The Perfect Layered Outfit

When I found this set at Old Navy last year, I knew it was going to be special. I had already been on the hunt last year for sets. Skirt sets, pant sets, short sets. All sets. This was the prettiest one I had found to date. I took it on both of my international trips (London, England, and Venice, Italy). And I wore it very similarly on each trip. The set with a sweater layered over it (yellow in London, green in Venice) for warmth on chillier mornings and evenings. Since those trips, it has been patiently sitting in my closet.

I finally brought it back out to play a few weeks ago after laying in bed thinking about an outfit. This outfit. I knew I wanted to layer a button up top underneath the tank. I've been experimenting with leaving shirts untucked over larger bottoms. And I knew I wanted to wear some kind of tie. That was the missing link. I, unfortunately, only have one tie that is in Ravenclaw colors and would not do. Scanning my closet the next morning, I realized this scarf (that I picked up in London), would be perfect. It had the greens and the pinks from the set! And "tying" it with the ring gave it that extra oomph I was looking for. The chunky Mary-Janes keep it from looking too delicate. After I put every piece together, I knew this outfit was going to be a top five favorite. If not the favorite. 

I've gotten into the habit of scrolling through Pinterest each morning to spark some inspiration for my outfits. This was the first time this year, I didn't do that. This outfit is the culmination of all the work I've been putting into bringing back my style. This is what I am chasing every day when I get dressed. Every outfit may not be a hit, but it's the trying that counts. Instead of shying away from accessories, I'm embracing them. Instead of saying no to pieces or silhouettes that make me look "bigger", I'm asking myself why I care. Getting dressed should be fun. I don't know when it exactly stopped being fun for me, but I can officially say I'm having a blast now. Color pairings that seem odd, but are amazing. Wearing more accessories and in new ways. Silhouettes that enhance the creativity of the outfit. And, above all, comfort. 

It's this outfit that I think about when it feels hard. When I just want to give up and throw away my wardrobe. I have good pieces. I have great style. And I can make fabulous outfits. 

What I Wore 2.14.26

The weather was truly on my side this past week. Highs were in the 60's and 70's and not a single pair of tights were in sight. Truly living the dream. I might have missed photographing my Sunday outfit because I did not get out of my pajamas. It was the truly cozy and lazy day that I desperately needed. 

I ended up purchasing two pairs of jeans from J. Crew Factory (along with a pair of red socks) and shopped at bit on ThredUp. The ThredUp purchase was a bit of a bust, but I did snag a very cool and comfortable Talbots quilted jacket that I can't wait to style. The jeans haven't arrived yet, but fingers crossed they work! I have so many denim looks I want to try!

The Valentine's Day outfit. I know it's not what I would typically wear (it's not pink or red!), but Devin gifted this Selkie dress to me for Christmas and I couldn't help but wear it for our dinner. It's just so perfect and it need another night out (I wore this on New Year's Eve as well!). C'est magnifique! 

Totally inspired by a Pinterest image for this outfit. I have seen a few people wearing what I consider Christmas plaids not during Christmas. I am rather strict when it comes to my holiday plaids: they stay in the realm of that holiday. But, this look was too fun to not try. The leopard with the plaid is so fun. This green and red go so well together. No notes. Shop the look here.

I left so early, I didn't get a chance to take a proper mirror photo. I went through a lot of different outfit options this morning and landed with this. It's perfectly girly, but the chunky Mary Janes bring a little edge to it. I did a quick change after work into the second look for our "Wuthering Heights" viewing. We love a theme. I first wore this dress in London and it really works so well with this corset! 

I don't know why, but I was really feeling a slip dress. I just wanted to be cozy and the weather was so much warmer by this day. The button up shirt underneath really adds a bit of corporate to an otherwise sexy look. And I love the pop of red to make it stand out (otherwise it's a bit neutral). This was very fun!

And, yes, another slip dress! I had considered this outfit for the day before and didn't want to not wear it! I feel so 90's in this. A friend said it made her think of Cher Horowitz (Clueless) and I take that as the highest complement. These Mary-Janes are my favorite to wear when an outfit is feeling too one sided or themed. Shop the look here. 

I saw a green and purple inspiration collage post on Pinterest and the cogs started moving. As much as I love a set, I really don't wear the pieces together very much. I should start doing that more... The floral scarf gives the outfit, I think, the boost it needed to be interesting. Colors are so fun, but were falling flat to me without a print. The pop of silver with the shoes seems surprising to me too! Shop the look here.

