Category: Dressing for Fall

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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:

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FALL JACKETS WITH TALBOTS

In New York there is a fleeting window of weather when it’s crisp but not yet cold, warm but no longer so much so that you’re coming undone on a brisk walk. It’s my favorite season for getting dressed. And while “sweater weather” gets a lot of love – jackets are the thing that make my heart skip a beat. They’re the magic third piece to an outfit that makes everything more interesting. And Talbots is a reliably great source for finding jackets in fun textures, cuts and colors in classic yet modern shapes.

This season I’ve added two new options to my repertoire – this oversized tweed lady jacket in plummy shades of rose, merlot and burgundy (I belted mine for a take on the cinched waist silhouette that’s big this season) and a very cool, dark denim trench with shiny gold hardware and contrast stitching. Be still my jacket loving heart.

Honorable mentions (aka what I’m also eyeing from their site) – this impossibly chic collarless suede jacket, this great little double faced wool jacket in the prettiest cornflower blue and this boxy, olive green brushed wool bomber jacket.

SHOP LOOK 1:

SHOP LOOK 2:

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SUMMER TO FALL TRANSITIONAL STYLE

Maybe it’s the rain and the slightly cooler temps, or maybe it’s just the lifelong itch for ‘back to school’ clothes I always get in August – whatever it is, I officially have Fall fashion on the brain. I’m trying to be extra mindful on any purchases for the new season (we have some big things we’re saving for), which is why I always find it helpful to start early on – saving items that excited me for the season ahead, and ideally ones that I could wear now and later. Below – what’s on my list.

SHOP THE POST:

Aligne Pinstripe Vest | Le Specs Sunglasses | IT Cosmetics Lip Gloss | Madewell Suede Bag | Sandro Floral Dress | Dolce Vita Metallic Sneakers | Alexis Bittar Hoops | Ulla Johnson Sheer Dress | YSL Perfume | Reformation Suede Jacket | Staud Beaded Bag | Reformation Denim Midi Skirt | Frame Chocolate Jeans | French Connection Striped Top | Larroudé Gold Knotted Heels | Talbots Thin Leather Belt | J.Crew Crushed Satin Tank

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LET’S CATCH UP 11.19.23

I’m officially in my annual Black Friday haaaze at work, but (as mentioned in my last post) trying desperately to maintain sanity and make the most of this special time of year. Sounds simple, right? I’ll let you know how it goes by December 31st.

ON MY MIND:

  • I’ve been tasked with desserts this Thanksgiving (largely because I can buy them and I presume my family must feel safest that way) but I am attempting to make at least one thing from scratch and it’s my Mom’s beloved pumpkin roll recipe. Wish me luck. For posterity, I might also go armed with this festive seasonal non-alcoholic punch that surely I can’t mess up.
  • The 3 albums I’ve had on repeat lately – all of them are fun, upbeat and the type of synth-y 80s inspired pop that is a particular sweet spot in my musical taste. First, the new Cannons album ‘Heartbeat Highway’ – zero skips on this one, but I particularly love Sweeter and Cry Baby. Next up ‘1989 Taylor’s Version’, naturally. Those vault songs are just crushing me in the best way, especially Is It Over Now and Slut! An anthem. Last but not least, ‘Sting’ from Emarosa – we saw them play at a tiny venue in the West Village last month and they had such great energy. Their cover of Whitney Houston’s I Wanna Dance With Somebody is so fun and the song Cinnamon from the album mentioned is so good we put it on our wedding playlist.
  • Life has really thrown me some curveballs since we got back from our honeymoon and without getting into the details, it hasn’t been the easiest couple of months. Which has delayed my recap of our wedding day much more than I’d originally planned – I just haven’t had the bandwidth. But! It’s finally coming later this week – so stay tuned 🙂

ON MY BOOKSHELF:

