Spring Trench + Stripes

J. Crew is on point with their spring jackets; and I'm completely on board (I also love this field jacket that I featured on the blog yesterday)! 

As I get older, I'm starting to realize the phrase "quality over quantity" is truer and truer (you were right after all, mom).  While I still love buying fun trendy pieces, I've come to realize that I need to be smarter in spending my money, and that the bulk of my money spent on my wardrobe should be dedicated to well-fitting, quality pieces that are classic and can be worn for many, many more years.

Enter, this beauty, the J. Crew Factory trench jacket.

Even though April just ended, the weather has been very unpredictable with many cooler and rainier days.  That being said, jackets are still a must even though summer is right around the corner.  I love this timelessness of the trench, and that I can throw it over any outfit (good or lazy...) and still look put together!

Trench: J. Crew (on sale!) || Tee: J. Crew || Jeggings: American Eagle || 

Sneakers: Puma || Crossbody: Banana Republic || Sunnies: aerie || 

Watch: c/o Fossil || Bracelet: J. Crew, clearance find (similar)

The trench is a classic wardrobe staple, that looks awesome thrown over a fun sailor stripe tee and jeans for a chic casual look.  It was perfect for a day of shopping and lunch with my mom!

Speaking of classic investment pieces, how gorge is this Banana Republic cross body (also comes in a nude color) I scored at their sale yesterday (40% off!)?  Every girl needs at least one good leather bag in her style arsenal for a quick polished look.

What are your classic wardrobe staples?  :)

Shop My Look:

A Day at the Met

A mini-cap of this weekend's micro trip into NYC with Richie. And I say mini-cap because we probably only spend a total of five hours in the city, lol. 

It was the perfect day for it, the weather was gorgeous, not too hot, not too cold; I was able to rock my fave leather jacket and my fun new Express fringe jeggings (and they're under $40!).

Jeggings: Express (on sale, under $40!) || Shirt: American Eagle Outfitters || 

Leather Jacket: H&M (similar) || Fringe Cuff: Dynamite (similar) || Sunnies: aerie || 

Booties: Old Navy (on sale, under $20!) || Bag: Marshalls (similar + similar in white) || 

Watch: c/o Fossil

We weren't in the city for long (we both had such a long, busy week that by the time the weekend hit, we were too tired to do anything crazy), but it was still a great little trip. It was nice to get out of the house, and out of town for something fun that we wouldn't typically just go out and do. If you don't have a lot of time when visiting a big city, I suggest you do what we did, pick one big sight to see (we chose the Met), and then a smaller stop (we picked up macaroons at Laduree on Madison Ave.); that way you get the adventure without being overwhelmed.  Plus, in a place like NYC half the adventure is just getting to and from your main sights.

There was a bit of a wait to get into Laduree, so just be prepared, especially if you go later in the day.  This was my first time going and having the famous macarons, so I was determined to get my box of 6...plus I was super excited because they're almost too pretty to eat and they turned out to be delicious.

How gorgeous is their window display?!  All the bright colors and tons on pretty, yummy macarons in the windows make me ready to leap right into spring!! 

At first Richie was impatient to wait, and thought I was silly for spending $21 on six macarons (trust me, soooo worth it!); but later the next day, I made him try one, and let's just say that now he's a believer and was super happy I made him wait on line with me.

Luckily, Richie was a super good sport that day; not only did he wait on line at Laduree, but he took several outfit pics until I got some good ones to share with y'all.

It was a short and sweet little trip, but it was just what I needed!

Here's some of my favorite sights from the museum!

How amazing is this artist we passed?!  He drew quite a crowd, he was that good!

Egyptian wigs on point.

Some of the French rooms they rebuilt in the museum were drop dead gorgeous; I was ready to move right in!  Just give me a tiara and a silk gown and I'll be good to take up residence any day!

This courtyard was so impressive that I forgot I was still indoors!

I was wide-eyed and in complete awe with the fact that the Met rebuilt whole rooms and structures inside the museum!  I kept telling Richie I felt like I was on a movie set because there was no way it could all be so real; it was surreal.

I wonder who I had to talk to about getting my hands on this necklace??? haha...but really, I would rock this beauty all day, every day!

The paintings were gorgeous!  They made me a little envious that we don't dress up like this every day!  I'm putting it on my bucket list to get dressed up and have a photo shoot in a gorgeous gown, and get made up just like an old royal.

Have you taken any micro trips lately that you had a blast on?  :)

Pom Poms + Circumstance

Don't you just love a good mail day?  I just scored these AWESOME pom pom flats from ASOS for next to nothing (on sale right now for $21!!!)!!

