The Ultimate Winter Dress Coat

So, it appears we have skipped Fall and headed straight to winter, or at least a prelude to it. The temps in Chicago have been in the low 40's for almost a week now and it feels like we hit the fast forward button on one of my favorite seasons. I really enjoy the short timeframe where we can get away with just a sweater and no coat but once those chillier days do arrive, we must be prepared. 

I have never liked your standard Midwest Winter puffer coat - I only wear mine out of necessity (though I DO love its shade of red!) and let's be honest, it pretty much ruins any cute outfit I work hard on putting together...ugh, life can be so hard ;) But in all seriousness, there has to be a middle ground when it comes to staying warm AND looking chic during the return of Chiberia. We add tights to our dresses and beanies on our heads, but what about the most important layer? This is where a beautiful dress coat comes in...something that will complement your outfit, not hide it. I recommend something about knee length (or even longer) to make sure it covers many of your dresses...Is it just me or do you guys also think it's tacky when your clothes are longer than your coat? 

I became attached to this J. Jill style real quick and think it will be my go-to dress coat this season. It's super soft, fully lined and goes with everything. I love that it's gray and not black, there are too many of those...Why not be a Fruit Loop in a world full of Cheerios, you know? :) The high neck and button down front make it feel sophisticated enough for the office yet trendy enough for my everyday street style. It just makes me feel good and that's saying a lot because I wait until the last possible minute to pull out a Winter coat but I kind of want to live in this one!

By the way, this beautiful floral scarf is part of the J. Jill Compassion Fund. If you aren't familiar, this organization is designed to help women in need: 100% of the net proceeds from this exclusive Compassion Fund scarf will provide support to community-based organizations that help disadvantaged and homeless women become more self-sufficient.

How cool is that? Not only is it a beautiful accessory but I feel proud to be wearing knowing the wonderful story and mission behind it. Any way women can support one another in succeeding and bettering their life is so important and so worth sharing.

Thanks for stopping by! Happy Tuesday Xo

Wearing:

Dress, Jacket & Scarf: c/o J. Jill

Booties: Just Fab (old, similar here)

Necklace: c/o Park Lane Jewelry

Purse: Express - Love this one too!

Having a Moment with Uneven Hem Denim

Focus on the fit, not the size...easier said than done, right?

Seriously though -- When it comes to denim, not all sizes are created equal and as women, this can be extremely frustrating. I've talked about it before and I'm telling you guys again because this is IMPORTANT STUFF in the world of women's clothing - If you're looking for a new pair of jeans that feels like they were custom made for you, there's no more need to cry in the dressing room or go on Kanye's workout plan because the pair is out there already. 

It DOES exist -- (Santa? M&M's? Anyone?) 👀

Fitcode is awesome because it helps you find jeans that will look and feel great based on fit instead of size. How many times does a size 4 fit you in one store but you're a size 8 in another? It's whacked out but luckily, there's an easy way to solve this problem -- A short quiz will reveal your personal "Fitcode," followed by a custom "denim boutique" which features a variety of brands, styles and price points, all matching your "fit number." 

This is the second pair of jeans I've gotten through Fitcode and both times, I have been more than pleasantly surprised with the outcome. Let's be honest, I need more jeans like a hole in the head (think I have 18ish pairs...it's a problem), but I'm having a big time moment with the uneven hem so I've had a little trouble holding back from this pair from Silver Jeans. This brand has been around for so long, blending modern and vintage details and most recently, they have made some beautiful updates to the brand which has led to some majorly cool denim looks. This I've always loved distressed denim because of its laid back, casual vibes so when I started seeing raw, frayed edges on the bottom of jeans, it was love at first sight. Even more so, I like that so many of them are cropped, ankle styles which is perfect for bootie season -- My favorite of all! I dread the day when we have to start wearing socks because there's snow on the ground...

Needless to say, I'm going to be living in this pair for quite some time (or until that first flakes fall, at least). This mid-rise style is equal parts supportive and stylish -- Just the right combo for a new Mom! They're super soft, have an above-ankle inseam and oh yes, are completely ripped in the back near the ankle. It adds just the right amount of edge to my Fall weekend style.

