The Best Leopard Mules

Jacket - J.Crew / Sweater (currently on sale!) - Madewell / Leggings - Zella / Shoes (also available here and here) - Sam Edelman / Bag (similar here and here) - Coach Factory / Sunglasses - Amazon

We haven't been shooting a lot of outfit photos lately, mainly because getting outside with the camera in daylight is hard enough when the sun starts setting earlier in the fall. Add a baby + not getting dressed very often + living in a fourth floor walk-up, and no, no we aren't taking many outfit photos. But I made special plans to get Jeff out with the camera with me over the weekend so I could bring you these shoes. Also known as the best shoes ever, my new favorites, what I will be wearing into the ground until it snows.

You may remember that I've been on the hunt for a good pair of fall shoes basically since July. I keep ordering mules and loafers and booties and returning them. I have very picky feet, and I can usually tell just from touching the heel whether or not I'll be able to wear a pair of shoes or not.

Well this pair? Straight out of the box I knew they were the real deal - so freaking comfortable. I immediately put them on and went to get Mia from daycare, which is over a mile round trip and usually requires sneakers. Not one blister, no pinched toes, no ache in my arches, and no slipping out (often a problem with mules)! I should have known off the bat they'd be good, Sam Edelman makes some of my favorite shoes.

In case the leopard isn't your thing, they do also come in black, brown, white, and snakeskin.

Jacket - J.Crew / Sweater (currently on sale!) - Madewell / Leggings - Zella / Shoes (also available here and here) - Sam Edelman / Bag (similar here and here) - Coach Factory / Sunglasses - Amazon

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Striped Cardigan

Sweater - Target / Maternity Tee - Old Navy / Maternity Leggings - Blanqi / Booties (also available here) - Steve Madden / Bag (similar) - Coach Factory / Necklace - Stella & Dot

Another week of sub-zero temperatures, another week of indoor photos! As you probably know, this has been my maternity go-to wardrobe lately - a tee shirt, my trusty maternity leggings, and a cardigan. 

I picked up this cardigan during a trip to Target last week, and honestly, I almost bought up the whole A New Day section, everything is so freaking cute!! I had been having a rough day between a bad night's sleep thanks to nightmares, being unable to get comfortable no matter what I tried, wanting to be done with the whole "being pregnant" thing, and being stuck inside due to the cold and ice - Mommy doesn't want to slip!  There may have been some tears involved. So I decided a Target binge was in order (plus a stop at the Starbucks in my store) and I really went for it, I came home with a ton of stuff for baby and the house plus a few treats for me ;) 

Of course, driving in the cold and ice turned out to be a mistake, because when I got back to the house Jeff and I both couldn't get the car back into the garage, even with me driving and him pushing! The alley was a mess thanks to snow and ice and deep tire rivets filled with slush and we were seriously stuck. I actually ended up running to CVS to grab a bag of kitty litter (since I remembered Red Foreman yammering about it on That '70s Show years ago - lolllll) and somehow while I was gone Jeff got it back in by himself. He says he just kept trying but I suspect neighborly intervention. Phew! 

Anyway, I probably shouldn't have taken that trip to Target, but I got this sweater out of the deal, so I'm still chalking it up to a win. 

Oh, and by the way, I officially hit 9 months pregnant this weekend! So ready for this baby girl to arrive - fingers crossed she comes just a little early!! 

Sweater - Target / Maternity Tee - Old Navy / Maternity Leggings - Blanqi / Booties (also available here) - Steve Madden / Bag (similar) - Coach Factory / Necklace - Stella & Dot

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Fall Stripes

Tee (similar here and here) - Halogen / Sweater (similar here and here) - Madewell / Leggings (or these are my fav non-maternity leggings) - BLANQI / Shoes - Birdies / Bag - Tory Burch

Remember when I told you my pregnancy uniform would be a cardigan and leggings? Yep, looks like we're already there! To avoid buying all of the maternity clothes that I'll never wear again, I'm trying to buy tunics and cardigans instead, in the hopes that I'll be able to wear them throughout my pregnancy and after. This tunic tee was actually already in my closet and it turns out has a ton of space for that growing bump. I love stripes with a cardigan as they give a little more visual interest, and rolling the sleeves of your sweater so that your tee sleeves show is another little trick to make your outfit look a little more styled!

I may not be going for maternity tops, but there's no compromising on pants! These leggings are 100% maternity. They're really comfortable, long enough, and not see-through, buuuut they started pilling almost immediately. So close but not quite there. Of course, I'm still wearing them (see reasons 1, 2, and 3) but if you have any better suggestions for maternity leggings, I'm all ears!

Since I hear that pregnant ladies have a hard time with shoes, I thought I'd snag another pair of mules (which of course, I'll probably only be able to wear for another month #chicagoprobs) and these are actually slippers so they're super comfy! I told Jeff I had ordered some slipper shoes, and when I pulled them out of the box he said, "well those are something." Boy code for, "oh no no no." But then I wore them out a couple of weekends ago, and immediately got compliments from four separate elderly women. So there, Jeff! These babies may not be man-approved, but they're definitely old lady-approved ;)

Tee (similar here and here) - Halogen / Sweater (similar here and here) - Madewell / Leggings (or these are my fav non-maternity leggings) - BLANQI / Shoes - Birdies / Bag - Tory Burch

Linking up with Style Me Wednesday, How I Fall.

