Category: Style

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THE BLACK FRIDAY SALES I’M SHOPPING: 2024

Ahh BFCM week (or to non-retail people.. Thanksgiving and a long weekend off work that comes with it). I won’t get into the weeds of how these sales make it to your digital screens, but suffice to say it’s an enormous amount of work – so here is my yearly PSA to be extra kind to customer service people this time of year and be patient with your order shipping times. From the people who are sending out those sale emails, to the people packing up orders.. we’re doing our best.

With that, I’m sharing the best sales I’ve seen and exactly what I’m shopping or what I already own and love that might be of interest. As always, I so appreciate the support of those who shop through my links – it’s no extra cost to you but I receive a small affiliate commission – which helps me share more here! Enjoy the weekend friends. I’m living vicariously through you!

THE SALES I’M SHOPPING:

Denim Trench Coat and Faux Leather Pants

Tweed Jacket, Cropped Jeans and Burgundy Ankle Boots

FAVORITES I OWN, NOW ON SALE:

  • The striped dress shown at the top of this post was one of my favorite things I wore in Paris, now 25% off.
  • I’ve been singing the praises of these wide leg trousers for a full year now – grab them for an extra 40% off their sale price (making them just $60) and thank me later.
  • I picked up this black lace long sleeved top before our trip to Paris and I’ve since worn it on it’s own (with just a black lace bra underneath) or layered under a dress – just one of those pieces that ends up making an outfit.
  • I’ve worn these green cargo pants constantly on weekends since getting them at the end of summer. On sale + an extra 25% off this weekend. I took my smaller size so they’re a lot less baggy than on the model photo, which I like. But size up if you’re curvier through the hips/bottom.
  • I wear these small hoop earrings at least twice a week – they’re 30% off right now and make a great gift.
  • My favorite jeans are 25% off right now ($126 – and my cost per wear on these is pennies by now) – they have 0 stretch and a high waisted fit – take your regular waist size and then break them in to fit like a glove.
  • I’ve had a polaroid mini for about 5 or 6 years now and take it on all of our trips. So fun to have an instant souvenir photo in this digital world. This one is on sale and would make a great gift!
  • Merit, my favorite clean beauty brands, is 20% off right now – I love their mascara, concealer, cream blush and highlighter. 
  • I bought these ankle boots before our honeymoon last year (20% off right now) and I have walked countless miles in them and they still feel brand new and have never once hurt my feet. I have 3 pairs of shoes from Inez now and they are all equally classic (yet feel modern and fashion-y), incredibly well-made and comfortable.
  • For the money, this cropped crewneck cashmere sweater is pretty perfect. I took my usual size but if you want some extra slouch or are on the taller side, go a size up.
  • I’ve had my Sarah Flint black suede ‘Perfect Pumps’ for probably 5 years now and they still look brand new. Timeless and truly the most comfortable stiletto I’ve ever worn. 30% off sitewide this weekend which is I think the best discount I’ve seen from them. I am very tempted to invest in another pair.
  • Completely frivolous but I bought this feather bag 2 years ago and it continues to make every holiday party more fun.
  • This black mini skirt is one of my absolute closet staples. Under $50 today.
  • Likewise, so many of my staples come from French Connection – easy pieces that I end up wearing lots of different ways: this tuxedo mini dress I wore in Paris (layered with shirt and tie), this crinkle striped shirt and this punchy red blazer.
  • I’ve gotten so much wear out of these croc embossed dark brown leather knee high boots the past 2 years. A small walkable heel and they go with so much in my wardrobe. I think this is the best price I’ve seen them ($160).

Striped Top and Black Mini Skirt

Black Lace Top and Black Corset Dress

Grey Cashmere Sweater and Black Patent Loafers

Green Cargo Pants

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MY 2024 HOLIDAY GIFT WISHLIST

I’m fortunate enough to say I don’t *need* a thing on this list. That being said… I started making these personal wishlists each year after I stopped churning out ton’s of gift guides – purely because they’re fun and cause me no stress (unlike the latter). So why not dream a little, shall we?

