Copy Cat Coat

Believe it or not, I actually have this Daphne tweed topcoat from J. Crew in three colors! That's how much I adore it! The first two colors, green and yellow, were acquired last year. This year, I loved this pink color so much that I had to purchase it yet again. The fact that the coat was marked an extra 60% off also factored heavily into my decision to buy it yet again! Once it arrived, I couldn't wait to wear it, especially once I got some inspiration for how to style it. This particular outfit with the Burgundy sweater and pink pants was inspired by a mannequin that I spied last weekend at J. Crew. When I came into the store and saw my coat and this lovely color palette, I whipped out my phone to capture the look for future reference. As it turns out, it was pretty easy to recreate the outfit, as I already had most of the pieces or similar ones in my closet!

I did, however, add my own touch to the look. For example, the idea of adding the leopard loafers was all me! The other thing that the outfit on the mannequin lacked was this gorgeous butterfly brooch! My husband was skeptical that I would get much use out of this particular purchase, which he deemed overpriced, however, I would like to think that I have proven him wrong because I've already worn it several times since it arrived last week! It's truly the perfect accent to any look, be it pinned on a scarf or on the collar of a coat like this one. I also love the way the butterfly seems right at home among this wall of pretty, yellow flowers!

Above, you will see the inspiration for the look I created in this post! As I stated before, except for the coat, all of the other pieces I already had in my closet. All in all, I think I did a pretty good job recreating the look and I think I'm going to be on the lookout more often for inspiring mannequins!

Coat: J. Crew here
Sweater: similar cashmere sweater here
Pants: similar here
Shoes: here
Pin: Loren Hope similar here and here
Bag: Mansur Gavriel here

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Brocade and Butterflies

Last Friday, my husband and I went out for a wonderful dinner at one of our favorite restaurants. I decided to wear my new brocade pencil skirt for the occasion. You might recall that I have a top in the same fabric as this skirt. In fact, I did a post about it last month here. As you can see, I loved the fabric so much that I decided to pick up the skirt as well! Since the skirt was on sale for an extra 60% off and because the fabric is so pretty and sumptuous, it was hard to resist.

Speaking of things that are hard to resist, I'm also wearing my new butterfly brooch from Loren Hope! This brooch just "flew" in from Rhode Island where all of Loren Hope's jewelry is made. One of the things that is so special about this particular piece is that it's a one of a kind item. Loren Hope releases about 20 or so unique, one of a kind butterfly brooches every so often and I was lucky enough to have scored one last weekend! So, this exquisite brocade outfit was perfect not just for a lovely dinner out with my husband but also as the perfect way to debut my new one of kind butterfly creation!

Skirt: J. Crew here
Sweater: H&M similar pink sweater here
Scarf: Target similar faux fur yellow stole here
Brooch: Loren Hope here
Shoes: Christian Louboutin
Bag: Clare V.  here

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Sunny Days Ahead

Sunny, warmer days are ahead here in Los Angeles! In fact, there's even a little hint of spring in the air! While I kind of miss the cool and overcast weather that we've had over the last month or so, it is nice to have a little break with some warmer weather this week, especially because I'm getting over a bit of a cold. The warmer weather here also gives me the opportunity to wear this new Liberty of London floral print blouse! I picked the blouse up a couple weeks ago in store at J. Crew. It wasn't really a top that was on my radar but when I saw this pretty pink print in person, I knew I had to have it! As you know, I can't say no to a fabulous print!

When I first purchased this top, I thought it would look fantastic with some brightly colored pants and accessories, such as something yellow or maybe even something with more pink. Since we were just going to Costco the day I wore the top, I decided to tone it down a little bit with these olive khaki pants. I think the pink and olive work perfectly together and the more subdued pants are a nice departure from some of the more vibrant things I sometimes wear. Plus, the green and pink also work perfectly with these new blossoms in back of me, which further demonstrate spring and the warmer weather that is just around the corner.

