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

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 ||

Lace in the Workplace

Hi you! I had an epiphany last weekend, as I was sorting through my packed closet-- not every trend is for me. I understand my own personal style, but I am still susceptible to following whatever the trend du jour happens to be.  Does anyone else do this? I looked at my closet over the weekend and found multiple items (tags still attached) that were impulse buys because they looked so good on someone else.  And I just know I am never going to wear them.  I want to try really hard to simply incorporate into my existing style a little bit of the trends I like.   I see beautiful colorful prints and bright patterns on everyone-- not really me (but maybe a bright pair of earrings is) .  I see the boho dresses on everyone- not really me (but maybe a fringy pair of boots or bag is).  I wish I was more adventurous in my style but I am just not.  I am more of a classic, simple dresser, especially at work.  Which brings me to this skirt... I actually forgot I had it (if I had a nickel for every time I found something I loved wedged behind something else in my closet!!)  I've had it for a while, but there are similar ones here and here.  Its not really lace, its just a lace pattern and it gives the illusion of lace without showing too much skin.   Pencil skirts just work for me. I like the length and the cut and they are so versatile.  Heels look just as good as a tall pair of riding boots when the weather cooperates.  Mine are from Nordstrom and you can get them here.    

How do you incorporate trends into your wardrobe?  Are you a risk taker?  However you are, I am sure you are beautiful!  Hey all! Its just about the weekend! Yayyyyyy!!! Thank you so much for stopping by! xxoo Michelle

Said Yes To The Dress







I have a weird relationship with dresses. I love wearing sheath dresses under a blazer or a cardigan to the office.  I love the little black dress for any sort of evening function. I literally must have 30 of them hanging in my closet. But just a regular standalone dress for daytime in the office? Sometimes I struggle with deciding if I like it.  It has to be just right, right?

I also have been making an effort to put more color into my wardrobe. For a  person who loves black as much as I do, white is a huge wild step in the color direction. And florals are just gorgeous. Don't even get me started on all of the rooms in my house I would wallpaper with floral designs if my husband would let me ( why do I even ask? I should just do it. There's a 50-50 chance he wouldn't even notice!!) But back to the dress. When I saw it hanging in Zara ( my latest obsession) it just spoke to me for some reason. It's structured and sweet and it has pockets and it is ladylike and fits like a glove.  It is so office appropriate in this nice weather and can't you just also see it at a brunch with your grandmother or to wear to church? And the best part of all is it's made out of this sort of stretchy material. If you didn't think it was perfect before, you sure do now, right? I bought this dress about a week ago, so it still should be online at Zara.   As always, I hope your day is just wonderful and I appreciate you stopping by so much. XO XO Michelle