SHOP MY STYLE:

And side note -- One of the reasons I love this season so much is because we get the chance to play around with cozy layers because we're not (yet) required to stuff ourselves into thick, uncomfortable heavy jackets. To expand on that, I am definitely living my best coat life this year...I have a growing collection of lightweight coats, sweater jackets and dusters, all which offer an extra element of effortless style to a basic jeans and tee look. This textured sweater topper was a fast favorite of mine! It's a great alternative to a bulky coat, pairs with almost anything and best of all, I can file it under

"Grandpa chic," a section of my wardrobe which (I'm not joking, nor sad about), continues to grow. Both my Mom AND Lisa own it as well and we are all different heights, shapes, etc., so it may be safe to say it looks good on everyone!

How do you guys shop for jeans?  Let me know if you have any questions about finding your "Fitcode!"
Wearing:
Top: Old Navy Jacket: c/o J. Jill Jeans: Silver Jeans c/o Fitcode  Booties: c/o Cabi Clothing Hat: Sole Society, sold out (similar) Purse: Express, sold out (Love this style too!)

Rocked it & Swapped it

Does everyone have a blush colored bag in their wardrobe yet? It's such a perfect color for the Spring and Summer months, but I've actually even styled it during the Fall months too! I mean, why not? It's such a beautiful color and can really be styled with any outfit, giving it an entire new look.   

When I styled my bush bag from Express in early May, I wore it with a romper, denim jacket, and gladiator sandals. The bag was the perfect amount of muted color pop that I needed to finish off this hues of blue look. When Kaitlyn wore my bag in late May, she paired it with white denim, a stripe tunic, denim jacket, and yellow gladiator sandals. Again, the blush tone bag gave it a little extra unexpected color pop. 

I searched high and low for blush bags for you to shop, but wanted to find them at every prince point. I hope you love the ones I found,  I have had my blush bag for three years now and it's definitely one of my most worn bags! I found quite a few around the $30 price point too, so why not pick one up? ;) 

SHOP BLUSH BAGS:

Do you own a blush colored bag? What do you think of our outfit pairings? Thank you so much for stopping by the blog today! xo

Don't Hassle the Tassel | Style & Co Blouse

Not every trend catches my eye or motivates me enough to want to try it -- For example, I noticed corsets are coming back in a much more casual way than Rose in Titanic but the comfort factor definitely still looks to be missing. I've seen them layered over a t-shirt or structured white button-down and while I don't think it's unattractive, it's just not my jam due to how impractical and restricting they seem...oh, and I can only imagine my husband's reaction if I tried to layer one over a dress...pure confusion ;)

But that said, I AM definitely enjoying the tassel trend, whether it's on a woven tote or lining the edge of a blouse. I feel like they bring a little bit of party to any outfit, like this bell-sleeve top and white jeans. What started as an otherwise casual look became much more fun with the addition of these tassel earrings. They are also great for dressing up a basic ponytail...throw on your favorite lip shade, colored sunnies and I feel like it's an instant Summer hit. P.S. Some of the BaubleBar tassel earrings are now available at Target for amazing price points -- I love these!! 

SHOP THE LOOK:

How do you feel about tassel mania? Any trends you just can't stand?
Wearing:
Top: c/o Style & Co - Sold out but similar here Jeans: Destination Maternity Sunnies: Quay Australia (similar) Earrings: c/o Gray Monroe Sandals: Old, similar here Bag: Express (similar) Necklace: c/o Park Lane Jewelry Lipstick: c/o GloMinerals - Sorbet

The Perfect Summer Top | J. Jill Linen Button Down

31 weeks down down, 9 weeks to go. Isn't that crazy?! Part of me wonders where all the time has gone and part of me feels like the third trimester may quickly wear out its welcome. I tried on four different outfits before work this morning before I found something that was both comfortable (a main goal of mine) and presentable...AKA my morning routine takes a lot more time than it used to. For most of my pregnancy, I was able to wear some of my regular, looser fitting shirts with maternity jeans. These days, many of them no longer work so I have been spending a lot of time in dresses (this is one of my favorites) but with our recent string of chillier rainy days, I opted for white jeans to keep the Summer vibes alive and this amazing linen button down. You guys, my new favorite shirt!

I was so excited when I put it on because it's a long length, non-maternity (which means it will be perfect post-baby) and since it's linen, it's super lightweight. It has side vents too so I think this will be one of my go-to tops to beat the heat when I'm feeling super preggo towards the end of June ;) Things are getting very real lately, friends...my body has changed a lot and so has our second bedroom, which is now almost fully transformed into the little man's nursery...stay tuned for photos of the progress next week!

