Amazon Dupe

 Many Amazon items have a cult following and/or receive their own hashtag (such as the #amazonnightgown dresses I adore). Last year at this time, I was already about a year late in jumping on the #amazoncoat bandwagon. Up until that point, my coats have been more fashion focused. Now that I find myself doing more outside in colder temps, I knew I needed to focus on warmer and sportier options. So, I ordered the Amazon Orolay Coat which comes in several colors, and whose price fluctuates daily (right now it is $149.99). Sadly, I didn't like the fit enough to justify the price so I returned it. This year, I am now slowly seeing "dupes" to the #amazoncoat. Wait a minute.... isn't Amazon the place to go for dupes, not the other way around? After reading reviews on the dupes at Steve Madden, Forever 21, Sam Edelman, and Walmart, I decided to order the Walmart version at under $50. And, I liked it way better than the original! I like the olive green color best, but you will find the dupes in the same basic colors as the original like black and navy. They all carry the same details.... sherpa lined hood, zippered vents on the sides, exaggerated pocket outlines. I wore it to cut down our tree the other day, and it's been great today for our first snowfall.

Original - Amazon Orolay Coat

 Jason Maxwell at Walmart

Forever 21

Steve Madden

Not Sporty

Anyone that knows me, knows that I am not a sporty person. Physical activities that I enjoy are low impact and/or meant for relaxation/meditation (walking, yoga). Needless to say, I am not into the "athleisure" fashion trend so I don't have a lot of "cute" pieces that can be worn for this type of style. But when LuLaRoe came out with joggers...... and they had a peacock feather print....... I knew I had to try them. As soon as I ordered them, I wondered what type of shoes I would wear with them. My sneakers for walking would not look good at all. For warmer months, and quick pictures today, my Birkenstocks fit the bill. But I can't deny it's Winter any longer and I may need to purchase a trendy pair of slip on black "athleisure" shoes. Throwing on a grey tank and denim jacket was NO issue though, and I am loving these comfy pants! I can't wait to come up with more outfits with them.

 

Nuuly #4

This is the 4th and last item I will show from my Nuuly rental box, as 2 of the 6 items did not fit well. But I loved the 4 items that did fit, so I am considering it a WIN anyway! I do not plan to rent another box right away for a few reasons - I don't think there are enough items I am interested in, in my size right now. And, our state is going through more Covid rules so I don't really need anything at the moment (although that won't stop me from buying good deals and still posting outfits). This is the Sawyer Balloon Sleeved Tunic from Anthropologie, and I really like it! It's a very tiny black and white polka dot print with contrasting floral sleeves. I love this type of pattern mixing, and my Lenora Dame necklace (via TJ Maxx) goes perfectly with it. It finally seems like Winter here as you can tell my favorite photo spot is becoming more desolate, so tights were in order today.

 

Holiday Plaid

I don't have much flannel or plaid, so when I saw this patchwork shirt it really grabbed my attention because it was "different" than what you usually see. It is actually part of a pajama set from AE (there are matching pants and shorts, as well as tons of other prints) but I think it works perfectly as a piece of clothing. I love the mix of 3 different plaids with the pop of leopard, and it is super soft. Besides jeans, it works well with leggings. You could wear it open, layered over something - or to dress it up a bit you could tuck it into a skirt or tie it at the waist over a dress!

Aerie Flannel Pajama Shirt

High Rise Power Straight Jeans - Old Navy

Boots, Sunglasses - Target

Layered Necklaces - Steinmart

 

Nuuly in Frankenmuth

The third item I am wearing from my Nuuly rental box is this colorful fair isle sweater from Anthropologie! After living in Michigan for 17 years, there are still so many popular places I haven't been. But I have slowly been checking them off my list, and yesterday was Frankenmuth - home of the world's largest Christmas store and famous chicken dinner! When my friend Lisa asked me if I was up for a day trip, I jumped at the chance. I'm glad we went on a weekday because this place gets really crowded this time of year. The weather was absolutely perfect to walk around in jeans and a sweater. I am definitely getting into the holiday spirit early, and love the keepsake finds I purchased.

