fall must haves 2014: boots!

It's hard to choose a favorite item to buy in the fall… but boots definitely are up there on the list.  And while I don't always love the price tag that comes with boots I have always found that you get what you pay for in this department. Spending $100 to $200 or more on boots is definitely a hit to the clothing budget and pocketbook but putting on a great pair of boots and having them last you through the cold and long winter and then some is a great feeling.

Leather boots are always worth the investment and this time of the year is the best time to snag a new pair.  Here are a few of my favorite picks for this fall and a couple of ways I hope to style them up!

(above: one, two, three, four, five, six)

(get the look above: jeans, sweatshirt, glasses, boots, bag)

(get the look above: bracelet, leggings, sweater, bag, boots, scarf)

fall must haves 2014: track pants!

If you are just tuning in I have taken a few days over the last couple of weeks to cover my favorite fall trends right here on the blog. I try to comb my favorite stores for the easiest and most practical of the "trends" and break it all down right here for you.  So far we have covered:

grey-black jeans | loafers | high rise jeans | cozy sweaters | handbags

Today's must have is super trendy and while I like the idea of it… I'm still on the fence about the trend in general.  Today we are talking "track pants" - not your average run of the mill pants you wear to the gym, no these are the fancy-pants kind that are made of sumptuous fabrics and nice slim cuts.  They can be dressed up and down and you can find them at all price points this fall.  Here are my top picks and few tips on how to style them. 

Will you be jumping on the track pant trend this fall?  Check out this inspiration below and then let me know what you think of this trend.

above: one, two, three, four, five, six

above: pants, top, jacket, flats, bag

above: pants, sweater, glasses, purse, shoes

fall must haves 2014: the hottest handbags!

There is nothing like the thrill of a new handbag in the fall!  When it comes to handbags I really like to go for quality over quantity and invest in a new handbag a couple times a year.  Fall is a great time to switch up your handbag and invest in a new one.  This season beautiful neutrals are where it's at for handbags which makes investing in one so easy because these beauties won't be going out of style any time soon.

Here I chose a few of my favorites and then styled them up for you for inspiration… just add crunchy leaves and a pumpkin spice latte and you are set for fall!

above: one, two, three, four, five, six

above: jeans, sweatshirt, jacket, rings, shoes, bag

above: jeans, sweater (or less expensive option), boots, headphones/earrings, bag

fall must-haves 2014: cozy sweaters!

Between boots, jeans and sweaters it is impossible to decide which is my favorite item to purchase each fall - it's a three way tie… and since we've already talked about fall trends for jeans this year (here and here) I am excited to dig into sweaters next.

What is more fun that cozying up in a brand new sweater in the fall? Not much in my book.  This season I am drawn to creamy whites, cozy grays and classic carmel hues.  They go perfect with boots and flats and are easy to throw on for cool and crisp fall days.

Here are my top picks and some suggestions on how to style them as well… happy sweater shopping!

above: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven

above: jeans, sweater, bracelet, clutch, boots

above: jeans, sweater, sunglasses, scarf, bag, shoes

fall must haves 2014: high-rise jeans!

Every fall I take some time to outline some of the trends I am most looking forward to wearing this season… new styles and trends are everywhere from the runways, to the magazines, to your favorite stores these days. But with this series here on the blog I really try to break it down into truly wearable trends, those that you will feel comfortable and confident in.  And also trends that hopefully will stand the test of time - or at least more than one season.  I really want to seek out the pieces that you will love wearing (and wearing, and wearing).

So when you first read "high-rise jeans" you were all probably like "what is she thinking!?!?".  But bear with me here!  I promise these babies are worth trying.  High- or even mid-rise jeans are making a comeback and they really are worth checking out.  The number one reason? Usually our waist is the smallest part of our torso… and along the past few years the waist has been completely forgotten amidst low rise jeans.  What a shame! It's time to bring the waist back.  And the best news about high- and mid-rise jeans is that they virtually BANISH the muffin top and can really suck in the lower belly portion of our body that after having kids can be a really trouble area.  Low-rise jeans can just let all that junk hang out sometimes… so why not switch up?  Don't just take my word for it… head on out to the fitting rooms and give them a try this fall!

Here are my top picks for the high-rise jean this fall…

above: one, two, three, four, five, six

(above: jeans, sweater, denim jacket, bag, bracelet, shoes

(above: jeans, chambray top, moto jacket, bag, shoes)

So what do you think… will you maybe give this trend a try? 

fall must haves 2014: loafers!

Loafer style shoes are so classic for fall and this season there are some great loafer-inspired styles that I am really loving.  While it will be sad to see sandals go along with the excuse that a pedicure is absolutely necessary this time of year - these cute shoes make me okay with putting my toes under wrap until spring.