Notes + Favorites #4

Yes, I missed a couple of weeks, but I'm still here! These last few weeks have been busy and beautiful. The weather here was absolutely gorgeous last week (it reach 70°F one day!) and I made myself get outside as much as possible. Alas, a storm rolled in and the colder temperatures have returned for this weekend. And that's okay. It was a refreshing change of pace showing what is to come. I just keep reminding myself that January, February, and March are winter months. The world is still resting, and so am I.

What I'm Reading: Atonement by Ian McEwan

Word of the Week: hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia / hi-puh-paa-tuh-muhn-strow-suh-skwipt-a-lee-ow-fow-bee-uh / ironically, the fear of long words

Activities to do with your friends without "going out".

Tips to calm your nervous system.

How to stop reaching for your phone.

Some necklace layering inspiration.

Improve your digestion, no supplements required.

The jeans I'm trying from J. Crew Factory here and here.

Hannah Montana is twenty years old?! Say it isn't so. 

Habits that might be draining your energy. 

Kind of excited about this Blair Waldorf sequel!

Cozy Corners Club

One of my friends and I were looking for a way to see each other more regularly. For us, that looked like a scheduled lunch that was physically on our calendars on the same day and time (relatively). We wanted to make sure we got our face time in, but as content creators, we also wanted to take the time to help each other create content. Initially, we went to lunch every other Tuesday. This was so much fun, but it became a bit expensive. To combat that, we decided to grab a coffee (non-coffee drink for me) instead. 

We call this time our "Cozy Corners Club". I even made stickers for us. Even though it is, generally, an hour every other week, it is scheduled time that we know we're going to see each other. We tend to see each other more, but life gets busy as an adult. Keeping friendships top priority is extremely important to me. Maybe it isn't spontaneous. Maybe it looks boring on the outside, but it is anything but. We catch up on things not in our voice notes. We get to laugh directly to and at each other. We are supporting our local businesses (no Starbucks here). And we ensure we at least grab some kind of content we can share. It's an excuse to just be friends and relax in the middle of a work day. 

As I've gotten older, I've realized I can't just rely on the "hey, let's grab a drink" moment to happen. Plans are made in advance, we have partners or children who also need our attention, and sometimes life is tiring. It's special because we are making the effort to make it special. I think this approach could be used for regular date nights with partners as well. I hope to do this with more of my friends to ensure we get the face time we need and want. Texting and voice notes are great, but there's nothing like sitting across from or next to your friends while sharing updates. 

What I Wore 2.7.26

I am definitely making headway into this little experiment of mine. I can definitely tell what pieces are my favorites, but I'm getting braver at incorporating things I was having a hard time styling or pieces I just haven't worn in awhile. I'm also slowly clearing out some pieces that no longer fit or just don't do it for me anymore. But because I hadn't worn them in awhile, I hadn't thought to toss them. Weirdly, there was a lot of blue this week. While I tend to stick to a more autumnal palette, I'm really digging the blues. 

We had a little get together with a couple friend of ours and their kids. The littles did Valentine's themed paint-by-numbers and the adults painted portraits of each other. It was hilarious and so much fun. This was the perfect outfit. So comfortable and I didn't get any paint on myself!

Definitely a simpler outfit than what I've been doing, but sometimes my brain needs a break. This felt very cool and chic though. A template that I can copy with so many prints and colors, honestly. Shop the look here.

I tried a new way to wear a brooch! and it was really fun! It did catch on a few things, but I think it'll just take some getting used to there. I love how it mimics a French tuck without the bulk. And it's shiny! It just felt so interesting and fresh. Shop the look here.

Officially obsessed with sweater vests over dresses with collars and poofy sleeves. I have limited myself in the past from purchasing items that had more detailed sleeves because I "couldn't wear them under anything". Well. I was quite wrong now, wasn't I? Shop the look here.

I was feeling a little more Spring this day. I wanted to wear a brooch and this spider one was really the only one that made sense. Even though it makes no sense (that might be the point though). The red and blue always makes me feel a bit Snow White. Shop the look here.

Another twofer Friday! There's something so fun about an outfit change from a Friday day to a Friday night. Another sweater vest. Another puffy sleeve. The day look was super fun for me to style. For the evening, I was heading out for a Galentine's Day outing. I wanted to wear red, but wanted to experiment as well. I am loving the icy blue with reds/maroons and the tones did not disappoint. To make it more interesting I wore the cardigan and necklace backwards. Kind of awkward, but the visual from the back from fun (the front felt boring). Shop the look here.