Adrien: Après Summer.

xDisclosure: I get commission for purchases or clicks made through links in this post. 

Not quite summer, not yet fall aka the worst time of year. Yet, I managed to be a total hero-like person and clothe myself appropriately:

It's not very exciting, but it feels slightly more appropriate than cut-off shorts and Birkenstock sandals. Le sigh. So, I'm wearing an old pair of J.Crew utility pants that I'd buy another pair of if they still made them. No worries, Gap has a cute pair and so does Loft! But, oh, my heart wants this Joie pair so so much. These are also super damn cute and not as tight. 

My t-shirt is Everlane, one of the newer scoop neck tees. I like it okay though it's a slimmer cut than my beloved Cotton V and it's not really very scoop-y. It's really, like, a crewneck that doesn't strangle you. It's fine, it's a black t-shirt. I am, of course, drawn to the Open Neck Tee even though it would fall right off my puny shoulders. Boo. 

It's suddenly sort of jacket weather so I dusted off my beloved old J.Crew Downtown Field jacket that I still love. I worried it would be too much army green in one outfit but whatever. It's fine. I am currently obsessed with getting a new fall jacket, something that isn't olive green. Maybe this trench coat? I love a trench and my current one is a bit long and slightly too small. Hm. Maybe. I also want a leather jacket and these are conflicting goals. Details:

My pendant necklace is from Madewell and is fairly similar to this style, which I like a lot. And, ooooh, look, a locket necklace! I dig that too. My bracelets are Giles & Brother skinny railroad spike cuffs. 

Bag and shoes! My bag is a Cambridge Satchel Co twist lock and it's the perfect crossbody for fall. I don't know, it just feels very back-to-school somehow. I also love the "Poppy" version of this bag and the push-lock version, which is a bit more affordable. 

My leopard flats are Madewell skimmers and they're basically dead. Like, they have bald patches and it's time to put them out to pasture. I've been searching for a replacement and even though I love this pair on Spring (use my link for $20 off of $75+), I think these Sam Edelman Rae flats might be the winner. We shall see! 

Weekend Window Shopping: Fall Finds (via TJ Maxx!)

Disclosure: I get commission for purchases or clicks made through links in this post. 


I am starting to really want things for fall that I can't even wear yet - big sack sweaters, boots, jackets, you know the drill. I've been scouring the TJ Maxx new arrivals for autumn bargains because that's how I roll. I will say it's kind of weird how they mix in some really high-end stuff. I'll be like, "Hey, that's really cute...oh." I mean, how is this snake bag not mine? OH. THAT'S HOW.

ANYWAY, here are some things that are reasonably priced and very cute options for fall:

This! Is! A! Suede! Moto! Jacket! Under! $100! (also in olive green)

This MBMJ bag would look so chic with a black trench, plaid scarf and chelsea boots. Just saying.

More Delman boots! This pair is well priced and comes in two colors and lots of sizes. 

This dress has interesting detailing in the back and also comes in an pretty yellow version.

These earrings are really absurdly cute, especially if you wear them turned up like climbers. 

J Brand straight leg jeans for under $60? OKAY THEN. 

This lightweight scarf has a little sparkle to it which you'll need when the weather is dreary.

This is not a MBMJ bag! It is, however, a very cute red leather bag at a reasonable price.

Look, this cashmere cardigan is probably the thing you'll wear the most and it's $79. Maybe just buy it. Or.... this Vince version. (I know, right? That wasn't nice of me at all.)

Stuff I Like: Liking, Watching, Listening

This Hair Stuff I Forgot About But Love So Much
When I cut my hair short-short (instead of just regular short) my usual styling products didn't seem to work as well. I dug around in my beauty hoarder cabinet and found this tube of R+Co Park Ave Blow Out Balm which I'd totally forgotten I had. It works so well on short, straight hair! It gives my hair a little bit of heft and grip but doesn't weigh it down. It also protects and smooths. R+Co is an interesting line and the packaging is really cool, which is a bonus.

This Show About People Who Are The Worst
A friend of mine recently recommended the show You're The Worst which I'd never heard of even though the 4th season was just released. (It's an FX show but is also on Hulu.) It's a modern day love story involving two really terrible, hilarious, narcissistic people so of course I love it. They make fun of hipsters a lot, which I enjoy, and in one of the early episodes Jimmy, aghast that Gretchen thinks Daniel Craig is the best Bond says, “Daniel Craig?! He looks like an upset baby.” Phil Collins also gets a mention and Ferris Bueller's Cameron is discussed at length. (I just double-checked and the creator/writer, Stephen Falk is exactly my age, so this all makes SO MUCH SENSE.)  Anyway, I am 100% in! Best new show that isn't new because nobody told me about it until now because I'M FUCKING OLD.

This Podcast Because Reading Rainbow Was Awesome
I listen to a lot of podcasts about politics and current events and feminism and finances and sometimes I just CAN'T. I can't deal with the real world for one more minute. When that happens I've discovered that the best thing is to listen to a bit of fiction. LeVar Burton Reads is literally a podcast in which LeVar Burton reads you short stories in his soothing LeVar Burton voice. It's good stuff and if you were a fan of Reading Rainbow you will definitely enjoy this podcast. My favorite story so far is Chivalry by Neil Gaiman (from his book Smoke and Mirrors), which I highly recommend. Feeling stressed? Let LeVar read to you. I promise you'll feel better.

BLOG SCIENCE UPDATE: Everlane Denim is Live!

I don't know why I'm acting like the Everlane denim launch is in some way important but that didn't stop me from immediately buying a pair with my own money for blog science. I got these:

High rise! Plain plain plain dark denim! Various sized models! Sort of! We shall see! They're already backordered! Because what? 

