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Everyday Style & Recipes. Est. 2010

fashion

Labor Day Whites

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It seems like the old rule for not wearing whites past Labor Day is pretty much dead, isn’t it? So in honor of that old, dumb rule here’s nearly an all white dress right before Labor Day! I guess technically it is more of a beige but oh well. I have had a bit of a love affair with anything linen this year and this dress from Urban Outfitters is perfect for late Summer days. Summer seems to have gotten a late start this year and has been especially hot and dry the last few weeks of August. I think it’s reached the 90s almost every day this month, ack! This dress is made from such a nice breathable material for hot Summer days and it has helped keep me cool for sure. I paired this dress with a few leather details–including these Royale Flats from Free People and this great saddle bag from Etsy. It has been my go to bag this Summer and holds all my favorite stuff!

Dress: Urban Outfitters; Shoes: Free People; Bag: LeatherStrata Etsy Shop

Lavender Vintage

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It has been such an odd Spring season that even the folks who were born and raised here in town are weirded out.  You know it’s abnormal when even the locals are remaking on it!  On the days I have been able to wear Springy stuff, I always jump at the chance to wear pretty skirts and sandals.  This one from Adored Vintage has been one of my go-to midi skirts this Spring!  I am loving the pastel floral vibes, and the button front look.  It gives a bit of a vintage feel without looking dated or costumey.  Adored Vintage has been one of my favorite recent vintage shops lately, they really have some lovely offerings.

Recently I’ve been into oversized linen blouses with tie-front waists.  This one from Perennial Vintage on Etsy came a bit too oversized to wear as-is (I think it might actually be a men’s shirt, but oh well.)  I loved the sage color so I didn’t want to return it.  All was not lost though, there is a trick to taking in too large blouses.  I just roll up the sleeves and tie up the front ends and behold–a much more fitted, wearable shirt!  Beats having to learn how to sew and tailor right?  Tie front shirts look fab with skirts, shorts, and jeans….soooo pretty much everything!

Outfit Set: Outfit Details: Top: Etsy/vintage Skirt: Adored Vintage Shoes: Amazon Bag: Etsy/vintage

Spring Thaw

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Who else lives in oversized knit sweaters and boots during the winter months? I do! Since the “Bomb Cyclone” blizzard hit northern Colorado last week, it has warmed up quite a bit so I’m hoping this will be the last Wintery outfit for the blog *crosses fingers.* Since Winter weather can hit as late as May in Colorado there’s no guarantees.

It’s hard to find a quality pair of Winter boots for trekking around in the snow, and even harder to find ones that actually keep your feet warm. These classic ones from L.L. Bean have been my go-to this season. They continue to make their products in the U.S. and their quality hasn’t gone down over the years, which is kind of amazing! You can get this style in several different types, and I chose the eight inch with gore-tex/thinsulate lining. It costs slightly more but I definitely noticed a difference in warmth compared to other boots. I ordered my usual size but they do run a bit large to make room for thicker socks. I like a little roominess since tighter ones can actually make your feet colder — and nobody wants that. Another recent favorite has been this messenger bag from Karlen Swiss. These bags are made from recycled Swiss military blankets and made from heavy-duty wool. It’s been a perfect Winter tote this season!

Outfit Set:

Outfit Details: Sweater: Zaful, Leggings: Felina, Boots: L.L. Bean, Scarf: Amazon, Bag: Karlen Swiss

 

 

Black & Tan

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I’ve always loved more monochrome looks–you can play around more with texture and patterns that way.  A variety of patterns look great when they all fall within a similar color scheme.  I recently stumbled across this vintage men’s cardigan on Etsy and fell instantly in love!  Sometimes you just wanna slouch around in huge, cozy cardigans amiright? This one is the epitome of that.  It’s a really well made and super warm as it’s made from 70% wool.  Gotta love well made items like that, and Etsy has tons of vintage options from so many awesome sellers.  Speaking of which, this bag from Etsy is a great little vintage saddlebag that’s perfect for everyday wear, and there’s a lot just like it being sold out there!

I recently splurged a bit on some classic high-rise jeans from Levi’s, and I couldn’t be happier with the purchase.  These are the 720’s in Black Chaos and they are seriously awesome.  I love the material blend–they’re mostly cotton but with enough stretch to not make them stiff or thick feeling.  It’s super high-waisted so just a warning if that’s not what you’re looking for.  The distressed parts of them are natural and don’t look strange at all.  I’m not a fan of super high up torn up jeans so these are perfect for me!  These aren’t a true black, they have a bit of charcoal grey tones going on but that’s cool with me.

