Traffic Cone Coat

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This is my latest acquisition to my wardrobe – and I cannot tell you how much I absolutely adore the bright color and faux furry accents. It’s absolutely traffic stopping and I adore it. ASOS has some of the best on-trend thrills, and I’m constantly hunting for something new and unique on their site. I’m wearing this ASOS find here with my new favorite jeans – AMO Denim. I highly recommend the Kate Crops I am wearing here – they are perfect for anyone who likes a good traditional denim. I personally prefer the stiffer denim with very little stretch – and this fits the bill perfectly. The matching belt is JCrew from a few seasons ago.

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Tell me in the comments your favorite bright outwear for this season! Link your favorites!

 

Thank you for visiting! Have a wonderful and warm day!

“The” Coach Bag

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When I was 7 or 8, my grandmother gifted me this Coach bag. The deep red suede bucket bag with a long cross body strap was a curious choice for a child. I remember taking it out of the packaging and holding the strap level with my eyes and the bag resting on the floor. It was giant for me at age 7 (maybe 8). And at that age, the significance of such a beautiful bag was completely lost on me. I promptly dumped it with the rest of my toys and dress up clothing. I used it occasionally to store my blocks or drag it behind me as I played pretend with my friends. And then, for a very long time, the bag was squashed and forgotten in the laundry room.

I don’t remember how or why – but I pulled it from it’s little forgotten corner of the laundry room and hung it in my room. It hung in my room for years, until I finally thought to unbuckle one end of the long strap and double it back to turn it into a shoulder bag. Since then my “forgotten” bag has turned into a very well loved wardrobe staple.

There isn’t quite anything like this bag anymore – after all, I have had it for over two decades. The color and size are now perfect for me… and even after weathering my childhood abuse, the bag is still beautiful and I adore it the more for it.

Red is one of my favorite colors to wear, so this bag is often on my shoulder. Here, I’ve paired it with a Brooks Brother’s Black Fleece wool dress, Amanda Uprichard Faux Fur Vest, and Ralph Lauren Collection Celia Suede Pumps. If I couldn’t find an exact match, I linked similar items below.

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Brooks Brother’s Dress (similar from BB; tempting options here, here, and here)

Amanda Uprichard Faux Fur Vest (rent the runway option or identical item here)

Ralph Lauren Collection Celia Pump (this season)

Coach Crossbody Bag (love this; and similar looks here and here)

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Tell me in the comments if you have something in your wardrobe that has a meaningful story too!!

Thank you for visiting!

Snow and Skirt Picks

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The first snow of the season sprinkled down yesterday, and I spent the afternoon running around as the flakes fell. My dog is a lhasa apso, and she is incredibly fond of snow…. she and I were quite disappointed when the snow had all but melted by this morning.

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During winter, I lean towards winter floral skirts that I can pair with warm sweaters… and my new trick is to layer faux fur over my coats to stay even more snuggly. The key is to match similar color and length coats and faux fur to give a seamless look. You can easily layer the vest under or over the coat – one or the other as you wander in and out of the cold.

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My skirt is Alice and Olivia (a few are up on theoutnet.com) – and I’ve picked a few of my favorites (linked below!)

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My Alice and Olivia picks below!

 

 

Tell me what your favorite winter skirts are in the comments. Thank you so much for visiting!

 

 

Coach Favorites

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Holiday season and gifting are upon us. I’m rounding up my Coach sale favorites! I treated myself to a fun little leather good treat as well (check it out on my insta!)

Four Favorite Lip Colors for Winter

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I find that a bold swipe of lipstick is all I need to brighten up my look during the winter when I feel like I’m inundated by black, gray, and navy blue clothing.

I spent the afternoon fiddling with my collection of colors, and thought I would share my favorite picks for this winter.

I think deep tones are always winter appropriate – they are moody, dramatic, and beautiful on every skin tone. This year, I’m leaning more towards the deep berry tones that are still in the red family, but have a distinctly plummy feel.

My second love this winter is the orangey-flame colored satin lip. I love a good matte lip, but this year, I am adoring a slight sheen to my orange-red lip.

And of course, I love a peppy magenta pink…. I prefer this deep pink on my skin tone to a red lip. I also find it less dramatic and a little unique. My year-round favorite is this one from Buxom in the shade Monte Carlo. You can find me wearing this lip color all year round.

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From left to right:

Buxom Full-On Lip Stick in Monte Carlo (my all time favorite color and formula)

Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick in Tanin

Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick in Jam

Buxom Big & Sexy Bold Gel Lipstick in Rouge Red

 

Tell me in the comments your favorite brands and colors for this winter – and what I should try next!

Thank you for visiting! ❤

Scenes from Skyline and Blue Ridge Parkway

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In the summer, I drove from Virginia to Atlanta via the Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway. It was amazing.

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Tell me in the comments – have you driven the Blue Ridge Parkway or Skyline? What were your favorite stops?

Thank you for visiting!

Five Things: Effortless Ways To Look Polished During the Holidays

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I met a friend for lunch the other day, and she commented that I always seemed to look put together, even during the holidays. What a lovely compliment!! But, the truth of the matter is that I stick the basics that I know work for me. I’m just like everyone else – and I have those days where I’m wearing wrinkled clothing and my jacket is misshapen with everything I’ve stuffed in my pockets. Over the years, I’ve discovered that these 5 things during the hectic winter months are the best way to feel and look a little more polished.

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Number One:: A sophisticated scarf. I tend to gravitate towards the large cashmere scarves that are a single color. I like the oversized nature of the one I’m wearing here. It wraps beautifully around my neck, and I can just as easily wear it as a shawl. Similar here, and really loving the colors here.

Number Two:: Statement earrings. A little sparkle during the holidays is key to looking a little more polished. I stay away from anything that is too heavy since I’m often running around for the entire day, and choose pieces that can transition between day and evening well. I often keep a spare pair in my bag, in case I need a little sparkle on the go. I bought these from J-Crew several seasons ago, but there are plenty of amazing options at every price point. (Like these or these).

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Number Three:: Tote Bag. For occasions, I tend to opt for the tiniest of bite sized bags, but for every day during the holidays I grab a trusty tote or carryall bag in a polished or interesting leather. This one was a chance buy from Cole Haan (the men’s department!), and I adore the character of the leather. I can toss everything in here without a thought and maintain a put together look without stuffing things into pockets and looking scrubby. I adore this and this from the Cole Haan women’s collection this year.

Number Four:: Ear Muffs. Ear muffs serve a dual purpose for me. First – they keep my ears warm and my hair style intact. Second – they look absolutely adorable hanging around the handles of my tote. These are the exact pair I have.

Number Five:: Glass Water Bottle. It’s an unusual pick, but I feel my best when I’m well hydrated and I feel more put together when I have water in my bag. This is my favorite water bottle for on the go. You can find the entire range of sizes at the LifeFactory website (and on Amazon)

 

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Thank you for visiting! Tell me in the comments what your tricks are to staying put together during the holiday season!