is cheap. So stock up! I made these over the weekend:

Minus the candy corn. Who likes candy corn anyways? They are only 110 calories per cupcake, and that’s with a generous amount of frosting!!

I am also anxious to try these other pumpkin recipes:

Pumpkin swirl cheesecake yogurt cupcakes. YUM.

Banana pumpkin bread.

Pumpkin cookies.

Pumpkin pie french toast.

Pumpkin scones. You know, for when you need a lot of sugar in the mornings.

And, of course, the pumpkin spice latte.

Any other pumpkin fiends out there?

2. Crisp fall air. I’ve never been a huge fan of cold weather, but after the hot hot summer we had, I am so loving the cooler air. The type of weather that requires pants and long sleeves but not lots of coats and scarves and boots and hats just quite yet. Nothing beats a sunny fall day!

3. The colors. Not just the colors in fashion, but the colors of nature! Brilliant oranges, yellows and reds are starting to pepper the trees here in St. Louis and I’m hoping that the hot summer didn’t ruin the natural beauty of the next month.

4. Apple/pumpkin picking. This past weekend, as part of our 2-year anniversary celebration, my husband and I went to a local farm for some apple picking. And we had the best time! The farm had lots and lots of delicious golden delicious and suncrisp apples, not to mention a store full of apple and pumpkin products. I may or may not have gotten a caramel apple dipped in reese’s pieces…

5. Decorating pumpkins! In past years, I’ve carved pumpkins, most notably a Harry Potter pumpkin, but I think this year I might try to paint and/or glitter a pumpkin. It’s more in line with my personality and taste

Harry Potter pumpkin by yours truly!

What I want to do this year.

Or this!

6. Slippers. If you have tile or hard wood floors, you know what I’m talking about. Slippers are so cozy and so necessary as the temperatures drop. Sometimes the oldest pair that is falling apart is the best, but there are lots of cute options!

Classic Minnetonka moccasin.

LOVE these!

Never would I ever spend $100 on slippers, but I absolutely adore these UGGs.

7. Fall TV. I’m not one of those people who denies watching TV. My husband and I watch a great deal of TV. I’m not ashamed! And I don’t care who knows it! Current favorites:

Gossip Girl. OMFG one week until the final season premiere!

Revenge. The best primetime soap opera ever.

Modern Family. Hilarity.

New Girl. The best new show of last year.

Parks and Recreation. The one and only Leslie Knope.

Revolution. I have only seen 2 episodes but I am hooked!

Community. Season premiere October 19.

Any other TV lovers out there?!

8. Pumpkin beer/hard ciders. Need I say more?

Local micro-brew.

9. HALLOWEEN! I haven’t been to a halloween costume party since college, but I definitely want to start going to them again. We might have the opportunity to go to one this Halloween! Here’s hoping! What should I dress up as?!

10. The official beginning of the holiday season. Fall lasts until December, technically, so Halloween and Thanksgiving are right in the middle of it. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, so it only makes sense that it is also in my favorite season.

What are your favorite things about fall? [besides boots, scarves, sweaters, etc.]

]]> http://desperatelyseekingsparkle.com/2012/10/01/time-for-tights-a-how-to-guide/ Mon, 01 Oct 2012 18:58:16 +0000 desperatelyseekingsparkle http://desperatelyseekingsparkle.com/2012/10/01/time-for-tights-a-how-to-guide/ Happy October! October is my very favorite month, so I am thrilled that it is finally here! I’m looking forward to chilly air, pumpkin everything and my wedding anniversary [tomorrow!]. But I’m also definitely excited to start wearing tights! I think September was unseasonably warm this year, so I haven’t had a chance to dig mine out of my drawer yet. But with a high of only 65 today and tomorrow, it is certainly time! When I asked my FB friends what they wanted to read about for fall, my friend Tina said she was unsure of how to wear tights – which tights to wear to certain events and with what outfits and shoes. So, here is your guide!

I don’t think there is any professional or social event where tights aren’t appropriate. They are a great alternative to the dreaded pantyhose expected in a professional setting and can be a really fun addition to a party or a casual look.

In a professional setting, I think black, gray and nude are the way to go. Unless you work in a more creative field – then I say go for any and all colors you wish! But if you choose to stick in the neutral zone, that doesn’t mean they can’t be interesting textures or have patterns. The great thing about the patterns is [aside from the giant polka dots of the KS tights below] is that most of the patterns are very subtle, so unless someone gets close to your legs, they might think they are just solid black or solid nude. Here are some tights that I would pick out for work wear:

Kate Spade. Wear with a simple sheath or pencil skirt!

