Cashmere + tweed for a cold winter day

Shawl collar cashmere sweater (size small):  Ann Taylor, old
Ruffled silk cami (size 6):  J.Crew, 2010
No. 2 pencil skirt in multi-tweed (size 6):  J.Crew, fall 2012
Booties:  Steve Madden, 2010
Aviators:  Anthropologie, fall 2012

Southern Ohio typically has fairly mild winters.  We may have a few snow days, and a few days in freezing temperatures, but for the most part, winter days are between 32 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit and without a huge amount of snow.  But this week a seriously freezing cold front is moving through, and the high tomorrow is only going to be about 16 degrees F!  Today wasn't much better, highs in the 20's and whipping wind and flurries in my face all day.  So the question becomes:  How do I dress functionally, as I am in and out of my car all day, and still look decent?  My solution in the past has been boring dress pants and my winter coat.  I didn't even worry about what top to wear, because if I don't have any set meetings or appointments during the day I won't even remove my coat during the work day!  So it makes sense that in winters past I've actually been quite unmotivated to dress cute.  Winter is my least favorite season for fashion AND weather!  But my little blog has definitely challenged me to step it up a notch this winter, and make more of an effort.  Today's tights and heavy tweed skirt kept me just as warm as pants, and the cashmere sweater under my winter coat felt nice and cozy. 

How do you continue to dress fashionably when it's freezing cold?  Thanks for stopping by!

Schoolboy blazer in heather coral + stripes

Schoolboy blazer in heather coral (size 6): J.Crew, 2009
Striped sweater by Moth (size medium): Anthropologie, fall 2011
Skinny jeans (size 29): Seven for all Mankind
Intyce boots in cognac leather:  Steve Madden here
Necklace:  Limited, gift from my mom
Aviators:  Anthropologie, fall 2012

 Hope everyone is having a great weekend!  I found this Anthro sweater stuffed away in my sweater chest feeling lonely and unloved.  I remembered that the ONE time I wore it when I bought it (ridiculous) I wore it under this schoolboy blazer.  Such a pretty combo, isn't it?  I love coral and tan together.  I can't believe I haven't worn it more, it will definitely be in my rotation now!

These boots were for sale over at Shop Colorful Corporate (which is in desperate need of updating, that is on my to-do list I promise) and I had many emails about them but no one bought them.  They've been sitting unworn in my closet forever.  I actually really love them, just don't need them.  I wear the black ones all the time though.  If you're interested, shoot me an email.  I'm asking $50 plus shipping.  They are really comfortable and look exactly the same as when I bought them...so any distressing you see is intentional and they came that way.  They're size 9 and TTS with thin socks. 

Thanks for visiting!

Blue Tippi & trench + plaid & pink

Double cloth slim trench in brilliant blue (size 6 Tall):  J.Crew, fall 2012
Tippi sweater in blue:  J.Crew (size small): fall 2012, other colors here
Wool No. 2 pencil skirt in vintage berry (size 6):  J.Crew, fall 2012 other colors here
Wool plaid scarf in fuschia/green: J.Crew, fall 2012
Boots:  Ann Taylor (old)

Today was the brighest, sunniest day we've had in quite a while.  I could barely open my eyes for the picture it was so bright!  Note to self: wear shades next time it's this bright for picture time. 

I wanted something easy for a Friday where the temperature wasn't going to get much above freezing, so I went with my slim trench and matching Tippi.  I am so happy I found this plaid scarf, it really pulls together an outfit and it's so warm and cozy. 

Any fun plans this weekend?  Our dinner plans with friends tomorrow night may be getting thwarted by the flu...not us but the couple we're supposed to go out with.  It's really knocking people over left and right, isn't it?  Hope you're all staying healthy! 

Have a great weekend, thanks for stopping by!

Feeling sunny in Lexington jacket and sunnie pencil skirt

Lexington jacket in citron (size 6): J.Crew, 2007
Sunnie pencil skirt in yellow (size 6):  J.Crew Factory, fall 2011
Lace shell (size 6):  Banana Republic, fall 2011
Brown tights:  J.Crew
Brown heeled loafers: Via Spiga

So yeah, you can't really be "yellow bellied" about color and wear an all-yellow ensemble.  Good thing I don't like being a wall flower, as there was no blending into the crowd today.  The day started out gray and gloomy, and this cheerful outfit really lifted my mood.  Amazing how color will do that, isn't it? Well, that and a triple grande latte from Starbucks.

