Been wearing these 3 things lately because Valentine’s Day, February, and greaser inspiration. I picked up this faux leather coat at Zara’s on a huge sale a few months ago. It’s extremely comfortable + I sized up & up so I can wear it over thick sweaters.

Catbird’s Ghost Rose solid perfume is such a true rose smell. You can smell the sort of “green” parts of a rose in this perfume. It’s solid so it’s not very strong but it lingers on the skin. Good for applying to pressure points, you know, so when you start overheating it’ll actually smell nice ha!

I’ve noticed as I’m feeling better and better (from back pain) I didn’t really care about what I wore. Not to say I was sloppy. My closet was still whittled down and matched up enough that I looked fine. But I just didn’t care about shopping, or wearing what I “really” wanted when going out. Mostly because I didn’t go out unless I needed. I’m already starting to forget what that was like; being unable to enjoy going out. But now I have the luxury of putting thought to it. However I keep see-sawing between jeans and skirts. I’ll go on this kick of wanting only denim then suddenly I hate them and switch to skirts with fleece tights. But all-in-all I’m not really shopping much lately. I’m happy with everything I have and would only be interested in spring things now… and warmer weather to go along with it.

Though I did buy this wool coat from Madewell earlier in the month. Finally trading in my previous one of 8 years that I got from Forever 21. I had mended it so so so many times.

This isn’t really everything but a good sample because I actually have 2 pairs of black denim, and 2 black tees and another white tee I’m wearing. So really it’s about as capsule wardrobe as I’ve ever been because I have a lot of very similar pieces.

Everything is from Madewell except the leather style jacket and shoes which I got from Nordstrom’s. I haven’t been able to get out much this past 2 months so majority of these I bought online. It’s a lot easier to shop a store like Madewell because I’m familiar with their sizing. The free shipping and easy returns help too though I haven’t had to return anything from them in so long.

The polish on the right is what I’ve been wearing most. Called Stairway to Heaven. It’s gorgeous and feels like a light color to go with to contrast all the black. It’ll also work with what I’m leaning towards for winter which is a lot of black and white paired with soft blushes of blue and pink. My new winter coat is actually a muted blush color and no longer black. With my mood being very down this fall I want to work in some uplifting color palettes.

I ended up getting a mix of summer and autumn. So instead of pairing a light blue shirt with my light wash denim I’ll opt for these deep plum soft as a bunny “sateen” jeans.

quilted skater skirt

I thought this skirt would be much too long on me (I’m 5′1″) but it’s not! The length still works really really well and the fabric gives the structured skirt a soft look.

cargo workshirt

The gingham workshirt is also another favorite of mine. Madewell brought out a new cut this season that features the relaxed look of a popover but with the functionality of a button-up. Honestly I loathe popovers because of the lack of buttons so seeing these made me SO HAPPY. The cut runs bigger than their previous workshirts too. I hope they bring more colors and patterns out in this style.

courier shirt

I love this shirt. Usually oversized boxy cuts + large chest creates a potato sack feeling but this shirt folds just right so that it’s this airy look without looking like you’re just wearing a tent.

coated roadtrip jacket

skinny skinny jeans: biker-zip edition

I really like how the zippers break-up the black space of these.

skinny skinny sateen jeans

Heaven. No really, these are incredibly soft. I’m interested to see how durable they turn out to be.

Madewell is doing a new promotion now where if you bring in any old denim you get $20 off a pair of new denim. I think it lasts until October :)

The first 3 snaps are from March while the last one is from May when I switched from faux leather to a cotton biker jacket. Honestly this had been my uniform up until it got too hot. I picked up a few things during Madewell’s sale last weekend. Three button ups in a softer cotton for summer, an indigo dye tee, and a navy skirt.

Also got another bandana from J.Crew. I’ve been wearing these a lot at work to dress up a solid tee + cardigan look so I can be comfortable but not too casual for the office.

