Down by the Bay

Lately I've been trying to get more creative with my locations for shooting blog pictures.  Sometimes it's hard to find cool spots when you live in the suburbs and there's not much around; but I've come to learn that it's not so much where you shoot, but how you shoot in those spots.

And now that the weather's finally getting super nice out (I am so over the snow and the cold), it's been so much nicer to go outside and shoot blog pictures.  It's also given me a chance to really explore my town and find new and exciting places to shoot!

Top: Zara (similar) || Jeggings: Express || 

Booties: Poshmark* (styled in this post, and this one too!) || 

Watch: c/o Fossil || Fringe Bracelet: Dynamite (similar) || 

Fringe Cuff: Dynamite (similar) || Bag: Kate Spade (v. similar) || Sunnies: aerie

Where I live, there's a big bridge that you have to drive over to get the beach, and right next to the bridge entrance there's a marina.  I've never really taken any time to look around there, and really just go right over the bridge without any thought.  A few weeks ago I got the idea to do an outfit post shoot at the marina; then, the other day I went back again because the weather was unbelievable beautiful.  Instead of where I shot last time (check this post to see!), I wandered in the other direction, towards the bridge, and found an uh-maze-ing location to shoot at--what a hidden gem!!  I felt like I was in a totally different place than my own town!

I'm definitely looking forward to more beautiful weather to discover more locations all over my town to shoot at!

Have you found any new places to shoot that you've overlooked in the past?  :)

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Summer to Winter

Today's one of those "ehhh" days; it's still snowing on the East coast, but I didn't wake up to a "snow day, don't come into work" text (...the worst), which kinda made me feel blah, so I wasn't really trying to put any effort into my outfit.  Luckily, all the pieces I grabbed this morning kinda happened to go together (phew!).

I wore this super twirly cotton kimono, over the summer (see how I styled it in this post!)...that's right, this is from aerie's summer 2015 collection--it's a beach cover up.  What's great about pieces like this, is that you can wear them year 'round, depending whether you layer it over a sweater or a swimsuit!

If you're one of the lucky ducks escaping the cold and heading somewhere warm for winter break, a cotton kimono (like this one from Steve Madden) is the perfect addition to your travel wardrobe.  You can layer it over your sweater for some comfy chic airport style, and then once you've reached your destination, it doubles as a cute beach cover up!  Talk about versatility!

And because cotton kimonos are relatively nice and light, they don't take up a lot of space in your luggage!  Win.

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Beach Cover Up: aerie, old () || Sweater: aerie, old (similar here) || Turban: Paper Doll Vintage Boutique (similar here) || Puff keychain: Wish app (similar here) || Bag: Michael Kors || Boots: Macy's (similar here) || Jeggings: American Eagle Outfitters || Sunnies: Wish app (similar here) || Watch: c/o Fossil || Rings: Slate, c/o Rocksbox (similar here)*

*use code classicallycaitxoxo to get your first month of Rocksbox for FREE!

Fancy Pants Snow Day

Nothing's better than waking up and finding out that you have a snow day!

I typically pick out my outfits the night before, and then when I woke up this morning to texts that work was cancelled.  Hallelujah!  I love being able to just sit in bed when I wake up, no rush to be anywhere.  However, I wanted to at least try and be somewhat productive, and to do that I had to change out of my PJs (aka my fave aerie joggers and one of Richie's tees, haha), so I swapped my sweats for something a little (a lot) cuter, but that would still be super comfy (it is a snow day after all, and I think comfiness is a snow day rule)--why let a super cute outfit go to waste?  So I sucked it up and braved the snow and get some cute pics!  It wasn't too bad...except when my tripod fell phone screen down into the snow...that's when I knew it was time to get back in the house and get back into my joggers, haha.

This combo of leggings and a fun sweater is the perfect outfit for pretty much anywhere: work, running errands, hanging out with friends, or in my case, bumming it in the house all day.

A girl can never have too many sunnies!  My collection is growing fast, and these super cute aerie heart shaped frames are one of my absolute favorites!  They have the classic tortoise shell frames, but with a fun heart shape.

I literally just got these fabulous snakeskin sneaks yesterday and was planning on wearing them out today...and then it snowed an insane amount early this morning, so no work, haha.  But what better time to break in new shoes, than on a snow day?!

Gold details are my favorite accessories to add a little bit of sparkle to any outfit without having to go overboard; a two piece ring set and my favorite Fossil watch (c/o) are more than enough to dress up my snow day outfit without being too flashy.  Simple gold accessories are classic and timeless, perfect for dressing up a sweater/jeans outfit!

Richie got me an Instax Mini for Christmas and decided to break it out for some snow day fun!

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Sweater: aerie, old (similar here, and this one from Topshop is super cute!) || Scarf: H&M || 

Hat: aerie (on sale, $13!!) || Sunnies: aerie || Sneakers: Zara, Poshmark find (use code 'PNXBH' when you sign up to earn a $10 credit towards your first Posh find!) || Rings: Slate, c/o Rocksbox (use code 'classicallycaitxoxo' to get your first month free!) || Watch: c/o Fossil

It's a blazer...it's a cape...!

...it's a blazer cape!

I'm seriously loving all things involving capes: caped dresses and the hybrid, blazer cape...I want them all!

A good blazer cape gives you that cool girl, NYFW going fashionista feel of a jacket just casually thrown over your shoulders, but with zero of the effort.  I don't know about you, but I'm super jealous of those chic as hell bloggers who can pull off that leather jacket over the shoulders, super casual look.  I've tried it myself.  Turns out, it's a lot harder than it looks...and I'll need to practice more, haha.  But the blazer cape makes it super easy to pull off the same look, but allows you to keep the blazer on your shoulders the whole day!

When the weather's kinda yucky and it's just grey and overcast, I love wearing really bright, fun shoes to lift my mood.  Plus it's a total conversation started!  Whenever I wear these metallic oxfords I always get compliments.

Shop my look here!

Blazer Cape: SheIn (this one from Nasty Gal is super chic too!) || Oxfords: J. Crew, old (similar here) || Jeggings: American Eagle Outfitters || Bag: Michael Kors (a present from Richie <3) || Pom Pom: Wish app (only $3! I just had to order another!  Check this fuzzy trio from ASOS!) || Striped Shirt: H&M, old (similar here, and only $20!) || Sunnies: aerie || Watch: c/o Fossil

What do you guys think of the blazer cape?  :)

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

Christmas Sparkle

Merry Christmas guys!!  

This year my family's having a super quiet celebration this year since my dad woke up sick, but that doesn't mean that I'm not going to dress up (dressing up is my favorite)!  ...a girl's always gotta add a little sparkle to the room, right?

This gold skirt is actually my dress for New Years Eve!  I couldn't wait til next week to wear it (how can you say no to sparkle?).  I toned it down a bit and made it more Christmas casual by throwing on a comfy cozy flannel...and then added the bow for fun.  

Flannel: Aerie || Gold Dress: Charlotte Russe (similar here) || Hat: Aerie || Sunnies: Wish app || Glasses Bangle: Kate Spade || Watch: c/o Fossil || Booties: Old Navy (under $40!)

Shop my looks here!