This sweater blazer was long overdue for an outing, and it really is a great piece for adding a bit of structure to a look while maintaining the comfort of a cozy knit; and I think we all can agree, comfort has been taking precedence these days.
The Rundown Camel Sweater BlazerJ.Crew Brown Turtleneck Sweater Ann Taylor similar Distressed Jeans Gap similar Cream BootiesAerosoles Bag"Abbot"Kate Spade Tiger Haircalf Belt Ann Taylor similar Twist Hoop EarringsS.V. Decker Thin Gold RingEtsy Twist Ring Etsy Sunglasses"State Street" Ray-Ban
I've mentioned that it's been a while since my last office job, and my current gig has been dog walking. It tends not to require blazers, but jeans are on heavy rotation. I of course have the problem of not having any 'bad' jeans to wear, so mostly I've just been wearing whatever pair needs to be washed.
Last week, while wearing this pair of Yoga Jeans (that I won in Cee's giveaway five years ago) I was leaving the home of a dog, who in his efforts to get me to stay (he has bad separation anxiety) bit me. It was my first real dog bite on the job, and while, ever. I didn't even realize how bad it was until I saw the blood soaking through the denim. I went home to get cleaned up, tended to my wounds first, but the jeans were an immediate second. I rinsed out the blood and much to my surprise, found no evidence of holes or tears. They look far better than my leg at the moment. (It's not that bad though, I swear).
So all I can say is, invest in a pair of Yoga Jeans, they were built to last.
For many years I had a fraught relationship with heels, buying shoes I thought looked cute, only to be faced with the harsh reality of trying to navigate the world in a wobbly stiletto that was too narrow for my foot, despite all my DIY attempts to stretch them.
Thankfully there has been a shift, comfort brands like Vionic are working hard to bridge the gap between the shoes we visualize when we hear the word 'orthotic' and the fashion forward shoes we might have chosen to suffer a little to wear.
This open heel bootie is from Vionic's new fall collection, featuring a fabulous tortoise block heel, hovering at just about 3" - a perfect blend of height, support, and style. The shoes are offered in wide widths, though I will mention that Vionic's medium width shoes do seem to run a touch wider than average.
Sometimes my shoes need to take me a little farther than door to car, and I'm happy that brands like Vionic exist, filling my closet with heels I can walk confidently in.
The Rundown Button CamisoleJ.Crew Factory Plaid Blazer H&M similar Mid Rise Jeans Banana Republic similar Open Heel Booties c/o Vionic Bucket Bag"Johnny"Danse Lente Gold Twist Earrings Thrifted similar Fresh Water Pearl NecklaceS.V. Decker Thin Gold RingEtsyvia Ellyn Blue Jewelry
Vionic provided me with footwear for the purpose of this post.
This is not a new piece to J.Crew's offerings, this sweater blazer has been around for quite a few seasons now, and has been offered in a number of different colors and even has a Factory version. I'd been coveting it since at least last fall, and since I've been shopping with reckless abandon lately, picking it up at 40% off seemed like a good idea.
It's got the casual throw on vibes of a cardigan, with just that little bit of extra structure and polish of a blazer. Everything the blazer loving person in me loves without the notions that I should be heading to the office. Let's not think about the white blazer I bought in June and haven't worn yet, this is the kind of piece you could wear around the house when you need that extra bit of cozy, but still look pulled together enough to head out into the world. A bit like what I'd hoped my grey cashmere cardigan would be, even though I always felt like it was missing the mark.
I probably should have posted this on Monday when the blazer was still on sale, but these days it seems like every weekend J.Crew is having some sort of promotion, so keep an eye out and snatch it up next time it's discounted. Also consider sizing down, I went with the extra small here.
The Rundown Camel Sweater BlazerJ.Crew Scalloped CamisoleJ.Crew Factory Wide Leg JeansGap White Mules Target similar Bucket Bag"Johnny"Danse Lente Gold Ball EarringsKohl's Gold Chain Necklace Thrifted Thin Gold RingEtsyvia Ellyn Blue Jewelry Signet RingSashi Cat Eye Sunglasses H&M similar
I've mentioned the dire parking situation in Los Angeles, it's been one of my least favorite things to deal with. Last week when I was meeting up with Jessica in the Arts District, I circled looking for street parking for fifteen minutes to no avail. Determined not to spend $10 to park in a lot I drove a bit further and found a $5 lot. Now I just had to walk half a mile (not exaggerating) to the spot where we were getting coffee!
Thankfully, I'd chosen to wear the new slingbacks Vionic sent me, as I know I can rely on them to provide comfortable and supportive footwear. The soft kid suede needs no breaking in, and the low heel provides just enough height while still being walkable. I always appreciate a comfort footwear brand that doesn't compromise on style.
After Jessica and I had our coffee and I recovered from the stress of parking, we set out to take outfit photos with some flowering bougainvillea - it had been at the top of my Los Angeles photo bucket list, and I was delighted we were able to make it happen! Sadly, I fear not too many more of my dream photo shoots will get crossed off my list this trip, as I finally booked a flight home and this will be my last week in L.A.!
The Rundown Black Maxi Dress Gap similar Plaid Blazer H&M similar Nareen Block Heels c/o Vionic Black Straw BagZara Tear EarringsEtsycustom designvia Bonanza Studio Gold Plated Disc NecklaceMatteo via TJMaxx Bracelet The Cavernous Jewelry Box Diamond Chip Ring c/o Crown Jewelry Chevron Ring Etsy via Silver Canyon Jewelry Sunglasses "Meteor"Ray-Ban c/o TJMaxx Nail Color"Caviar Bar" Essie
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 BagZara Bracelet The Cavernous Jewelry Box Alphabet Necklace c/o Gorjana similar Thin Gold RingEtsyvia Ellyn Blue Jewelry