SHOP THE LOOK:

Wearing:
Top: c/o J. Jill Jeans: Jessica Simpson (similar) Shoes: c/o Sole Society (similar) Purse: Express Jean Jacket: Forever 21 (similar) Lemon Cup: Kate Spade via Shopbop Sunnies: LOFT Flowers: Mariano's

Finding Balance in Bare Feet

I'm not going to lie...These past few weeks (months? year?) have been absolutely insane. The kind of insane where all of a sudden you stop and realize, you've been forgetting to breathe. It always seems like everything happens at once...the same week that I had multiple things to plan, endless to-do lists and a weekend-long party to host just happened to be one the busiest times at work in, well, ever. When you would rather be busy at work than slow, be careful what you wish for ;) I found myself relying heavily on breathing techniques I've learned through yoga as well as trying my best to participate in the YBD challenge, 30 yoga classes in 40 days...yes, because I needed just ONE more thing to try and stuff in a 24 hour day. GOOD LAWD.

Point of my rant being, I am looking forward to this weekend...My husband and I are celebrating our third wedding anniversary and for the first time in awhile, we don't have every moment scheduled. We spend so much time making plans and "checking our calendars" and then we remember...Summer used to be so special because of its simplicity. Hammocks, bare feet, lemonade, napping to baseball games on TV (just me? I seriously love that). So this weekend, we're going to do our best to avoid planning everything in advance. The only sure bet is watching our wedding video on repeat because 3 years later, I still cry every time I see it :) (Seriously...Jon is the best if you're in need of a videographer!)

But before I leave you, a selection from a yoga blog I enjoy...

"We love making plans and drawing maps that’ll detail exactly how we’re going to get from Point A to B to C. The problem isn’t in having an ambitious vision or keeping busy with plans, but rather in our way-too-tight grasp on our vision of how things could or should be. What ends up happening when things start to look colossally different from our self-made vision is that we become unfortunate victims to disappointment we created ourselves. Get excited about the future, but loosen the reigns a bit. This week, be gentle with yourself as you practice the art of doing absolutely nothing."

Wearing:

Swimsuit: Express - On sale under $50!

Shorts: H&M - I love this distressed pair!

Top: Old Navy

Sandals: Just Fab

Bag: Lake & Country - How cute is this Summer tote too?

Sunnies: Target - Similar

Lipstick: Glominerals "Crimson"

Swim Suits & Gratitude

Guys, how is it already the 7th of July?! We anxiously awaited our annual 4th of July party for months and suddenly it's here and gone…and don't even get me started on what happened to the entire month of June. I know everyone feels this way every year but I just wish we could press pause for a few seconds on our favorite Summer moments. I've had many of them so far which include wine by the pier at sunset, a 5k with friends, biking withthe Family in Geneva and another feature in Lake & Country Magazine. But no matter how many things you have on your Summer list, I’m learning that an extra 2 minutes or even 2 days will not make it easier to fit it all in. You will still always wish for MORE time. 

When we’re up at the lake and packing to head home, I try to steal one last glance at all of my favorite things…one last look at the water, one last visit to the local coffee shop, one last nighttime chat on the patio…as if “one more” will make it easier to return to my routine. Because we can’t stop time, the only thing we can do is make the most of it and appreciate every second. My current motto? Take the time to do the things you love because in the end, you will not remember all the time spent in the office.

P.S. My one-piece swimsuit obsession continues...I wore this strappy style all weekend long but I wanted to add a few more to my collection, A) so I didn't wear that one out too quickly and B) because, hello? Variety! You guys know I searched high and low last month to find exactly what I had in mind (cutouts, fun colors, supportive but still sexy) so when I saw this Express suit was on sale, I wasted no time ordering it. It meets all my requirements and was a big hit over the 4th. Did I mention it's 40% off? DO NOT WAIT.

Wearing:

Dress: Old Navy (Old but similar style here)

Sandals: c/o Sole Society

Bag: c/o Sole Society (Sold out but similar here under $20!)

Swimsuit: Express (40% off!)

Scarf: Target

Sunnies: Target (Similar)

Lipstick: Glominerals "Jetset"