I know some people don't like yellow, and many will say that it doesn't look good close to the face.  I'm either blind to its sallow-ness or in denial, because I've never felt like yellow was a bad color for me.  Mauve, on the other hand, makes me look like I am sick and need to be in bed.  Salmon is terrible on me too...but yellow...I heart you, you cheerful lemon-y color you.  Especially on gray days.

Thank you for reading!

Velvet + Sovereign Paisley

Black velvet jacket (size 6):  Ralph Lauren, 2006
Long No. 2 pencil skirt in sovereign paisley (size 4): J.Crew, spring 2012
Boots:  Ann Taylor, old

What a busy week I am having!  I keep saying to myself that things will calm down "after."  After Christmas, after New Year's, after my business trip.  But here's the thing:  Life with three kids, a husband, and a full time job never calms down!  I just have to learn to enjoy the here and now more and not fret about the future and things beyond my control.  Easier said than done for a Type A like me.

I so rarely wear black that I actually feel a little strange when I do wear it.  But I've always loved this little velvet blazer, and it's such a classic shape it still works after all these years.  I " winterized" this lightweight skirt with the velvet jacket and tights and boots.  I thought it turned out just OK but I received a lot of compliments all day.  It always surprises me when I wear an outfit that I think is just so-so, and everyone else likes it, and then when I wear an outfit that I think is awesome, no one says anything. 

Hope you're having a good week!

Hacking jacket in sheer mint + plaid scarf in fuschia/green

Hacking Jacket in sheer mint (size 6):  J.Crew, here
Wool plaid scarf in fuschia/green:  J.Crew, fall 2012
Gray pinstripe pants (6 Tall):  Banana Republic, 2011
Collette pumps:  Tahari

No, of course I did not need another wool blazer.  You think that's going to stop me from grabbing a gorgeous hacking jacket, which retailed for $250.00, when it was on sale for $70?  Never! 

Hope you're having a great Monday!  I could not believe when the hacking jacket went to $99.99 last week on J.Crew's website with an additional 30% off!  I am still seriously considering buying the coral one as well, although I SO don't need a coral blazer.  The deal is just too awesome to pass up.  Now I know there were complaints that the quality of this year's hacking jacket is not as good as last year's.  I do own last year's in bright turquoise, and I guess I do see a difference in perhaps the thickness and texture of the wool.  But I still maintain that this year's version is gorgeous, and you're not going to find a better blazer at any mass retailer that is higher quality than this one.  The color, while not as saturated as I normally go for, is lovely and soft.  I see J.Crew is still offering the extra 30% as of today, so if you're in the market for a new blazer, definitely consider this one.  What a great price right now!

I had to run to Anthropologie yesterday to exchange a sweater, and of course I popped into J.Crew since it's not too far down the mall.  I found this lovely plaid scarf in the clearance section, marked from $68.00 to $34.99 with an additional 30% off.  The colors in it are so pretty and match many of my coats and blazers.  It's a huge scarf, and it definitely kept me cozy today.  I don't see it online, but if you run across one in-store, check it out.  I know many of us share madness for plaid, and this scarf adds great visual interest to a winter coat or blazer!

Who else has scored a hacking jacket this year?  Thanks for visiting.

J.Crew's hothouse floral silk blouse

Hothouse floral silk blouse:  J.Crew, fall 2012 (size 6)
Skinny jeans:  7 for all Mankind
Boots: Coach
Cuff:  Banana Republic

Just a rainy Sunday here with errands to run and emails to send!  Hope everyone's weekend has been good.  We spent it with our boys since I was gone most of last week.  It's been really nice.  We usually like to go out with friends or a date night at least one evening during the weekend, but sometimes spending all of the weekend with the children is more important.  It's hard to imagine now that there's going to be a time when my boys will not necessarily want to spend Saturday nights with their parents...but I know that day will come.  It reminds me that I need to enjoy them while they're still little!

I purchased the hothouse floral top on popback during one of J.Crew's mulitiple promos around Christmas time.  It was still expensive in my opinion...$109.99 + 30% off.  But I've been drooling over this print since it came out, and I love silk blouses I can wear with pencil skirts for work and jeans for the weekend, so I went for it.  LOVE it.  I wore this blouse with the vivid jade pencil skirt for work last week, and it looked great.  I also dig it with these skinnies and boots.  I know I'll get a lot of use out of it, so the cost per wear will be decent. 

Thanks for reading!