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Fall Work Style

Sweater Blazer (similar styles here and here) and Tee - J.Crew Factory / Jeans (these are maternity - perfect for first & second trimesters and the only maternity jeans I've liked so far) - Everly Grey / Loafers (or a tasseled version!) - Gentle Souls / Bag (I bought this in Paris!) - Sezane / Watch - Wristology

Work style isn't something I share a lot of here, especially now that I rarely dress up for work! But I have a big conference coming up next week so I've been thinking a bit about what to pack. I actually wore this exact combo to work a couple weeks ago when I had to give a big presentation, and felt perfectly put together and confident while still comfortable. Here's the pieces you need to pull it together: 

The Sweater Blazer 

I've always had a hard time with jackets, as most of them aren't quite cut right for my body type, and honestly traditional blazers usually aren't that comfortable! Enter the sweater blazer. I grabbed it on a whim when making some returns, and I am so happy I did! It adds the polish of a blazer, but the fit and comfort of a cardigan. Just a note that this one does have a full collar but no matter how much I try to press it down, it always ends up popping up a little like in these photos. This version is a little more expensive but looks like it wouldn't have the same problem, and this one with buttons is a cute option too. 

The Striped Tee

Striped tee shirts are definitely the heroes of my wardrobe. They're just a little more detailed and fun than a plain tee, and seemingly go with everything - skirts, jackets, sweaters, vests, you name it! I love this one for the flattering fit and the slight boatneck that doesn't actually show my bra straps. Plus the sleeves are actually long enough for me! Definitely size up though, they tend to shrink a little in the wash. 

Pro tip: Pull just a hint of your tee sleeve out of the bottom of the cardigan sleeves - it makes it look like you put a little more thought into your outfit and adds some fun detail. 

The Jeans 

If jeans are appropriate for your workplace, look for a pair that are dark wash with no holes or distressing. Skinny jeans are great, or boot cut/straight cut if you prefer those. Just avoid jeggings that really obviously look like jeggings - I'm talking skin-tight, slightly shiny, or missing pockets. If you can't get away with jeans at work, you can easily replace these with a pair of skinny dress pants. 

The Loafers

Comfy flats are a must for me at work - my feet are really sensitive and I typically can't get away with heels for more than a few hours, especially commuting to downtown Chicago! These have a cushy insole and are soft, comfortable leather. Plus the loafer style is polished but still fun for fall! 

Add in a few accessories like a polished work tote and simple jewelry, and you're good to go! 

In other news, it looks like fall is finally here! Jeff and I were dawdling before heading out to take these photos, and looked up at 7pm and realized it was already dusk!! If you look in the background of these photos you can see the yellow from the street lamps. Looking forward to fall weather over here, but definitely not to it getting dark so early!

Sweater Blazer (similar styles here and here) and Tee - J.Crew Factory / Jeans (these are maternity - perfect for first & second trimesters and the only maternity jeans I've liked so far) - Everly Grey / Loafers (or a tasseled version!) - Gentle Souls / Bag (I bought this in Paris!) - Sezane / Watch - Wristology

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Rainbow Bright

Tee - J. Crew / Shorts - J. Crew Factory / Bag - Clare V / Sandals (similar here, here, and here) - Ann Taylor / Earrings (similar here, here, and here) - Charming Charlie / Necklace - Stella & Dot

Okay, so I know Rainbow Brite wore a whole lot more color than I'm wearing here, but this outfit just makes me think of her! Sometimes clothes should be serious, but sometimes you should just wear a rainbow shirt with bright pink earrings and green sandals. Am I right or am I right?

I shared this tee in my budget post yesterday, and really like I said, it's the most fun thing to wear. I love that the rainbow stripes give it a little retro vibe, and the flowy cut of the sleeves makes it so much more flattering and fun than a regular tee. Paired with white shorts, it's perfect for summer! Of course, paired with white shorts, it is not the best for hanging out with a bunch of toddlers, which is where I ended up wearing this outfit. Whoops. Somehow I survived the chalk / sprinklers / playing games on the ground / eating barbecue seated next to a three year old unscathed. Praise be. 

I briefly mentioned it yesterday, but I'm out in San Francisco again for work for a couple of days. I've been out a lot lately (I went back to back weeks in June!) and I love getting to explore the city, except every time I'm there there's a freaking high of 60 degrees!! I honestly am so confused every time to be dressing for 60 degree weather in the middle of the summer - I show up in my full fall gear, and the San Francisco crowd somehow manages to still dress summer-y. This time I spent about 10 minutes staring at my closet before I just gave up and packed a bunch of my new #nsale purchases - I was most excited to break out this tote but also wore this cashmere poncho on the plane. Because comfy is my personal style ;) 

Tee - J. Crew / Shorts - J. Crew Factory / Bag - Clare V / Sandals (similar here, here, and here) - Ann Taylor / Earrings (similar here, here, and here) - Charming Charlie / Necklace - Stella & Dot

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