I adore these mini dot tights from J.Crew. Perfect with any skirt or dress you would wear to work! A fantastic alternative to pantyhose!

If you want a touch of sparkle!

These are so reminiscent of Blair Waldorf, Season 1 of Gossip Girl [BTW, 1 week left until the premiere!]. Love the houndstooth! Pair with a black & white houndstooth pencil skirt!

For simple, opaque tights, this 2-pack is a great buy!

I love the pattern in these! They won’t provide much warmth, though, so wear them in the fall, rather than in the winter!

I also love these herringbone sweater tights from Target!

I personally don’t think tights for work HAVE to be black, nude or gray. But it really depends on your office environment. If you think you can get away with some color, I would opt for solid colors as opposed to patterned colors. And the cool thing about all of the colored tights is that you can colorblock your look easily! Pair your cobalt tights with a black top and white blouse!

These Topshop burgundy tights are perfect!

I love the idea of cobalt tights! Pair with all black or with some yellow!

These berry tights from Anthropologie are a great color!

I love creating a monochromatic look with your tights. And the textures and patterns keep it from being too simple!

These tights work great with any color, so get several pairs

I love love love cobalt and black together, so an all black ensemble with cobalt tights would also look great!

For fun tights times, the sky is the limit! You can wear any of the above tights with a casual look or a going out look! Here are some additional tights that might be a bit more fun than those above:

LOVE the color!

Glitter!

So fun!

As you can tell, I have a thing for cable knit tights!

I really want to wear this outfit! It is the perfect vibe for brunch or a day running errands or shopping!

I have to admit – I wear mostly black opaque tights for nights out. It’s not that I don’t like colorful tights for going out, but I think black tights are ultra chic.

To pick our your best tights, follow a few simple guidelines:

1. Before you buy a pair, think about your wardrobe and what you would wear them with. If you have to buy more clothing in order for them to fit into your wardrobe, don’t get them!

2. Don’t spend a lot of money on them. They run and get holes in them easily, so don’t invest in tights. I’d say the most I would spend would be $30, for the Kate Spade polka dot tights. I actually buy most of mine at Target! They have a huge selection and most are only $8 or $10.

3. Look for tights that speak to your own style. You won’t feel great in them if they’re not. If you want to branch out from your style and try something new, see rules 1 and 2.

4. Be wary of fishnets. Or any pattern that can look like fishnet. There are a few specific ways to wear them so that they look classy, but I think they can go trashy very easily. So just be careful.

5. Don’t wear tights with sandals. Peep toe is okay. But not sandals.

6. Wear tights with flats, pumps [pointy, round or peep!], ankle booties, mid-calf booties, knee high boots, etc. There aren’t many shoes that don’t go with tights [except sandals and maybe tennis shoes ]

7. Have fun! The beauty of the tights trend is that there are so many different colors, textures, patterns, etc. Retailers are jam packed with tights, so don’t be afraid to buy that pair of red tights that you’ve been drooling over!

8. When in doubt, pair tights with black or gray. If you buy that red pair and can’t find anything in your wardrobe to wear them with except black, who cares? Black + red = fab! Same with gray. Berry tights? Great with gray!

9. If you’re feeling adventurous, try a monochromatic look – berry skirt with berry tights! Why not?

10. Take proper care when washing. Read the instructions or else they won’t last more than a couple of washes!

So there you have it – your guide to all things tights. I hope it has been instructional and everyone is running out to your local target to buy 6 or 7 pairs!

]]> http://fashionmarmasellee.wordpress.com/2012/10/01/fall-fashion-haul-hm/ Mon, 01 Oct 2012 04:02:22 +0000 fashionmarmasellee http://fashionmarmasellee.wordpress.com/2012/10/01/fall-fashion-haul-hm/ ;

Hi everyone,

On Saturday I went shopping in Guelph ( different city than where I live) because I wanted to check out their H&M store. The ones close to where I live have not impressed me at all. It’s usually a hit or miss with me, so instead of going to the store I usually go to, my boyfriend and I decided to go there. I ended up mostly buying tops.

Price: $24.65
I’ve been looking for a sweater like this for a while now. The material is super soft and it’s long enough to wear with tights and your favorite fall boots.

Price: $17.95

The main reason I bought this top was because of the color. This color compliments my skin tone perfectly and it looks perfect paired with skinny jeans.

Price: $17.95

Price: $14.95

I’m currently loving tops that are sheer and loose fitting. I would wear a tank top with this shirt since the material is see through. ( You can’t really tell in this picture)I also love this color, the camera does not do it justice.

