Dare of the day: fall trends all week long

Summer days may be coming to an end, but that also means that Fashion New Year has arrived. Fall presents all sorts of new beginnings: new schoolyear, new cooler temps, but most of all, it's time for new trends in the fashion world. Here's a challenge to you to step out with a fashion dare each day of the week: 

Monday: Silk plaid blouse. Plaid is a fall classic, but things have gotten more exciting this season. Plaid prints on silky blouses are coming up everywhere. It's a much more feminine take on the lumberjack-inspired fall trend, and totally work-appropriate. Plus, it's a great transitional top, light enough to start wearing now.

Tuesday: Full pleated skirt. After a break from A-line styles, the classic pleats are back in session. Black keeps the look from getting to frilly. Pair with cable-knit tights and booties for an updated look.

Wednesday: Statement necklace. No longer in the fruity pastels of spring, this fall's statement necklaces are showing up with a darker edge. Baroque-inspired darker gems, mixed metals, and hefty scales are the new norm. Paired with your trusty basics (a simple blouse, a black shift, a white tee), this speeds up your morning prep and keeps you on trend.

Thursday: Vegan leather moto jacket. By now, we're just ready for a quick, no-fuss outfit. Just like a trusty denim jacket, you can throw this over just about anything you've already got. Try it over a flouncy dress to translate it into fall wear.

Friday: Distressed skinny jeans. Take Casual Fridays a step further and rock the rips. Keep your standard dark-wash skinnies around, but the look for fall is distressed. Perfect for date night when paired with a feminine, flowy top.

Saturday: Wide-brimmed wool hat. Embrace second-day hair for a laid-back Saturday. Paired with classic pieces like a tee and jeans, these hats are a bit moody and chic. Perfect for strolls through farmer's markets or out antiquing.

Sunday: Track pants. These comfy guys are more than just sweatpants. Pair with a graphic tee and Thursday's moto jacket for an updated look that takes you from the football field to the pub afterwards!

"Clashy chic"

Hudson jacket, thrifted tee, James jeans, Splendid boots, Francesca's necklace

I like to mix up my themes when dressing, meaning I like to mix high end pieces with bargain finds, dressy pieces with casual pieces, girly pieces with edgy pieces, etc.  It keeps your look from looking too monotonous and adds a little interest.  Plus, it's a great way to create a great deal of outfits from pieces you may already have!

For this outfit, I took a grungy band tee (yay, Sheryl Crow!) and added a glam statement necklace.  The two pieces don't naturally fall in the same category, but I like the clash that results.  "Clashy chic," if you will. ;)

Don't feel limited -- mix a pretty cocktail dress with a denim jacket and flats for a new way to wear the dress you probably only pull out once a year.  Or, try to put a pair of flashy pumps with jeans a basic tee. 

Have you tried this?  What are some of your favorite clashy combinations?

For when you just don't feel like it...

There are days that come up when I just don't feel like standing in front of my closet for twenty minutes, trying to figure out the magical combination of clothing that will make me feel well dressed for the day.  Sometimes, I'll admit, there are days when I miss my park district teaching days so all I would have to do is throw on that hideous lime green tee shirt and leave.

One such day of the week is Saturday.  It seems to me that Saturdays have their own sense of style.  Like everyone silently agreed that we could take things back a step and get comfy for the day.  That doesn't have to involve living life in yoga pants, though.  Even in a basic sweatshirt and skinny jeans, I love the way accessories can finish the job.

I've been trying to resurrect my wedding necklace from its sweet little dustbag and incorporate it into my everyday wardrobe.  Maybe pairing it with some pretty plain duds seems a bit over the top, but that's my comfort level!  I also love the little oxfords I found at Baker's riiight before they went out of business.  Literally.  I stepped in, bought them for $10, and by the time the day was over, the lights were closed, store empty, tumbleweeds blowing.  I just made it.

Challenge: try to throw on a statement necklace that is just a bit more than you'd normally reach for.  See what happens as you go about your day.  It's fun to feel a little more sparkly!

A (distracted) mission for chocolate

Some time before my wedding, my mom decided that it was in our best interest to go into the city and find chocolate.  At the time, it was probably to soothe my hormonal wedding stress, but the thought stuck with us.  Yesterday, we finally got around to it.