Outfit Set:

Outfit Details: Cardigan: Etsy – PerennialVintage,  Jeans: Levi’s 720’s, Shoes: Marc Fisher, Top: MaiTai, Bag: Etsy, PurpleHeather

Victorian Dreams

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Over the holidays, my Fiance received an amazing gift for a one night stay at the Nagle-Warren Mansion Bed & Breakfast in Cheyenne, Wyoming.  We decided that spending the weekend before Valentine’s Day would be a perfect way to use this gift, and also check out the local sites!  Last year we toured this historic house with family, and were amazed by the beautiful decor and history of the place.  The Nagle-Warren mansion was built in 1888 on the “Cattle Baron Row” in downtown Cheyenne.  This mansion is one of the few standing historic buildings as most were torn down due to faulty soil and foundation problems.  This place was fully restored to as close to original condition as possible, and it is a simply beautiful place to stay!  Not only was the place gorgeous and full of history, the owners were friendly and provided the best hospitality.  Even the ghosts were friendly!  Just kidding, we did not detect a single ghost.  The only visitor we got was a very friendly house cat who came to hang out with us in our room for a while.

We stayed in the the Francis E. Warren room, which was named after the U.S. Senator, and it was so beautiful!  I thought this comfy, chiffon dress by Sage would suit the decor of the room and I think it fits!  I think it evokes some Victorian style vibes, don’t you?  As always, Etsy has the best vintage stuff and this leather saddle bag is perfect for the occasion.  I chose some pretty gold layering charm necklaces from Etsy to complete the look as well.  Prior to the Nagle-Warren Mansion, we also did a little hike at Curt Gowdy State Park, and it was great checking out the local parks in Cheyenne!



Outfit Set:

Outfit Details: Dress: Sage Boutique, Bag: Vintage-Etsy, Necklaces: Etsy, Shoes: Free People Royale Flat

Winter Botanicals

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It has warmed up quite a lot here and it’s starting to feel a little like Spring! Which is crazy to say in February but I guess Colorado has a different idea of what Winter is.  It’s still pretty likely we will get a ton of snow in March, so you never know what the mountains have in store!  For those who read this blog you probably know that I love vintage botanical prints.  I was recently gifted this lovely botanical print tee made by an Etsy shop.  I love supporting small sellers on Etsy, plus they make some pretty awesome stuff!  This tee features a Xeranthemum Annuum, also known as the Annual Everlasting or Immortelle flower.  Pretty cool right?  I love the Spring vibes and the vintage feel of the print.

I wanted to feature a cozy layering outfit perfect for in-between seasons (or if your climate is just confused right now).  This cardigan from American Eagle is a great convertible piece because it’s half-cardigan, half top.  You can button this up and tie it at the waist, or you can wear it as a regular cardigan.  Gotta love those versatile pieces!  I’m pretty in love with the rosy berry color combined with the neutral greys and tans.  These grey corduroy pants from Adriano Goldschmied are great for Spring or Fall, and they go great with so many outfits.  Plus they’re perfect for work or for an everyday casual look too!

Outfit Set:

Outfit Details: Tee: Botany Press, Cardigan Top: American Eagle, Pants: Adriano Goldschmied, Chukka Desert Boots: Lucky Brand, Scarf: Amazon

Winter Green

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Happy New Year everyone!  Winter has officially hit on the Front Range in Colorado, and I was looking to find a warm and cozy outfit for the colder days.   That’s why I love American Eagle sweaters so much, since they provide looks that provide comfy and stylish options that are great for everyday wear.  This sweater is so great as a warm pullover I have been wearing it non-stop!  It’s so comfy and warm–this Striped Crew Neck sweater is a perfect casual look that is great for winter weather layering.

In other news, I was recently gifted this minimalist leather lunch bag handmade by Homestead Leather on Etsy.  It was a perfect addition to my lunchtime routine!  I used to bring my lunch in plastic bags, but nooo more.  It’s a great environmentally friendly option for those who don’t want a big, bulky lunch bag. It also avoids bringing your lunch in wasteful plastic bags (yep, that was me) so in my opinion it’s a win-win!  Another brand I’ve been crazy about this past year has been The Frye Company and their fantastic boots.  I wore these leather “Celia” shearling-lined boots outside in sub-20 degree weather, and my feet were as warm as can be.  I recommend wearing these without socks, which sounds weird but they actually keep your feet roomier and warmer.  My feet get cold really easily, so I can’t recommend these enough.  Another recent gift was this extra cozy cable-knit scarf from Amazon.  It goes great with so many outfits that I have to hold off wearing it sometimes–it’s kind of ridic!