PS. This is my affiliate link for Everlane so if you click through and buy something I might make a commission. 

We Discuss: Everlane Denim (and Marianne's Shoes)

Disclosure: I get commission for purchases or clicks made through links in this post. 

______

** The fall purge has begun! I'm listing stuff every day in the blog shop. Check it out! **

______

M: Because I'll never learn, I'm excited about Everlane denim.

A: The Denim Preview is up!

A: I WANT TO BELIEVE.

M: Me toooooo.  

A: I just want plain jeans - plain wash, not-too-skinny skinny jeans that I can wear on my body without feeling like they're trying to kill me. These might work:

M: I know...these look so promising. It's a trap!

A: But...how can they make jeans boxy? They can't, right? 

M: They don't look boxy on those moddles!

A: WEEPING. But seriously, these jeans better be magical.

M: You gonna try them? 

A: Oh, for sure, but probably not immediately. I am certainly not on the waitlist. Nope. 

A: Peeps be asking about your shoes, btw

M: Ha, I was just going to email. So let's talk about these shoes: 

A: These shoes look beautiful and possibly cruel.

M: Here's the thing about the shoes: I bought them after seeing them all perfectly broken in on a girl in Austin. They are super pretty and half the price of No. 6 and the like. But they are going to be a bitch to break in, the leather is so hard. 

A: Are you going to power through?

M: At this point I am on my second pair (they aren't kidding about sizing up, I am a small 7.5 and the 39's *just* fit), and I have to ship them back to SWEDEN to return so I'm trying. I love them I just know they are going to be a bitch. 

A: They might be great when they break in!

M: I am certain they will be if I can get there. So far so good (today is my first day wearing them out of the house!).

M: I mean heart eyes: 

A: Love! I hope they work out. 

We Discuss: Pants Based Facts.

Disclosure: I get commission for purchases or clicks made through links in this post. 

M: The Everlane wide leg crop pants came! I don't hate them. As predicted, I don't think I know what tops to wear with them. They are Advanced but very comfortable. They would be 100% more flattering with the pockets sewn shut but I also liked putting my hands in there. Hmmm. I do like that they are a totally new silhouette for me.

A: I require photos!

M: SIGH PANTS ARE HARD. YOU READY?

A: LET'S DO THISSSSS TBH

Note: while we acknowledge that the pictures aren't great, we felt it was Important Fashion Journalism and we should still use them because Pants Based Facts should be known. 

M: First. They are SUPER comfortable and I want them to be awesome because I feel like I'm being Fashion.

M: Untucked looks sloppy. So I tried styling how I saw somewhere with a denim shirt over a tucked tee:

M: Which is better! Breaks up the lines. But like, is the only way it looks half decent.

A: I feel like pants shouldn't be this hard. That looks cute, tho.

M: This is the ochre pair which is a size smaller and pulls at the pockets, has a muffin top:

M: Also cuter with top and is maybe a half inch shorter which is better:

A: Hmm. Those don't fit.

M: But see this is how everyone says they need to fit because of stretching.

A: Nothing pisses me off more than pants that stretch out but...

M: BUT then I needed to pull together a casual creative professional outfit for a shoot tomorrow and I'm like why am I bothering with wide pants:

A: Oh! Nice!

M: Those are the Everlane ponte pants btw which I forgot I bought and have never worn and they are nice.

A: That is 800 times more flattering.

M: I knooooooow

A: And oooh, now I want them pants.

M: I'm also like remember when we first got skinny jeans?

A: I know, I know.

M: I could barely look at myself in them and now!

A: I like the idea of wide pants but they seem so hard to wear. Like, it's the opposite of how I dress.

M: I know. And my lower legs are literally the thinnest part of me besides my wrists.

A: You have great legs.

A: Tell me more about the ponte pants, pls.

M: The pants are nice! Heavy, they don't show every little lump, nicely cut.

A: I need new black pants. The muffin top with my BR pair is making me mad.

M: The top of these could be slightly more flattering but I'd never wear them with anything but a flowy-ish top.

A: Yeah, I won't be doing any tucking.

M: But I put them on and was like oh hey these aren't half bad! These are the ones:

A: I want those pls.

M: Unrelated, this is cute:

A: Yaassss

M: Too bad I'm only going to be able to fit in sacks this fall.

A: Me too. Thankfully, Everlane has that covered.

M: Lol

A: Exhibit A:

M: Now you're talking.

A: Exhibit B:

M: That's just a big ole shirt.

A: Yup, a big ole sack shirt dress. I do enjoy a sack.

M: Embrace it.

A: Caftans are the best.

M: Ugh so good.

A: We should just go Full Caftan.

M: Golden Girls that shit.

A: So, new life plan.

M: See?

Weekend Window Shopping: All The Sales.

Disclosure: I get commission for purchases or clicks made through links in this post. This weekend I will be donating 100% of any commissions earned to The Houston SPCA.

There are so many sales right now! SO MANY. I am liking a lot of the new arrivals at LOFT and this weekend they are offering 30% off all full-priced styles and an extra 50% off sale styles! That's pretty dang good. Definitely combine that with 2% cash back from eBates because you'd be crazy not to.

Also, I feel like I’d be a bad blogger if I didn’t point out that Shop Spring has a great sale this weekend and if you sign up through my referral link you’ll get $20 off a purchase of $75. There is also code SPRING10 for an extra 10% off. (I’m not sure if you can stack these offers but you should try. Also, free shipping and returns!) I am especially enamored with the under-$50 offerings from Kate Spade. I mean, monkey earrings.

Anyway, here are my LOFT picks: