NYE Sparkle

Not that I'm heading out to ring in the New Year, I do love the idea of fresh mint and silver sequins.


wide leg sequin pants, mint green sweater, wool top coat, whiting and davis skyline bag-1.jpgwide leg sequin pants, mint green sweater, wool top coat, whiting and davis skyline bag-7.jpgwide leg sequin pants, mint green sweater, wool top coat, whiting and davis skyline bag-3.jpgwide leg sequin pants, mint green sweater, wool top coat, whiting and davis skyline bag-2.jpgwide leg sequin pants, mint green sweater, wool top coat, whiting and davis skyline bag-4.jpg
The Rundown
Mint Green Wool Coat Banana Republic
Mint Green Sweater Banana Republic
Wide Leg Sequin Pants Banana Republic
Nude Pumps "Natalie" Naturalizer
Skyline Crossbody Bag Whiting and Davis via ThredUP similar
Mother of Pearl Hoop Earrings Vintage similar
Pearl Station Necklace Vintage
San Marco Twist Ring Golden Cleff via TJMaxx

December Budget

What I bought in December. Or at least, most of it, inevetably I'm forgetting something here.


J.Crew Popcorn Knit Sweater, $30
Ray-Ban Green State Street Sunglasses, $95
Banana Republic Zebra Print Boyfriend Cardigan, $30
Ann Taylor Plaid Cocoon Coat, $30
Candela 14K Gold Stud Earrings, $40 via TJMaxx
14k Gold and CZ Baguette Earrings, $43 via TJMaxx
Jennifer Zeuner Heart Necklace, $40 via TJMaxx
Ann Taylor Faux Suede Leggings, $29
Banana Republic Stretch Cords, $33
Loft Velvet Pants, $20
J.Crew Satin Slip Dress in Copper and Navy, $30 each
Charmes D Or 14k Gold Scarab Charm, $50 via TJMaxx
J.Crew Zip Teddy Coat, $80 via eBay
Magaschoni Cashmere Zebra Print Sweater, $50 via TJMaxx
Banana Republic Boat Neck Rib Knit Sweater, $30
Express Pleated Color Block Skirt, $35
Banana Republic Balloon Sleeve Bodysuit, $20
Banana Republic Double Faced Wool Top Coat, $67
Loft Rib Knit Skirt, $14
Loft Leopard Print Cami, $9
Kate Spade Abbot Small Satchel, $97

Pop of Color

Rarely one to shy away from color, I noticed that my winter wardrobe often tends to skew towards monochromatic.

The addition of of this blush pink coat was a sure way to brighten things up, in addition to the mix of prints, patterns and textures, the resulting look is anything but monochrome.


rust sweater, grey plaid pants, pink wool coat, hat, vintage carpet bag-13.jpgrust sweater, grey plaid pants, pink wool coat, hat, vintage carpet bag-4.jpgrust sweater, grey plaid pants, pink wool coat, hat, vintage carpet bag-15.jpgrust sweater, grey plaid pants, pink wool coat, hat, vintage carpet bag-9.jpgrust sweater, grey plaid pants, pink wool coat, hat, vintage carpet bag-11.jpgrust sweater, grey plaid pants, pink wool coat, hat, vintage carpet bag-10.jpg
The Rundown
Sweater Madewell similar
Plaid Pants Gap similar
Blush Coat Tahari via TJMaxx
Croc Pumps Unisa similar
Bag Vinthanthromodern similar
Hat Forever 21 similar
Scarab Necklace Etsy similar
Thin Gold Ring Etsy

Spotted Obsession

When I included this leopard dress in my October budget post, I recounted my frustrations with needing to exchange it for a different size, but once everything was finally sorted, I wanted to take this dress out into the world as soon as possible.