Price: $10.oo

So this one looks way better on than it does on the hanger. It’s for those days when I feeling casual and want to wear something simple but nice.

Price: $12.95

This dress is long enough that I don’t have to wear tights underneath it. I would pair it with my leather jacket and some stockings with ankle boots, perfect for summer.

Price: $14.95

During the fall I love wearing over sized buttoned up dress shirts with tights and my boots. I love the color of this dress shirt. This look is also easy to dress up and down.

That’s end of my haul. I have I admit that I was really impressed with clothes at that location. I’m really happy with my finds

xo Sue

I have wanted a pair of riding boots for a while, and while I was shopping on Saturday my friend an I found this pair at old navy! They were so cute and inexpensive! I think they are the perfect boot for fall :)

I also tried the popular sock bun, after seeing it all over pinterest. I made the foundation out of a sock, and it worked pretty well. It will be nice for ballet class.

Jeans may be difficult to pull off in the summer when it’s hot, but they are necessary for going out in the fall, winter and spring! For going out, make sure you have at least 2 pairs of very dark denim. Whether they’re skinny, bootcut, straight leg or flare, dark jeans are timeless.

If they’re in your budget, Citizens of Humanity make some of my very favorite bootcut jeans!

If Citizens aren’t doable right now, these jeans from Gap are great and over $100 less!

For my skinny jeans, I adore the 7 for all Mankind Roxanne style. They fit like a glove!

Again, Gap has a great alternative to the $100+ jeans out there! I’ve had great luck with their skinny jeans and between Gap and Target, I can always find affordable jeans!

If you are satisfied with your jean selection and want to branch out and go for a jean trend, look for a patterned pair or one that is coated!

Rich & Skinny faux leather.

DL1961 metallic jeans.

Paige denim. I kind of love the paisley.

The thing about finding the perfect pair of jeans – especially for going out- is to find a brand, style, cut that flatters YOUR body. Buy jeans that work for you, not jeans that you have to work for!

The second ingredient for my party time wardrobe is awesome heels. I’m a believer in the idea that pumps are completely timeless. Round toe, peep toe, and pointy toe pumps have all been the IT shoe at one time or another, but they all stick around, no matter what the trend is. Add in ankle booties and knee high boots and you’ll have a heel collection for all seasons!

Pointy-toe black pumps by Manolo Blahnik will always be my #1 shoe fantasy. They are so classic and timeless that you could literally have them your whole life. You would have to make quite a few trips to the cobbler for repairs, but let’s be honest, I have to do that with my 9 West shoes.

Equally classic and almost as fabulous is this pair by Zara. A pointy toe pump like this will do wonders for making your legs look long!

Nude pumps are equally important to black ones. These Louboutins are perfection.

However, if you don’t have a shoe benefactor funding your Louboutin obsession, these Nine West pumps are also great!

When it comes to nude pumps, I usually keep it to round toe or peep toe, because I think the pointy toe can look a little too professional or blah, but if you like the look of the pointy, go f or a pair with some shine, like these Sam Edelman with snake and gold details!

So, in addition to black and nude, it’s good to have at least one pair of heels in a color! Whether it’s red, pink or yellow, choose a color that will work with a lot of your wardrobe. They will all go with your jeans, so think about your tops!

Love purple pumps? If you plan on wearing a lot of gold shiny things, go for it!

I actually love pink pumps. They are usually the perfect accessory to my outfit of dark jeans and black top!

Note: I know all of these heels are super super high. But fret not, there are TONS of heel options that have heels under 4 inches!

So we have our pants and our shoes. Good to go, obviously The next advice I have will be controversial. I say make sure you have A LOT of black. I wear black a lot when I go out. Why? Because it looks good with my skin and hair. It is slimming. I ALWAYS feel confident in it. And because I love to accessorize and it is so much easier when you have a neutral palette to work with. If you love wearing brightly colored shoes, black is a good base to have. If you love lots of big jewelry, again. Want to rock some red tights? When you go out, it’s so fun to dress up and put jewelry on, but you don’t want your clothes and your accessories competing for attention. So choose what you want the main focus to be and then stick with neutrals for the opposite. For example: pink shoes, LBD, lots of black and gold jewelry. Or. Bright red dress, nude pumps, gold jewelry. See what I mean?

But it’s hard to make up an entire wardrobe of jeans, black and pumps. I think those 3 things provide a great base for a going out closet. You should always think about trends you like and that work for you and add those into your party clothing as much as possible! If you like a lot of sparkle, wear a sparkle top with some jeans and pumps. If you love prints, opt for a printed dress with some black/nude heels! Here are some examples!

