Outfit of the Day: So Much Animal Print.

Just exploring all my animal print options today but starting with a pretty blank slate:

Groundbreaking, I know. I'm wearing my new Madewell mid-rise Perfect Vintage jeans and they are SO COMFORTABLE. I've been wearing them daily. Love the fit, love the raw hem, medium on the wash which I feel could be a bit more interesting, but it's fine. Of course I want them in black and maybe the knee rip version too. 

My black silk tank is thrifted! It's Alice + Olivia and has pretty lace shoulders which you can't really see. It's a bit big on me so I'm planning on buying this under-$40 washable version from Quince instead. Not as fancy but seems like a good staple, right? I also love this one by L'Agence at NR. I added my Design History cardigan from a few years ago and it's still working for me. It's long sold out but this one by Splendid is a much nicer update and ugh, this Kule version is the one I really want but they're sold out of my size. Anyway, everything was going fine until:

I added my Clare V Midi Sac. There's just a lot of pattern competition going on here. The cardigan and the bag are in a fight and nobody is winning. I decided to try again with a different leopard print:

Oh man, I love this crazy jacket. It's Avec Les Filles and still available new in a few sizes here and pre-owned available here. I'm wearing a medium and I reviewed it here. It's cozy and fun. I added the bag back in:

Somehow this works, right? The smaller, darker leopard is a nice background and there's no fighting! I also love how my bag works with my red flats, which I'll talk about down below. Details:

I'm going easy with the jewelry today - just my Gorjana Venice necklace and a very pretty little necklace from Nine Roses that was a gift. A few more details:

My leather flats are Everlane Day Glove but they don't make them in red anymore so maybe check out this cool convertible flat by Camper instead (more sizes here.) And my bag, as mentioned above is the Clare V Midi Sac. There are several snakeskin versions on NR right now - this one is my current favorite. There's also this one by Madewell that a reader told me about! So cute. Get all your animal print together and see what happens, okay? 

BUY THIS (So We Don't Have To): All These Sales.

 Is it just me or is everyone having a good sale right now? It's pretty rude, right? It's making me feel very shoppy, so I decided to push some of that onto you all to deflect my own wanty-ness. I know. I know. I KNOW. I can't help it. Here's what I like

Madewell - Extra 20% off sale items

Ooh, this is so tempting! I seriously love my new mid-rise Perfect Vintage jeans (which are not on sale) but this version with the knee rip is. I'm so happy mid-rise is a thing again, y'all. It's very exciting. 

Also, I don't need another pair of boots AT ALL but these are so cute and maybe Autumn Me would be happy about it?

J.Crew - Extra 50% off sale styles with code SHOPNOW

Okay, this Liberty print dress is so freaking cute with the tie sleeves and the pattern and dammit. Can't you just see it with white Birkenstocks? 

I also really love a toggle chain and this one is really tempting me. 

Biossance - 25% off sitewide with code SPRING25

Remember how I was just talking about that good Biossance eye cream? Well, now it's 25% off. Just saying.

Bloomingdales - 25% off Friends & Family 

Oh my god, these damn Cole Haan sandals. I just love them and they follow me around the Internet. Basically, they're stalking me which feels aggressive. And now they're on sale! *whine*

LOFT - Up to 40% off with code READY

This blazer is so cute and also comes in a (much less scary) black version but I keep coming back to the white one. It's so fresh, right? 

Banana Republic Factory - 50% Off Everything 

I really should be looking for work-appropriate clothing in case I get a non-remote position but this pretty, floaty summer dress (which also comes in a bright red colorway) just would not leave me alone. 

Athleta - 20% off with Friends & Family (offer sent by email)

This is my favorite workout tank from Athleta and I really would love another one. It's lightweight, has good coverage and is just the right slightly-cropped length. 

I've also had my eye on this long-sleeve top that gets rave reviews! I love the color and it seems like it would be versatile. We'll see. 

Lo & Sons - Spring sale up to 40% off

This is the Pearl bag and I have it in black. I love it! It's a perfect travel crossbody and I've been wanting a grey one for ages. Now it's 30% off which is a good deal (though sometimes they do 40% off! But still, it's a beautiful bag and worth the price.) 

Weekend Window Shopping: It's Dress Time!

This is the time of year when I suddenly want a closet full of fun, easy dresses to wear when the weather gets warm. It's hard right now to find anything that doesn't look like a puffed sleeve sister-wife fever dream, but I think I found some contenders:

Stuff I Like: Spring Edition.

Hey, it's spring! Yay! Here's some new stuff I like and also some spring cleaning product suggestions because that's not weird at all, is it? Okay.

A Little Bit Of Spring Cleaning Help.
Here are a few of my favorite products to freshen up your closet! First, the amazing Dr. Martens Wonder Balsam. If you have leather shoes, boots, bags, etc. that are looking a little faded and dry? You need this stuff. It's a miracle product and one tin will last forever. I also love a little bottle peppermint Dr. Bronner's castile soap for cleaning my makeup brushes and sponges. It works like a champ and leaves behind some minty freshness. For hand-washing your cashmere sweaters before putting them away, I very much recommend Eucalan No Rinse detergent. It's super gentle and you don't have to rinse 800 times because it's a no-rinse formula! (I still rinse, but just once.) Finally, for stinky workout clothes, I swear by a long soak in Rockin' Green. It's a disgusting process, but it definitely gets the stink out.