 

Did I need another leopard dress in my closet? Of course not! However I just loved the print and the pockets, and the classic cut. (I'm thinking I might need to move the belt loops a bit lower before I next wear it.) The dress is a heavier fabric so it worked out for the late fall afternoon with just a cardigan. I went to lunch in New Haven with my sister and we snapped these photos afterwords, then immediately retreated home before the sun could set and make us regret leaving the house with bare legs!


leopard dress, brown ribbed cardigan, woven toe cap slingbacks, cream croc purse-13.jpgleopard dress, brown ribbed cardigan, woven toe cap slingbacks, cream croc purse-8.jpgleopard dress, brown ribbed cardigan, woven toe cap slingbacks, cream croc purse-10.jpgleopard dress, brown ribbed cardigan, woven toe cap slingbacks, cream croc purse-7.jpgleopard dress, brown ribbed cardigan, woven toe cap slingbacks, cream croc purse-12.jpgleopard dress, brown ribbed cardigan, woven toe cap slingbacks, cream croc purse-2.jpgleopard dress, brown ribbed cardigan, woven toe cap slingbacks, cream croc purse-6.jpg The Rundown
Leopard Dress L.K. Bennett
Brown Cardigan Banana Republic
Woven Toe Cap Slingback Pumps Pons Quintana via Marshalls
Croc Embossed Leather Bag Persaman New York via TJMaxx
Gold Hoop Earrings Thrifted via Shopgoodwill.com similar
Paperclip Chain Necklace Cote d 'Argent via TJMaxx similar
Circle Necklace Gorjana via TJMaxx
Maya Bracelet Gorjana via TJMaxx
Gold Croissant Ring Etsy
San Marco Ring Golden Cleff via TJMaxx
Thin Gold Ring Etsy
Gold Ring via TJMaxx
Sunglasses "Meteor" Ray-Ban c/o TJMaxx

The Short Days

Here in the middle of December, daylight hours are at a premium. In the summer at 5 p.m. it would feel like the night was young, and now, if I'm not in my pajamas by 5, I start to get cranky. The sunsets, brilliant as they may be, are brief, and then the question of how one can convince themselves to be productive after the last bit of daylight fades away arises. 


I don't feel like I can properly color correct my photos in the artificial light, so editing gets delayed. Then as the evening progresses, my ability to string sentences together diminishes. So I'm left with drafting posts (everything but the copy) which then sit and linger as drafts, since the days fly by and before I know it, another week has gone by.  


Which is why photos taken the first week of November are just appearing now, and I will continue to tell myself that somehow I will learn how to function through the rest of these short winter days.



faux suede wide leg pants, black sweater, denim jacket, leopard mules-1.jpgfaux suede wide leg pants, black sweater, denim jacket, leopard mules-9.jpgfaux suede wide leg pants, black sweater, denim jacket, leopard mules-3.jpgfaux suede wide leg pants, black sweater, denim jacket, leopard mules-10.jpgfaux suede wide leg pants, black sweater, denim jacket, leopard mules-7.jpg
The Rundown
Black Denim Jacket Gap Factory
Black Tee Gap
Faux Suede Wide Leg Pants Ann Taylor
Leopard Hair Calf Mules Nine West via TJMaxx
Bucket Bag Danse Lente
Loop Earrings Mejuri
Coin Necklace SHASHI via TJMaxx
Sunglasses "Meteor" Ray-Ban c/o TJMaxx

Printed Leather Jacket

While bohemian is rarely a word I would use to describe my style, I can't deny that I love the aestetic, in an I-want-to-live-inside-an-anthropologie kind of way.

When shopping in a brick and mortar store, I almost never buy black; my eyes skip right over it and are drawn to the prints. This leather jacket was one of those pieces, so unique, beckoning to my bohemian spirit, demanding to leave the store with me. I briefly considered how short leather jacket season is in Connecticut, compounded with the bold print, but if I bought only sensible things I would have significantly more room in my closet.

I tried it on, it zipped, and it was mine. Only after the fact whilst texting Megan (I'd spotted a pair of boots which seemed to have her name on them) did she altert me to the fact that the jacket had retailed for over $1,000, making the $52 I'd just paid completely worth it.

