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Some days you just know you’ve created the perfect outfit. The outfit that makes you feel amazing and chic and puts a little more bounce in your step. The hair and make-up may not be perfect but that outfit, oh the outfit, you want to wear it, or at least recreate it, every single day. Some people have a knack for pulling clothes out of their closet and it just works. Every time. I do not have that ability. Creating that perfect outfit daily is something I cannot do without a little help from my friends. (Pinterest, the Stylebook App, Instagram, other Blogs).

But today, I loved what I created. I just bought the Harvest Moon Poncho over the weekend during the 20% off sweaters promo. I tried it on with this skirt (reviews coming soon) and loved it. It has that bat-wing, open-side, dropped/no shoulder trend/s going on. It’s see-though so layering is in order and it’s a turtleneck, something I stay away from. But the turtleneck is slouchy and wide. Pushing up the sleeves helps with the bat-wing and the Silk Sleeveless Blouse was the perfect layering piece. 

 ~ Harvest Moon Poncho, Anthropologie ~
~ Silk Sleeveless Blouse, Ivory, J Crew ~
~ Cropped Skinny Jean, Tory Burch ~
~ Quinn Suede Ankle Booties, Dark Cedar, J Crew Factory ~

I even have little bulldogs on my socks (J Crew). I don’t see them online but they were in the sale section in-store. There are Elephants, Bows and I also love these Anonymous Isom socks. 
I was totally comfortable all day long.
Now to figure out what to wear tomorrow.

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I thought the patterns and colors on both of these next two skirt from Tory Burch were really interesting.

~ Karina Skirt, Sandshell, size 8 ~

The Karina Skirt is a pretty floral print on a wrap mini skirt, sitting at 18 1/2 inches. I would wear this with a solid sweater on top pulling from the more subtle colors on the skirt, like mint, olive or the cobalt blue.
The size 8 fit true-to-size to maybe just slightly big in the hips. I’d stick with the size 8 as the waist was a little snug for me. Sizing to a 10 would make the waist a little more comfortable but add more material at the hips.

I am a little worried about only two buttons holding this skirt in place. It’s definitely not for a windy day, though the bottom layer does go all the way across both legs.

I love the little fabric button on the outside. The inside button is a plain, sturdy clear button. You can see the subtle colors I mentioned above in this picture.

~ Juliana Skirt, Douglas Fir, size 8 ~
I tried this on for the print. The material is mostly cotton with a silk blend but felt almost like a quilt material. The wrap on this is more exaggerated than the Karina Skirt. The print matches up almost exactly where the top wrap meets the bottom. 

It’s also much shorter at 17 inches. The size 8 fit snug so I would size up in this skirt. Tights would also be a requirement for this skirt. Other than the Tanya Top in Black or Ivory I had a hard time trying to style this skirt in my head.

The print, though, is a conversation starter.

I passed on both of these skirt as well as not including them in my wishlist. They are not quite my style and the prints, though unique, are not what I’m looking to add to my closet at this time. I can’t love everything, right? 

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I can’t seem to find enough hours in the day to do everything I need. And weekends are just as busy! The Holiday season will be in full swing in just a few short weeks and then things will really be crazy around here. Luckily, I have half of my Christmas shopping complete, thanks to last year’s sale at Anthropologie (more on that later)!

I was able to squeeze in a trip to Tory Burch and love the new Holiday Collection. There was quite a bit on sale, including this beautiful, perforated leather skirt.

~ Fae Skirt, size 8 ~
The sheepskin leather is very supple and the perforations throughout the skirt bring the style up from plain black leather to cool and edgy. The waist and pocket are piped in leather and the pleating is minimal. 

I failed to position the skirt for a more flattering fit but this does run TTS.

There are double pockets on both sides of the skirt, sitting right in front.

At 18 inches, this is a mini skirt but the length for me is perfect on my 5’2″ frame. The blouse is The Tanya Top in black. I am wearing a size 6 and the fit is very comfortable. Definitely size down in this top. You can also find it in solid Ivory/White, an Ivory Print and a Black Print. It’s a great work piece to layer under cardis and blazers.

