my everyday style: the first of fall!

We've definitely gotten our first feel of fall here in West Michigan with a few very chilly mornings lately! Brrrrr! I'm still in denial that bathing suits and flip flops aren't in our normal repertoire of clothing anymore… so I still sneak in a few sandal wears here and there.  Usually I am sneaking in jeans & sweatshirts in August… but this year it was the other way around.  The summer was just too too short.

There are a few things about fall I sure do love though…
- dark nail polish again
- dark hair again (just got the summer sun taken out of my hair and it feels so fresh!)
- optional leg shaving
- cozy scarf wearing
- quiet afternoons at home while my kids are at school
- cider and donut indulging, which I have plans to do this weekend!

(photos by Jennifer Ketchum)

Details:

Scarf, H&M (old but similar, similar or similar)

Sweater, Banana Republic - 40% off today!!!!

Jeans, Gap (old but similar, similar or similar) - 25% off today!

Sandals, Sole Society "Nancie"

Bag, J.Crew - arguably the best leather bag available for the price. I adore this bag.

Sunglasses, Ray Ban

on my radar/September!

Just a few things catching my eye lately… what's been on your radar lately?

druzy bracelet… obsessed with anything druzy lately. So gorgeous, right?

distressed jeans… I'm perfectly okay with adding another pair to my harem.

cozy swingy roomy sweaters… this one in every color please.

j.crew scents… of course I have to hop on this bandwagon. Has anyone smelled these in person? Curious to know how they smell.

eyeglasses… back to school season always has me craving a new pair of specs.  You know?

vintage LV… vintage LV has been on my mind lately and I just discovered Piperlime is carrying select styles. Very intriguing. I would love to hear your thoughts on LV/vintage/vintage LV.  Do tell.

classic green Hunter boots… winter is a b*#$%! why not have another pair of boots to make it easier to handle.

Also, on a completely different note.  A blogger that I had never heard of (and am SO glad I discovered her blog) recently sent me some love by linking to me.  So insanely sweet of her. Remember the old days when bloggers linked to each other other the time. I realized I miss those days.  So as an added bonus:

Here are a few bloggers on my radar lately… 

Un-fancy, she was so sweet to link to me and I just LOVE her blog and the premise of her seasonal shopping strategy. Seriously, check this gal out.

Burlap and Lace, she can decorate my house any time. Girl's got style.

Merrick's Art, she sat next to me at Garance's keynote speech at Alt Design Summit, since then I've been a fan.

Brown Eyed Fox, my hair dresser just told me about her the other night, she doesn't blog much but her Instagram is great.  (I kinda want her dog)

Just a few blogs I'm loving on lately… I'll bring you some more soon!

my everyday style: fall re-runs part 2!

I've just got a few more re-runs on outfits here on the blog while I wait for the weather to start catching up with the season… we've had some super cool mornings and evenings here lately.  Fall is here! I'll be back on the regular outfit posting very, very soon here!

In the meantime, here are a few more of my favorite looks from last fall.

(above: similar scarf, similar boots, similar bag)

(above: similar flats, similar sweater)

(above: similar blazer, similar sweater)

(above: similar sweater, similar waxed jeans)

how do you feel about the "athleisure" trend?

The athleisure trend is one that has been on the brink of emerging for years now… think the Juicy Couture sweatsuits that Oprah raved about, or the hundred dollar yoga pants that women swore they could wear to the office because they fit so well when Lululemon first launched.  I've never seemed to really subscribe to those notions.  Work out apparel is for the gym, not for days when I don't feel like getting dressed.

But lately the athleisure trend has really morphed into something different.  Leggings with cozy sweaters is kind of my jam… but tanks and compression pants for everyday wear isn't.  But now the line between those two ends of the spectrum has really blurred.  Absolutely stunning pieces is are now being introduced into the market as "athletic wear" so it's no surprise ladies are saying that they don't just want to wear those pieces for working out.  What do you think of this trend? Do you subscribe to the athleisure trend? Do you still think work out clothes are for the gym or can you see wearing them everyday too?

My opinion is that if you take the athleisure trend seriously and dress that way for day time that is fine… but leave the sweaty yoga pants at home after gym class. (although I do admit the other day I ran errands in my gym clothes because I had such a busy day).  Hey, rules are meant to be broken, right!?!

orange drapey top, stirrup black leggings, grey cashmere sweater, grey tee, floral pop print pants, shiny crackle print black leggings, nike sneakers, pirouette tie back top

So I would love to hear your thoughts on this trend!  

my everyday style: fall re-runs!

I'm in the mood for fall now that school has started. Give me apple pie, cozy sweaters, the last of the bonfires and warm apple cider.  But the weather isn't really quite there yet… not in my neck of the woods and probably not in your neck of the woods either.  We are so close… so while I (and hopefully you!) enjoy the last of the summer weather - let's take a look at some greatest hits from last fall!

(above: similar shoes, similar sweatshirt, similar chambray)

(above: similar trench, similar sweater, similar bag)

(above: similar waxed jeans, similar sweater, similar shoes)

(above: similar scarf, similar bag, similar shoes)

(above: similar graphic tee, similar jacket)

(above: jeans, similar bag)

fall must haves 2014: boots!

It's hard to choose a favorite item to buy in the fall… but boots definitely are up there on the list.  And while I don't always love the price tag that comes with boots I have always found that you get what you pay for in this department. Spending $100 to $200 or more on boots is definitely a hit to the clothing budget and pocketbook but putting on a great pair of boots and having them last you through the cold and long winter and then some is a great feeling.

Leather boots are always worth the investment and this time of the year is the best time to snag a new pair.  Here are a few of my favorite picks for this fall and a couple of ways I hope to style them up!

(above: one, two, three, four, five, six)

(get the look above: jeans, sweatshirt, glasses, boots, bag)

(get the look above: bracelet, leggings, sweater, bag, boots, scarf)

my everyday style: it's (unofficially) fall!

It's unofficially officially fall.  Which gives me major whiplash and leaves me a little dumbfounded to be honest. Wasn't it just June?

Apparently not.  My kids start school today (praise the Lord, hallelujah!) and I'll be busy this week getting caught up on whatever I didn't get done over the past three months of non stop fun and complete indulgence.  Which is pretty much everything.  So here's to fall and to an "everything" to-do list on a Tuesday that feels like a Monday.

Enter an easy outfit… that's about all I can handle this morning.

(photos by Jennifer Ketchum)

Details:

Oxford Top, H&M (similar)

Shorts, Gap

Bag, J.Crew

Sandals, Sole Society

Watch, Daniel Wellington - ℅