It's quite likely I won't be wearing this jacket again until sometime in the spring, so I'll have plenty of time to think of some other ways to style it.



calypso printed leather jacket, camel sweater, jeans, croc mules, suede bag-10.jpgcalypso printed leather jacket, camel sweater, jeans, croc mules, suede bag-3.jpgcalypso printed leather jacket, camel sweater, jeans, croc mules, suede bag-12.jpgcalypso printed leather jacket, camel sweater, jeans, croc mules, suede bag-1.jpgcalypso printed leather jacket, camel sweater, jeans, croc mules, suede bag-11.jpgcalypso printed leather jacket, camel sweater, jeans, croc mules, suede bag-4.jpg
The Rundown
Printed Leather Jacket Marti x Dani Stahl for Calypso via Coco's
Camel Sweater Banana Republic via Consignment Originals
Jeans Banana Republic
Tan Croc Mules Lulu's
Suede Accordion Bag Banana Republic similar
Maya Necklace Gorjana via TJMaxx
San Marco Ring Ring Golden Cleff via TJMaxx
Thin Gold Ring Etsy

November Budget

How did you fair this shopping weekend? Were you good and bought gifts for others, or were you indulgent and bought things for yourself? Admittedly, I did try to get the bulk of my holiday shopping done, but the draw of a sale was, as per usual, too much for me to resist. None of those purchases are included in this list however, as they haven't arrived yet and I tend to return almost as much as I buy.




Banana Republic Navy Satin Button Blouse, $26
Madewell Floral Midi Dress, $35
Express Faux Leather Paperbag Waist Pants, $38
Banana Republic Brown Ribbed Cardigan, $40
J.Crew Giraffe Print Pants, $49
Madewell Denim Chore Jacket, $60
Tagliamonte Gold Plated Cameo Earrings, $40 via TJMaxx
Bod & Christensen Leather Skirt, $69 via Marshalls
Bozzolo Green Short Sleeve Bodysuit, $10 via TJMaxx
Akola Raffia Earrings, $17 via TJMaxx
Old Navy Brown Rib knit Wrap Dress, $20
Cote d 'Argent Paperclip Chain Necklace, $30 via TJMaxx
Gorjana Maya Necklace, $15 via TJMaxx
Golden Cleff San Marco Ring Ring, $50 via TJMaxx
Max Sport Black Wrap Sweater, $17 via TJMaxx
Mango Knit Tee, $20
Express Twisted Buckle Belt, $16

Sunny Afternoons

The days are shorter, the trees now bare, temperatures slowly erratically creeping lower. Never before have I witnessed a town bustling with outdoor diners in the middle of November, everyone trying to capitalize on the warm, sunny afternoons when we are graced with them.


I eavesdrop on restaurateurs recounting their tales of trying to secure heaters for their patios and the cutthroat Facebook Marketplace transactions. I observe the neighboring diners, who brought blankets, making a mental note that is a good idea. I lament how quickly my coffee has gotten cold (which isn't long enough even when indoors.)

As long as the sun shines, it's warm and beautiful, but once it sets and the evening chill settles in, the illusion of "dress weather" fades. At such time, it's best to have a furry layer on hand, or be ready to call it a night at 4:30 p.m.

leopard wrap dress, cream cardigan, caned leather pumps, wool fedora-14.jpgleopard wrap dress, cream cardigan, caned leather pumps, wool fedora-8.jpgleopard wrap dress, cream cardigan, caned leather pumps, wool fedora-17.jpgleopard wrap dress, cream cardigan, caned leather pumps, wool fedora-24.jpgleopard wrap dress, cream cardigan, caned leather pumps, wool fedora-15.jpgleopard wrap dress, cream cardigan, caned leather pumps, wool fedora-6.jpgleopard wrap dress, cream cardigan, caned leather pumps, wool fedora-19.jpgleopard wrap dress, cream cardigan, caned leather pumps, wool fedora-11.jpg
The Rundown
Leopard Wrap Dress
Poshmark similar
Cream Open Knit Cardigan Ali Express
White Caned Pumps Just Fab
Monogrammed Bucket Bag c/o Marley Lilly
Cream Wool Fedora Goorin Brothers similar
Gold Croissant Ring Etsy
Thin Gold Ring Etsy
Sunglasses "Meteor" Ray-Ban c/o TJMaxx