Color of the Season

Dress || Heels || Clutch || Earrings || Watch || Bracelet

I’m a huge believer in wearing what you want, no matter what the calendar says. Bright colors in the dead of winter? Why not! Head to toe black in the middle of summer? Sure! While I try to mix and mingle a rainbow of colors all year round, there’s one that is almost strictly for the fall only! For me, the color of the season is definitely orange.

I don’t want to sound like a complete hypocrite. ‘Orange’ is even in the name of my blog. There have been a few times that I’ve happily worn orange in the spring. My orange seersucker dress from Brooks Brothers, originally posted here, is one of my favorites from the summer. The big difference is all in the shade. Pastel hues, especially when sprinkled with seersucker, are a great summer uniform. It’s a combination I can easily get behind.

On the other hand, the fall calls for rich and bold colors to match the autumn leaves and Halloween decor. It invokes memories of going to the pumpkin patch and sipping warm apple cider. This caramel-inspired color is what I’ve put aside just for the fall. Last year, this color came in the form of a cozy waffle-knit sweater, posted here, for an easy casual Thanksgiving look.

This year, I fell head over heels in love with this vintage inspired dress from Anthropologie. Admittedly, the dress style is a little bit out of my comfort zone and I’m not sure what drew me to it in the first place. Whatever it is, I simply loved the 60’s influences that create a very flattering dress. The touch of drapey and body-con makes for an unexpected combination. Paired with simple nude heels and my tortoise clutch (which matched perfectly), this outfit is great for a fall date night or celebration with friends.

Orange is a color that I very rarely choose to wear. Because of my olive skin tone, I find it’s a rare shade that washes me out. Instead of swearing it off entirely, I decided to venture out and try a new shade that is foreign to my closet. I’m so happy that I did! Wearing a new color makes me feel like a whole new woman! Who knows, maybe I’ll start wearing it beyond the fall.

Love from NYC,
Katie

Thanks for stopping by! As always, if you are more interested in travel than style, be sure to visit my exclusive travel page, here.

Kate Middleton Sailor Stripes

Striped Tee || Sailor Pants || Navy Heels ($45 off with code KATIE45) || Tortoise Clutch || Pearl Earrings || Watch || Bracelet

Obviously Kate Middleton, aka the Duchess of Cambridge, has been a major style icon since she originally came on the scene. Her style is modest and classic, but somehow still attainable. I’ve always admired her. Recently, and I’m not sure why, a switch has been flipped. I’m finding myself inspired and looking to her for style guidance. One of my favorite bloggers, Lauren of Going for Grace, may be the reason. She’s launched the Kate Style Guide to share some of her affordable looks for less. If you haven’t already, definitely check it out!

Back in August, Kate stepped out to the King’s Cup Regatta wearing the most fashionable nautical outfit I’ve ever seen. It was simple, but surprisingly chic. The main focus of the look, besides the navy and white striped top, was a pair of high waisted sailor pants. What sets these apart from your standard issue navy pants are specifically placed buttons. I learned, after a little digging, that they are actually a nod to the British Navy. I can’t think of anything better to wear to a regatta.

When I spotted these sailor inspired pants from the LOFT, I knew that they were the ones. I honestly was a little hesitant in wearing them though. Normally, I try to stay with a cropped pant. I find them very comfortable and easy to style. These LOFT pants are probably the longest pair I’ve ever worn, but they are so flattering (and also available in petite). I mean, look at them, my legs look like they’re a mile long. That’s not an easy thing for me to find. Wearing my suede navy heels ($45 with code KATIE45) gave me just enough height to pull these pants off.

From there, I was able to copy Kate’s look with key things that I already had in my closet. I wear this navy and white striped tee from J. Crew at least once a week. It’s true that Kate had on a striped sweater, but a shirt does the exact same thing. Giving the style a French twist, Kate adds a red clutch, like this one here from Nordstrom. I personally don’t have one in my rotation, but my tortoise pick from Tuckernuck worked quite nicely. The only thing I’m missing to really look the Kate Middle part is having a flawless pair of sapphire earrings.

Probably since this summer, I’ve been finding this strange calling to channel some of my favorite style icons. Whether it’s Jackie Kennedy, Audrey Hepburn, or Kate Middleton, it’s so refreshing to know that classic looks never go out of style. In a world where girls are showing a lot of skin, I like having a source of inspiration to pull from. Who are your ultimate style icons?

Love from NYC,
Katie

Thanks for stopping by! As always, if you are more interested in travel than style, be sure to visit my exclusive travel page, here.

Classic Halloween Style

Sweater || Jeans || Flats || Earrings || Handbag (also) || Bracelet || Watch

Are you wanting to get in the Halloween spirit without being in a full blown costume? I feel that. Although I always admire the work that others put into their costumes, I like mine to be minimum effort. Last year I dressed up like Audrey Hepburn from Breakfast at Tiffany’s by wearing what I already owned (and one tiny Amazon order).

This year, I’ve raised my own Halloween bar by channeling a different iconic NYC character each week. They all require no makeup and just a few things that you may already have. More importantly, you won’t be embarrassed to wear these outfits in the light of day.

If you want a festive outfit with just the most subtle dash of spirit, I think I may have found the answer. I’m calling it a ‘classic Halloween style.’ A basic sweater and jeans has pretty much been my fall staple. Turn that sweater into the brightest shade of pumpkin orange you can find. You’ll be ready for whatever spirited event gets thrown your way.

This sweater from Lands Ends seemed like the perfect choice. For just under $60, and they always have discounts, the color was spot on! I loved the cable knit detail for an ultra cozy feel.

We can’t talk about spirit without mentioning ghosts. Don’t worry, these one are completely harmless. The words ‘ghost earrings‘ might not do anything for you on their own. Make them out of pearls and they make for a classy way to dress for the holiday. I was shocked to find how lightweight they actually were. Buy them now and keep them for years to come. Honestly, they are too cute to pass up.

When it comes to accessories for Halloween, I suggest keeping them black. From there, you have a whole world of possibilities. Wanting to maintain a classic look, I decided to add my black Chanel flats. By themselves, they are definitely not Halloween worthy. Add them with my bright orange sweater and it seems like they seem like the most natural pairing. This black crossbody from Ralph Lauren, while small, has just enough space to hold the essentials on Halloween night.

Now that you have the perfect Halloween inspired outfit, it’s time to hit the streets and admire the decor! There are few cities who do this better than New York. Even in the Upper East Side, people really get into decorating their townhomes. It’s honestly contagious. To find the best, I recommend strolling through the East 60s and 70s for the most classic Halloween decor. For even bolder displays, the West Village reigns supreme.

How would you style a classic Halloween look?

Love from NYC,
Katie

Thanks for stopping by! As always, if you are more interested in travel than style, be sure to visit my exclusive travel page, here.