Prepping for Fall

{Written over episode one of Ozark...um, yes, we're hooked} Hello beautiful friends! While summer has been absolutely wonderful--we celebrated my son's first birthday on Saturday and there will be a few posts on that later--it is time to start thinking about fall.  This outfit holds at least 2 of my probable fall faves--these shoes and this blazer.  I adore navy blazers-- I am at heart a classic girl and there is nothing more classic than the double breasted navy blazer, complete with gold buttons!  It is as versatile as can be and I will wear it to the office (which is always chilly) with a dress like this one, or a pencil skirt and a crisp white shirt and on the weekends with jeans and statement sneakers.  It's something my closet always holds ( I probably have ten of them!) 

And then there are these shoes.  Even though I closely follow fashion trends, I am not a slave to them.  I sort of recoil from buying and wearing what everyone else is wearing but I do like to incorporate trends into my daily work-or-mom-wear.  And if I am buying a designer piece, I want to make sure the investment is worth it.   I love these shoes.  I saw them and mentioned them to my hubby and a few days later, they showed up in a pretty box! Yay for dropping hints that work! I will wear these with pant suits and jeans and that striped band really adds an interesting detail to an otherwise simple pair of cream heels.  Now, the weather just needs to cooperate and we will be off and running! What are your favorite fall pieces? I would love to hear from you and as always, thank you so much for stopping by!  Sweetly, Michelle   

Shoes || Blazer || Dress || Purse || Sunnies

Investing in Investments

{Written with A Million Reasons by Lady Gaga on loop- thanks Superbowl LI}   Hi sweet readers! How is your week so far? I am going to talk to you a bit about wardrobe investments.  Investment pieces for your closet is such a personal topic, because it relies on so many variables that are different for each of us.  With that in mind, I figured I would give you my philosophy and you can apply it however you deem fit!    It really boils down to your own personal finances and where you are in your life-- I spent with a lot less concern when I was single and renting a house than I do now, with house and kid expenses up the wazoo!  If you are looking at products that will last season to season, here are my thoughts:

1.  Is it trendy? I generally will not spend money on something that is noticeably trendy.  I want classic shapes and basic colors.  I have Gucci bags that are 10 years old and I still trot them out because (1) they last and (2) they still look current.  Same thing for Louis Vuitton-- as long as you take care of them, you will be able to wear them forever.  I am constantly checking my designer shoes and having them resoled and cleaned and they come back looking like new.   With everything I buy, I tell the hubs " I will TOTALLY be able to wear this forever-- so it's actually a good deal" but in these cases, it's also true! Bonus! :)

2.  Is it me?  There is nothing worse than seeing the same bag all over the place, obsessing over it, buying it for yourself, and then not feeling comfortable with it.   Make sure what you see and love is also something that is you.  I was talking to my mom the other day about a mutual friend's style and I said " She dresses like Kate Middleton".   I'm sure right now, you sort of have a picture of that style in your head (That girl is perfect, let me tell you. Not our friend. She's just ok.  I'm talking about the princess. She's amazing!)  Whatever your own style is, make sure your investment piece fits.  I wear black, camel, grey, and navy pretty much exclusively. No matter how much I love that bright beautiful printed dress, it's not me-- and if I really need it-- or the printed heels or floral bag- I need to look for it in a non-designer style that is less expensive.  

3.  Do I have this already? Excluding black heels (you can never have enough of these, I'm convinced), there is a limit to what you should spend your money on. If you invest in a nice coat, you are set in Southern California. If you get to wear the thing TWICE, you are lucky.   There is no need to buy the Burberry trench, a Max Mara pea coat,  AND that cute Gucci bomber.  Seriously- don't.  Try to gauge what you have  and where a new addition might fit.  

