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Happy Halloween! I hope your morning has been filled with more treats than tricks. I’m not in the office today but I know they are planning for a Door Decorating Contest, and trick-or-treaters later today. Not to mention all the cookies, cakes, cupcakes and other goodies that have been filling my Facebook and Instagram streams from co-workers. Though I miss this fun part of being in an office, I am a little glad I’m not tempted by all the yumminess that is there.

We are finally getting into Fall weather, on this last day of October. With temps lowering I was excited to wear the Factory Pleated Mini Skirt in Plaid. Surprisingly, if you haven’t taken a closer look at the skirt, it has tiny stripes of blue mixed in.

Using my Stylebook App, I created two additional looks for this skirt. Each time I make a purchase I create multiple looks with my Stylebook App. This helps me decide whether or not I can really use it in my closet and also prepares me when I think I have “nothing-to-wear”. Sometimes they look great IRL and other times, the outfit is a big fail. I think this will look really cute IRL with the blue bows bringing out the blue in the plaid pattern of the skirt. Depending on the day, I may need to add tights or switch to tall boots instead of the booties.


Of course, a little check-on-check pattern-mixing will work too. I’ve added the Hugo Guinness sweater for a layering option. 

{update} This won’t look too bad styled with last years shirt in the same pattern. The Factory version might be a little closer in color to the gray in the skirt. 

I’m halfway through the day and still have a lot to do, including going to Vote! The days got away from me and I didn’t plan out a costume until yesterday. I’ll at least be sure to share on Instagram. I can’t wait to see all the little Princess Elsa’s and ghouls and goblins tonight. 
Have a Great Day!

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One of the ways I use my Stylebook App is by putting together a few outfits with a new item I’ve bought. It helps me decide if that item will be used more than once or if I need to return it. I did just that over the weekend with the Pleated Lattice Skirt in Distressed Quartz. I was able to style 5 different outfits to wear from Summer to Winter.

~ Summer ~
~ Chambray Short-Sleeve Top (Factory), Lillian Mirror Metallic Sandals in Silver ~

The first thing I wanted to do was make sure I had shoes to go with this skirt. I love the new Suede D’Orsay Flats in Grey but don’t want to really have to buy new shoes to go with the new skirt. I also didn’t want to pair anything too bright or harsh as the Distressed Quartz color is so very feminine. Either Silver or Gold would look nice with this skirt, and this outfit in general. The Chambray Shirt is great to wear button-up or even layered over a tank or tee. You could also use a long-sleeve Chambray Shirt and roll the sleeves.

~ Pre-Fall (September) ~
~ Vintage Denim Jacket in Recycled Indigo Wash (Factory), Silk Sleeveless Blouse in Heart Dot, Frye Anna Leather Oxford ~
I really liked this look when I styled it in the dressing room. I subbed out the solid black for the Heart Dot blouse. Roll the sleeves on the denim jacket and add some cool leather oxfords and you have a nice little football game outfit. 

~ Early Fall (October) ~
~ Silk-Panel Sweater in Antique Floral, Valentino Heels (Kate Spade, Bandolino) ~
The small pop of navy brings the all neutral outfit a little extra color. This would also look great with the Navy colorway. Any nude heel will do. These and the Kate Spade Kiki Wedges are my nudes right now. 

~ Fall (November) ~

This was the other dressing room outfit I really loved. I have the Clare Cardigan in Cabernet. I could have paired this with the Factory Sylvia Wedges in Cabernet but I like the pop of Leopard with all of this.

~ Winter (December) ~
~ Cashmere Tee (Tippi), Printed Silk Two-Pocket Blouse, Printed Every T-Strap Heels ~

Add some matching tights and you are ready for work. My Winters are not very cold so I could get away with this minimal layering.

There you have it. The Pleated Lattice Skirt styled from Summer to Winter. The Navy would go with each outfit as well. The Hidden Floral print would work with well with 1, 3, and 4.

What else would you pair with this color of skirt?

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The Brocatto Peplum Top was the only item on my Anthro wishlist I wanted to see using the Anthro Day 15% off. I ordered a Medium and should have probably chosen a Medium Petite. It’s loose in the shoulders and chest and then fits in the waist. The material is a beautiful brocade but does look a little like Grandmother’s couch. Also, the Peplum is a bit “peppy”

I love the color of the Roses and found so many items in my closet that would work with this top. I just don’t know if I love it enough to keep it or exchange it for a MP, so I’ll need your help deciding.

I originally didn’t care for pairing the Brocatto Peplum Top with the Fluted Skirt in Ivory because I had a Flare at the hip and then at my knees. But, now, seeing it in an image, I don’t think it looks that bad. What do you think? A pencil skirt or even the Sterling Skirt in Crimson Maple might be a better choice for this top.