Loafers are this season's must-have flat shoe. I love how they can be dressed up or down… you can wear them weekends and to the office and just about everywhere in between.

above: one, two, three, four, five, six

Loafers can add a great sophisticated vibe to a simple sweater and jeans combo… or are fun to pair with a dress and leather jacket for a weekend look.

above: jeans, sweater, loafers, necklace, ring, purse

above: denim shirt dress, moto jacket, flats, earrings, bag

fall must haves 2014: grey-black jeans!

Fall is knocking on our doors and while it's sad to see the lazy days of summer go… fall clothes always seem to make up for it.  For the next few weeks I'll review what's on my "must-haves" list for fall and showcase my top picks for those trends and offer a few tips on how to style them as well.  

Today I am featuring grey/black jeans… and this is one trend that I am super excited about this fall. I am a tried and true blue jean lover, but this season I am excited to try out hues in greys and blacks and in between.  These styles seem to be popping up at a lot of retailers lately and I love the laid-back rocker chic vibe these jeans exude.   And while jeans are always "in" every fall - it's fun to have a new style to add to my wardrobe.

What are you thinking of the grey/black jeans trend… you in? 

above: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight

Grey jeans mix and match with the other neutrals in your closet to make sophisticated looks for everyday wear. I love the idea of pairing grey or black jeans with camel, leopard, burgundy and gold accents for fall.

(above: jeans, sweater, shoes, bag, rings)

(above: jeans, earrings, tee, shoes, blazer, clutch)

 Stay tuned for more must-haves over the coming days! 

cheap thrills for fall with Forever 21!

Who doesn't love a rock bottom bargain from time to time? I always like to look in at Forever 21 a couple times a year to see what fun pieces they are offering for the season.  While I try to keep my wardrobe minimalist and high quality there is always room for a fun find at a really great price.

Checking out F21's site most recently I was pleasantly surprised to see some really classic pieces in great silhouettes for fall.  Any of these pieces I would be thrilled to add to my closet and all of them would be really versatile for fall.  Don't you think?

1. nude flats 2. dolman sweater (I can never have enough of these) 3. navy blazer (love the cut on this) 4. open front duster jacket (LOVE!) 5. baseball tee 6. striped scarf 7. chevron necklace (obsessed) 8. midi ring set (new fascination of mine) 9. black d'orsay flats 10. tote

And the best thing… shopping online allows you to skip that terribly loud music in store (am I alone?!? I can hardly think straight with music at that volume! Or am I showing my age!?!?).

on trend for fall with Piperlime!

When the season changes I always am curious to see how the new trends will be presented and how they will actually play out. What we see on the runways is not usually the exact translation to the stores each fall. A healthy balance between trend, beauty and sophistication is what I look for when I am shopping the seasonal trends.  While I love the classic and timeless pieces in my closet - those with a touch of trend always keep things feeling new and exciting when getting dressed each day.  Piperlime always showcases the best of the trends without going completely overboard. Their shoe & handbag selection is one of the best online in my opinion.  I love that they carefully curate their stock, rather than having 100 million boots to choose from for fall they pare it down to a manageable number to search while still having plenty of selection.  Today they are having a 25% off sale of select fall must-haves - so here are my picks… but check out their sale picks as well!

Fall is a great time to invest in boots, bags, new jackets and denim… this list reflects that.  Spending a little more money on these pieces will always be worth the investment in the long run, in my opinion.

burgundy chain strap handbag, bar necklace, abstract dot clutch, leopard flats, vegan leather moto jacket, tan tote, denim, ankle boots, earrings, nude cross-body bag

timeless classics for fall with Ann Taylor!

When the calendar flips to August I immediately start thinking fall clothes (it naturally comes with the territory as a blogger). Not that I wish one day of summer away - no way… I'm still in full on summer mode.  But in between lazy mornings, afternoons poolside and bbqs I am already working on scouring the sites to see what surprises fall has in store for us style-wise.   I will feature a lot of these finds here on the blog… hopefully to make your fall shopping easier!

I randomly ended up on the Ann Taylor site recently - drooling over this jacket - and the more I poked around the more goodies I found and loved.  Ann Taylor is the epitome of classic style and what I love so much about all these pieces is that not only will they be timeless enough to wear for seasons to come but they are also great transitional wear to fall.  Black jeans can still be worn with a tee shirt and sneakers this September or a leather jacket can easily be layered over a great summer dress for a perfect summer to fall look.

And since Ann Taylor pieces are always so beautiful but conservative… they also translate well to an office environment as well.  You really can't go wrong with any of these gorgeous pieces for fall!

top row, from left: sunglasses, black skinny jeans, flats, peter pan top

2nd row, from left: tote, striped top, leather jacket, drapey pant

3rd row, from left: navy blouse, clutch, cheetah print dress, earrings

4th row, from left: tortoise belt, pleather skirt, ankle strap sandals, sweater