  • I’m way behind my reading goal for the year – 40 books read with a goal of 52. In an effort to give myself some extra grace (perpetual goal hitter that I like to be), I’m trying to just focusing on reading books I think I’ll love for the rest of the year. Tom Lake by Ann Patchett is still high on that list of hopefuls but I also just picked up a used copy of My Life in France by Julia Child that’s calling to me.
  • I wasn’t willing to shell out the money to buy the Britney Spears’ memoir myself, but my celeb-loving sister did and so I’m once again benefitting from her hand-me-downs. I started this yesterday and will probably finish this weekend. Pamela Anderson, Monica Lewinsky, Britney Spears.. these women were all of an era when the press/public made a mockery of them and I’m glad they’re all getting a moment to finally find their voices again.
  • I just finished Sloane Crosley’s essay collection I Was Told There’d Be Cake and while I thought some essays were stronger than others, overall it was a fun read full of sharp observations and relatable self-deprecation. I’d give it 3.5-4 stars.
  • As I always do – next weekend I’ll share my list of holiday reads! It’s one of my favorite posts of the year and one of my favorite December traditions. If you’re new here, I let my self revel in the literary equivalents of watching a Hallmark movie while sipping hot cocoa all month long. Last year’s post here.

IN MY CART:

  • I saw this plaid taffeta skirt at last week’s Talbots holiday party and immediately swooned. I’m placing my order ASAP as I’m always worried about sizes selling out.
  • I’m going to get one of our wedding photos (or maybe this one from our honeymoon) printed and put it in this sweet ceramic frame – will drop it in Adam’s stocking for Christmas!
  • I am really in need of a couple of new belts and it’s been strangely hard to find something I like in between cheap $30 options and $$$ designer options. So far I like this neutral one that has interesting but still understated gold hardware.
  • The way I cannot stop thinking about this mixed plaid fitted vest. It’s on sale but still pricey.. I’m keeping in my cart hoping that the Black Friday gods are good to me and it goes on further sale?
  • Totally different, but while we’re on the matter of vests – this fair isle option is much more budget friendly. I’d wear with a fitted black turtleneck and wide leg jeans.
  • A silly, small thing: I love these crystal accented socks – I’d wear with silver heels and a mini or cuffed jeans and loafers.
  • J.Crew’s cashmere sweaters rarely go on sale – I’m using the early Black Friday sale as my chance to pick up this cropped crewneck in a classic charcoal for just under $80.
  • Adam and I are finally crossing Waverly Inn off our New York restaurant bucket list with a reservation next Friday night and this long-sleeved rose print dress looks like just the thing to wear. Romantic and dressy enough with red lips and sheer black tights, but not over the top.

SHOP THE STORY:

OUTFIT DETAILS:

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ON LIFE: MEASURING TIME AND MANAGING STRESS

Time is a strange, stretching taffy sort of thing, isn’t it? As of writing this, we have about 6 1/2 weeks left in this year. In contrast, our wedding was 6 1/2 weeks ago. It feels like a blink and a lifetime. In a normal year, the weeks to come are my busiest, most stress-inducing, highest pressure of the year. But as you might know, this wasn’t a normal year for me. We planned a wedding in 12 weeks and have had about a 4-5 month stretch where, even if we hadn’t added that major milestone to the agenda, would have left me stretched pretty thin. I’ve become the taffy in this scenario I suppose.

And while my career of choice (Fashion E-commerce) tends to dictate that these next 6 1/2 weeks will feel like I’m careening towards the new year – it is in my best interest health wise (mentally and physically.. lest we all forget the stress induced stomach ulcer I had back in August) to dig in my heels so to speak. To make a dedicated effort to stubbornly reject the blink and you’ll miss it moment that exists between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

I think this might seem counterintuitive but I’m doing this by filling up my calendar (it might in fact be ill-advised but what do you care, it’s my experiment). We’ll only get one holiday season as newlyweds, I want to look back and remember cozy December date nights, ice skating hand in hand in Central Park, picking out gifts that feel special. Likewise, I’ve made significant progress on some personal goals this year and I want to keep pushing. Sure work is busy – but it’s always going to be. I’m going to keep getting up early every morning to work-out, keep trudging through the depths of my novel’s first draft, keep putting money in the apartment fund. 6 1/2 weeks suddenly becomes an expanse before me.

I certainly don’t have all the answers, and I suspect that the dates on the calendar will continue to surprise me with their domino fall – but this year, I intend to not let it pull me completely apart.

Outfit from the lost France files – I hope you’ll continue to indulge me with these.

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