 

These No-Show Socks I Bought For Blog Science.
Listen, I like Bombas no-show socks because they're soft and stretchy and feel like real socks.  And mostly they stay up! But, for some reason they don't work with my Madewell sneakers, which look best with no socks. So the 800th time I was served an online ad for ONDO socks, I snapped and bought them. Okay, first, they STAY PUT. They 100% stay put. ONDO aren't traditional socks, they're built like little booties, if you will, so they fit your foot perfectly like a slipper sock. They aren't perfect, though. I wish they weren't quite so thin and they're riddled with seams but they do stay up and that's enough for me. 

This Show About Getting Un-Stuck.
I wasn't familiar with Bridget Everett before watching Somebody Somewhere, but my sister recommended it and I was basically in love with the entire cast (Jeff Hiller! A delight!) by the end of the first episode. It's hilarious, tragic, quietly midwestern and very much about grief, recovery and trusting yourself and the people who are there for you. Oof, I loved it. Just watch it. 

This Book That I Didn't Want to Finish.
Can you handle another Mhairi McFarlane review? I just really love her books for when I need a not-too-fluffy romance that's really about other things. Just Last Night is about friendship and loss and missed chances and I seriously started rationing it because I was tearing through it and wanted it to last. Mhairi is just so good at writing about people who feel like real people and ooh, there's a good romance too. Enjoy. (Sorry about the crying. There will be crying.)

And, A New Blog Page! 
If you look up top there, I've added a Favorites page. This is a place where I can add widgets of all our favorite crap, including beauty products, Madewell goodness, etc. There's more to come (and I need to figure out a better way to organize it) but if there are any specific lists that you'd like to see, let me know. 

Outfit of the Day: Not Even Ironic.

 So, back in December I impulse bought a Stones t-shirt at Target because I once saw a really cool woman at a different Target wearing it with the best style and I was like, can I run up and ask her to be my best friend? I didn't because that's how you get arrested. I did, however, totally buy her tee: 

That's right, band tee, jeans, leopard boots. Right on the nose, here. My jeans are Madewell boyjeans that I bought secondhand, but very similar to this pair. Madewell does the boyfriend jean the best though I'm still thinking about that Kut from the Kloth pair I tried on. Wait, those were mom jeans. TOTALLY DIFFERENT, RIGHT? Right.  My boots are also Madewell, the Regan style which is nearly sold out but this pair is really cute too and a bit more subtle if that's what you're looking for. 

Then I added my Allsaints Dalby leather jacket because who's trying to be ironic? Definitely not me. This is literal, baby. I do love this jacket A LOT even if it's a bit more snug than it used to be. It's fine over a t-shirt. I still want another Allsaints leather jacket in a different color, like so. I'm keeping an eye out. 

And then, I added a bag, my latest Poshmark Rescue! It's a Marc Jacobs Baroque Single (also this one!) and it needs a bit of love, but man, do I love a quilted MJ bag. (Pausing for a sec because I'm only going to say this once: Marc Jacobs collection bags are going for a SONG right now. If there was one you always loved and wanted, now is the time to track it down secondhand. Seriously, I got this $1,200 bag for less than $90!) If musty secondhand bags aren't your thing, I would totally go for something like this one on NR or this cognac quilted bag at Marshalls. 

A note on the tee- I sized up to a large and I'm glad I did. I like a bit of slouch in my t-shirts and this one is pretty dang good for a Target tee. My herringbone chain is Gorjana and the little horn pendant is older Madewell but this one is is different and cool. 

Woof, I know, right? This bag. It's bigger than what I've been carrying lately but it's so cool and the color is completely different than anything I own. We'll see how it goes! 

Monday Mood: Let's Talk Beauty.

It's been a dreary weekend and I need a little pick-me-up. Here are some beauty products that I have on my wishlist and a few that I've been using and loving:

I've been wanting to try these forever and just haven't managed to do it. This little set of minis comes with three really wearable colors and it's sitting in my shopping cart, taunting me. 

I bought this in Ireland because my tiny travel container of Ilia foundation leaked everywhere. I wasn't expecting much but y'all, I love it. It's very sheer but buildable and it sets and stays all day.

Marianne gave me a sample of several Dior lip glow colors and this one, Mahogany, is so, so good. It looks brown but is actually a deep sheer berry color. I will definitely purchase it full-size. 

Something about spring makes me want bronzer and this one from Ilia looks like a good choice - no shimmer, not orange-y, just a little bronze  sun kissed glow. Has anyone tried it? 

Marianne and I both love GrandeLash and this little kit includes lash serum, brow serum and a mascara! It's a great low-stakes way to try them out or if you already love it, this is your perfect travel size. 

I love Wander Beauty's volume mascara so I'm pretty curious about this "Upgraded" version, which claims to help your lashes strengthen and grow. I know, right? It's so tempting! 

I don't know that any eye cream is magical but this one is solidly good. I got a deluxe sample a few months ago and have been using it every night with good results. 

Benefit has a new under eye brightening concealer and, derpy packaging aside, I really want to try it. It gets good reviews and I generally like Benefit products. We shall see. 

I've talked about Phyto Corrective Gel before but now that I'm on my second bottle I can firmly say that it's a keeper. I don't even know exactly what it does but if you have sensitive, reactive skin, you need this. I use it like a serum and it's my first step after cleansing, morning and night. It's worth every penny. 

Weekend Window Shopping: Accessories!

I haven't done an accessories round-up for a while but the right accessories can be just the thing to bridge the gap to spring and summer. Here's what I love: