Spring Essentials

When I'm home in Connecticut, I often feel like I get jipped when it comes to spring. Most of the time I'm still in heavy sweaters and furry coats all through April - even into May! I know I'm hardly alone in that struggle, so I'm taking this moment to showcase all my favorite pieces that should be spring essentials, even if they might not work for the actual spring weather some of us experience.

The blazer. I love blazers, even though I haven't been in an office setting which has required them in years, they still really pull a look together. They dress up jeans, make for a casual topper over a fancy dress, and I just equate them with polish.

The Cropped Jean. Typically by the time it's finally warm enough for me to consider cropped jeans, it's probably warm enough for bare legs and then you know I'm opting for bare legs. However in a perfect spring weather world, the cropped jean is the happy medium. Still keeping you warm, yet letting you show some skin.

The closed toe shoe which isn't a boot. Yes, I put my feet through cold freezing hell wearing ballet flats, or mules, or pumps, when I should have on sherpa lined boots instead, because much like the cropped jeans, it often feels like once it's warm enough for shoes like these mules, I could just be wearing sandals.

So there you have it, Californians get to enjoy more of what I would consider perfect spring weather than I ever do, even though it's still technically winter.

What are your spring essentials? Realistically, optimistically, or somewhere in between?

       

The Rundown 
Silk Floral Cami Joie via ThredUP similar
Rust Satin Blazer Banana Republic similar
Jeans "Tomboy" M.I.H. via The Outnet
White Mules "Bianca" Target
Black Straw Bag Zara
 Bracelet The Cavernous Jewelry Box
Alphabet Necklace c/o Gorjana similar
Thin Gold Ring Etsy via Ellyn Blue Jewelry

Gold Herkimer Diamond Ring c/o Lumo

Sunglasses "Meteor" Ray-Ban c/o TJMaxx
Nail Color "Caviar Bar" Essie

Linking up with

Jeans and a Teacup's Flashback Friday (one year ago today)

Wind Blown

I tried to be smart (ish) packer for this California trip, choosing lots of similar colors, trying to be minimalist about shoes and bags, only bringing one hat, and avoiding pieces that I'd likely wear just once, or at the very least convincing myself that I might style a floral maxi dress twice in a two month span.

I also didn't plan too many specific outfits, deciding that things would just come together naturally, however, this is one of the outfits I'd had in my mind since December. And I choose the wrong day to wear it.

On Saturday we planned to visit the Getty Museum, and with visions of grand white marble steps floating through my head, I decided to wear this outfit, and things went downhill (or uphill, whichever you prefer) from there. First it was overcast and rainy, then the sun came out, but the wind picked up; temperatures stayed stubbornly low, and we learned that when the weather is poor, the only thing to do in Los Angeles is go to the museums, so an abundance of museum goers made photos challenging.

These are not the photos I'd imagined, but they are the photos which encapsulate my chilly, wind blown, day at the Getty Museum, and perhaps now I'll feel more compelled to style this dress again sooner than later.

     

The Rundown
Floral Shirtdress H&M
Rima Fringed Cardigan Anthropologie similar
Nude Mules Target similar
Waist Bag "Wendy" Rebecca Minkoff
Wide Brim Fedora Goorin Bros. via ebay similar
Circle Earrings c/o Grand Avenue Jewelry
Half Moon Necklace c/o Happiness Boutique
Rhombus Charm Necklace c/o Happiness Boutique
Thin Gold Ring Etsy via Ellyn Blue Jewelry
Nail Color "Caviar Bar" Essie

 Linking up with Style on the Daily

Fair Weather Floral

I feel like I shouldn't have to pretend that it's warmer than it is, but alas, I am. I get the feeling that everyone in Los Angeles is dressing like I would if I were in Connecticut, yet as I scroll though my Instagram feed, I notice all my CT friends out there freezing for the sake of spring fashion posts.  Thus, 55° and sunny is nothing to complain about.

I love this J.Crew dress, the colors felt so perfect for the fall when I paired it with leopard, while the bright teals and purples smoothly transition into spring with the simple addition of a white shoe. I'm really happy with these white Target mules. I've been reaching for them non-stop, because they have a low enough heel to be walkable, and are neutral, but still make a statement. They are on clearance for $14, so if your size is in stock, you probably can't go wrong.

      

The Rundown
Floral Dress J.Crew x Abigail Borg similar
Denim Jacket Gap similar
White Mules "Bianca" Target
Black Straw Bag Zara
 Bracelet The Cavernous Jewelry Box
Thin Gold Ring Etsy via Ellyn Blue Jewelry

Gold Herkimer Diamond Ring c/o Lumo

Sunglasses "Meteor" Ray-Ban c/o TJMaxx
Nail Color "Caviar Bar" Essie

Linking up with Pink Sole's How I Fall