a light jacket

Yesterday was April 25th, and as well know, it is the perfect date. My "light jacket" was purchased in November when I was in Germany, but I have only had a chance to wear it once since then so I was actually pretty excited to finally be able to wear it. It wasn't too hot or too cold out ;)

In the past I've been somewhat of a jacket hoarder. I kept buying new ones because I wasn't satisfied with the old ones, but the new ones weren't that great either. I really want to end that cycle though. With this move coming up, I'm getting rid of everything that isn't something I actually like anymore, which includes a lot of my old jackets. I think in the end I'll only be taking 4 jackets with me (this one, my Burberry coat, my Banana Republic trench coat, and my thick heavy duty winter coat). I'll need a nice "professional" winter jacket sometime in the fall, and then I should be set on jackets for a really long time.

Not that winter jackets are something I need to be thinking about in April, but ya know...just planning ahead....talking myself through the process of packing up my life and moving three states away.

Jacket: from Germany [save | spend | awesome splurge]

Blouse: J.Crew Factory [exact]

Scarf: Victoria's Secret

Jeans: American Eagle [exact]

Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs [exact]

Earrings: Tiffany & Co. [exact]

Bracelets: Forever 21

Watch: Fossil [similar]

Nail Polish: Color Club Age of Aquarius

Ring: Galisfly [exact]

P.S. It's a great weekend for sales!
+ Tory Burch's Friends and Family Sale is going on (Code TBSPRING)
+ Loft is having a flash sale this morning = $50 off a purchase of $100+ full priced items (Code FLASHSALE)
+ J.Crew Factory is having another 50% off everything in store event like they did a few weeks ago when I get this skirt (which it's obviously still too cold for but I know will be a staple for my time off this summer)
+ Gap is having 40% off already reduced items (Code GAPSALE). I ordered this blazer yesterday during the 30% off everything.

P.P.S and in case you were debating blowing all your money, budgetting bloggers is going up tomorrow to remind you to be responsible :)

meow

I'm not really a cat person. Not because I don't want to be, but because I'm really allergic to them.

Good news - the cats on my shirt are not real. Cats for everyone! Officially a cat lady now. Maybe I'll get the dress too....

Shirt: Gap  [exact]
Sweater: NY&Co. [similar on sale at J.Crew]
Jeans: American Eagle  [exact]
Necklace: from Germany
Belt: Target
Purse: Coach*  [current version]
Shoes: Tory Burch  [exact]
Watch: Boccia
Rings: Galisfly - win a set here!
Nails: Essie Chinchilly

*I really like the Coach Legacy collection for its classic style and rich leather but a ~$300 bag is not something I need/can afford right now. Of all the types of handbags, the crossbodies are my favorite so I wanted to add a neutral leather version to my more inexpensive collection.

Jean from Extra Petite recently posted about the vintage Coach market - many of the current Legacy collection bags are based off the originals. Getting a current Legacy style but as an original is something I hadn't thought of. I started searching and bidding on eBay - I wasn't willing to spend more than $50 though so I lost out on quite a few. I received a tip to also search Etsy and that's where I found this bag. She's in great condition - she just needs a little bit of TLC and then she'll be good as new. I'm really happy with this purchase!

giveaway: galisfly above the knuckle chrome rings

I'm really excited to share this giveaway with you! A few weeks ago I was perusing the internet and stumbled upon the Galisfly shop. Gal sells a bunch of amazing pieces of jewelry but I was really drawn to the above the knuckle rings. I sent in my order right away and about a week later, they were in my hands (they come all the way from Isreal!). You may have seen them already on instagram or on this post. I've really enjoyed wearing them - I think they are sleek enough that they can be worn every day, they are strong enough that they aren't bending like other thin rings are, and they are versatile since you can wear them any number of ways. I can even wear them at work and they stay on without any problems even though I'm constantly changing gloves. I think a rose gold set may have to be next!

I'm so happy that Gal agreed to give a set of these chrome above the knuckle rings away. I hope you love them as much as I love mine. This giveaway is open internationally and ends on the 24th of March. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclosure: I really did purchase these rings with my own money. I am not being compensated to hold this giveaway - I just really love mine and want to give you the chance to win a set!

on trends

Looking at fashion from previous decades, it's easy to nail down certain time periods.

+ Full skirts, pulled in waists, perfectly coiffed hair? 50's.

+ Flowing skirts, hippie jewelry, long straight hair? 70's.

+ Neon, shoulder pads, big hair? 80s/early 90s.

They say because our decade (the 20teens? the 2010s? what do we call it?) lives and breathes fast fashion that our "style" will be harder to nail down. I always thought that since what we do nowadays is a lot more natural (more neutrals, no crazy clothing pieces or hair styles) that we will be considered pretty timeless but I probably only think that because that's what we're living right now and maybe everyone in 1994 thought the same thing (although please, I disagree - this is not cute).

I was thinking about current trends - chambray, print mixing, neon (which I'm still refusing to participate in), skinny jeans - and I wonder if we'll look back at our blogs/yearbooks/facebooks/family photo albums and wonder what in the world we were ever thinking. Are we going to have to explain to our children that mixing stripes and florals (or ya know, plaids because Wisconsin is still firmly in winter) was the cool thing to do in 2013 and it was totally on trend? That wearing a denim shirt with denim pants was completely socially acceptable and not just in Canada (I kid!)? That neon made a resurgence and we (you...) welcomed it back with open arms?

What do you think - are there any trends you think we'll regret or is what we are wearing now timeless and not year-definable?

Shirt: Gap  [exact on sale]
Chambray: Old Navy  [exact]
Jeans: American Eagle  [exact]
Scarf: DIY
Boots: Steve Madden
Watch: Fossil  [similar]
Rings: Galisfly

On a side note, with daylights savings time I now have to take pictures after work again, which means there is more traffic. I take pictures on a little side road, but three cars specifically drove over to me to see if I need help - apparently a girl standing behind her car while it's snowing is a girl in need. That's what you get for living in the Midwest. Here's my reaction after I heard the third car pulling up to me. I just politely declined their help as they awkwardly stared at me and my tripod trunk. That things I do for you...