Tory Burch Fall Wishlist

I woke up this morning to an email from Tory Burch announcing that her fall line had officially dropped on her website. Needless to say, I immediately headed over to check it out. As anyone who has peaked inside my closet before knows, I have a bit of a Tory obsession. And this fall line is no exception. While I always love classic silhouettes with a retro edge, I think that fall is a particularly perfect time to get a little bit of 60's and 70's inspiration for your look. The pieces from the fall collection are just that: with patchwork and brocade and a-line skirts with matching coats, it would be hard to not feel like a cool co-ed on a New England college campus running around in these pieces! Which is exactly what I'm going for pretty much every year when autumn rolls around :) 

Lidia Polo Dress

I wanted to get the summer version of this dress a few months ago, but am no glad that I didn't! I can't wait to pair this with my brown riding boots and thick socks. 

Reva Flat

Do I have an obsession with Reva Flats? Yes. Do I think that that's a problem? No. A leopard print pair similar to these was actually my first pair of Reva's when I was back in college, and I basically wore them to death. My mom legitimately bribed me to throw them away because they were so embarrassingly ratty. However, now that there is a new pair out this fall, you better believe that this will be in my shopping cart ASAP. Leopard is just the perfect neutral to punch up a basic outfit or to mix with other patterns and prints, especially during the colder months of the year. 

Ada Skirt

I love skirts almost as much as I love my Reva flats, and this nubby a-line mini is the perfect piece for fall.  I love pieces like this that have a classic silhouette and a classic composition, because they can sit in your closet for years and still look chic and put together. They are also great for going from day to night: I imagine I would pair this with a chunky sweater and flats or boots during the day, and then a black silky top and booties at night. 

Margaux Booties

Speaking of booties, these are, in my opinion, the most perfect booties that have ever existed. Living in the Northwest, I spent much of last winter *freezing* my little buns off. Needless to say, I decided that this year I would invest in some good cold weather going-out apparel, having learned my lesson last year. The first thing on my list was a pair of practical high heeled booties that I could pair with tights and a dress or skinnies and a cute top, and these fit the bill.  I have a predilection towards anything suede, so all of my booties from when I lived in California were unfit for rainy Seattle, so the flat leather on these, in tandem with the practical, thick heel, make these a must have for me. 

Dellora Charm Leather Cuff

Last but not least: this amazing cuff. Granted, at it's price I will only be buying it if I suddenly come into a large inheritance or something, but I can still lust after it anyway, right??

Until next time, 

xo 

T

Leopard for Beyoncé

Top and shorts: Alice and Olivia; jacket: AG Jeans; bag: Chanel; booties: Joie; Necklaces: Loren Hope and Jennifer Zeuner 

Last week my friend Becca and I went to see Beyonce and Jay-Z, and let me tell you, it was amazing! However, I felt like wearing a Lilly dress (my usual summer uniform) wouldn't quite cut it for such a glam night. So, I wore these high waisted Alice and Olivia shorts that I bought last summer to go see The Rolling Stones. I guess you could say they're my go to concert attire. Paired with a black crop top, booties, and layered necklaces, I felt pretty freaking cool, but also not like I was wearing a costume, which is basically the best of both worlds. 

Until next time,

xo

T

A Tusk In the Sun

Dress: Lilly Pulitzer; bag: Kate Spade;shoes: Tory Burch 

This is honestly my favorite dress that I own. I have an obsession with elephants, and Lilly, so the combination is basically perfection. Plus, I have been on a major t-shirt dress kick lately. I think they are so perfect for summer. They're so easy to just throw on and go, and they're incredibly comfortable, which is crucial during the summer especially, in my opinion. 

Until next time, 

xo

T

Boyfriend Style

Sweater: Banana Republic; Shirt: Monkees of Raleigh; jeans: JCrew; shoes: Converse; sunglasses: Ray Bans 

So I took a new workout class last night at the studio where I take barre. I thought it was a different barre class, which I guess it was - in theory. But I don't think I've worked out that hard since high school water polo pre season. I mean, I woke up this morning and spent a serious amount of time wondering how I would get my body to stop hurting enough to get out of bed. No joke. So, when I stumbled out of my pjs, and realized that there was definitely a layer of fog outside, I pulled on my hands down most comfortable jeans: these JCrew boyfriend jeans. Matt always makes fun of boyfriend denim, so I have been taking full advantage of his deployment in that I have been wearing them most every day. I'm also headed to see Beyoncé later tonight (!!!), so what better day to wear my "I woke up like this" shirt than today?!

