Dreamy Valentine

Valentine’s Day is one of those days of the year that come with SUPER high expectations. Like New Years - people expecting you to stay up until midnight (I’ll just go ahead and admit that I BARELY lasted until 11:30), wear your most sparkly dress and have the most champagne-filled instagram of all.

Valentine’s Day can have a similar vibe. Who is going to have the prettiest peonies? Who’s going to make the grandest plans of all? Did you make heart shape pancakes for breakfast? Because cereal isn’t gonna cut it today, guys. And while I’m sharing some SUPER fun Valentine’s Day ideas next week, I’ll be the first to admit it can all be a bit much.

Over the next few days, I’m forgoing the typical heart-scattered, red and pink filled posts for more subdued, romantic looks. Because let’s be real - take a look at my Instagram. Hearts, stars and horseshoes? Hardly. To be honest, I had no idea how neutral my fashion has been lately until I noticed that BASICALLY every outfit I’ve worn over the past few months have been black and white (with splashes of blush and maroon thrown in for good measure.)

When planning my Valentine’s Day looks, I had to swing by one of my favorite local shops, South Moon Under at Mosaic District. They carry my favorite romantic brands like Free People, Gorjana and ban.do! I love that they’re always thinking ahead, so I was able to pick up this cute outfit that’s great for layering in the winter, but could be worn alone once the weather warms up! (Like it did this past weekend - BLESS.)

This flowy Free People blouse I picked up from SMU has the perfect flirt factor without ONLY being for Valentine’s Day.

I paired it with the most versatile faux suede skirt (that I’ve worn apprx. 10 times since I bought it last weekend) and my color block Maison Martin Margiela boots. To take the look up a notch, I added a bold, orangy-red lip from Makeup Meltdown and my favorite blush cross-body bag from Estiletta. I imagine I’d wear this to a wine bar near our house before a late dinner (like the Europeans do!) We watched A Good Year last night and so of course, I’m all like, ‘let’s rent a villa in France and drink all the wine!’ Because why not! ;)

Wearing Free People top, suede skirt, Gorjana bracelet and leather belt via South Moon Under c/o, Maison Martin Margiela boots (similar), VASKA bag via Estiletta c/o, Free People necklace c/o and Makeup Meltdown lipstick in "Siren" c/o.

Valentine’s Day - Hubby’s Choice

Over the past few years, I’ve gone through a big-time style change. I mean, really big. As in, ‘who was I before this year?!’ big.  Instead of dressing for others, I took the time to really discover what I loved to wear. And after trading in bags and bags of clothing for pieces I truly loved, I finally started to hit my style stride.

But there was one minor thing I didn’t really put into the equation - what clothes does my hubby like on me? I went from “HELP ME DECIDE WHAT TO WEAR” whiny baby to putting on something I loved and just going with it. And when you’re married to a man of very, very little words, you’re left wondering, ‘what styles does my hubby even like on me?’

Because HERE’S THE THING. What my husband thinks matters to me. And hear me out - I’m all girl-power and about that “I wear what I want” life. And there are times when I just don’t give AF - bae will never understand my marble-printed sneakers, my oversized clothing obsession or anything that resembles mom jeans. HOWEVER I still want my hunny to like how I dress!

With Valentine’s Day just ever-so-slightly around the corner, I decide to have him pick out something for me to wear on a recent date night so I could find out what he really liked! I sent him straight over to Rent the Runway where he first picked this dreamy, artsy number but ended up with this lovely black and white Shoshanna dress. But it was his reasoning behind it that I loved the most.

Shawn’s key points about the dress:

• He knew I’d like the color scheme (and lack there-of)
• He liked the flirty silhouette
• He liked the bold, ‘artsy’ necklace (which he totes thought was a bracelet #tbh)
• He thought it would be the perfect outfit to explore a museum and finish off with a fancy dinner in DC

Ok for a moment, can we please just pause. I hit the jackpot with this one, you guys. Not only is he the most amazing Instagram husband on the planet, but the totally sweet, romantic look he picked and his perfect date night scenario melted my heart!

Wearing Shoshanna dress, Loeffler Randall bag, Kate Spade Earrings and Kenneth Jay Lane necklace via Rent the Runway, South Moon Under belt c/o, M.Gemi pumps (similar) and Makeup Meltdown lipstick in Serrano.

Thanks so much to Rent the Runway for offering me a complimentary rental so the hubby could have a thousand gorgeous outfits to choose from! All opinions are my own. You can get $20 off your next rental by using this link!

Sweater Dress

It’s time to get creative, friends. Ever since the holidays, the subsequent sales, and a little too much of “one for him, one for me” shopping mentality, I’ve straight up depleted my shopping budget for the next few months. Anyone else in the same boat?

So I’ve been taking the pieces I love and adding a bit of a twist to them - like using this skinny scarf (worn here and here) to create a bow for this super cozy turtleneck dress from Anthropologie. Even though it’s sleeveless, it’s very warm. And it’s the perfect blank slate - I throw on a blazer and pumps for work or OTK boots and a chunky sweater for brunch…which I can’t wait to attend once we can finally dig ourselves our of all this snow!

Until then! XO!

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Wearing Anthropologie dress, AMI Clubwear boots c/o (similar, tall version), Express scarf, MAC Lipstick in Velvet Teddy.

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That Scarf Life

Something I’m learning with short hair is that DANG IT SUCKS WHEN IT’S COLD. When the and blows, I feel this coldness in the back of my neck and I”m like WTF is happening right now?! Why do I feel that? WHY DO I NOT LIVE IN FLORIDA?!

My severe case of CNS (cold neck syndrome) has lead me to invest in quite a few pair of scarves this winter. The one I’m wearing here is almost identical to the Zara one that sold out EVERYWHERE after being spread around like wildfire on Pinterest. Best part? It’s SUPER SUPER soft and affordable! I got it for Christmas from Goodnight Macaroon, a super cute little online boutique (where I got this dress, this military-style jacket and the sweater I’m wearing today!)

Funny story - I had put this scarf on my gift guide and 3 of my family members bought it for me! THREE. I also bought it for my sister if that shows you how much I love it. (AND HER!)

If you have any scarves you’re obsessing with this season, please share them in the comments below! My neck will be hibernating in scarves like these until Spring - might as well look cute while doing it! XO!

Wearing Free People jeans, Goodnight Macaroon scarf (similar) and sweater, Maison Martin Margiela boots (similar), Calvin Klein jacket (similar), Angela Roi bag

Fleece-Lined Leather

My latest obsession? Fleece-lined EVERYTHING. I wear fleece tights every single day to work. It essentially feels like I’m wearing out-in-public-appropriate sweatpants - is there anything better than that? No, there is not.

While fleece tights can be a great way of staying warm, I don’t want to wear tights all the time. So you can guess how thrilled I was to find another fleece-lined staple at one of my favorite local shops, Take 5 Boutique! Fleece lined faux leather pants. YESSS.

You know how something is a staple? When you don’t know how you ever lived without it. And these, my friends, are my winter staple. With these 30-degree days (and it’s only getting colder, folks) they’ve been the most fashionable godsend. Ever.

Wearing faux leather pants via Take 5 Boutique c/o, Vince Camuto top, Sophie Blake necklace, Via Spiga booties