Trifecta: Coats

(This is the third in the series. If you missed them, part 1 is here, Marianne's part 1 is here,  part 2 is here.) 

So, lets talk about coats. Of the three things I picked for this series, coats are the least exciting, but probably the most important, especially if you live somewhere with Serious Weather. Marianne and I both live in places with fairly mild winters but I'm still wearing some kind of coat from October to April. That means that seven months out of the year I'm covering whatever I'm wearing with a coat and that's what most people are going to see. Therefore: important.

Avoid the single winter coat rut.

I used to be that girl. I had one winter coat I wore every. single. day. It was unexciting and probably didn't fit that well, but it did the job. So boring! So sad. Here's the thing, like a business suit, a coat is a bit of an investment and a fun scarf will help to change up the monotony. However, it really helps to have more than one. It will give you variety and will make the awful weather suck a little less, I promise. Aim for one long coat and one short coat (in black, brown, grey) and one in a fun color.

You need me.

You need a trench coat.

There is nothing more classic, more chic, more pulled-together, than a trench coat. I have two and I wear them almost year-round: as a rain coat, as a light jacket, dressed up, dressed down. A trench is totally versatile and will make you look sharp even if you're just wearing jeans and a t-shirt underneath. There are very classic versions, edgy versions, girly versions. I don't care which style you have, just have one.

Buy quality.

Coats are another one of those things worth spending money on. Well-made coats are warmer, will fit better, will last longer. I highly recommend Cole Haan for winter coats, and they're pretty easy to find on sale at places like Marshalls and online at Bluefly. Mackage is also a really great brand for a high-quality, warm coat with cool details.

I'm kind of cute, right?

Buy for the weather.

If you live somewhere ridiculously cold, go ahead and buy that puffy long down-filled coat and don't worry about what it looks like. I don't want you getting frostbite trying to look good. That said, you do have cute options.

You need a cute jacket. Or two.

Come spring and fall, I want a cute jacket that's going to be part of my outfit. This is where you can go a bit cheaper and have more fun with color and pattern. My favorite leather jacket came from Old Navy!

Cut the vent.

This is more of a PSA. That vent in the back of your coat that's sewn shut with a little cross of thread? Cut that, please. It's not decoration, it's to hold the vent shut until the coat is sold. Also, if you have a "100% Cashmere" label on your sleeve, you can go ahead and remove that too. Heh.

Okay, so here's my bare minimum coat wardrobe:

Long wool coat in a neutral color
Short wool coat in a neutral color
Tan trench coat
Casual puffer jacket
Casual field jacket

To expand it I'd add:

Wool coat in a fun color
Another trench coat in black or red
Long puffer coat
Leather jacket
An edgy mixed leather/wool coat

Finally, my two favorites! The first is (obviously) my tan Banana Republic trench coat:

I wear this so often the buttons are starting to pull loose! I also have one in black, but wear the tan version the most. If you're looking for one, I highly recommend Banana Republic for a decent quality, nicely fitting trench. (It's actually marked down right now! And there's a 35% off code!)

My other favorite is my J. Crew Downtown Field Jacket:

I actually paid full price for this because I wanted it so badly and it's been a workhorse for me. It's the perfect spring/fall layer, it's waterproof-ish, and it just looks exactly right every time. I'm so glad I bought it.

Okay, so let's talk coats. What's your stance?

Trifecta: Shoes.

Some people are Shoe People the way I'm a Handbag Person. Don't get me wrong, I love shoes, but they aren't something I generally hoard. (Boots are a slightly different story.) Mostly because I am super picky and have sensitive feet. And expensive taste. Also, I'm hard on shoes, like, really hard. But, I still have a lot to say on the topic, so please read on:

Buy what you like, not what you wish you liked.

By this I mean, sure, I'd love to wear a hot pair of sky high stilettos but oh my God I would fall on my ass immediately. I remedy this by wearing heels that are chunkier and styles that stay on my foot. Something like this is a nice crossroads between style and function. Just because other dummies are teetering around on 6" platform heels does not mean you have to as well. Know your limits and don't buy something that you know is too high (or low or whatever) because even if you love the look, you won't end up wearing them.

