lace ups and leopard

Dress ($10!!) // Jacket // Shoes // Scarf // Sunglasses

This outfit is just a mash-up of all my best steals and deals from the good Labor Day sales!  Seriously, it's such a fun weekend to shop, and Lake of the Ozarks has an amazing mall (we went twice, oops!) 

Some details, because I love reviews....

This jacket runs a size big, I'm wearing an XS and it was on sale for $65!  An insane steal for something classic I'll probably wear for years to come.  Same with the dress, which is from Chinese retailer "She Inside."  Their clothes are a pretty big gamble, and while I think the quality is surprisingly awesome for a $10 dress (including shipping, crazy) it did not run tight like lots of Asian clothing does - I wish I had ordered my usual small.  That said, I see myself wearing this a lot because it's such a versatile transitional piece.  The same could be said for this scarf, which is going to be a go-to!  

I'm totally loving the trend of funky flats for this fall, and I really hemmed and hawed over purchasing these Topshop ones for a while.  In the end, they were the best quality "knockoffs" of the Aquazzurra Christie flats, which are out of my budget for something so trendy!  I love these and am totally glad I bought them, plus they're super comfy.  But size up a half size, for sure.  

Lastly, I have a serious addiction to sunglasses but these are hands down my new favorite pair - Sunglass Hut had a $40 off promo for polarized sunglasses, so Darrell and I each got a new pair and I am kicking myself for not only owning polarized sunglasses!  The clarity is unbelievable, especially with the glare on the lake.  I'm not sure I can ever go back!  

the weekender/labor day weekend

In case you had reason to fear we didn't have enough fun this weekend, let the record show that it was a perfect holiday! 

However, our last week was a whole lot of sad, bad, awful because Claire got the croup at daycare, so we were feeling pretty deserving of a break by Friday!  The poor thing had horrible trouble breathing to the point of needing a steroid shot, and we were worried sick/exhausted from being up all hours of the night and anxious as could be about her overall state.  Think lots of periods of just inconsolable crying....yeesh.  I am so grateful that she has been really healthy overall, because there's nothing worse than seeing your baby sick.  

We left for the lake mid-week and Claire felt so much better the morning we woke up there - obviously we maxed out on happy giggles and snuggles in light of her improved mood! 

We had gorgeous weather all week, so we took advantage of our built in babysitters (my parents) and had friends down for the weekend to mostly swim, sunbathe, and drink Peach Bourbon slushies on the dock.  

Cue 50687 photos of us doing just that: 

I mean, that face! 

We even got a perfect group pic!  Even if Claire was a little pissed off about wearing that life jacket....

We got back pretty early on Monday and when I was getting ready to go to the grocery store, Darrell snapped these adorable pics of Claire "helping" me get ready.  She is definitely getting into the stage of wanting to copy everything we do (which is a little scary but mostly just incredibly adorable!)  

In that same vein, Darrell sent me these pics while I was grocery shopping, and I figured that was probably the best way to end this post if my goal was to brighten your Monday-ish Tuesday.  

I hope you all had a fantastic labor day weekend too!  

end of summer dressing

 

 Dress // Shoes // Bag // Sunglasses // Earrings

Claire is pretty well demanding my attention at the moment so this post will be short & sweet, but I wanted to post these photos we took before lunch at Olio this past weekend!  This dress is one of my very favorite recent purchases, and perfect for the end of summer.  It feels transitional, but the gauzy fabric isn't too hot for days that are still quite warm, and it was perfect for a day we pretty much spent eating (so forgiving!)  It comes in 5 colors and I'm seriously debating getting the blush or fuschia as well.  

By the time this post goes live I'll be at the lake, probably already awake with my early rising baby watching the boats fill in as the Labor Day weekend crowd starts to show up!  I hope you all have an awesome holiday weekend - I'll be back tomorrow with link love! 

leather jacket round up

Of all my autumn must haves, a leather jacket tops the list.  Admittedly, there's a sadly brief period in St. Louis where a leather jacket is actually a practical purchase - it seems like it's hot hot hot hot hot and then BAM freezing cold after a measly two weeks of fall most years.  But this year!  This year in St Louis we've begun this gradual cool down in the mornings and evenings that is just the most perfect temperature for a slim fitting leather jacket as a topper, so I'm taking full advantage

I linked all my best finds for you in the widget, but wanted to point out a few I have and love...

The bottom right "Blank NYC" jacket I bought during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, and it's possibly the best purchase I made.  Make sure to size down - I got an extra small, it runs big.  

Forever 21 does surprisingly fantastic faux options, I've bought one practically every year, and this year bought their burgundy quilted version for the second time I liked it so much.  It always garnered tons of compliments, and people were shocked it wasn't real.  Last year's was worn out, and a little too big, but that's no big deal since they only run you about $20 and are easily replaced.  

That Tory Burch blush in the center is the jacket of my dreams, although sadly out of my budget.  Perhaps in yours though?  

And finally the 70s glam cognac River Island jacket with the fur collar is also calling my name, and I picture it going perfectly with the wide legged flares of fall.  

Which one is your favorite?  

denim + fringe

Jacket - (on sale, and a great spring and fall staple) // Dress (less than $30!!) // Bag (similar/less expensive)// Shoes // Necklace // Sunglasses (less expensive)

These boots twice in two weeks, with no stopping in sight - I think we can definitely call them my fall favorites.  My un-fancy camera doesn't quite capture the effect (I'm hoping to get a new one soon) but the swish they make when you walk is sort of addictive.   I'm also completely obsessed with these sunglasses, I never wear any others anymore!  When we took these pictures it was legitimately cold enough for this outfit - by noon each day, sure, it's hot again, but we've been experiencing the sort of temperature waves that come with fall mornings and it's been fun to pull some of my favorite jackets out of storage again.  A classic denim jacket is a fall style staple for me, and this one from J.Crew has been my favorite forever - I've even bought it in multiple sizes over time (through the saga of pregnant, postpartum, and now haha!)  I like the darker wash, and I find that it runs a size big (wearing XS here.)  This dress from Old Navy is one of my favorite finds as of late; you can actually scrunch it up like a tunic and it looks fab with fall's wide legged flares.