Dress || Heels || Handbag || Earrings || Bracelet

Let me set the scene for you. I had just moved into my NYC apartment and I was in need of a break from unpacking and some retail therapy. I walked down to my nearby LOFT where I spotted the most amazing dress I had ever seen. Navy color, flared skirt, pearl button details. As soon as I saw it, I felt my heart skip a beat and knew it had to be mine.

It goes without saying, the dress came home with me that day and I tucked her safely away in my closet, waiting for the perfect time to debut. Soon a month passed and that little dress sat in my closet… still waiting for the perfect time. Then, all of a sudden I woke up to a cool fall day and I was terrified that my time to wear this perfect little dress had passed. I mean, I don’t think I’m going to be able to handle wearing dresses in the dead of winter!

Okay, it’s not the most dire of situations, but you can imagine how relieved I was to have a warmer day to wear her out. The occasion was just a day at work, but I still loved every second of having it on. Even with adding this oversized navy cardigan to make it more ‘teacher’ friendly, I felt so polished in head-to-toe navy. The bows on my navy Ferragamo heels were the perfect, preppy compliment to those pearl-detailed buttons on the dress. Is it too conceited to say I even felt like I was channeling some Jackie O? Maybe, but it’s hard not to when you’re walking down 5th Avenue in such a stunner of a dress.

I think every single woman out there deserves to have a dress in her closet that makes her feel special and I know I’ve found mine. If you already have that dress, think about what makes it so special. Does it have your dream details? Is it flattering in all of the right places? Or maybe it pays tribute to your style idol? Lucky for me, I found a dress that checks all of the boxes. If you don’t have that dress yet go out and search for the one that you can always rely on to be your go-to. You never know when you’ll need a little bit more confidence for a special occasion, or the normal day.

Love from NYC,
Katie

Cozy in Navy

Sweater || Top || Jeans || Heels || Tote || Sunglasses

A classic, but casual outfit for this Tuesday morning! I think I’ve almost got the hang of this whole ‘Fall’ style thing. Chunky sweaters? Check! Dark colors? Check! Crisp fall days? Almost check, but that last one’s not really in my control.

I know that layering is the name of the game here in the Northeast, but I haven’t really gotten to that comfort level yet. My hubby, a born and raised New Englander, has it down pat and I’ve been taking some serious notes. I’m way too independent for him to pick my outfits out for me, but you know I’m always asking him for guidance.

Until then, I have fallen in love with the ‘sweater blazer’ style. I know I’m a little late to the game because these have been around for the past few years, but I never really needed one living in Florida. Better late than never! They are the perfect combination of put-together and cozy. J Crew and J Crew Factory do it the better than anyone with their sweaters, coming in several different styles (both collared and collarless) and colors. You know Navy will always be my number one pick, but this red sweater from J. Crew is perfect if you’re needing or wanting to add a splash of color.

Since I’m always partial to a monochromatic outfit, almost to a fault, I added this classic striped tee from J. Crew. If you’ve been keeping track, you may have noticed that I have this tee in every color available. I love the 3/4 sleeve and stripes will forever and always be my favorite pattern. What sets this tee apart is the quality of the cotton. I like it thick and soft to last the whole day with me and J. Crew’s tee measures up. This is a closet staple everyone needs to grab.

All I can say is, expect to see more of this sweater throughout the season and beyond. I have a very certain prediction that I will be bundled up and cozy with this sweater-blazer to last through the coldest of the Northeastern months. Wish me luck!

Love from NYC,
Katie

As always, thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.

Dress || Flats || Handbag || Similar Earrings

I would never claim to be a petite blogger. I’m 5’5″ and normally wear a size 8 or medium with an athletic build. My weight, I’m keeping a secret. That’s why I was absolutely floored to find this dress from Vineyard Vines. I just thought ‘how perfect for Fall.’ The material is as soft as can be and I love the buffalo plaid skirt accent. This issue? Well… I found it in the children’s section. But when I was looking at the girl’s extra-large, it looked plenty big and I thought, ‘what the heck?’ So, I tried it on and instantly fell in love. It’s a weird feeling going up the checkout to buy a children’s dress for yourself, but the people working at the store promised me I was not the first.

Sometimes, children’s clothes can look extremely juvenile, but this is not one of those cases. It’s just a fun casual dress to through on and go on with your day. What I found was a very rare opportunity to buy an adorable Vineyard Vines dress for under $70. A similar dress in the women’s section would run you around $100. I swear, I think it may be their best kept secret. Now, I’m not going to say that all girl’s dresses would work, but this one definitely does. I think I’ll have to do more investigating to see if this is a recurring thing or just a random stroke of luck.

To make this whole situation even sweeter, Vineyard Vines is currently having their Family and Friends Sale. That means 25% off your entire purchase and this perfect fall dress could be yours for $50. The sale is good for the entire site and I’ve linked up my favorite pieces for you to get some shopping done, just in case you’re not feeling like shopping in the children’s section. Be sure to check out my picks below.

I’ve had this happen with the children’s section at Target and often fit into their Girl’s XL, but I normally hear this voice in head telling me to stick with my own section. I’m curious, are you one to shop in the children’s section if the sizing is right or are you letting the little ones keep their styles for themselves? As a teacher, I would be at risk for matching one of my students! Awkward!

Love from NYC,
Katie