Outfit of the Day: Full Autumn Assimilation.

Hello! Autumn in Oregon has fully set in - the trees are beautiful but it has been raining nearly every day, which is not beautiful. I'm adjusting and I will say it's nice for the weather to be consistent, I guess. I am fully trying to lean in with sweaters and jackets and boots! Glorious boots:

 

Here's my first outfit featuring my Danner Jack boots which I'll talk about in a minute. I'm wearing an Everlane cashmere v-neck sweater from a few seasons back (reviewed here) and it's still a favorite of mine. I don't shop at Everlane anymore so I was happy to see that Quince now has a v-neck sweater in their cashmere line-up! (I've ordered one and will report back when it arrives.) I'm also wearing my Madewell skinny jeans in Oakwood wash which I am not going to stop wearing, I don't care what the kids say. I also have my eye on this excellent pair because I've realized that a skinny jean will always have a place in my wardrobe during the colder months.

My Hammitt VIP is still the bag I've been carrying the most lately. It's just a really good all-around bag and I love how it just kind of molds itself to my hip. I did buy the thicker strap which I think works much better with the large size. I bought mine secondhand but I definitely think it's a quality bag and worth the price. I can see myself eventually getting it in another color, like this dreamy olive version. Ugh. Why did I even look at that?

Oh hey, remember last year when I bought six utility jackets for blog science? This J.Crew Lightweight Utility jacket is one that I kept. I pulled it out again recently and fell in love with it all over again. It's fully lined (so not particularly "lightweight") and just a comfy, rugged shape. Big pockets and a hood make it basically perfect. They have a new, slightly less rugged, version that looks very promising but my version is sold out. I hope they'll bring it back! 

Quick necklace details: I'm wearing a Theia Gemstone Necklace from Three Flames Silverworks based in Seattle, and my silver wings necklace from My Precious Studio based in Richmond. A little East Coast a little West Coast! I'm trying not to play favorites. 

Another look at my Hammitt VIP bag for size. The VIP comes in three sizes and this is the large one. The large is what you want if you need an everyday bag. The medium is very nice small bag option. I haven't seen the small in person but dang, it looks wee. And, finally, my new boooooots:

They spark so much joy, y'all. These are serious boots though and do have a break-in process. I've been trying to wear them as much as I can to get them to a super-comfy point. Danner also makes a really excellent-looking Chelsea boot that I have my eye on for the future! My pair are available on the Danner site and there are also a few sizes available on Amazon. For something similar without (I would imagine) a long break-in period, this pair at Madewell look quite good and they have a zip up the back! I also love this Dolce Vita pull-on style that a friend of mine mentioned recently in the comments. 

That's it for today! As usual, too many words about boots. Heh.

Stuff I Like: Early Autumn Edition!

It's decorative gourd season! Yay! Okay, it's fine I guess. I am grudgingly giving in to fall like I do every year even though it's not my favorite season. Things are getting very autumnal in Oregon and I am trying my best to lean into it and appreciate sweater weather. I AM TRYING OKAY. Here are a few things that have made the transition easier:

This Happy Light That Is Standard PNW Issue.

I bought this Verilux Happy Light back in June because I knew I was going to need it the minute the weather started to turn. That happened this past week so I've got it set up next to my desk and it's definitely making the gloomy, dark mornings a bit easier. It's early days, but I'm hoping it'll stave off the seasonal depression I've been told to expect. PS. It is extremely bright and you're not supposed to look  directly at it which I found out by looking directly at it. Learn from me! Don't do that. 

This Atmospheric Read That Is Just Right For Fall.

When fall weather hits I tend to want to read moody/spooky books and Tana French is the absolute best when it comes to that. The Searcher came out last year and I'm so ready to re-read it. This is a stand-alone story but, unlike her previous book, The Witch Elm, this one doesn't have quite the same "unreliable narrator" feel and is much more introspective and unhurried. French's writing is, as always, atmospheric and beautiful, and the story is unsettling more than creepy and ultimately quite satisfying. Highly recommend.

This Candle That Is Perfectly Autumnal.