Even though these shoes are more trendy than classic, you can't say no to a great pair of shoes that are only $21.  Typically my rule for buying new shoes is, classic styles that are also great quality, is a splurge item, and I don't mind paying extra for.  But certain trendy items, that might not be on trend for more than a season or two (or maybe three), I'd rather not pay the big bucks for.  What I usually do is try and have some patience and wait for my favorite trendy pieces to go on sale before I buy them; which isn't hard to do considering many stores send their new items to sale after only a few weeks, which will save you the big bucks in the long run and you won't feel so guilty getting rid of them when the trend passes.

I'm totally into the pom pom craze right now!  They're such a fun detail, and depending on how they're styled, can also be super chic and stylish without being silly.

I've already gotten so many compliments on them on my first wear!

These are the perfect flats for a casual outfit like today's because they add some edginess and sophisticated whimsy to an otherwise plain outfit.

SHOP MY LOOK:

Pom Pom flats: ASOS (on sale! $21!) || Jeggings: American Eagle Outfitters || Hi-Lo Mock Turtleneck: Aerie || Moto Jacket: GAP (old sales find) || Tassel Bucket Bag: American Eagle Outfitters || Necklace: American Eagle Outfitters (old, in store only) || Sunnies: Wish app

Style Inspo: Fringe + Gigi Hadid

Fringe has been super popular this year, and I'm totally on the bandwagon!  Even better?  Fringe on sweaters (even though this winter has been pretty mild so far)!

Gigi Hadid has easily become one of my favorite fashion inspirations!  Anyone who can (and does) rock fringe is a friend of mine.  She makes anything she wears look so effortlessly cool.

Since I unfortunately do not have her bank account, I re-created this particular favorite of mine, with all pieces that were under a hundred dollars (I admit to being a shopaholic, but I'm one on a tight budget).  It's such a simple look to throw together: sweater, jeans and boots; but the pieces themselves add interest: fringe on the sweater, ripped jeans, and a sleek over the knee boot.  In other words: perfection; you could wear this look anywhere.

Pic from Pinterest

Pic from InStyle

This fringe sweater from Aerie is by far my favorite sweater in my wardrobe (I have both colors it comes in, and wish it came in more hues...burgundy perhaps, I'd fill my closet).

I love the fringe sweater because it's super easy to throw on and still look cool and put together at the same time (which is great for all my fellow lazy girls out there).  I can wear this to work, out with the friends, or just running errands (or all three in one day without having to change multiple times!).

Shop my look alike outfit here!

Sweater: Aerie (on sale, and under $50!) || Jeggings: American Eagle Outfitters || OTK Boots: old sales find (similar to G.H.'s here) || Sunnies: Wish app (only $2 and $1 shipping!)

Sleek, Chic + Furry

First of all, I'm really, super excited Halloween is tomorrow!!  For all my last minute DIY'ers, check out yesterday's post for some quick and easy costume ideas that you can make from things in your closet (or that you can grab from the store and wear after Halloween's long done)--here.

Now back to today's post!  :D

Once the cool weather hits, it's sweater weather weather for the next two seasons, for me anyways (I LOVE a good sweater!)!  I feel like a good sweater can totally make an outfit.   I just bought this Aerie cowl neck sweater while I was at work because I obsessed over it every time I walked by it (try it on, and I dare you to not fall in love with how comfortable and super duper soft it is!).

P.S. This sweater is on sale, so I had no choice but to buy it, right? haha

This outfit made me feel a little like Audrey Hepburn, but with a modern, millennial twist--aka, the most perfect and chic outfit combo ever.  Simple detail, and sleek hair makes this look feel more expensive than it really is (win!!!).

I love mixing textures when I have a monochromatic outfit; this soft sweater with the edginess of faux-leather accents is everything!  Different textures, within the same color scheme makes an outfit go from boring to interesting--I got so many compliments on this outfit at work!

And a little gold sparkle here and there?  Always a must!

If you haven't joined Poshmark, you need to head over to the app store and download it (it's free!)!  I found these black leather lace up flats and I'm in love!  

Sign up and use code 'PNXBH' to get a $5 credit to use in the app (you can find amazing fashion pieces for a fraction of the cost!)!

Cowl neck sweater: aerie || Faux fur vest: Marshalls (similar here + here) || Watch: c/o Fossil || Leggings: LC Lauren Conrad for Kohls (similar here + here) || Lace Up Flats: Poshmark (similar here + here) || Saddle bag: Paper Doll Vintage Boutique (similar here)  || Cat eye sunnies: Paper Doll Vintage Boutique (similar here + here)

Shop my look here!  :)