Second, is a jean pairing. These are Lucky Brand Legend High-Rise Trouser Jeans, with the Schoolboy Blazer in Navy and Studded Strap Booties from Anthro. If I wore this top alone with a jean I would go a skinny jean like the Midrise Toothpick in Carbon.

Lastly, I have on the Flair Skirt in Double-Serge Wool in Navy, the Factory Clare Cardigan in Cabernet and my Louboutin’s in Cranberry. This is a nice look and the Clare Cardigan goes well with the top.

I created a few other looks in my Stylebook but am really on the fence about this top. So even though I like it and I can certainly wear this 3 ways, and more, I don’t know if I actually will. I have enough dressy tops to go with these items but can it be casual enough for WFH?
What do you think? 
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One new arrival I was looking forward to was the Floral Sweatshirt in Sea Green Gray. I tried both this one and the Navy Navy on and liked this one more. It seemed a little more versatile to me. The Navy ran small on me. I tried on a Small and it ran tight across the chest, while the Gray in Small was a good fit. The Medium in Navy was a better fit but not as slouchy as the Gray in Medium. The front material of the Navy is silk while the Gray is Brocade. I felt I would snag the Navy so I brought the Gray in a Small home with me.

Now, let’s see how well I like it after putting it through the “1 Item, 3 Ways” test.

First, I paired it with the Andie Chino’s in Fatigue and the Frye Anna Leather Oxford. I think I can do better on the shoe with this one but the Floral Sweatshirt does pair nicely with the Andie Chino’s. It will also look great with the Navy and the Tuxedo Stripe. (I’m guessing the Gray Andie’s will work as well but I didn’t purchase those.) 

Next, I paired the Sweatshirt with the Cafe’ Capri’s in Iced Lilac from a season or two ago and my Gray Bronson Booties in Suede. This looks really good with the light purple and this color is one I would never have thought of if I hadn’t been trying be creative with this Sweatshirt. 

Lastly, is my favorite outfit with the Floral Sweatshirt. I have it on with the No. 2 Pencil Skirt in Viridian Green and my Kate Spade Kiki Suede Wedges. The skirt brings out the smaller green pieces in the Sweatshirt. They are almost an identical match in color.
Of course, the Floral Sweatshirt will look great with any type of jean, so I stayed away from using that as one of my items.
Tell me, what would you pair this Sweatshirt with?
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To help me with defining my style and continuous closet purging I am starting a new feature of showing how to wear one item 3 ways. I know a lot of you try to also use this idea when making/keeping purchases. These will be items I currently have or have recently purchased and am on the fence about keeping. I will show everything “IRL” so you can see the true items and colors together.

The first piece was part of an outfit I wore last week at home and then to dinner at a Pizza Garden that evening. I find that my outfits consist of three things: a top, bottom and shoes. Very basic and simple because the need for jewelry or other layers doesn’t fit my work-from-home life. I paired the Natasha Blouse in Gardenshade Floral with hemmed Matchsticks and Cece Ballet Flats in Black (but probably should have done the Navy instead). This is a blouse I was sad I missed out on last Spring but happily found it on ebay a few weeks ago.

As the weather cools, I can add a cardigan for inside the house and to run errands. This is the Jackie in Landscape Green and is a great match to the Natasha Blouse. 

I added the Navy Schoolboy for a more polished look, still keeping my three basics, and the Jackie Cardigan. 

For work, I kept the Jackie and changed to the Sterling Skirt in Crimson Maple, that I was able to purchase from a fellow JCA, and my Louboutin’s in Cranberry. A black heel will work as well. A Nude could work but I think a darker heel is best for this outfit. This green and burgundy pairing is beautiful, don’t you think? Buttoning the Jackie at the bottom helps you look more polished and leaner.

And, finally, to edge it up a bit I removed the cardigan and added my new Leather Moto Jacket in Cabernet. It’s amazingly gorgeous IRL and from Victoria’s Secret. I’ve been looking for a leather jacket for a very long time but could never find one I loved. Dark jeans like the Midrise Toothpick Jean in Carbon replace the Sterling Skirt and, again, the Louboutin’s in Cranberry finish this look. I only have gray Moto boots but short Black ones will do as well. I didn’t want to the look to be too edgy and I think the Moto Jacket in a different color suits the style without trying too hard.
So there you have it. The Natasha Blouse styled three ways (ok, maybe that was four). It’s a keeper. 
I hope you enjoyed this feature. If you have any suggestions or want to see an item styled 3 ways please leave a comment or email me. If I have the item or something similar I will be happy to feature it.
Have a Great Sunday!