A Shopaholic's Wishlist: Shoes & Accessories

A girl can't live without shoes, jewelry, scarves and perfume, right? Here's part 1 of this year's Christmas wishlist with all the accessories I'm loving. Hopefully it will inspire those of you procrastinators who have yet to finish shopping for the fashionista in your life!


What's on your wishlist?

OOTD: [Fall] in Love



Orange off-shoulder sweatshirt (HCo., from sister); owl pendant (AE, fall 2011); brown twill shorts (A&F, fall 2011); brown opaque tights (winter 2010)




"Love" two-finger ring (Forever 21, summer 2011)




Emma 10" Sheepskin Boots in chocolate (Bearpaw, Christmas 2009)





"It Starts With Me" nail polish (Nicole by OPI, bronzy-pink); "Give Me the 1st Dance" nail polish (Nicole by OPI, silver)



Fall is finally here, I can feel it in the air and see it in the 10-day weather forecast! Today was the first day in quite awhile that it was below 70 degrees and it felt perfect!

I was able to wear my brown tights for the first time since spring...and also my neglected Bearpaw boots. Once you start wearing those, you know it's fall. I kept my outfit mostly neutral (brown) but added in a pop of color with my slouchy sweatshirt and beloved owl pendant. I love spice shades in autumn, and pairing them with neutrals (especially shades of brown) always looks put together.


What is one thing that always says "fall" to you?

Fall Must-Haves



Grey knit duster cardi (A&F, winter 2011); burgundy plaid tunic (A&F Kids, hand-me-down); navy culotte shorts (A&F, summer 2011); navy sparkle tights (AE, Christmas 2010)


Duster cardigans. Capelet jackets. Moccasin booties. Tights. Loop scarves. Slouchy skinnies. Tall boots. What do these have in common? They're my fall must-haves!

This past weekend, I rediscovered the joy that is layering. I missed it over the summer, when temps were rarely cooler than 85. But Saturday was a nice relief from the heat, and made me crave fall. Though it felt a little weird at first to be wearing such a thick sweater when it's still technically summer, I love how cute and cozy it looked with my tunic, culottes and tights. And it inspired me to hunt down more duster cardis. I think they look really cute over skirts or shorts with tights.

Accessorizing is key for fall--that's where the scarves, jackets, tights and boots come in! I have a few pairs of tights (the sparkly navy ones above, light grey sweater tights, brown, brown striped leggings and cream pointelle ones) but a girl can always use a few more pairs, right? I love how they look with boots, which is why I'm lusting after a pair of tall, non-Ugg-style boots. They look totally polished but still casual. Scarves make me feel cozy, and they're a great alternative to necklaces. And capelet-type jackets are great for slightly chilly fall days.

 

What's on your fall must-have list?

Sock It To Me!

Socks used to be the forgotten accessory. Who really cares that much about socks, anyway? No one will see them (probably), so does it really matter if they're cute (or match, for that matter)?

This season, a lot of my favorite stores are selling socks. Not just any old socks, but cute socks. All kinds of patterns and colors. Knee-high and slouchy, they're perfect for a bold school girl look with a mini skirt and cardi. Or if you're feeling shy, you can let just a little sock peek out from cropped boyfriend jeans. Socks are totally versatile, and are great for cooler days when you want to stay warm but still want to look good.

What is your favorite way to rock socks?

Dresses...In Winter?




Two very different (but both cute) dress looks!

Given my affinity for tights, boots and miniskirts, it's no wonder I'm lusting after the perfect winter dress. I'm such a girly-girl, and I really dreaded putting my summer dresses in storage a few weeks back. Luckily, I've still got plenty of skirts to wear throughout these next few months. But still no dress. Here are a few I'd love to get!

The AE Sequin T-Shirt Dress ($49.95, online only) is a simple cut with cute sequin detailing. It's a great dress for the holiday season because of it's sparkle, and it looks great over bright-colored tights (like the AE Thermal Leggings in purple, $24.50). And the open back adds a flirty touch.