Until next time,

xo

T

Happy Birthday, Jackie O.!

 

Jackie Kennedy is undoubtedly the queen of simple, classic American elegance. She made popular so many things we consider preppy staples today, such as Jack Rogers and Lilly Pulitzer. Since yesterday was her birthday, I figured that what better time than today to pay my own personal style icon appropriate homage. 

Before we had Paris Hilton and the Kardashians, or even Ali MacGraw and Alley McBeal, women like Jackie O. and Audrey Hepburn ruled the American fashion scene. When Jackie's late husband, John F. Kennedy, became President of the United States in 1960, members of his cabinet worried that the American press would have a field day with all of Jackie's expensive clothing that she often bought in Paris.  They assumed that American women wouldn't be able to relate to a woman who wore Dior and Balenciaga, whose fall shopping budget would often outpace a yearly household income in America. 

So, she had a family friend, Oleg Cassini, begin making custom clothes for her.  These clothes spoke to her personality and the moment.  They were perfectly minimal and still feminine, just as clothes for an avid equestrienne and politician's wife should be in the late 1950s and early 60s.  I love that her clothes, while still being elegant and timeless, were also on trend for the time, incorporating mod elements such as the oversized covered buttons in the above photo. 

And while we might look back on her style as being the epitome of classic, since it has inspired countless American designers from Ralph Lauren to Kate Spade, it was always a fantastic expression of her own personal preferences and tastes. This gorgeous leopard coat is hardly tame, yet she makes it like a staple every woman should have in their closet. 

Speaking of her enduring influence in American design, dresses like this above and the one below seem like they were picked out of a Kate Spade Fashion Week presentation. Despite the many iterations of trends and fads, somehow bows at the waist and simple shift dresses, a-line coats and animal print, as well as boxy suit separates and oversized sunglasses, have maintained a place in the American fashion lexicon after they were made popular by Jackie Kennedy. 

Since I could ramble on for days about my love for Jackie O.'s spirit and style, I'll stop myself short and leave with just a few more images of my favorite style moments of hers.

So, Happy Birthday, Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis! The world could use some of your taste and elegance, right about now. 

Until next time, 

xo

T

Polka dots and Peplums

Top: Kate Spade; pants: JCrew; shoes: Tory Burch; bag: Kate Spade; sunglasses: Karen Walker 

Ugh. Monday. Is it just me or are Mondays during the summer even harder... Who wants to be sitting at a desk when the weather is practically begging you to head to the beach?? Not me. On another note, here's my go to church outfit these days: a peplum and printed pants! Since I have a fairly straight up and down figure, I love peplums because they give the illusion of more of a waist. Plus, this one from Kate Spade has bows on the shoulders so it's basically perfect. I paired it with my polka for jeans from JCrew (at some point I need to stop wearing these) and my light pink Kate Spade. When I got this bag, I was really nervous that it would be hard to pair with things, but it's just neutral enough to go with almost everything. Love. 

Until next time,

xo

T

My Day at Universal

Romper: Joie; shoes: Jack Rogers; backpack: Vera Bradley; earrings: Kate Spade; watch: Michael Kors; bracelets: Lilly and Laura, Alex and Ani; sunglasses: Karen Walker 

On my last day in Florida, this Harry Potter lover obviously made a trip to the new Diagon Alley park at Universal Studios. And it was amazing! I had been to the Hogsmead part of the park a few years ago when it opened (not as geeky as it sounds, my family is just always in Florida!), and I have to say that Diagon Alley surpassed all of my expectations. I wore this adorable romper from Joie, although I ended up so hot and sweaty that the liner kept sticking to my booty all day long :( but paired with Jacks, and a Vera backpack to stow my water and rain jacket (a necessity for theme park days in Florida), I could look past sweaty liner :) 

Until next time,

xo

T