I have plenty of leather in my closet for now but this skirt was really tempting. I’d probably wear all black, including a black Cashmere Tee, with tights and heels or booties. With the leather trend still going strong, I really need to wear the skirts I have.

Has anything caught your eye in the Tory Burch sale section?

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The Suede Moto Sweater Jacket has been on my wishlist since it arrived styled in an email last month. The suede details is what I really like about this jacket. My store just received it and it sold through pretty quick with only a Small and Large on the rack. This is the Large and fits ok.

The Large ran big through the body so I think the Medium would fit much better throughout. 
I like this much better opened and would add a scarf underneath. 
The suede detail at the shoulders are what I love about this jacket. This isn’t for cold-weather wear but might do well layered under a heavier coat. Otherwise, I would wear this on mild-temp days.

And here are a few more outerwear picks. My two favorites are the Draped Wool Coat and the Red Wool Coat. With a non-neutral color like red, you really have to decide if you will like it 1-3 years later. Otherwise, it’s probably best to stick to neutrals, like Gray, Black, and Navy.

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I do not have a need for a new Winter coat since I bought the Majesty Peacoat last year, in Navy. I do wear blazers all the time in the Fall, Winter and Early Spring so anything that can function as something similar, like the Suede Moto Sweater Jacket will always get some use.

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This weekend, through Sunday, “BREXCITED” gets you 30% off Full-Price styles, online and in-store, with some exclusions (BR Picks, Cashmere and Leather). Banana Republic is pretty good about their promos and the BR Picks are usually rotated with a month of new arrivals. I’ve noticed that items will go online first and then shipped to the store within a few weeks, usually by the time some items are removed from the BR Pick list.

~ Racerback Cowl Tank, Secret Plum, Small ~
I like a good cowlneck and am always looking to find a nice one that drapes enough and not too low. I had to fiddle with this for a bit to get it lay the way I wanted. The jersey material feels nice against the body but overall this tank runs a little big. I think the Medium would drape lower at the neck, which, if I was going to use this as a going-out top only would be fine. Otherwise, I will layer this under cardigans and blazers. The Secret Plum is nicely saturated and a beautiful color. This little top also comes in Cocoon (an Ivory shade) and Black.

~ A La Mode Pullover, Medium ~
Everywhere you look this season are sweatshirts of all materials, graphics and patterns. Banana Republic now has some graphic ones in a ponte-blend material. This is the Medium and ran really small on me. I want my sweatshirts to be comfortable but not hugely oversized. The A La Mode Sweatshirt goes in the opposite direction of my preferences. The arms are tight, the chest is pulling and it’s “hand-wash”. I would need to size to at least a Large to have this fit comfortably and maybe larger to layer underneath it. 
This also comes in Haute and The Little Black Sweatshirt which are all the same rayon-blend. 

~ Soft-Wash Bold Plaid Flannel Shirt, Preppy Navy, Medium ~
This shirt has been on my wishlist since it came out but 1) was a BR Pick and excluded from promos and 2) didn’t arrive to my store until last week. I love the Navy with little hints of green throughout and it looked good paired with the Coated Green Sateen Skinny Ankle Pant. The Medium is the best fit for me, comparing to the size 8 of the J Crew Perfect Shirts. Overall, having seen it IRL finally, I decided it wasn’t needed in my closet right now. It stays on my wishlist for now, though.

This also comes in Strawberry Red, which is similar to a Madewell shirt I have.
~  Faux-Leather Trim Cable-Knit Pullover, Navy, Small ~
This sweater is another item on my wishlist. The Small was snug for me in the upper body so I would get a Medium. Even then, I’m not sure I could layer anything more than a thin tee underneath.I do like the fitted look through the body though so I hope the Medium isn’t too much wider.  I’ll definitely be going back to make sure though. 

I liked the cable-knit and the color but this sweater does need a shirt underneath as the zipper comes above the waistband.

What are you shopping for at Banana Republic?

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