For a more elegant look, try the AE Sweetheart Party Dress ($39.95, online only). I like it best in the deep bordeaux color because it's so holiday-like. Dress it up with gold heels, a leopard-print wrap (like the AE Faux Fur Leopard Coat, $89.95) and a clutch for a holiday party or dress it down with cream-colored tights and simple flats (like the AE Suede Ballet Flat in mauve glow, $24.95).

Abercrombie Kids' Elsie Sweater Dress ($49.50) in light brown would look amazing with my stripe brown leggings I bought from AE a few yea

rs ago and my dark brown Bearpaw boots. I've really been having a hard time finding a sweaterdress that isn't striped so this one is perfect.

If you're looking for the perfect dress for that special holiday event, or just to look cute on a chilly day, these stores have you covered!

Petite Pick of November

Sweater, cami and skirt

Happy Halloween, everyone! While I'm not doing anything particularly fun this Halloween evening (unless you count studying for an exam, which I don't), my weekend has certainly been jam-packed. I got to come home this weekend because my little sister was getting confirmed at our church, so Saturday evening and Sunday morning were booked. Friday evening was nice because my mom, sister and I got to check out a new restaurant (new for us) called Mad Greens--it's like a gourmet salad place, and it's really good. After the 2 1/2 hour drive home, we carved pumpkins! Last night, I also got to watch some classic Disney Halloween videos with my parents and today for lunch/dinner we went to P.F. Chang's to celebrate my sister's Confirmation. So it was a good weekend.

But anyways, the point of this post is to showcase one of the outfits I wore this weekend, one that I think is great for petites. It was what I wore on Saturday to the Confirmation banquet.

I love short-sleeved, easy-fitting sweaters. I own four from Hollister, and they're perfect for a petite frame. They show off your small arms and drape loosely, but not too loosely, creating curves while highlighting your body. This one was a navy blue one I bought from Hollister a few months ago, with a deep V-neck and cute pink and navy side ties. Underneath is a basic white lacy cami from Aeropostale. On bottom is a burgundy and navy floral skirt from Hollister. The great part about it is it's thinly knit but not see-through and the dark pattern looks great for all seasons. The skirt is also the perfect length for petites. I paired it with a pair of cream-colored pointelle tights from American Eagle--tights are great for when you want to wear a cute mini but it's a little too chilly outside--and a pair of tan boots. For jewelry, I stuck with a simple sparkly necklace, a set of silver and white bangles and a silver sparkly ring, all from AE. I wore my hair in relaxed curls (I had curled my hair the previous morning, slept on it overnight and just brushed them out a little the next day) and had neutral makeup.

The best part is, I actually took a picture of my outfit for the first time in a while so you can actually see somewhat how the outfit looks. I think it's great for any petites who want a simple but nice outfit for special events during the chillier months.
Hopefully I will get back in the habit of taking pictures of my outfit and including them in my posts--after all, a picture's worth a thousand words.

Have a great Halloween, and get ready for November! 

My boots (sorry about the clutter!)

Skirt and tights

Cozy Accessories

I love all the cold weather clothes--from coats to boots to tights to scarves. I really love days that are cool and cloudy because then I can get all cozy with my accessories! Here are a few of my faves:

• AE Suede Fringe Moc ($34.50)--Moccasins are so comfy and stylish, too. They add a boho touch to any look and these are great because they're lined with faux fur.
• AE Striped Trapper Hat ($29.50)--These are a classic style, but the stripes add a cute touch. Plus, the hat's versatile enough that you can even incorporate it into your outfit!
• AE Cable Knit Loop Scarf ($34.50)--What better way to keep warm in a snowstorm than with a scarf? This one also works as an accessory, so you don't have to take it off once you go inside.
• AE Cable Knit Convertible Gloves ($19.50)--These are perfect for when you want to be able to use your fingers (such as for texting) but still stay warm. You can flip the mitten part over and stay perfectly cozy.
• AE Solid Leggings ($15.50)--Leggings are great for layering under skirts, dresses and even jeans on really cold days. I love the variety of colors these come in, from vintage eggplant to heather grey.
• AE Cozy Cable Knit Tights ($12.50)--I love anything cable knit, and tights are my go-to on days that I want to wear my denim minis but it's cold outside. They look great paired with boots.
• AE Warm & Fuzzy Boot ($39.50)--These look almost identical to Uggs but are much, much cheaper. And they're be perfect with skinnies, jeggings, leggings and tights. You'll wear these all fall and winter!
• AE Fair Isle Clog ($34.50)--Fair Isle is a classic winter pattern, and what better way to wear it than on comfy clogs?

