Tomorrow my husband, David, is celebrating a very big birthday. Now, I don’t want to embarrass him, but this blog would be no where near possible without his constant support (and great photography skills). So, a little bit of a shout out is absolutely in order and I’m answering some questions that I get the most often.

Where is David from?
David was born and raised in Vermont, about an hour outside of Burlington. He grew up being able to enjoy the great outdoors and the mountains, the complete opposite of my Gulf Coast childhood. Visiting his parents is a great excuse to get away from the city and to someday give skiing a whirl. Later, he went to the University of Rhode Island to run track and majored in biomedical engineering.

If he’s from Vermont, how on Earth did you meet?
This is a great example of someone else’s loss being my gain. He moved to St. Pete, from New Hampshire, with a girlfriend at the time. Things didn’t work out between them and we met through Bumble a little while later. He likes to let everyone know that it took a while for us to have our first date because I was “blowing him off.” In reality, I had season tickets to Florida State football and priorities. I’m so glad it didn’t scare him away.

What brought you to New York?
Without looking for it, David was offered the opportunity of a lifetime to join a NYC based company with one of our dear friends. Even though I can’t really can’t go into detail on what he does, since it is way over my head, he is basically on the tech side of an advertising company. What I do know, for sure, is that he’s loving his new jobs and co-workers, and it’s brought us on a great adventure to a new city.

How is he with your giant dog?
Although dealing with a 100-pound, stubborn Basset Hound is a huge job, my dog absolutely adores David. There are some ups and down, especially when Tripp is being a brat, but it’s nothing but love between them. Seeing him curl up with David melts my heart and only gives me the slightest twinge of jealousy.

What are his (real) thoughts on blogging?
There are some days, I know, David wishes the blog didn’t exist at all. It takes up a big chunk of time over the weekend to snap content and it looks like I’m always typing on the computer, but David is still the first person to either like my pictures, read my blog posts, or offer the encouraging word. Even when I’m frustrated with my real, 9 to 5 job, I know David will always have my back.

Happy Birthday (early) David! I can’t wait to celebrate with you and enjoy many more years to come.

Love from NYC,
Katie

Sweater || Pants || Heels || Clutch || Sunglasses

Have you ever fallen in love with a trend or style, but had no idea what it was called! That’s pretty much the situation I’m in right now. I keep finding these deep v-neck sweaters with the accent color chevron. For some reason, the name ‘varsity sweater’ pops into my head. If I’m completely off, be sure to let me know what they’re actually called. Thanks so much in advance!

I picked up this particular sweater from Nordstrom and I think it may be my favorite color rendition. We all know how partial I am to navy and the color really helps the two shade of purple just pop. It’s hard to tell in the photo, but the accent color actually has a slight shimmer and is even prettier in person.

It just so happens that these lavender pants from the LOFT are a perfect match to my sweater! We are so close to being done with winter, that I can’t help but add more and more pastels to my wardrobe. These pants in particular are so comfy and flattering. You’ll feel like you’re lounging around in sweatpants. It’s all rounded out with an adorable bow detail.

Whatever these sweaters are called, you should absolutely try one out for yourself. An equal combination of sporty and feminine, they can be dressed any which way you please. Dressed up or down, you can’t go wrong. How would you style a varsity sweater?

Love from NYC,
Katie

Dress (and here) || Heels || Clutch || Earrings || Wrap

Today is Ash Wednesday and the start of the Lenten season in my church. Not to go into the specific religious details, but it is a time to sacrifice something and do without for the next forty days. In the past, I have given up eating meat, coffee, and desserts, but this year is my ultimate test. This season, I will be giving up shopping!

40 days without shopping may mean different things to different people, but here’s the low down on what that means to me… Obviously shopping for clothes, shoes, or accessories is out! As much as I want to limit shopping for things around the house or my classroom, needs can pop up out of nowhere and I need to keep an open mind. Food and hygiene will always be on the table, because 40 days with shopping for those kinds of items would be an absolute nightmare!

Even though a reward isn’t really supposed to be a part of Lent, I’m adding one for my own sense of purpose and sanity. A huge reward to this is seeing all of the money that I’ll save in the process and watch that monthly credit card statement drop way down. I’ve been toying with the idea of buying myself a pair of Chanel flats or Hermes sandals that I’ve been coveting to celebrate, but we’ll just have to see what happens. Who knows, maybe the savings will cover a mini-vacation for David and I instead.

This is not something that I take very lightly. The entire basis of this blog is to shop and create cute, classic styles. What I’ve failed to fully appreciate is how fortunate I am to shop as often as I do. Instead, I want to shift my focus to teaching how to build a closet full of staples where you have an opportunity to shop your own closet and have countless choices. There are a few different names for this floating around, but I believe a capsule closet describes it best. It implies getting the most use possible out of a small number of items.

Since I would describe my own personal style as classic, preppy and nautical, I will be making a capsule closet of my own that reflects that. You can expect lots of navy, stripes, and gingham with pops of color. I also plan on covering the whole gambit of occasions to meet all of your dressing needs. Honestly, the more I think about this personal challenge and project, the more excited I get. Who knows, it may even inspire me to completely Marie Kondo my entire closet. That may be quite a stretch, but it’s nice to daydream.

It only seems fitting that my last purchase until Easter is this absolutely gorgeous dress from Gal Meets Glam (also here). I’ve admired all of her pieces for quite some time, but this piece left me absolutely speechless. With my hair pulled back in a neat bun, I couldn’t help but think of my 60’s style icons like Audrey Hepburn and (fictitiously) Mrs. Maisel. Having a similar neckline as my wedding dress, I just knew it was going to flattering for my wide shoulders. And the best part? A pair of deep pockets gives you quick access to your metro card. These darling bow earrings from Bauble Bar and my go-to tortoise clutch from Tuckernuck make for great, neutral accessories. Head to toe, I love everything about this outfit! I’ve heard The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is looking for extras and I think I’ve found the perfect look for a casting call!

Love from NYC,
Katie