fall/winter trend: faux fur

fall/winter trend: faux fur by wakincloset featuring a faux fur vest

There's a whole lot of faux fur around these days... and I love it! It makes its appearance in a variety of neutral colors and textures on vests, as scarves, lining even the most casual pieces like hoodies.

Last season I got myself a faux fur vest which I've put to great use already this season, pairing it with flowy tops, jeans and boots. I also picked up a sweatshirt at Old Navy with a faux fur hoodie which is so comfortable and so cozy.

These are some of my favorite faux fur items I've seen this year. Bundle up and stay warm!

new favorite shoe(ties)!

 

{image via shopbop.com}

I was on the hunt for a new pair of black heels and came across this pair of "shoeties"on shopbop.com.  While the heel height was lower than what I originally wanted, I bought them to try them, since they were on sale and Shopbop offers free shipping on returns. 

They arrived a few days later and the minute I slipped these beauties on my feet, I was in love and absolutely thrilled with how comfortable they were!  Honestly, it felt like I was wearing running shoes... I also adore the lace-up, making them more unique vs. a traditional black pump.  Thanks, Michael Kors!

tips n' tricks: packing for a weekend getaway

 {via}

A few weekends ago, my fiance and I went to Santa Barbara to location scout for our wedding.  It's called the "American Riviera"—a perfect way to capture this quaint city next to the Pacific!

I get a little obsessive about packing (ask any of my closest friends) and usually start the process several days (sometimes up to a week...) before I leave.  I used to be an over-packer, then started not packing enough, and now I think I've got it just right. 

For this 4-day/3-night trip, I knew I needed outfits I could layer, since the temperatures were hovering in the low 60s.  Here's what made my list:
- pair of Habitual jeans (darker wash so I could dress them up or down)
- pair of Citizens of Humanity black jeggings (these are my most comfortable pair of pants)
- Madewell dress
- grey slouchy tee
- Madewell silk blouse
- white v-neck tee
- grey J.Crew Infinity cardigan
- black Aritzia boyfriend blazer
- black J.Crew utility jacket
- black J.Crew lace top
- black Elizabeth & James laser-cut suede flats
- black patent Via Spiga mary jane pumps
- Bensimons
- Havaianas

My philosophy is always to pack things that are neutral in color so you can pull outfits together quickly and easily, and accessorize with colorful scarves and jewelry. 

Our trip was so much fun—Santa Barbara is such a pretty place and we even made a day trip to Los Olivos (in the Santa Ynez Valley) for a hike and  a delicious dinner in wine country.  More importantly, we accomplished our goal and found a place to get married!

inspiration: j.crew collection catalog

Fall is my favorite time of year to shop---I think through years of being a back-to-school tradition, I have never been able to let go...  

This year, I'm looking to several sources of inspiration, and (once again) J.Crew is at the top of my list.  I received a tabloid-sized mailer featuring signature pieces from the J.Crew Collection and fell in love!  The upscale feel and unexpected newspaper-esque format make for a great lookbook, not to mention the chic, polished-meets-punk looks that they pulled together.  I'm excited to get my hands on some thigh highs!

look i love: rocker chic

look i love: rocker chic by wakincloset featuring blue skinny jeans

As many of my friends know, there's nothing I love more than accents of hardware (chains, zippers, sequins, studs) on my shoes, bags and even shirts. Lucky for me, these accents are everywhere these days!

When you pull these together with a leather jacket (real or faux—mine is faux, from H&M) and accessorize appropriately, it's a super easy look to achieve for a night out with the girls—casual with a little bit of zest. I'm loving the pop of color that the Rebecca Minkoff bag brings to this outfit.

bridal bliss

{image from jcrew.com}

  

I recently got engaged to my boyfriend (fiancé!) on my 30th birthday.  Not 2 weeks after he proposed, I was on the hunt for a dress—of course, it was the one item on my list that I had no questions about—I knew exactly what I wanted.  

J.Crew has, undoubtedly, upped the game in their bridal department over the last couple of years so it was my first stop.  Not only do they offer an amazing and diverse selection of styles, but they are priced so reasonably!  It was important for me to find something simple, and elegant, so I quickly fell in love with the Silk Tricotine Goddess Gown.  Having worn a bridesmaid dress made of the same material last year, I knew it would be flattering and, most importantly, comfortable.  I am so excited about it—now we need to set a date!

tips n' tricks: organizing your closet

{image via apartmenttherapy.com}

One of the best ways to maximize your wardrobe is to organize your closet (I wish the one pictured above was mine...).  You'll rediscover items you haven't seen in a while, or be inspired by new ways to pair different tops, bottoms, shoes and accessories.  

Here are 5 steps to get you started:
 1.) Start Fresh.  Tackle your closet in sections so you don't overwhelm yourself, and make space for four piles in your room—keep, toss, repair and donate*.  The golden rule?  If you haven't worn it in a year, it goes.  If you're still on the fence, tie a ribbon or stick a post-it on the hanger and remove it when you wear it.  At the end of each season, items that are still "flagged" should be donated.

2.) Figure Out Your "System."  Look at the layout of your closet and decide what storage solutions you may need (if any).  Measure the space you have and make sure you have the measurements handy when you go shop for boxes, bins, baskets, etc.  The Container Store is a great place to do this!

3.) Space Assignments.  Depending on your preference, either organize your hanging items by color and/or by category (skirts, pants, blouses).  Be sure that the items you wear most frequently are easy to reach.  If you have limited space, you can create a seasonal system by rotating your fall/winter clothes with your spring/summer clothes.  Out-of-season clothes can be kept in your attic, basement or under your bed.

4.) Hang Appropriately.  Invest in the right kind of hangers—Huggable Hangers are great for keeping things from slipping off, and are thin so they allow you to fit more in your closet.  Thin sweaters can be folded and hung; thick sweaters should be folded and shelved.  Sturdy wood hangers for jackets/blazers will help retain their shape.  Be sure to remove wire hangers (they don't support your clothes) and plastic dry-cleaner bags (they don't allow fabrics to breathe and keep the chemicals used to clean on your clothes).

5.) Sort Shoes + Accessories.  You can keep your shoes in their original boxes (be sure to label what's inside), stack them in a hanging shoe shelf, or invest in clear shoe boxes with drawer- or drop-front pulls—they allow you to see what's inside so you can easily access your shoes.  Belts and scarves should be coiled and put in bins and handbags can be hung on S hooks (I got mine at Home Depot).  Lastly, lingerie and socks can be organized using drawer dividers.

Good luck!

*Don't forget that your donate pile could go to great organizations like Dress For Success or Goodwill, but for those pieces you spent a pretty penny on and are still in good shape, there are a number of fabulous consignment shops in town (I'll share my favorite one in Seattle with you in an upcoming post).