I returned something at the mall recently and almost immediately spent the return money at BlueMercury on this fancy LAFCO candle. It's like I was in a trance (why is the BlueMercury store so close to Madewell??) and when I got home I was like, oh no why didn't I buy the candle I already know I love? But, turns out I didn't make a mistake at all because the Amber candle is everything I was looking for - warm, spicy, soft, rich. It's not floral or too sharp or too sweet, it's just perfect and cozy. 10/10 would purchase again. 

I Know This Isn't Autumnal, Hear Me Out.

I work from home in the top floor loft space of a corner townhouse. It's lovely! So full of windows which is great until Wednesday when the lawn crew arrives and spends seven hours blowing around leaves and crap on both sides of the building. The dueling leaf blowers drive me insane and the last time I whined about it Marianne suggested I get a set of noise cancelling AirPods Pro. And y'all, they are truly amazing. I put them in and my shoulders drop - I'm instantly less murderous. I don't even have to listen to music! They just bring everything down a few notches. Also, they're on sale right now at Target and Amazon so if you've thought about it, now is probably the time. 

This Podcast I Already Talked About.
I'm pretty sure I posted about this last fall but The Great British Baking Show is back and so is my very favorite companion podcast, On Your Marks, Get Set, Bake! I already love Joy and Claire from their other podcasts and I'd been hoping they'd revive this one with the new season. It's basically just a delightful half hour of GBBO recap and comments, though I especially love that Claire tries out the technical challenge every week and reports back. Get going with that malt loaf! 

Outfit of the Day: This Feels Like Me.

I'm heartily sick of everything I've been wearing all summer so I've started playing around with a few things I set aside for fall. Back in August when Marianne and I were in Austin, we went thrifting and she found me this incredible Mara Hoffman shirtdress:

 

This dress is SO ME. It's 100% not the trendy thing right now but I don't care - it's so fun and I love the colors. It's obviously long sold out but there are a few on Poshmark and eBay (search: Mara Hoffman compass dress if you love it too.) I can't really find anything even remotely similar, but Anthro is always good for a crazy dress. This one from Maeve is so fun in the purple print and this one is just a good time. For something good in the shirtdress/tunic style, I love this star print dress from Equipment and ooh, check out this one from Boden! They're always good for a cute shirtdress. 

When I bought the dress Marianne was like, "all you need is leather leggings and some boots and you're good to go." I wasn't ready to drop money on Spanx faux leather leggings yet but I'm pretty happy with my $18 pair from Target.  (Though, If I wear them a lot I'll probably upgrade.) Spanx are a solid bet but I'm also curious about this Blank NYC pair. They seem more like pants, which could be just the thing to wear with big sweaters. We'll see. Now, details: 

I'm wearing my Madewell paperclip necklace and my little bird skull pendant I bought from Paxton Gate in Portland. The dress is pretty low cut so I like that it's juuuust visible. 

My little quilted MJ bag was such a good purchase. I bought it for next to nothing on Poshmark and it's just reliably good at dressing up a look. For something similar, this Kate Spade looks really nice and I also love this Minkoff bag. For a cheap-n-cheerful option, ASOS has a cute version! My chelsea boots are a super old version of this Cole Haan style but check out this version from Frye - I love that they're lower cut because it's easier to wear with jeans. I also adore the new lug sole style from Madewell! I DO NOT NEED THOSE. I just love boots, you guys, I can't help but want them all. 

Shopping Things. We Are Very Good At This.

M: So it's 92 degrees today but I'm wearing booties anyway and I want to talk about fall clothes. I have 4 things on my to-buy list, which I think is SUPER restrained of me, don't you? Actually 3 things, because my inception booties fufill my taupey-grey mid heel bootie requirement. ARE YOU READY TO HEAR THE OTHER THREE? ARE YOU SO EXCITED?

A: I am so full of excitement. Truly.

M: Okay the first is also kind of cheating, but whatever. I have on my list: Mid-Length Denim Button Front Skirt. Now, I hate skirts, as you know. But this won't get out of my head so let's do this. Anyway I was ready to start my search, then found this skirt and bought it sooooo:

M: It could be a disaster and it's final sale because I like to live dangerously.

A: I totally dig that skirt. I wanted it!

M: I think it's so cute. Reviews said to size up, and a size (or two) up was all that was left, so fingers crossed.