  1. Waffle Knit Scarf: I have a love hate relationship with scarves. I love that they keep me warm, I hate that they generate so much static electricity that my hair could power most of Manhattan. This waffle knit option (unlike something like a brushed wool) seems like it may be an exception? Available in lots of colors, but I like this chocolate hue.
  2. Ski Trip to Mont-Tremblant: We said we were dreaming here, right? I’d love to take a trip to Montreal this winter and then head to nearby Mont-Tremblant for a couple of days skiing (or snowboarding in Adam’s case).
  3. No. 13 Poker Chip Pendant Necklace: Thirteen has always been my lucky number (just like my bestie Taylor) since it’s my birth date – and aside from the stacked custom bands I wear on my pinky, you don’t tend to see a lot of jewelry with these numbers. This poker chip pendant was said to have been inspired by a vintage one found in the South of France and the horse shoes that shape the ’13’ convey a message of making your own luck. How perfect?
  4. Didion & Babitz by Lili Anolik: A look at the crossover between Joan Didion and Eve Babitz – two of my favorite writers of the 1960s/70s.. sign me up. This is one of my most highly anticipated new non-fiction releases.
  5. Brooklyn Candle Studio Candle: They opened a pop-up in the complex where my office is and when I tell you that walking by smells like heaven. I’ve long been a fan of the brand and have my eye (or nose rather) set on Ginger Bread or Cardamon Spice scents for the holidays.
  6. The Met Sweatshirt: The liberal arts equivalent of a NY Yankees hat in this city. Touristy or not, 15 years living in New York and I’ll never stop swooning over The Met. This could come with a yearly membership if the gifter were feeling particularly generous.
  7. Oysters Ornament: So fun! Oysters signify a celebration to me – when I think of them, I picture being out somewhere, probably dressed up, maybe sipping champagne. And there’s been plenty to celebrate this year – so this ornament feels like a fun one to add to our tree.
  8. Cherry Print Pajamas: I like to pick up a new pair of pajamas around Christmas with the intention of hibernating in them all winter long. This smudged cherry print caught my eye this year.
  9. Tortoise Sunglasses: I’ve lived in the same pair of sunglasses for the past 3 years because they have my prescription in them.. but after finally getting fitted for contacts I can actually buy a novelty pair of non-prescription sunglasses again! I love the oval shape of these.
  10. KitchenAid Mixer: Realistically I don’t think we have the counter space for this, but in my mind a KitchenAid Mixer has always been the hallmark of true domesticity. And now that I’m in my baking era, this feels like a rite of passage!
  11. Puffy Heart Earrings: I rarely buy myself costume jewelry (thanks to a generous allowance at work I have a hard time justifying buying anything more) – but these puffy heart earrings would be a playful addition to my collection.
  12. Black Carel Mary Janes: There are mary janes.. and then there are Carel Mary Janes. Handmade in Italy since the swinging 60s I have wanted a pair of these since swooning over Alexa Chung in them in the early 00s. I finally took a closer look at a pair in Paris this Fall but didn’t bite the bullet and I’ve been regretting it ever since.
  13. Matte Red Lipstick: This matte (but soft) lipstick in the shade Vermillion has become my most worn of the year after I tried it for our trip to Italy back in May. So much so that I’m almost out! Time for a restock.. perhaps in my stocking?
  14. Faux Fur Ear Muffs: Similar to my issue with scarves.. winter hats do a real number on me. I prefer an ear muff situation and these feel very aprés ski, no?
  15. Champagne Glasses: A nod to our trip to the Champagne region of France this fall.. and because we don’t have any proper coupe glasses! I’d love a nice set of these to keep on our bar cart.
  16. YSL Card Case: I saw this little cutie in Paris too and loved the color, the patent leather and the size. I’m a couple of credit cards, ID and a $20 bill kind of girl on the go, so this is way better than a true wallet to me. Hey Santa..
  17. Leopard Bag: I tend to think of leopard print as a neutral so I’m surprised to realize I don’t have any handbags in the print. This would be so chic against the doldrums of a winter coat for the next few months.
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WHAT I PACKED: FOR A WEEKEND UPSTATE NEW YORK IN FALL

This weekend we’re doing something we never do – spontaneously travel. It’s a small trip, just two nights in upstate New York, but I can’t think of a time when we’ve ever booked a hotel one night and were packing the next. That’s partially because (in the past year or so) being away from work requires more strategic planning, partially because we’re typically carefully budgeting for our travel and partially because Adam usually takes some warming to my more hazily hatched plans of ‘let’s go somewhere!’ – but as it were, there was a musician we both like who was playing a show in Woodstock this Friday night and we started kicking around the idea of going about a week ago. Which lead to casually looking up a few places to stay (most of which were already fully booked..), which lead to finding a place on Thursday night and (after a ringer of a couple of weeks) saying ‘what the hell?!’ and booking it. Only to have the venue cancel the show we were going to go see! But c’est la vie – we’re left with two nights away visiting a couple of towns that we really like + staying in a new to us town we’re looking forward to exploring. And with nothing much on the agenda beyond a couple of bookstores I want to visit, some bars and restaurants we’re eyeing and a giant bathtub I plan on soaking in.. it’s safe to say I’m unexpectedly brimming with excitement. Below, what I hastily threw into my bag!