Shirt: here
Pants: here
Shoes: similar silver flats here
Bag: similar lilac bag here
Headband: here

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Pre-Valentine's Day Sweater

Valentine's Day is only three weeks away, which is a little hard to believe because it seems like it was just yesterday that I was putting up Christmas decorations! Well, it's now time to put away all the festive plaids and replace them with reds, pinks and, of course, hearts! While I'm not fully into dressing in head to toe hearts, I am shifting my color palette to suit the upcoming holiday. Take, for example, this cozy pink and red sweater; it's the perfect way to get ready for Valentine's Day in a subtle way! I purchased the sweater about a week or so before Christmas but waited until this week to wear it, figuring that it would be perfect for a pre-Valentine's Day look!

I decided to pair the sweater with a pair of white jeans. Formerly, it was a fashion faux pas to wear white after Labor Day but the rules have changed. I've seen quite the movement towards wearing winter whites, which is a really chic idea in my opinion! While these jeans are obviously meant for summer, they do transition nicely to winter months with the right sweater. So, while this might not be an over the top Valentine's Day outfit, it's easing me into the holiday. Plus, if you look closely, you'll see some heart earring peaking out! More hearts are to come as we approach the actual day!

Sweater: Kohl's here
Jeans: J. Crew here
Shoes: J. Crew similar silver flats here
Bag: Gucci similar here
Earrings: similar heart earrings here

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Pops of Color

It's hard to believe but I used to have a lot of black and darker colors in my wardrobe. Now, whenever I have an article of clothing that's black and white, I always find a way to incorporate some pop of color into the outfit to make it more fun. Take, for example, these wolfstooth pants: while they would look chic with just a black sweater, the addition of my bright yellow sweater and pink bow flats definitely takes it to the next level! It's worth noting that these satin pink bow flats (also available here) are now on sale. If you've been following my blog for the last few months, you will know that I have been wearing them non-stop! They've definitely become my go to shoes for this season and, hopefully, for years to come!

Speaking of color, this wall behind me just happened to be the perfect backdrop to my outfit but it was totally unplanned. Originally, I had mapped out another wall near this particular area of the Arts District of Los Angeles. Unfortunately, the wall scene in Los Angeles is very ephemeral and the mural I had planned on using was covered in graffiti. It was time to figure out a plan B quick, as the sun was setting on the city but, luckily, I remembered seeing this colorful mural on the side of a building, so I decided it would do in a pinch. To be honest, I think it may have worked out even better than the backdrop I had originally wanted to use, so I can't complain!

Sweater: H&M here
Pants: J. Crew similar houndstooth pants here
Shoes: J. Crew here and here
Bag: Milly similar rainbow clutch here

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A Few of My J.Crew Favorites, Now on Sale!

J. Crew is having a fantastic sale right now to celebrate the upcoming long weekend! While everything is 30% off, items already on sale are an extra 40% off and many are an extra 60% off! While I'm trying to resist, I will probably stock up on a few things because the prices are too tempting to pass up! Below are three of my favorite pieces from the sale that I purchased this fall/winter that are now on sale and in stock.  The first item is these luxurious silk Jungle Print pants! I absolutely adore the print, the wide leg silhouette, and the comfy pajama feel of these pants!

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As you can see, I liked this Jungle Cat print so much that I also got it in a blouse! This blouse looks fantastic with a variety of colors because of the pink, yellow, purple, and green shades that are featured in the print. It would also look beautiful paired with the matching pants for a look that J. Crew formerly referred to as "the hook up". As you can see, I'm head over heels in love with this particular print, which is why I didn't mind springing for it at full price a few months ago!

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Last but not least is this fun rainbow skirt! This was another piece that I picked up as soon as it was released and I'm quite frankly surprised that it made it to the sale rack! I have worn this skirt so many times and I know it will be a favorite for years to come! Initially, I styled the skirt with just a plain white button down shirt, as is shown in the J. Crew catalog, but for winter I opted to pair it with a variety of rich cashmere and wool sweaters. With so many pretty colors featured in the skirt, the sky is the limit in terms of styling ideas for this skirt!

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