We centered our efforts around the chocolate troves on Michigan Ave., which meant a quick stop by the Fourth Presbyterian Church courtyard, a beautiful little oasis (with green space!) right in the middle of the concrete jungle.  Since my blog photos usually provide some kind of struggle in finding a decent backdrop, a few shots were necessary!

Hudson jacket, Olive & Oak shirt, Kate Spade necklace and bag, J. Crew skirt, Splendid booties

my darlin' mum

I was cold.  I lectured myself for leaving behind my bulky winter jacket, fearing at the time that it would cramp my style.  I was so excited to give new life to my wedding necklace that I didn't want to cover it up with practical things like scarves and hats.  Joke was on me!  However, being that I couldn't take more than 10 minutes outside at a time made for a great excuse to do a little distracted boutique shopping.  

After a luxe hand treatment at Lush and a bit of trolling around, we stepped into Cusp, a Neiman Marcus boutique that I was so excited to check out!

My takeaway: great, great stuff!  Lots of great brands like Parker, Tibi, Robbi & Nikki, etc.  However, my favorite section was the SHOES!  Great variety, and they carry one of my favorites: Loeffler Randall.  Aren't these flats adorable?  They're calf hair, in case you can't tell.  Tres chic!  They also have the Alice & Olivia pumps that I'm dying for.

All in all, it was a great day spent with my mom.  My treasure for the day was a bag of truffles from Godiva, which are sitting ever so temptingly on my kitchen table, waiting for me to cave.  I think I'll save them for tomorrow's New Girl.  ;)

On Wednesdays we wear pink (bags).

Levi's denim buttondown, Supply and Demand leggings, Free People cami (old), Hot Mama necklace (similar), Kate Spade bag

It's funny -- now that I'm seeing these photos, I'm realizing just now NOT small this pink bag is.  When I saw it Monday at the Kate Spade outlet store, I thought Oh great, a small crossbody bag I can switch up with my big tote!!!  Nonetheless, it is smaller than the gargantuan suitcase-of-a-bag I'm normally sporting.  Plus, the deal I got on this thing shouldn't even be legal.  I'm super excited to get it in my rotation!  Fantasy football?  No thanks, handbags for me. 

When we unpacked these leggings with the leather tuxedo stripe, I thought there was no way I was cool enough to wear them.  After trying, though, I fell in love!  The tuxedo stripe makes them kind of cheeky rather than tough.  Since the leather on the leggings can be kind of edgy, I like to offset them with something not-so-edgy for daytime.  As of late (and as all my stylists at the store know), my favorite wardrobe piece is my denim buttondown.  My obsession has become somewhat of a joke, but it SERIOUSLY goes with everything!  (I can just hear the snickering!)  I added a striped tank to layer underneath for dimension.  Stripes really are a neutral, so long as the colors jive. 

To top it all off, I added a couple of my favorite accessories: my boots and my zany flower necklace.  The founder of Hot Mama, Megan Tamte, says that you should never leave the house without a piece of statement jewelry, and I couldn't agree more.  What a fun way to wake up an outfit!  Even paired with a simple tee, it makes your look seem more elevated.  Just so happens Hot Mama is having a 25% off accessories sale, so check it out!

If you need me I'll be in my denim buttondown.

Rachel Zoe's Gold Necklace (And General Awesomeness)

Rachel Zoe is a huge inspiration of mine.  So naturally, when I stumbled across this video, I watched it!!!

I really enjoy that she is comfortable with a uniform of sorts... her black.  I think it can be a healthy choice to have a go-to.  If it works, work it!  What is not okay, though, is to be super boring about it.  Her necklace in this video did all the talking for me.... isn't it amazing?

Rachel Zoe necklace (see more art deco jewelry)

Wearing all black when you have a crazy statement piece like that on your side? Totally ok!

As I've said a million times before, accessories are really the way to explore trends in fashion.  Since gold is having a major moment right now, I suggest you hit the ground shopping and see what kind of gold treasure you can find!  Pair it with your trusty black and you're good to go.