BEST OF: FALL AND WINTER BOOTS

It’s officially the season for boots. A no brainer with a pair of jeans and just as easy with a dress – I love the versatility of a great pair of boots this time of year. I’ve been wearing the two black pairs in row 2 (lug sole and patent pointy toe) for several years now and I just got the middle pair in the top row and am SO excited to break them out.

While some of these are a bigger investment – I really believe in putting a bit of money into a great pair of boots or two that you know you’ll wear constantly and will hold up for years to come. I own about half of the pairs shown here and can personally vouch for the quality and comfort – and the others are all from brands that I really trust and love.

Row 1, Boot 3: Code: Steele15 gets you 15% off your first order with Inez.

Row 3, Boot 2: Code: SARAHFLINT-BASTEELE gets you $50 off your first order with Sarah Flint.

SHOP THE STORY:

PRINTED DRESSES FOR FALL

I’ll take solid color coats and sweaters, skirts and shirts.. but when it comes to dresses – I like ’em printed. While they may seem statement making to some, I always felt like they’re the easiest way to get dressed. Grab a printed dress, throw on a few accessories that tie into the key print colors – and you’re out the door.

A lot of the dresses on the market this season tend to be too ‘Little House on the Prairie’ for me – a look that looks so cute on plenty of people but on me, looks as if I’m volunteering for a Civil War reenactment. To problem solve this shopping dilemma – I’ve been having good luck with designer discount site The Outnet (not sponsored, I’m just genuinely excited about my recent finds), where I happened upon this cute geometric shirt dress style from French brand Maje that’s better suited to my style. A nice reminder that trends come and go, but finding silhouettes that you feel good in will work forever.

SHOP THIS LOOK:

SHOP MORE PRINTED DRESSES I LOVE:

ADDING STATEMENT STYLES TO A CLASSIC WARDROBE

I’ve spent the better part of two years hitting reset on my shopping habits and my wardrobe as a whole. Training myself to diligently ignore trends, invest in classics and donate/sell anything left in my closet that didn’t feel “forever” to me. And I’m pretty close to a wardrobe that for me – is perfect. I rarely shop fast fashion anymore and I never find myself feeling like I have nothing to wear. It feels great. But not that I’ve made it, it feels like I can open myself up to introducing a few statement styles into the mix. Things that – when thrown on with those more classic pieces – feel curated and add interest to my outfits. A little goes a long way here, but above are some of the pieces that I’ve either picked up lately or currently have lingering in my online shopping carts. After all, life is too short to not have a little fun with it all.

SHOP THE STORY:

A WEEK OF REAL OUTFITS: 10-12-21

This is, without a doubt, my favorite time of year to get dressed. Light layers. Bare legs are passable but you can also get away with a sweater. That back to school feeling (and style inspiration). I love it all. Below, a week’s worth of the real outfits I’ve worn lately.

P.S. These outfits are a mix of things already in my closet and a few new pieces. In the case that something is no longer available, or vintage, I linked a similar item.

P.P.S. Sorry that these are kind of crappy iPhone pictures. But they’re taken quickly on the go!

SHOP THIS LOOK:

SHOP THIS LOOK:

SHOP THIS LOOK:

SHOP THIS LOOK:

SHOP THIS LOOK:

SHOP THIS LOOK:

SHOP THIS LOOK:

A HYBRID WARDROBE FOR WORK TO WEEKEND

This past year and a half has drastically changed the way we work. And likewise the way we dress. I’ve been on a ‘hybrid’ model since the start of this year – meaning I work 3 days a week at home and 2 days at our Brooklyn office. And it occurred to me that I’ve started to transition to a hybrid wardrobe to match. A dressier trouser at the office, but just the blazer paired with jeans for video calls from home. A sweater for when it’s chilly at the office that can just as easily be worn into the weekend. If the mantra used to be “dress for the job you want” – I think it might now be, more accurately, “dress for the life you have”.

These separates from Talbots are a great example of pieces that can go from WFH to the office to the weekend – worn more casually or pulled together for a more professional look. A checked blazer, matching trousers, chunky cardigan and relaxed fit jeans. I swapped in one comfortable pair of heels, sneakers, a t-shirt and a button down and the options are kind of endless. They’ll all be getting a lot of wear this Fall and beyond.

Are you getting dressed up for work these days? Or still gravitating towards more casual pieces? I’ll always lean towards getting dressed but still want to be comfortable. All about that hybrid balance.

FOR A TUESDAY COMMUTE TO THE OFFICE:

FOR A BIG MID-WEEK MEETING:

FOR A DAY FULL OF VIDEO CALLS AT HOME:

FOR CASUAL FRIDAY: