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

Suit Yourself

{Written while obsessing over Giambattista Valli couture...you remember that huge pink tiered dress Rihanna wore? I may have been the only person who loved that dress but lemme tell you...I LOVED it. And there are more puffy tiered ones out there- black, grey and light blush pink. Can you say swoon?}

 It has been a while since I posted a nice suit.  I wear a lot of them to work but I find I am forcing myself to get back in the swing of things and wear them again. Over the holidays, the atmosphere at my office turns causal- and its hard to get back to formal office appropriate attire.  This is a little JCrew suit and I paired it with oxblood accessories, which is a first for me. I typically pair navy with dark brown but I like this color.  Navy is way more versatile than I ever realize and the same goes for these shoes.  I wear them with everything-- with the same color family or not- they really kinda pop.  I love this color but I wonder if it will carry over to spring? Maybe I will pair these heels with white jeans and a white tank. How cute does that sound? I know it's only January but I am so so ready for summer... sandy feet, BBQs, night swimming, dinner under the starts and all of those things that make summer the every best of seasons to me! How about you? What's your favorite season? Sending you so much love today! Sweetly- Michelle

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

Seeing Red? ❤️🇺🇸















Lets just pretend that I have on a beautiful shade of red lipstick, or a red bag or maybe even nice shiny red patent heels and if you can do that, then isnt this just a perfect outfit for the holiday week? Yes, yes it is!! (Whoops. I will get it together next year.)

This blazer is from my recent Zara spree and it is right at home in my closet. I am a very simple, classic dresser. I typically wear black, more black, and then something black. :) Navy blue is a color I also gravitate to and when I saw this blazer I just fell in love! I think I will get so much use out of it. And can you see the gold buttons? I just love it. I took this dress from banana republic out of the closet (it's from last summer) and they just look so cute together. The structured blazer makes the summery type dress a little more appropriate for the office. And like everyone's office, mine is fa fa freezing and there is just no way I would ever wear sleeveless.  And do I ever love nude shoes. The ones I am wearing (Gucci) have the slightest hint of blush to them. If I could find a pair of not ridiculous looking navy blue high heeled loafers, that would be perfect (do these even exist?) but in the meantime, these heels are just fine. (I think you could also pair dark leather heels with this outfit and it would be cute too.) Hope everyone is having an amazing week and as always, I sure appreciate you stopping by! Xx Michelle