I will break you.

Buy the pair that's exactly right.

If there is a pair of shoes that is YOUR HEART but are more expensive than what you'd normally spend, consider saving for them or stalking them for a sale. I have been wearing the same few pairs of Chie Mihara for several years because they are EXACTLY RIGHT. Trust your instincts. If you see something that looks exactly right in ever way(perfect color/style, fits your lifestyle, fits your wardrobe, fits your foot) make it happen. One pair of Perfect Shoes = four pairs of Just Okay shoes. Less is better if what you have is exactly right. And if you're lucky the Exactly Right pair won't be expensive.

The pair that got away. 

No size goggles.

So, you've found that pair of OMG PERFECT glitter patent t-straps and They are ON SALE! IN A HALF SIZE SMALLER THAN YOU WEAR! SHIT!  Don't do it. Don't do it. Don't do it. That kind of pain isn't worth it and they will not stretch out. I also hate when I try on a pair of shoes that are too big and the salesperson is all, "You can put inserts in!" Yeah, the last time I heard this was at Cole Haan and I'm sorry, if I'm going to spend that much on a pair of shoes or boots they better damn fit perfectly.

Boots are worth spending more on.

I can't say this enough. Cheap boots are just not the same. I really think it's worth it to save up for a better quality pair of boots that fit you well. And fit is important! If you can only buy one pair, really spend some time finding a pair that fits well, especially if you have large or very small calves. My calves are usually too small for a lot of popular brands but I've had luck with KORS Michael Kors, Camper and certain styles of Frye.

Sandals are not.

My favorite pair of sandals came from Walmart. The shame, it is deep. But, they were cute and eventually they self destructed but I sure got my $8 worth. I am hard on sandals and they're usually gross by the end of the summer anyway, so if they're not agony, go cheap.

Take care of your shit. 

I regularly take my shoes and boots to my trusted shoe guy to get re-heeled and polished up. It's the reason I've been wearing the same pair of Camper boots for four years. If you've taken my advice and bought decent quality shoes you really like, take care of them and they'll last a really long time.

How not to be a hoarder.

Now, I had a comment on the intro to this series asking how to adore shoes without owning a ton. I don't know if that is a question I can answer because if you're a shoe person, you'll find an empty niche that needs filling. However, if I had to get strict, this would be my bare minimum shoe wardrobe:

- basic black flats
- cute low heels
- Interesting high heels
- ankle boots
- tall black dress boots
- tall black or brown casual boots
- flat metallic/neutral sandals
- high heeled (or wedge) sandals in black or neutral color
- comfortable-but-stylish sneakers

That is my boring bare minimum. For fun add:

- animal print flats
- brightly colored heels 
- cognac boots
- clog boots (or some other interesting boot)
- brightly colored flat sandals
- brightly colored high heeled sandals
- metallic or funky high heeled sandals

(I'm leaving out things like gym sneakers and rain boots. You can figure that out for yourself.)

And, here are my personal two favorite pairs:

My Chie Mihara red mary janes. When I first spotted them online it was true love and I stalked and stalked and stalked them until they went on sale. They ended up being a Christmas gift from my mother that year, because she understands the joy in a pair of red shoes.

My other favorite is obviously my Camper boots. These were a blind eBay purchase and have just been a workhorse for me. They fit great, have a walk-able low heel, but are still dressy enough for work.

I hope this hasn't all been too obvious. Now, please tell me your shoe rules, assuming you have any.

Trifecta: Handbags, Part Two

How awesome was Adrien's post about handbags this week? Ugh, so awesome. It made me want to run out and get me some ladylike, structured handbags but then I realized something. My life is, ah, not so ladylike. I work full time, but in a casual creative environment. I am 35 and I've literally never had a job where I couldn't wear jeans. And in my off time (notice I don't say free time)? I'm a mom to a small kid, with another on the way. So I thought I would share my more casual version of Adrien's go-to handbag wardrobe, in case there are more of you who do not have ladylike lives.

One thing Adrien and I have in common is this:

Buy the best quality you can afford.