A: You can always eBay it if it doesn't work.

M: My next item is a cream colored silk button down. Like Equipment but with a price tag I can stomach. I'm willing to pay a little money for quality though. And it just so happens that TJ Maxx has a million of awesome options and I need your helllllllllp. Ready Set Go.

A: BAKE!

M: This one is basically perfect, though I would possibly prefer an uncovered placket:

A: Is very good! I like that a lot.

M: Vince silk tops fit me SO well, but this is white and I feel like not as versatile for fall?

A: Definitely nice but looks summery to me.

M: I also love it in black but that's neither here nor there.

M: I keep looking at this one. I'm part "ooh cute with that denim skirt and booties" and part "Pirates of The Caribbean, Revenge Of The Moms."

A: Hey, maybe you want to be a Mommy pirate, IDK.

M: Real quick, WTF is happening with these shirt tails?

A: Eep!

M: I should probably go with the rag & bone Leroy, right?

A: The Leroy is perfect and doesn't have a super long tail which I do not understand.

M: It's insane, right?

A: I would step on it and fall backwards and sustain a nasty concussion.

M: I think the Leroy is it.

A: It's very classic. I also like the black Vince number.

M: I love it. I have the short sleeve version in navy and wear it to death.

M: Besides the fact that this is styled on a cadaver, this is giving me second thoughts:

A: Poor dead girl. She’s the same color as the shirt.

M: I can't tell if the one at TJ Maxx has the contrast cuffs and collar.

A: Oooh, duh. Yeah. Hmm.

M: LAST ITEM is a long line black vest. Which I recognize is kind of weird but look at this. Yes, right? I could probably cheap out on this one but I feel like it would show in the tailoring and fabric quality.

M: This one is basically perfect, DAMN YOU rag & bone. Probably a lil more than I want to spend:

M: This is cute, not as versatile, but super cheap:

M: This one is not bad, but I'm tall and I don't think it will be quite long enough on me to get that black column effect:

M: A less tailored contender, more causal:

M: UGH TELL ME WHAT TO DO. UGH.

A:  I personally Do Not Vest but I see what you're going for and I think it's cute. I really love the last option a lot but I don't do a lot of tailored things so it appeals.

M: I worry the last one skews a little Eileen Fisher Chico's Kind of Day.

A: That's probably why I like it.

M: What the actual fuck:

A: It’s like an Escher drawing. Down is up! Lapel is down!

M: I know we say this a lot but it legit looks like a mistake.

A: *Pulls vest thing out of box* "Hey…um…do you think this is..."

M: "Send it to TJ Maxx, boys."

M: I stared at everything for too long and just closed the window. Good talk.

A: Would you like some gin? There's room next to me in this ditch.

M: Yes please.

Adrien: Fall Wanty.

So, I've finally given in and accepted that it's fall and as the temperatures begin to change I start to find new holes in my wardrobe. A list begins to form. A long list. dang it.

The first thing I realized is that I have a lot of dresses, a few pairs of pants and almost no skirts. The skirts I do have are of the pencil variety which is fine, but sometimes you just want something you can breathe in, you know? So I'm thinking maybe something fuller, like this one from BR:

Check Pleated Full Skirt

Cute, right? Maybe? No? Hard to say. Definitely not with those shoes. I'm also eyeing this adorable Boden number:

Alice Ponte Skirt

But color block or plain navy? I don't knooooow. I really, really want a Boden kilt but I'm not sure I can pull it off. (Can I pull it off?) There's also a denim circle skirt at Anthro that I've got my eye on:

Maeve Denim Circle Skirt

I've got fall boots covered already, so I'm good there. What I'd really like is a new pair of flats since I tend to wear them a lot until the weather gets truly cold. I've been wanting a metallic pair and LOVE this gold pair at J.Crew but they're a little beyond my budget right now. However, this pair from Madewell is verrrrrrrry tempting:

Metallic Lydia Flat

I don't currently have a nice metallic flat and they'd go with everything! So cute with dark denim. (Update: I just bought them and so did Marianne. 30% off the sale price!) SPEAKING OF DENIM. Marianne's patchwork LOFT jeans went on sale and sold out pretty much immediately. Now they're suddenly back at full price which makes me MAD so I'm thinking maybe these from BR instead:

Distressed Skinny Ankle Jean

They're the darker wash version of my favorite pair and fingers crossed that they fit the same. I dig them. I still want the grey jeans but I'm waiting for a good sale.