Outfit Details: Sweater: American Eagle, Leggings: Felina, Boots: Frye Company, Bag: Homestead Leather, Scarf: Amazon

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Electric Dreams

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To be honest, I’ve mostly bought coats for utilitarian purposes only.  Just give me something that will keep me warm even if I look like a puffy bowling ball (basically George Costanza’s Gortex coat).  But lately I’ve started looking for nicer, slightly less ridiculous looking outer gear.  I’ve had my eye on camel trench coats for a while but I couldn’t decide which one to buy.  My goal was to find an affordable coat that still had a fairly high wool percentage.  That wound up being a challenge since most of the affordable coats weren’t made of decent fabric, and then I had the opposite problem where the decently made coats were way too expensive.  So what to do? After searching around I stumbled across this coat from Zara which retails for under $200 and is made from 75% wool.  Perfect–exactly what I was looking for!  I wasn’t disappointed, this coat is well made and looks fantastic with denim.  It’s pretty much the perfect “going out” coat for winter that will actually keep you warm!

Onto the details:  I’ve always loved the minimalist trench and graphic tee combo, so this tee from Urban Outfitters was a perfect addition to this look.  I went with my favorite pair of classic vintage style levi’s in a lighter wash and a high-rise. You can’t go wrong with a good pair of Levi’s, and while I love all their styles, I’m personally a fan of the 721’s.

Outfit Set:  Outfit Details: Coat: Zara ‘Masculine’ trench, tee: Urban Outfitters, Jeans: Levi’s 721’s, Shoes: Marc Fisher Chelsea boots

Wolf Tee & Coated Denim

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When I was a kid in the 90’s, I was pretty much obsessed with wolves.  I had wolves on everything, including my clothes.  As soon as I saw this graphic tee from Urban Outfitters I was instantly nostalgic for 80’s/90’s printed tees.  I gotta say, not much has changed! Still love fun, vintage-style wolf tees–sorry, not sorry.

Recently I came across faux leather denim, which is not exactly something that has been in my wheelhouse in the past. Leatherette jeans? No thanks, I am not an extra in Coyote Ugly (remember that movie, ya’ll?)  These coated jeans from AG are way, way different than what you’re probably thinking.   These are not anywhere near leatherette material–they are still like regular denim fabric, but they have a coated feel that gives an appearance of leather.  The thing that sold me on them was their very natural finish–they aren’t plasticy or shiny, but they still have an appearance of matte leather.  Plus, they are flexible and don’t feel painted on–it’s a win-win!  While these run on the pricey side, they’re worth it.  A side note about AG Jeans–they are by far my favorite denim brand.  Their sateen jegging is pretty much the softest material ever.  Below I’ve taken a few pics of their recent offerings–I am absolutely in love with their colorways!  If you want to know which styles and color varieties are in these photos, leave a comment or send me a DM on Instagram, and I would be happy to help you find the color you want.

I’ve also had a bit of an obsession with Frye boots lately.  It’s probably because winter is officially something to contend with, after having lived in California for years.  You need quality boots in Colorado that are built to last!  These Fryes are such an amazing color, aren’t they? I was instantly in love with that dark cherry finish!  I’ve never seen leather boots in such a beautiful color.  And they are super comfortable too, so you can’t get any better than that!


Outfit Details: Tee: Urban Outfitters, Cardigan: American Eagle, Jeans: Adriano Goldschmied, Boots: Frye Company

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Snow & Roses

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As the days get colder, my focus has turned to high quality boots and cozy knits.  This cardigan from Forever 21 has become one of my favorite over-sized pullovers in the closet.  The knit material is surprisingly good quality, and I love it in this “rose” color.  At first I thought it was more brown than rose when I first unwrapped, but in different lights the rosey tones come out.  I love in-between colors like that!

Something I’ve learned about Colorado winters: snow doesn’t stick around like Minnesota winters, and they come earlier too.  It’s already snowed twice here and it’s only mid-November! As I’m writing this, the snow from this shoot is all gone and the grass on neighborhood lawns is still mostly green.  It’s kind of weird, even after living in California for almost ten years, I still expect snow to hang around longer as a holdover from growing up in Minnesota, but I digress.

Another thing I have been loving are Frye boots–I mean who doesn’t love Frye?   I recently picked up these Frye Lindsay Ankle boots and I love how versatile and durable they are.  Comfortable, great quality and stylish–can’t ask for more than that!  They come “distressed” which everyone knows about with jeans, but I definitely haven’t heard of that with shoes.  Turns out I like the roughed up look, and it just gives the boots more character!

Outfit Details: Cardigan: Forever 21, Tee: Urban Outfitters, Skirt: Vintage/thrifted, Tights: Target,  Boots: Frye, Scarf: Forever 21 (old)

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