 

Space Dyed

The space dyed sweater trend has been around for a few years, but I feel like I am seeing it A LOT this year. I don't know the first thing about knitting, but the yarn used for these items is multicolored so that it creates really unique pieces. Lots of options I've seen have been $100+, so when I saw this affordable cardigan in an ad, I decided to check it out (it was 30% off when I bought it). I was drawn to the bright colors, but even as vibrant as it is you can see it goes perfectly with denim and black.

Space Dyed Cardigan - Lane Bryant

Jeans & Shoes - Target

Black Shell & Sunglasses - Kohl's

 

Nuuly Rental Item #2

Today I am wearing another item from my Nuuly rental box. This dress is by a brand called Chufy and I chose it because it fits all of the details I love in a dress - funky print, tiered, flowy. It is amazing - the fabric is so soft and light, but still perfectly suited for Fall with the color palette. It came with a matching sash but I used my own brown belt. The pattern is a mix of stars, butterfly wings, leaves, and some peacock feather resemblance. I LOVE this dress, but it's a great example of a piece that I could not justify spending the money on - even at the discounted price Nuuly is offering. Renting it was the perfect option for this piece!

 

Nuuly Clothing Rental

It's been a little over a year now since I heard of Nuuly clothing rental, and I finally decided to try it. There are so many of these type of services now - either directly through your favorite retailer - or on sites like these that curate similar type brands together. The reason Nuuly peaked my interest is because it is most suited to my personal style (boho) and they work with Anthropologie along with many other companies I love. You pay a monthly fee for 6 items that you choose (you can find discount codes for your first month), and then you just send your items back with the prepaid label and box provided. They do the dry cleaning, so the items I received last week were in excellent condition. If there is an item you want to purchase from your rental, you can do so at a discounted retail price that they provide to you. All that being said, this is not something I intend to do monthly - reason being is I have more than enough clothes and I still love to bargain shop. But it was something fun to try (and to do from time to time). The dress pictured today is the Adair Velvet Trimmed Midi Dress from Anthropologie. I actually bought this dress last year when it hit sale, but it ran small so I returned it. I sized up here and now I think it's too big. I don't want to belt it because I don't want to hide the waist detail, but I'm sort of bummed about this because whenever I see this dress online or on someone else I really love it.

 

Brooch Collection

I've been wanting to do this idea for a long time now, but thought it would be on a jean jacket. Earlier this year when I was reading an article about J. Crew's bankruptcy, I saw their former CEO wearing a green utility vest with brooches on it to the Met Gala (see last photo)! Inspiration comes in the most surprising ways sometimes. I love this type of piece made feminine or glam - the contrast of the military green with the rhinestones. I am a collector of a lot of things - have been from a young age - and as the legendary Iris Apfel says, "More is more and less is a bore"! So this is my brooch collection from over the years as well as vintage pieces I inherited from my Grandma. Of course there are several peacocks. It took some time to lay out the design, and word to the wise - once you put it on things might lay differently and will have to be moved. A work in progress, and I do still plan to do a jean jacket someday.

 Lucky Brand vest - TJ Maxx (old)

Jeans, Sunglasses, Shoes - Target

Tiered Top - Loft

 

Surprise Match

I bought these jeans at Target a few months ago because the embroidery down the sides reminded me of more expensive pairs at Anthro. Target's "Knox Rose" brand is definitely their boho line where you can find pieces that are very close to Anthropologie, Free People, etc.... Anyway, I've been loving these jeans - they are so comfy and great to pair with a variety of solid colored tops.

Last week at Target, I came across these fur lined mules by Universal Thread. A couple of years ago, I brought a similar pair by this brand (see picture below - they are lined in fur as well, just in different places). You would think a unique, patterned shoe wouldn't be worn/match that much. But little did I know those mules would be one of my most worn shoes in the Spring/Fall when there is no snow on the ground! So, they are getting quite worn out although I still wear them a lot, and now I am happy to have this new pair too to give them a bit of a break. Seeing how well the new mules matched the jeans was quite a surprise!

