I was joking with a friend recently about how it felt like we'd suddenly gotten two seasons in one, but honestly it's how I feel. The fall explosion of leaves came late to the DC and since I'm a "Christmas as early as possible" kinda woman, the combination means I'm planning outfits that are appropriate for Fall weather but with all the Christmas cheer I can muster.

All that to say, I hope you enjoy the plaid juxtaposed against all the pretty leaves p0rn. It makes me damn happy.

I bought this skirt last year during one of Banana Republic's Friends & Family sales. I think buying it was one of those "who I want to be rather than who I am" purchases, because you've all probably noticed by now that I don't really wear pencil skirts. I love them in theory (& on other people) but I've got weird stomach issues and they usually end up making me feel self-conscious.

I decided to say f*ck it on this post though, because this skirt was made for the holidays. Made for get togethers with coworkers or friends, where a fun texture and a pair of heels are the perfect amount of festive. 

So I'm not even going to try and claim that I'm being unique with this look. I loved how Extra Petite styled her Banana Republic pieces, and with some comparable items already in my closet I decided to give it a try.

And when you consider all the compliments I've gotten both times I've worn this outfit, I think it's safe to say that she's on to something. 

So it's apparently going to be almost 70 degrees on Christmas (with a high of 75 on Christmas Eve) and I have to admit it's putting me in a crappy mood. I like my seasons seasonal dammit, which includes chilly weather and sweaters on Christmas.

BUT.

Since it's still one of my favorite holidays, I plan to spend the day cooking in my hot apartment (yay no AC >.<) listening to and watching the movies and specials I fell in love with as a child. I hope that each one of you gets to spend the day as you choose to, doing whatever makes you happy, and enjoying the long weekend.

♡

Dana

Can a pair of shoes be lucky? I'm not sure I'm the superstitious type but finding these Stuart Weitzman heels on super extra duper sale earlier this Summer was at the very least serendipitous.

I fell in love with them last year after seeing them on Atlantic Pacific (here or here), but I just couldn't justify the price for 5 inch heels that would be impossible to wear outside of work and/or special events that involved a lot of sitting.  But for a little less than $70 I'm ecstatic to keep these as shoes that make me happy to wear or just to look at in my closet, lol.

Spring has finally - thankfully - arrived in DC but I figured that before the snow was completely gone I could take a picture of a work outfit I've enjoyed off and on this season. I've slowly been transitioning to the skinny ankle baring work pant, but I found these pants on clearance at Nordstrom Rack and really liked them. They work perfectly with my comfy Nine West heels (with no hemming!) and look incredibly professional with no extra effort on my part.

Today it is a warm, humid, rainy day to be in DC. About two weeks ago though it was cool and not quite so Summer-like and I got to pull out - for the first time - my new camel blazer! I gave in and picked up this up during one of J.Crew's infamous "sale off of sale" promos and I have no regrets. This is pretty much exactly how I wanted to wear it outfit wise, and I can't wait to try even more looks next Fall (or another day this year if the weather works with me, lol).

Working a 9-5 means that a lot of my clothes and outfits have to be office appropriate. Now I'd be the first one to admit that I wander above and below that line when the mood strikes me, but this particular look surprised me by feeling right for work and life. The jean jacket dresses down the pencil skirt, which being seersucker is already a bit different than my typical choices, plus the flats and purse means I could get around in comfort and style. Yay!

Sometimes I put together an outfit by throwing all the things I love into one look and hoping and praying it works out.

In this particular case I would say we're at about a 85% success rate because I'm not completely sold on the crop pants + leopard shoes.

It might have snowed in DC yesterday, but a couple weekends ago it was practically blissful outside. To take advantage of the weather I coerced a friend of mine into walking around Del Ray - a cutesy little neighborhood in Alexandria, VA that hasn't yet been taken over by tourists.

I loved getting a more in depth feel for the community, and in addition to wine tasting and excellent gluten-free macaroons, I also found the best summer purse in a garden/gift store for only $10! Since the store owner thought it matched my outfit so well she almost forgot to charge me for it, I figured it was only right to take pictures with it too.

Lately the only thing I've been able to think about it getting a camel coat. THE camel coat in fact, the perfect realization of all my classy and respectable wardrobe dreams. Thanks to the same friends who have to listen to me wax not-all-that-poetically about it, I was able to get my hands on this beautiful Cole Haan coat. W00t!

Looking back on this outfit I'd say I'm ok with a little of it and in love with not much of it, for a couple of reasons. The top half I'm totally on board with, especially the goofy little character on this J.Crew Factory sweater, but on the bottom I'm just not comfortable.

As I'm getting older I'm becoming less and less willing to put myself into pieces I don't feel great in. And due to some insecurities involving the abdomen area pencil skirts are just not my favorite thing to wear - no matter how I try. This skirt has been in and out of the donate bin for a while but I think it's going to stay there this time. Possibly along with these shoes....

It feels like DC might be breezing right through any temperate Fall days so who knows how long I'll have left to wear this blazer - I still love it though!

So....about this outfit. In my head it made total sense - different patterns, but both in shades of blue, with white-ish backgrounds to connect the two. Once I had it on my body though I couldn't help but feel like the execution was questionable.

Normally I would just put these in the 'eh' outfit pile and move on, but you know what? We all have 'eh' days so I feel like it's only fair to share mine too :).

I happened to be at Potomac Mills during J.Crew Factory's last 50% off sale and I couldn't resist walking away with a few pieces. One of them happened to be this skirt, which in spite of my usual fit problems with the No. 2 pencil skirt, sits pretty well on my frame.

The conundrum I'm talking about in the title though has to do with the little behind the scenes things that make an outfit look right. I prefer to wear spanx-like undergarments with skirts & dresses but my penchant for the high-waisted variety was annoying with this shirt.  It's loose enough to come untucked from the skirt but I couldn't tuck it into anything else  (like my underwear) to keep it stable. I'm sure if anyone could have seen the elaborate (and very unladylike) ways I had to keep readjusting between photos they would have had a big laugh.



P.S. - these sandals are incredibly similar to the Sam Edleman Trina (they have the gold block heel and everything) but sadly they are NOT the comfy walking sandal I wanted them to be. Blisters man, so many blisters. I hope it gets better with time!