Cool Knits...

East & Lo Top c/o (on sale for $24.75!) // LOFT Jeans // Forever 21 Booties // Express Handbag // Henri Bendel Sunglasses

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 Ok, I'm going to be honest... I received this hooded v-neck sweater in the mail last Friday afternoon and after trying it on to ensure it fit OK, I just couldn't bring myself to take it off! I ended up wearing it out that evening for a casual movie date with my husband, wore it while running errands Saturday afternoon, and then again while lounging around the house on Sunday! And, if I hadn't set it aside for laundry day, I'd probably still be wearing it today [insert embarrassed monkey emoji]! I don't know about y'all, but I'm a total sucker for comfy, loose fitting tops that I can easily throw on and look pulled together in a cool, simple kinda way. Because sometimes, I just don't feel like trying that hard [insert another embarrassed monkey emoji]. Hey, I said I was being honest... didn't I?! 

Thank y'all so much for stopping by. May your day be as beautiful as you are!

Mad About Plaid...

I'm super excited about today's collaboration with Samantha of Gold Coast Girl! I recently met Samantha on the set of Windy City Live, as we both made our television debuts in a fashion segment about incorporating fall fashion trends into the workplace. While we should have been paying attention to the show's set director during rehearsals, Samantha and I were more focused on planning a trip to the nearby DSW so that she could scoop up a pair of the Valentino 'Rockstud' dupes I was wearing. Needless to say, we clicked right away, and both the TV segment and trip to DSW were a success! 

Samantha and I met up this past Saturday to share our love for one of the season's hottest trends - plaid! For our collaboration, I paired a basic black & white plaid button down with black skinny jeans and moto booties, and Samantha incorporated plaid into her outfit via a gorgeous blanket scarf. While we chose to keep our looks rather basic, plaid can really be worn and paired with several different textures, fabrics, colors and prints. Basically, plaid is a neutral... kind of like leopard (and if you're me, kind of like pink, hehehe). 

Be sure to check out Gold Coast Girl for more photos plus an interview I did with Samantha, as well as updates on all of the latest fashion trends and happenings in Chicago! 

Thank y'all so much for stopping by. May your day be as beautiful as you are!

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Photos By: Hallways Are My Runways

SAMANTHA:  Old Navy Sweater // ASOS Scarf // Old Navy Jeans // DKNY Coat (similar) // Steve Madden Booties

ME:  Target Top // LOFT Jeans // Forever 21 Booties // Tory Burch Handbag // Henri Bendel Sunglasses

{ shop a few more of my favorite plaid items }

I'm Blushing...

Top: Forever 21 | Vest: Forever 21 (similar style here & here) | Jeans: Old Navy | Shoes: BCBG Paris, DSW

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 It's no secret that pastels are one of the season's hottest trends. While we tend to gravitate towards darker colors in the cooler months, this year's color palette for fall/winter focuses on delicate hues of powder blue, baby pink, mint green and lilac. 

One of my favorite things about this trend is that these pale colors soften the heavy fabrics and textures typically reserved for fall and winter. For example, the dusty rose color of this vest removes the harsh tone associated with the traditional black faux fur vest and adds an overall sense of femininity. In addition, pairing these heavy fabrics and textures with pale colors creates an interesting contrast as the soft and delicate nature of the pastels offsets their heavy edge. 

While there are so many ways to style this dusty rose faux fur vest, for today's look I decided to pair it with a feminine blouse made up of darker hues from the same color family. And, to offset the girlie nature of the blouse and vest, I decided on distressed denim and black studded pumps. What do y'all think of this look... how would you style this vest?

Thank y'all so much for stopping by. May your day be as beautiful as you are!

{ shop a few more of my favorite faux fur vests }

Fall Foliage...

Top: LOFT | Skirt: Avenle c/o | Scarf: Steve Madden | Shoes: Kohl's (old, very similar) 

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 Ok, lets be serious... have you ever seen a skirt more perfect for fall than this pleated beauty from Avenle?! The rich combination of taupe, navy, mustard and burgundy literally screams autumn. And with all of these luscious colors, the styling options for this skirt are absolutely endless! 

If you haven't yet heard of Avenle, it is an amazing online boutique that caters to the modern girl with a vintage soul. Specializing in feminine and affordable vintage inspired clothing, Avenle partners with Indie Designers around the globe to bring the most unique products to its customers.

Be sure to check out Avenle, and let me know what you think of the carefully curated collection of beautifully handcrafted items! I don't know about you, but I'm dying to get my hands on this Aztec Fringe Cardigan, this Cypress Knit Poncho and this Asher Plaid Knit Scarf!

Thank y'all so much for stopping by. May your day be as beautiful as you are!

It's Handled...

Top: LOFT | Jeans: LOFT | Coat: The Limited (limited sizes available - similar style here, here, here, & here) | Shoes: DSW  | Earrings: Vince Camuto (old, very similar)

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How about this beautiful wrap coat - my first item from The Limited's Scandal Collection! Like many other women, I've idolized Kerry Washington's character, Olivia Pope, since watching the series premiere of Scandal in 2012. Aside from Olivia's ability to avert even the most critical of crises (all while remaining calm), she has impeccable style. Often dressed in chic pastels (or white), Olivia's style is very different than that which traditionally defines conservative office style. With her feminine, yet sophisticated style, Olivia Pope has changed the look of the professionally strong woman.

While I don't tend to share my professional office looks on the blog very much, I often mention that I like to incorporate items from my personal wardrobe into my professional wardrobe (or visa versa) as much as I can. This rose colored wrap coat is the perfect example of this practice, as it is a great statement piece for my professional wardrobe, but also pairs nicely with skinny jeans and creates a chic, feminine look that is perfect for a night out on the town!  

If you're thinking about ordering this coat, I recommend sizing down 1 size. From my experience, it runs on the larger side. Also, while there are limited sizes/quantities available online, I recommend stopping into your local Limited store(s) to see if your desired size is available. I've noticed healthy stocks of this coat at several Limited stores over the past couple of days. A special thanks to my amazing Mom who found this coat in my size at her local Limited store in Minneapolis - you're the best, Mom :):)

 Thank y'all so much for stopping by. May your day be as beautiful as you are!