Finally, I'd really love a nice warm cardigan with which I can ruin perfectly good outfits. I'm thinking maybe this one from Everlane:

The Luxe Sweater Cardigan

It's wool, so I could only wear it with long sleeves, but I'd be so warm! They also have a really lovely slouchy cashmere version that I might have to consider. I love the Everlane cashmere sweater I bought last winter.

What about you? What do you want for fall?

Badass Fall Things.

 So, I have a vision of my ultimate fantasy wardrobe - a cool, rocker-y style. Limited color palette with lots of skinny jeans, slouchy tees, sharp blazers and black chelsea boots. Minimal but interesting jewelry and one or two really fantastic bags that would perfectly age with time. Basically:

I'm Kate Lanphear.

AKA pretty badass.

Yeeeeaaah. So, realistically, I don't have the lifestyle that goes along with this style or the job. Or the budget. All that said, I'm super fucking excited that every average store's fall collection seems to include moto-styled jeans, leather trim and lots of black and grey. Heaven! Here's what I've already got my eye on:

Banana Republic Faux-Leather Trim Blazer

Banana Republic Faux-Leather Trim Open Cardigan

Madewell The Anouck Loafer in metallic

JCrew Celestial Pendant

Hugo Guinness for J.Crew “You Are Here” Sweater

Madewell skinny skinny coated motorcycle jeans

Ann Taylor Faux Leather Sleeved Striped dress

Boden Milano Dress

Ann Taylor Modern Zipper Pocket Skinny Jeans

Ugh, so much wanting! Fall is already killing me and it's still summer. I am pretty sure that some kind of leather-trimmed jacket or cardigan will be on my fall wishlist, as well as a pair of zip-pocket jeans. Those metallic flats are also stabbing me in the heart, but we'll see....

Adrien: Fall Wishlist.

It's funny how my style has evolved and shifted over the past few years. I still love a crazy print but this fall I'm really into the idea of super-simple shapes with interesting details. I'm loving the current fall trends but I'm trying to stick with mostly classic shapes that I can spice up with a fun patterned scarf or bold jewelry. Here's what I'd like to buy this fall:

Black skinny jeans.
I mean I want black-black skinny jeans. I currently have a black pair of James Jeans skinnies but they're starting to bag out at the knee and the color is kind of black...ish. So annoying! I'm thinking something like this pair:

With a nice mid-rise? Yes? Yes.

Simple Grey Sweater.
This Tippi sweater by J Crew is basically perfect:

Simple, elegant, a good backdrop for a ridiculous necklace. I wish I could afford the cashmere version but I think merino holds up better anyway. (That's my story. Hush.)


Bold Statement Necklace.
I actually just bought a really good one (more on that soon), but I also want something totally crazy wacko like this one:

Black Sheath Dress.
I do not actually own a LBD and it's getting on my nerves. I just want something work appropriate that I could maybe wear twice in a week without anyone noticing. Sleeves would be nice. And not wool. Also, it needs to be washable. And come with a pony. This one might fit the bill:

Crazy Print Scarf.
I've got a couple  new ones that I'm already wearing but I'd really love to invest in something a bit crazier. Maybe this one! Just kidding. I think this pretty nugget is more my style:

Zip Pocket Shift Dress.
Definitely more trendy but it's exactly the kind of 60s moto detail I like and it's still such a simple, easy shape in a dress:

So good with tall boots or ankle boots or flats! Yes. Speaking of flats...

Leopard Flats. 
I've already blogged about this, but I'm waiting on a Madewell code so I can buy this pair:

They will be mine! Gimme a code already, Madewell. They are offering 0% back on eBates too. Great.

A Striped Sweater.
I have striped tops galore. I have LOTS of striped tops. What I do not have is the world's cutest boat neck striped sweater:

One Striped Sweater to rule them all! Sadly, it's so far out of my price range that it will never be mine but I'm pretty sure it would make me complete. Sigh. Maybe next year.