Vivienne Westwood Anglomania asymmetrical shirt
theoutnet.com

Citizens of Humanity bootcut jeans
$290 - harveynichols.com

Christian louboutin pumps
christianlouboutin.com

ASOS clutch purse
asos.com

J Crew j crew
jcrew.com

Kenneth Jay Lane gold teardrop earrings
charmandchain.com

J Crew j crew jewelry
jcrew.com

I love this red top! I might have to buy it!

First, take 20% off any full-priced item at Kate Spade with code GODOTTY.

Second, take 30% off your purchase at Banana Republic from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today only, with code BR12HOURS.

Lastly, take an extra 35% off all sale at Gap with code GAPSALE. Happy Shopping!

Now, back to business. [Sidenote: I omitted X and Y because I was stumped.]

L is for leather. Whether it’s real or faux, leather is a hot trend right now. If you want to branch out from the basic black leather, try a skirt in a hot color, like burgundy!

Topshop faux leather leggings at Nordstrom.

H&M leather skirt.

M is for mustard, one of my very favorite colors for fall!

Current/Elliot skinny cords!

Knit peplum top from Dorothy Perkins.

N is for Nordstrom! My favorite store! My Nordstrom wish list is bursting at the seams, so here are a couple of fall picks!

Completely obsessed with these tights!

Love this Vince Camuto skirt! Need it!

Vince Camuto houndstooth ankle pants!

Hinge oxford booties!

O is for oxblood. Otherwise known as burgundy. I just can’t get enough, obviously!

Mango suede jacket.

Perfect Alexander Wang booties

P is for plaid. If you fear looking like a lumberjack [no one else has that fear? Just me?] don’t wear the classic red and black – opt for a different color scheme!

Merona at Target plaid shirt!

P is also for pumps. As sad as I am to say goodbye to my sandals, I love love love great pumps! Suede is perfect for fall.

These KORS Michael Kors Mary Janes made me squeal when I saw them!

These tan suede pumps from Mango are beyond fabulous. These would be a great staple pump for your fall closet!

For a lower heel option, I love these Ivanka Trump pumps!

Q is for quotable fashion!

Always.

So true!

Such wise words.

R is for rainy weather gear! So far, fall in St. Louis has been rain, rain and more rain! So I am sure to have my trench and umbrella handy!

Hunter rain boots!

Kate spade umbrella!

Perfect Burberry trench.

A much more affordable option at Target!

S is for scarves. Whether they’re for cold weather or just decorative, scarves can transform an outfit!

I love this scarf – perfect with an ivory, brown or tan jacket!

My very favorite J.Crew mascot in scarf form!

Marc by Marc Jacobs wool scarf.

T is for tights. I am going to dedicate an entire post to tights, as per my friend Tina’s request via facebook, but here are some of my current faves [besides the pair from Nordstrom above]!

These are made out of a sweater-like texture!

I love the giant polka dots on these Kate Spade tights!

Merona at Target tights!

U is for Uggs! I have no real need for a new pair of UGGs but I am loving these.

Adorbs.

V is for vests. Specifically faux fur!

Warmth.

W is for wool! The colder it gets, the more necessary wool is!

I love this wool sweater from Madewell!

Marc by Marc Jacobs wool dress. So adorable!

Z is for Zara. Zara is a great 1-stop shop for all of your fall fashion needs are great prices!

I am completely obsessed with this collar-less coat. See more collarless coats in an upcoming post as we get closer to winter!

LOVE this blazer!

A wool blend sweater dress!

Peplum + Peter Pan collar + sparkle = the fall trifecta!

Skinny jacquard trousers.

Leather pencil skirt

So much cozy knitwear at Zara!

Chunky-heeled boot perfection!

Classic pump.

I have to tear myself away from Zara’s website because I am so tempted to buy EVERYTHING.

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This time around I’m styling a simple sweater a couple ways. A sweater is an essential piece for your wardrobe this fall primarily because it makes such a great base for throwing layers on. This orange color will also make your neutrals pop. And if orange just isn’t your color it comes in tons of other colors. And being the budget shopper I am, both of these outfits are under $150 and the pieces can each be used to make other great looks.

Sweater: $30

Necklace, Scarf, Denim top, Sweater, Flats, Pants

Sweater, Flats, Jacket, Necklace, Skirt

Want more ways to Reduce? Click HERE

A is for animal sweater. It’s no secret that I love the animal sweater trend. See my full post on it here. My personal favorite is this French hen sweater from J.Crew!