But I was going through some photos this weekend and saw some stuff I don’t think I ever posted about. So I’m going to post them here!

First up, last weekend I went to the National Arboretum. It was better than expected and I want to go back when Mike is more fully recovered from his spinal surgery and can walk with greater ease.

Last weekend I picked up this scarf from JCrew for 30% off. I wore it to work to dress up a chambray short sleeved shirt that I paired with black dress pants. I really like this chambray shirt from Madewell. Lately it’s all I want to wear. That and neckerchiefs and plain tees.

I also needed a new spring coat. I felt bummed about having to pack away my winter leather jacket then I remembered this Madewell cotton version of a biker jacket. I bought it (on sale too!) 2 sizes bigger for an oversized look and feel. I Then passed this short trench at Gap which was 60% off so I bought that one as well.

These two jackets might seem to be polar opposites but interesting enough they both fit into my wardrobe seamlessly. While I’ve been into minimalism french sorta gamine style these past few years I am just really channeling a more greaser feeling right now. And everything I own works with either of these without feeling like I have 2 separate wardrobes. Honestly it’s all in the trimmings.

And I’ve been into blazers for so long and was surprised to find my lack of enthusiasm over them this past year. While I still wear a few to work sometimes, I don’t care to wear them “out” right now. I became extremely attached to my biker jacket this winter. I still like the aesthetic of a blazer, yes! But I’m kinda bored with wearing them at the moment.

Maison de Reefur Petite Mer

Baggu Duffle in Sailor Stripe

Madewell bien fait surf tee

A Cup of Jo: Mermaid Tail Braid how-to

A Cup of Jo: Ponytail Twist how-to

So I ordered Madewell’s eyelet collar blouse.

I also got an eyelet skirt. For a while I had a rule, “no more black skirts.” I had built up quite a collection having a propensity for buying this closet staple over and over. But this year I had purged those skirts; mailing them off to my little sister. I was now faced with the reality that I completely lacked a basic black skirt. I tried a handful on over the year but wasn’t in love with any of them.

Then I saw the bayfront eyelet skirt on Madewell.com. It’s extremely “summer” in its design and fabric. 100% cotton; it’s a thicker, stiffer texture than I expected but the structure comes off as sporty and a perfect match for summer t-shirts. I’m relieved it has some weight to be honest because the summer winds can sometimes make flair skirts annoying to wear.

Bottoms
- Madewell Skinny Skinny Jeans in black frost
- Madewell Legging Jeans in arctic blue
- Madewell Ridgestripe Skirt
- Navy Pleated Skirt (Macy’s)

Tops
- Madewell Washed Cotton Boyshirt in marseille blue
- Everlane Cashmere Sweater in navy
- Madewell Gridstich Sweater in heather pebble
- Madewell Berry Plaid Boyshirt

Shoes
- Payless black flats
- H&M black boots

Accessories
- handmade gray wool circle scarf
- Julia Marco bag
- Mermaid Mane Sea Salt Hair Spray
- Oceane perfume
- Emi-Jay/Old Navy hair ties

Not Pictured
- Black Wool Chester Coat
- Fleeced Lined Black Tights

Attempted to add more color into the mix but just ended up with light blue and light grey. A bit blue-obsessed lately too. Blue and red tend to be the only non-neutral colors I buy.

I really like this set right now. Honestly I’m almost always in that oversized boxy grey “gridstitch” sweater. Paired with the jean leggings or navy skirt with fleece tights. There’s just something about it that makes me feel really good when I wear it.

Thought I’d add some links to a few of the items I could still find pages for.
Denim (x) Skirt (x) Cotton Boyshirt (x) Gridstitch Sweater (x) Cashmere Sweater (x) Flats (x) Bag (x) Hair Spray (x) Fleece Tights (x)

I’m tired of posting snow so I didn’t, ha! Actually it was nice to see the snow return since I knew it wouldn’t stay warm long. I think it was 9°F this morning

Last weekend it got up into the 60°’s so like any other sane person I ran out immediately and ate ice cream then complained about being cold for an hour afterwards.