Stay warm this fall and winter with the cutest accessories!

Getting Ready For Winter

I love October--it's like the gateway month into the holiday season, which I am anticipating more than ever this year. On top of that, the temperatures are starting to cool down and the smell of fall is in the air. But it's not too early to get your wardrobe ready for winter. Here are a few must-haves to add to your shopping list--bonus: they're all available in stores now, so by the time the cold weather starts to kick in, they'll be on clearance! Or you can stock up now and store them for later.



With outfits like these, you're sure to stay warm this winter!



SWEATERS: Who doesn't love a great, cozy sweater? They're so versatile and great for layering over just about anything. The only downside is that there are so many different styles this season to choose from! For an unexpected twist, try a short-sleeve sweater (AE Chunky Knit Short Sleeve Sweater, $39.50) over a basic long-sleeved tee (AE Long Sleeve V-Neck T, $19.50) for added warmth. Another option is the classic button-down cardigan (Hollister 1000 Steps Beach, $59.50, Epic only). This one in particular is great for the holidays--the cream version has little red hearts and it looks like the classic Christmas sweater, only cuter. Cardis work best over knit tanks (A&F's Tessa tank, $30--the tiered peplum hem detail makes it even better) and under jackets (try HCo.'s Lake Hodges denim jacket, $89.50, for a cozy look).



JACKETS: Speaking of jackets, you'll probably need one this winter. Where I live (in Colorado), it snows a lot but is still usually sunny, so jackets are still a must in the morning at least. Don't settle for a boring one, though, since you'll be wearing it all winter! I'd suggest buying at least two, if you can afford it, so you can switch it up depending on the outfit or your mood or the weather. For a lightweight jacket perfect for fall days, try a hoodless cotton jacket (like A&F's Gwyneth coat, $59.89). The khaki color on this one looks great over just about anything and it's durable enough to keep the wind out. On colder, snowier days, look for a coat that's a little more heavy-duty (Hollister's Ormond Beach puffer jacket, $79.89). Puffy coats are still stylish and this one comes in a wide array of colors--you may have a hard time choosing!



BOOTS: I really love my Bearpaw boots. I got them last year in chocolate and now I want the same pair in chestnut or gray. I also like some of the boots that American Eagle is offering this year, like the AE Button Warm & Fuzzy Boot ($39.50). They just look so cozy I can't resist. I always wear my boots with tights and a miniskirt, but they also work with skinny jeans. And I still want to get the Bearpaw Loki (a suede and sheepskin mule) in chestnut. I know they're not technically boots, but I still would love to have them.


What are you wanting this winter?



Steppin' Into Fall

Just two of the many ways to wear boots this fall!

What comes to mind when you think of fall? Is it the leaves falling, the cooler temperatures, going back to school, Halloween or maybe the Pumpkin Spice latte at Starbucks? For me, fall is the season for boots!

I love the new arrival boots at American Eagle. My faves would have to be the AE Warm & Fuzzy Boot ($39.50) in grey or the AE Button Warm & Fuzzy Boot ($39.50) in chestnut. Both are suede, Ugg-style boots which is why I love them so much--they have the look without the high price. The faux-fur lining is a cozy touch that works through winter. If you buy them, make sure to spray them with a spray protector before going outside, since they can get stained in the snow.

While it's still warm, try them with a flouncy mini and cute tank top--later, you can layer tights underneath or wear them with skinny jeans and a sweater.