I went with a fall color palette, lots of texture and easy pieces I could mix and match plus a few dressier pieces for dinners out. Highlights include these cargo pants I’ve been wearing constantly (now 40% off! I took my smaller size and they’re a relaxed fit but a lot less baggy than on this model), these great lug sole leather boots and these croc embossed knee high boots I got last fall and still love, a cozy new sweater (I sized up as it’s pretty cropped and I wanted a bit of slouchiness), this cream lipstick (the perfect fall berry hue) and this forever wardrobe brocade dress I wore in Paris and couldn’t wait to wear again (it’s an investment but keep an eye out for sales – I grabbed it for a great discount during a promo).

SHOP THE POST:

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PARIS OUTFITS: BY DAY 2024

It’s no secret that packing for a trip is one of my very favorite things. I love subtly leaning into the location (and never more so then when the location is Paris) with my style and using travel as a chance to first wear new seasonal pieces so that they instantly take on sentimental value. While every trip we’ve taken to Paris has been so incredibly special (day and night outfits from our honeymoon last year), I think these outfits might be some of my all time favorites.

Above: One of the first things I bought after we’d booked our flights, this striped jersey dress with interesting draping and a sleek silhouette stopped me in my thumb-scrolling tracks when I first saw it online. There’s something a little bit My Fair Lady about it, but with a modern twist. It reminded me of the chic wrapping of a French candy! I love wearing it and felt so chic. I added a wide suede belt to cinch in the waist and walkable ankle boots.

Above: For our first full day in the city it was overcast and grey and so I pulled out this monochrome look – a little bit 1950s/60s schoolgirl but again with a modern twist. I love this cropped cashmere sweater and patent loafers and have already been wearing them loads back in New York. The skirt was a killer Isabel Marant find via The Real Real that I had tailored and the bag is a fun green wool Frances Valentine (also via TRR) for a bit of contrast.

Above: We landed and, jet lagged be damned, got changed and headed right out into the Marais for lunch at our favorite post-red eye stop, Cafe Charlot. I threw on these wide leg jeans, ankle boots, this striped crinkle shirt I’ve been wearing on repeat and an old silk scarf.

Above: For a walk through the Musée de l’Orangerie (one of my favorite places in the world), I went took inspiration from Monet and wore this pleated denim skirt and an old floral cashmere sweater from Talbots (option below from this year’s collection).

Above: For a day met with sporadic rain showers, I spent most of it with my trench coat but wanted a pop of color and pattern – and (as I mentioned on Instagram) I’m loving the combination of bright cherry red mixed with a deep merlot.

Above: Is there anything prettier than an Autumn walk through the Tuileries? Non. We were doing a lot of walking this day (okay, everyday) but I knew I wanted to be comfortable and warm enough so I went for wide leg jeans, ankle boots, this satin button down and oversized plaid blazer with hints of autumnal hues.

Above: On our last full day in France we took a sunrise train ride to Reims (the champagne region) for a tour at Veuve Cliquot and a mini tour of the surrounding town. I wore this easy and comfortable rose print dress, tall (but low-heeled) leather boots, Adam’s sweater on loan and broke out tights for the first time this season.

Above: The final morning of the trip, in search of one last croissant before we headed to the airport. Again in wine hues with this fun tweed jacket (last seen here), my favorite jeans and these burgundy ankle boots (super comfortable). Until next time, au revoir Paris!

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12 FALL OUTFIT IDEAS WITH TALBOTS

Fall always makes me excited about getting dressed again. It’s a chance to revisit old favorite pieces, try interesting layers and add a few items that inject some new life into things I already own. As I approach a new season, one of the things I love doing is spending a couple of hours in my closet putting a bunch of outfits together and then snapping quick photos so that when I’m getting ready for work or travel – I can easily go back and reference the photos and easily pull together outfits that I already know I love and feel great in. Have you ever tried this? It’s a game changer.

If you’re thinking about your own wardrobe this season – I suggest anchoring things with a few great basics (like the wide leg cuffed jeans, long sleeve ribbed knit or simple wool shift dress shown here) and then adding layering in a few fun ‘fashion pieces’ (like this cropped suede jacket, mixed print shirtdress or faux leather pants). Finish with a few accessories that you feel like will tie things together or add a fun contrast (try leopard calf hair heels, plaid buckle flats or a tortoise link strap handbag). Mix, match and repeat!

Above & Below: 12 outfits I pulled together with new arrivals from Talbots – all pieces I truly love and can’t wait to wear in endless ways this season.. and beyond! See them all in motion on my Instagram here!

SHOP CLOTHES:

SHOP SHOES & ACCESSORIES: