Last Year's Look

In a time when I am faced with endless sources of inspiration, it's often my own camera roll that serves me best. The pieces are already in my closet, and I'm not so distracted convincing myself that I need to be adding faux leather pants to my cart that I never manage to get dressed.

Even if you aren't a blogger, chances are you've got a phone full of half a decades worth of selfies and snapshots, and it's easy to see what you had on a year ago today. As I scrolled through my archives I found some slightly blurry and underexposed shots of this outfit (or at least a close approximation) and realized I'd never shot it for the blog.  How lovely it was to rediscover these velvet pants and appreciate how much I adore this blush leather jacket, which I've barely worn since I was in California earlier this year. (Lucky Californians and their perfect leather jacket weather, here I'm limited to the beginning of fall and the end of spring.)

Sadly to say that one week into the new month my November budget post is already shaping up to be as extensive as October's, and this outfit serves as a good reminder to spend more time getting inspired by my own archives and shopping my closet instead of Banana Republic.

        

The Rundown
Lace Camisole Coco's on the Green similar
Blush Leather Jacket Athleta similar
Velvet Pants Old Navy similar
Leopard Heels Sam Edelman similar
Bucket Bag "Johnny" Danse Lente
Loop Earrings Mejuri
Necklace "Scottie" LuxbyUK
Ruby Crystal Talisman Ring c/o Uncommon Goods
Cat Eye Sunglasses H&M similar

P.S. I have nothing to wear

Leaves fall, temperatures fall, and suddenly the 90% of my closet that isn't denim seems completely unwearable. Literally overnight, mother nature made the switch from fall into winter, leaving me standing in front of my closet feeling baffled.

Tights. The key to transitioning into winter, and thankfully my recent package from Kushyfoot contained a brand new pair of both their shaping tights and their fleece lined trouser socks. I'm also a really big fan of their fleece lined tights, anything to take the edge of the biting cold helps.

Along with tights another one of my essentials is a short slip. I get the worst static cling ever and I'm not convinced any dryer sheet, coat hanger, or safety pin trick works. A very comfortable and inexpensive slip does the job perfectly and I wont say no to any extra layer either.

The Rundown
Leopard Dress c/o Wallis
Knit Moto Jacket c/o Maurices similar
Boots Migliorini via TJMaxx buy on ebay similar
Bag Linea Pelle "Astor" c/o Linger Rose
Tights c/o Kushyfoot
Gold Bracelet The Cavernous Jewelry Box
Naomi Druzy Ring c/o Kendra Scott
Bar Rings c/o Kohl's
Nail Color "Go Overboard" Essie

Linking up with Mix and Match Fashion's What I wore to "work"

and

Penniless Socialite's Look What I Got

and

Happiness At Midlife's Throwback Thursday (last time I wore this jacket)

Thanks to Lipton Publicity and Kushyfoot for providing the tights featured in this post.

Disbanded

Feeling inspired by Stacey, I snipped the band and feather off of my Albertus Swanepoel for Target leopard fedora, which makes it a dupe for the J.Crew version, and therefore easier to look like a person who would spend $178 on a hat. However, it is currently on final sale, and with the extra 40% off you can snap it up for $60. (Which is still three times more expensive than the Target version).

I'm also wearing some fleece lined tights, a gift from Alex! They are nice and cozy, thanks Alex!

Tomorrow Megan and I are going to the New York launch of Karl Lagerfeld for net-a-porter, anyone else going to be there?
I'm kinda freaking out over what to wear... I'm thinking leopard dress at the moment.

The Rundown

Top Gap - Skirt Made by Me - Leather Jacket Express - Leopard Fedora Albertus Swanepoel for Target - Booties Madden Girl Virtual - Bag Big Buddha - Gloves TJ Maxx - Necklace Klara Design Jewelry - Earrings Taken for Granite - Tights Ellen Tracy

Velvet Pants

I didn't do to much this weekend, so I don't have too much to chat about, but the weather was nice and like a proper fall; even though those leaves might be a smidge closer to yellow than red in reality.

Once again I decided to blur the line between leggings and pants. I thrifted these last fall and they were definitely originally meant to be pants - but then I skinnified them, and since the waist band is elastic, they are more like leggings now.

But you know what? I'm calling them pants.

The Rundown

Chambray Tuxedo Shirt J.Crew - Velvet Pants Thrifted & Altered - Jacket Target - Shoes Adrienne Vittadini - Bag Lucky Brand Bella - Leopard Scarf Gift - Belt TJMaxx - Ring Gift - Bracelet American Eagle - Bracelets and Watch The Cavernous Jewelry Box - Sunnies Aldo - Monica Ring c/o Poshlocket

It's kind of like saving money, only it's spending money

Great news, the faux leather motorcycle jacket at Target is on sale for $19.99! As if $30 wasn't a good deal all on it's own.

Unfortunately my local target only has sizes xs and xl in stock, so I had to order it online.

And in order to get free shipping you have to spend $50. I'm not going to just pay $7 to ship something if there is the possibility of getting it for free. So I thought I'd just throw in a pair of their cute boots for $30 and be all set. However the boots weren't really $30, they were 29.99, and that meant my total was only 49.98 which in Target land means no free shipping for you.

I then spent about an hour trying to find something else, anything else to buy, anything to get my free shipping! But I was stuck.

Then I remembered Amazon wishlists, and my wonderful friends and family who actually keep theirs up to date. Since Target sells many of the same things, I ditched the boots I wasn't completely in love with and got Christmas shopping done instead.

More about my new jacket in 5-7 business days.

Leather Jacket of Long Ago, You are Mine! (Oh Yes!)

I got a second chance on my Squall jacket! Oh the happiness of a black leather motorcycle jacket with a faux fur collar.

It turned up on ebay about a week ago and this time I didn't let it get away from me. But oh, the stress and anxiety of bidding on ebay, if I do it too often, I may develop a heart condition.

The seller was super awesome and I had the jacket within three days.

And yeah, it's size small, and it might be ever so slightly too tight in the bust area, but I'm going to wear it anyway. How often do you get a second- er- third chance with such an item?