I bought this case on a whim when I was in Maui the year before last.  I have one of those ginormous black square briefcases on wheels (i.e., not cute) and sometimes, I just want to walk with something pretty!  I think my next investment will be luggage- good weekend bags and carry ons -- how about you? Where are you earmarking your next investment piece- I'd love to hear all about it! Valentines Day is almost here-- how are you going to spend it?  I hope you are planning something wonderful with someone you love-- even if that something wonderful is a cuddly night on the couch with your pups!  Happy Thursday, dearest friends- Sweetly, Michelle

Sweater|| Shoes || Skirt || Bag

I've Got You Covered

{Written while nibbling at what is hopefully the last box of holiday See's Candy!} Well, if we are talking about resolutions (and I'm not, but if we were), keeping up with this blog right here might be part of mine in 2017.  It has been a rough 4 months, my friends.  In this span of time, I gave birth to my son and lost my father.  The world is minus one amazing, shining soul and my own world gained a bright shining light.  I will never be able to put into words how it felt to watch new life develop and grow while simultaneously watching a life falter and end.  It was excruciating and heartbreaking and painful and I think it is going to take me a while to recover.  Anyone who has been through a tragedy can relate to this.  We lost my younger brother--my only sibling--before my daughter was born and because there was only me to worry about, I was able to come home from work, lay on the couch and grieve.  I think I did this for 6 months-- just existed in a weepy fog.  But now, I am a mother to two, and a managing partner at my law firm and I just don't have the ability to fall apart.  I have had to square my shoulders and create the magical festivities of Christmas (and that dang Elf on the Shelf) for the sake of my children.  I've had to come into the office and function because this is what is required of me.   I am looking forward to the post-Christmas slower pace of life so that I can, at least for a little while, pull the covers up over my head and grieve.   Which brings me to this post, and the title in particular.  While my life was falling apart, my friends and family had me covered.  I am humbled--truly humbled-- by the love and thoughtfulness and support I have received from everyone in my life (and even people who are not regularly in my life.)   Meals were covered, kids were covered, clients were covered and my heart was covered...and it got me thinking.  This connected-ness is contagious- this sort of belief I have that we are all responsible as human beings for each other- to look out and help out anytime we can.  I want my blog in 2017 to focus on ways that we can help each other out and I am not yet sure of what form this will take but at the very least, I want you all to know that no matter what comes your way, I've got you covered.   Thank you for stopping by, dearest hearts. I'm sure you can tell that I am not bothered by sharing my private life, but it is nevertheless not easy. So thank you again- Sweetly- Michelle

PS-The fur wrap that I use to cover up is linked below!  

Dress || Shoes ||  Wrap || Bracelets and here || Cat (I wish! Just kidding!)

Perfectly Suitable

{Written while sipping my third Starbucks cafe mocha of the day out of a pretty normal looking red cup 😐}   Hello dearest ones! How was your week? Did it fly right by? For me it sure did! Lets talk about suits for a minute. I have a love hate relationship with them. I find very few that are both professional and stylish (and when I do, I buy them fast).  It seems like either the fit is boxy and sort of shapeless or its so fitted and short that I simply cant wear it to a professional event.   So what are we to do?  First, you need to find the right suit.  Lately, J Crew, Ann Taylor (I used to shop here a lot when I was in law school and I have no idea why I stopped-- they have the cutest work separates), Nordstrom and Banana Republic are my go-to suit stops. I think you should try to build your professional wardrobe so that it includes a black (shocker!), navy and grey suit (I also like sheath dresses with a matching blazer if you can find them.)  After you have your suit, I like to pick a statement piece-- shoes? bag? Maybe a chunky bracelet?  I personally like to keep the lines of a suit simple--I don't like big bold necklaces around my neck with suits (totally personal preference- I am more of an arm full of bracelets girl.)  This suit here has sort of a soft peplum shape, which I paired with stacked heels. Sometimes, a little stiletto doesn't look right and a suit calls out for something more substantial, you know?    I grabbed my bag, my coffee ( literally, the greatest addition to any outfit hands down) and out the door I went!  Do I tell you enough how much I appreciate you stopping by for a read? Because I sure do!  Thank you thank you! Happy almost weekend, loves.  Sweetly- Michelle

Jacket || Skirt ||Shoes (similar)|| Bag ||