Circle of Life

Cole Haan loafers, stripe breton, sleeveless jacket, long vest

When: a few weeks ago // Weather: decent and sunny // Real life: work

Cole Haan loafers, stripe breton, sleeveless jacket, long vest

Cole Haan loafers, stripe breton, sleeveless jacket, long vest

Cole Haan loafers, stripe breton, sleeveless jacket, long vest

Cole Haan loafers, stripe breton, sleeveless jacket, long vest

Cole Haan loafers, stripe breton, sleeveless jacket, long vest

As much as I love the idea of having this perfectly edited wardrobe with a few high-quality basics and just a small(ish) collection of unique pieces that make me look impossibly chic all the time, I’m just not cut out for it. I like to shop, and I like to constantly rotate new things in and old things out (read more about my “rotating closet” mentality here).

But one nice thing about being a shopaholic is that I can forget about something I stuffed at the end of a rack (like a long vest), and when I rediscover it months later, it’s like it’s new again! And it feels even newer when mixed with the striped shirt and bright loafers I just bought.

I’m guessing sometime in the next 6-8 weeks, I’ll leave those loafers in a bag that I throw in a corner (did I mention I’m not that tidy?) and won’t touch again for a month. Then at some point I’ll be scouring every bag I own looking for tampons and I’ll find those loafers and be so excited. It’s the circle of life, folks. And it moves us all.

Tee (comes in lots of colors!) // similar Vest // Shoes (on sale) // similar Bag // similar Sunglasses

Swan Lake

Boden swan print courduroy dress, J.Crew feather pendant, camel coat, suede loafers

When: day after Christmas // Weather: 40s // Real life: big shopping day!

Boden swan print courduroy dress, J.Crew feather pendant, camel coat, suede loafers

Boden swan print courduroy dress, J.Crew feather pendant, camel coat, suede loafers

Boden swan print courduroy dress, J.Crew feather pendant, camel coat, suede loafers

Boden swan print courduroy dress, J.Crew feather pendant, camel coat, suede loafers

Boden swan print courduroy dress, J.Crew feather pendant, camel coat, suede loafers

Boden swan print courduroy dress, J.Crew feather pendant, camel coat, suede loafers

Check out this adorable dress my mother-in-law got me for Christmas! I liked it so much, I wore it the very next day (plus, I wasn’t the best packer and I was 1 outfit short for the trip). It just so happened that I packed my feather pendant, so I figured why not go all the way with this bird thing. I love it. And I think I’ve finally found my spirit animal: the swan. First, it’s a nod to my ballerina days. Second, swans are elegant but intimidating, which is pretty much the vibe I’m aiming for (whether or not I achieve it consistently is a different story). Third, I always say my style is “girly badass,” and what says “girly badass” better than this (besides Beyoncé)?

Dress (on sale) // Necklace // Sunglasses // similar Shoes // similar Bag // similar Coat