J’adore

B is for boots/booties. I am surely going to do an entire post about boots and booties but here are a couple of my favorites that I’ve seen so far!

Naya booties

Tory Burch riding boots. The bomb.

C is for cardigans and cobalt. So many cute cardigans for fall this year.

Love this houndtooth cardigan from Target!

My other fall C favorite is the color cobalt. I rocked my new J.Crew silk cobalt blouse and am absolutely in love with this color. It looks fab with my new Katniss-inspired hair color

It looks purple in this picture but it is the most magnificent blue ever.

D  is for denim. I love denim pants, shirts, jackets, etc. I am loving that colored/printed denim is still a huge trend and am still searching for my perfect pair of gray skinnies!

These Paige jeans are fab.

E is for Equipment. Because they have such fabulous blouses. I love them all.

This dark floral blouse is perfect for fall. Pair with burgundy skinny pants or something brocade!

F is for fair isle. It’s going to start getting colder now so a classic cozy fair isle sweater is just perfect.

This Proenza Schouler is the epitome of a fair isle sweater.

This sweater by Quicksilver is MUCH more affordable and every bit as classic.

G  is for gold gold everywhere! Go for it. Try some gilded pants or some huge gold accessories.

This H&M sequin blazer is perfection.

H is for houndstooth. One of my very favorite fall trends. It’s so classic, so if you want to mix it up try the houndstooth in a color!

Worthington for JCPenney. Love this skirt, especially for the price!

DVF houndstooth. Adore!

I – is for? Anyone know of a trend or style that starts with I? I am at a loss.

J is for jacket. The best part about fall is that it is the one time of year to wear jackets [and spring, I guess]! Go for a leather jacket, a fabulous tweed blazer or a trench in an unusual color.

Faux-leather Topshop jacket. Love this!

This blazer has an awesome nerdy feel. Play up the nerd and pair it with a skirt, tights and some oxford booties.

Love this burgundy trench by Via Spiga.

K is for knits. So many cozy knits for fall. Maybe I’ll do an entire post just about my favorite knits.

I just want to curl up in this cashmere Theory cardigan.

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s post – L throug

We went on a walk today, down a path through our woods. It was beautiful, and will be even more beautiful when all the leaves have changed! I can’t wait until the peak of fall foliage!

I’m wearing a new skirt my aunt gave me for my birthday, and it went perfectly with this sweater! :) Also wearing my favorite boots and an owl necklace.

Hope you find some inspiration in these and that you get a great start to your week!
Happy Monday

Love the blazer!

For more Inspiration, click HERE

It’s officially my favorite season of the year. Fall has always been my favorite season for many reasons. I love the fashion, the weather,even the products that are sold this time of year ( Bath and Body Words products) Through out this month, I will share with you the different reasons why I love Fall.

Today I’m going to start with scarves. I chose five of my favorite scarfs, I will also list the price and where I bought them from. These are not in any particular order.

From: H&M(infinity scarf) Price: $12.50 CAD

From: Indigo/Chapters. Price: Originally $30.00. I bought it when it was on sale for $2.00

From: Indigo/Chapters. Price: Originally $30.00. I bought it when it was on sale for $2.00

From: Bizou Price: 2 for $10. I bought two of these scarfs, the other one is brown.

From: Giant Tiger( infinity scarf) Price: $2.99. This infinity scarf is one of my favorites from all the ones listed above. I love it because you can dress it up and down and the material is super comfortable.

That concludes my top 5 favorite scarves. I have quite the collection of scarves, most of my fall outfits consists of one, whether the occasion is to attend a birthday party or just a trip to the mall, I always find a scarf that completes my outfit.

Question of the day

What do you love about fall?

Sweater dresses are to fall what sun dresses were to summer. Sweater dresses, if worn properly, can look great in the office. To pull of this style you want to make sure it isn’t too short (nothing you wear at work should EVER be too short). Be sure to wear tights underneath even if it isn’t too short. You don’t want to risk it and sweater dresses seem odd without tights. Also by wearing tights you are practicing the oh-so-fall trend of layering. Practical and fashionable? perfect!

Cardigan, Tights, Dress, Scarf, Boots

Let me start off by saying that this is a great base outfit for you to play around with scarves on. I chose the striped one because of my obvious obsession with them. You can also go crazy with layering necklaces or even earrings (although I personally think dangle-y earrings are best left to the weekend). The tights are also great because they are simple but do have a great stripe down the middle to keep them interesting. I suggest you don’t go crazy with wildly cut-out tights and patterns. Keep it simple and appropriate for work.

For more Fall Fashion, click HERE