I also took the Valentine’s roses and soaked some of the petals in essential rose oil for a bit then added them into the tub for a bath. Will be doing this a lot more often.

Last night I stopped by Madewell to check out a few of their new spring releases. I tried on this skirt and dress but they didn’t fit like I had hoped so I’ll wait for more of their releases to show up in store.

I ordered the new Madewell Skinny Skinny Crop jean for 2 reasons.
1) 26” is my inseam so I thought “free hemming!”
2) I wanted a similar look & feel to my old skinny skinny ankle denim from Madewell. And that’s pretty much what I got.

At 5”1’ the crop denim hits me right at my ankles. So lovely. I repeat *I did NOT buy these thinking they’d be cropped on me* haha ;) Instead they’re perfectly hemmed for my height. The denim is also much softer, lighter, than their winter denims. It’s close to my original madewell denim but with a little more stretch worked in. I’m not complaining though because the stretch makes you look pretty good. And these also fit true to size. So taking advantage of their free shipping really paid off for me. I’m thinking of buying the darker wash in these jeans as well. Though I doubt I’ll be buying the white denim. I feel like I’m just asking for stain trouble if I buy white.

Bottoms
- Skinny Skinny Ankle denim in black frost (Madewell)
- Skinny Skinny Ankle denim in pool wash (Madewell)
- Ridgestripe pencil Skirt (Madewell)

Dress
- Striped Gondola Dress (Madewell)

Tops
- cashmere sweater in burgundy (Everlane)
- U-neck white tee (Everlane)
- cashmere sweater in navy (Everlane)
- Dotted navy long sleeve tee
- Tippi sweater in light gray (J.Crew)
- Tippi sweater in black (J.Crew)

Outerwear
- faux leather jacket (H&M)

Shoes
- black flats (Payless)
- black oxfords (Nordstrom)

Accessories
- burgundy fleece tights
- burgundy wool cap (Madewell)
- wool scarf (H&M)

Focused on comfort right now. Putting on a super soft cashmere sweater and cozy stretchy pencil skirt is just what my stressed out body needs right now. I’m in a lot of pain and discomfort with all this dental work going on and other stress; I just need to feel good at the end of the day!

A few weekends ago I picked up the pool wash denim at Madewell. I bought them 2 sizes too big so that they would have a nice boyfriend look & feel to them. The actual boyfriend denim they offer don’t flatter me at all so I’m glad I gave this idea a go!

Thought I’d add some links to the items I could still find pages for.

Oxfords (x) Dress (x) Skirt (x) Denim (x) Everlane cashmere (x) J.Crew sweaters (x) Hat (x) Everlane tee (x) Flats (x)

Since yesterday was Labor Day I started packing away a lot of my simple tees and light-colored items pulling out some things for autumn instead. WISHFUL THINKING.

And speaking of wishful thinking; I picked up a flannel boyshirt and scarf yesterday…

Really excited about the scarf. It’s a great replacement for my spring scarf plus I love my current winter plaid scarf to death and so now I have 2 color options.

The striped top I purchased is the same series as the first image but with shorter sleeves and in a navy blue. The “pixelbloom” silk top isn’t something I’d usually pick up. I had wanted to purchase the pixelbloom dress but it was much too long on me (came far past my knees.) The top turned out to be really nice though. I love silk and I liked the fact it was something a little different from my usual choices.

The new denim really does fit great. It’s stretchy and very comfortable. But it is drastically different from their old denim which was soft and relaxed. I’m not sure if they plan on carrying both denims in the future. I would sort of hope so but I don’t buy jeans often so it won’t really effect me.

It’s especially cool today and feeling like autumn again. I was thinking the only things I want to wear are these 3 new things plus…

• black bistro skirt
• red gingham silk shirt
• denim boyshirt
• white box tee
• blue dot silk boyshirt
• tokyo storyteller scarf