I don't do cheap bags and fake leather. It disappoints me and doesn't hold up as long and even cheap Target bags can run you upwards of $40. If you buy 4 cheap bags a year guess what? You could have picked up a beautiful leather bag (seriously y'all, look at that fun, gorgeous bag) that will age nicely and become a statement piece in your wardrobe. It's the hard truth. I only buy one bag a year, and usually I buy it secondhand so I get the most for my money.

Another one of Adrien's points is: Don't be boring. And I agree, but...I've taken kind of a turn for the neutral with my bag purchases in the past couple of years. I used to have a blue bag, a pink bag, an emerald green stunner (dang, now I want that one), but my current most favorite bags are navy, a muted gold, and a worn natural leather. They are all crafted from gorgeous, touchable leather and have interesting shapes and details, but they aren't very colorful. That said, let's talk about what my bag wardrobe would be:

• slouchy leather messenger bag
• structured leather flap satchel
• metallic leather bag
• mini bag that doubles as a clutch
• large printed canvas tote

Running around as much as I do, I require that all of my bags have a long strap that can be worn across the body. I have to be able to grab a growing toddler, so free hands are key. My two favorite, and most used bags, are the Marc Jacobs "Mag Bag":

And my Su-Shi Old Skool Mini in Honey:

I also just got (and will blog about later this week!) a Clare Vivier messenger bag in navy. It's gloriously soft and slouchy and holds a lot without looking huge. It's pretty dreamy, but more on that later.

How about you? Do you gravitate towards more ladylike bags or are you more casual? Also, pssssst: it's Adrien's birthday today! Wish her a happy one by telling us your dream handbag in the comments.

Trifecta: Handbags

Of the three things in my Trifecta, bags are the thing I love most. The very most. Nothing pulls together an outfit like a nice handbag, especially one that's appropriate to the outfit and suits your personality.

Buy the best quality you can afford. 

While I'm the first to admit I have a bag problem, I've always gone for quality over quantity. I almost never buy a cute cheap bag from Target because I know it's not going to make me happy long term. I will gladly buy second hand high-end bags on eBay because the quality, details and look are so much more appealing and satisfying. If it means I own one or two second hand expensive bags instead of five cheaper new bags, so be it.

If you are not a handbag person and tend to carry one until it dies, this especially applies to you. This is something you carry EVERY DAY. And everyone can see it! You really want to pick something of good quality that's going to look nice for a long time. It drives me insane to see a nicely dressed woman carrying a ratty bag with weird strings hanging off it. Please don't. If you're thinking, "Damn bitch, I can't afford Marc Jacobs even on eBay" I have you covered. Please go directly to Marshalls or TJ Maxx and look for nice leather bags with Italian brand names you've never heard of. Those are some nice bags for not a lot of money.

Don't be boring.

A black bag is fine and you should probably have one but don't feel like it's your only choice. It's the safe choice but cognac, eggplant, cobalt and red can be really versatile and a lot more interesting. Prints are fun too but not as your main choice.

Bag wardrobe.

Okay, so how many is too many? How many do you really need? This would be my bare minimum:

• sleek work tote
• casual weekend hobo
• structured handheld satchel

For fun I'd add:

• mini weekend bag
• evening clutch
• canvas tote in a fun print
• a satchel in a bright color

And, since I like talking about bags I'll tell you about my two favorites. First, my Marc by Marc Jacobs Hillier Hobo. I bought this with a gift card I won from a blog contest but even if I'd paid full price for it I'd say its worth every penny. It's my everyday workhorse - the perfect size, indestructible, easy to carry and, well, look at it:

Beautiful. I never get tired of carrying it and will probably buy a replacement when it dies. If I could only have one bag, it would be this one. But! I do not have to limit myself to one bag, so my second favorite is a bag that is slightly impractical but such an object of beauty that I don't even care:

My LV epi leather Speedy. It's a classic shape, a beautiful color and also very hardy. I bought it secondhand on eBay and it was the most I'd ever spent on a bag. I LOVE carrying it and it always gets comments. A handheld satchel is not that practical, but it fills me with joy every time I use it. That is a successful purchase right there.

So, your turn. Are you a handbag person? Tell me everything.