Knox Rose Jeans - Target

Universal Thread Fur Lined Mules - Target

Sunglasses - Target

Tiered Top - Loft

Necklace - Steinmart

 

 

Fair Isle

Fair Isle seems to be one of those patterns that is holiday-ish. I've always admired it, but never really wore it, UNTIL I saw this cardigan! I thought a cardigan was a different twist on the typical pullover sweater, and I couldn't resist these bright colors! It is sooooo soft and cozy - I can see myself wearing this a lot all season long!

Fair Isle Cardigan : Old Navy

High Rise Power Straight Jeans : Old Navy

White Sonoma Shell : Kohl's

Beaded Necklace : J. Crew

Shoes & Sunglasses : Target

 

October Reads

 

I felt like I had an "off" reading month - seems like I didn't have as much downtime as usual and/or wasn't looking forward to it like I usually do. Oh well, still some goodness though so not a total loss.

Monogamy, by: Sue Miller

I did not finish this book, which is rare for me because I usually don't start books unless they sound interesting to me. It was about a married couple and the wife finds out the husband was unfaithful after he passes away unexpectedly. Descriptions of their past marriages, friendships, and relationships with their kids is detailed. It was just slow and boring to me. I received this copy free from the publisher.

And Now She's Gone, by: Rachel Howzell Hall

Thank you to Forge Books for this copy - this book came out in September. Grayson works as a PI at a firm where everyone is hiding from their past/has new identities. She gets her first real case to locate a missing woman, but her past is haunting her. I loved this main character and reading about how she juggles this case with her boss (longtime friend and love interest who knows her past), a new temporary lover, the exhaustion from a job that is 24/7 while always being paranoid that she herself will be found. A very different type of thriller that was very enjoyable.

The Heir Affair, by: Heather Cocks & Jessica Morgan

I rented this follow up to The Royal We from the library. Fans, me included, have been anxious for this sequel. Loosely based on the real royal family, this second book details what happens after Prince Nicholas and American Rebecca are married. It was hard enough for Rebecca to be an outsider to this family, but then a scandal that broke on their wedding day made things worse. Retreating from the public eye for a while, the couple now has to face what they left behind. And, as with any famous pair, the pressure to produce a child (in this case, an heir) is mounting. Many family secrets are exposed, including the rightful lineage and who ends up impregnating Rebecca. This was a fun read, but as with a lot of sequels I think I enjoyed the first book better.

Barefoot, by: Elin Hilderbrand

I figured some good old Elin would get me back into a good rhythm. Since my Mom is working her way through Elin's books too, she gave me this copy. Three women decide to spend the Summer on Nantucket to try to escape their problems. Brenda recently got fired from her prestigious teaching job since she was caught having an affair with a student (who was the same age as her). Her sister Vicki was recently diagnosed with cancer and grapples with the chemo treatments that are needed for surgery. Their friend Melanie has been through multiple IVF treatments to get pregnant, and when it finally happens she finds out her husband is cheating on her. Little did they know, a college kid working at the airport would come into their lives and help them get through the season in many unexpected ways.

Skirt vs Dress : 5 Years Later

One of the themes around here for Anthro fans, is when an item is re-released years later. Usually, it is the exact same item, and fans rejoice they have another chance at getting it. But in this case, this corduroy bird print previously was a dress 5 years ago! It's by Eva Franco, called the Larksong dress. I bought it back then, but ended up returning it because the fit/flare style with the thick fabric just didn't work for me. When I saw the this midi skirt pop up a few weeks ago, I knew it would sell out (and it did, however a few sizes are popping back here and there). There was a sale going on at the time, so it was a no brainer to try to see if the skirt would work better for me. I am happy to report that I love it! Although hard to see, it is tiered. The heavier fabric and dark print certainly give it the perfect Fall/Winter/Holiday feel. I'm loving it with this green top that I bought last Winter that has tiny gold flecks in it, all the better for the festive season. Already planning either a black top or my dark denim jean jacket for the next wear!

Eva Franco Oriana Tiered Corduroy Maxi Skirt : Anthropologie

Charm Necklace : Anthropologie

Sonoma V-Neck Tee : Kohl's

Boots & Sunglasses : Target