Winter Date Night

Tank - Abercrombie (I also love this one for transitioning into spring!) / Sweater (super similar) and Earrings (similar) - LOFT / Jeans - Gap / Boots - Kaitlyn Pan / Bag - Tory Burch 

Is it just me, or is it super hard to pick out date night outfits in the winter? In the summer I can just throw on a cute dress or a fun off the shoulder top and be good to go, but in winter my everyday clothes just don't cut it. I love me some oversized sweaters, but they don't always feel special enough for dates. 

That's where cute camis come in. You can layer them under those chunky cardigans for a hint of sexy, or pair them with blazers or jackets for a more sophisticated look. I never know what the temperature is going to be like in restaurants in the winter either - if you're seated near a door those cold winds can make it freezing, but if you're tucked in the back near the kitchen it can be amazingly warm. That's where those layers are key - just slip off your cardigan and you're good to go!

Fun story - mine and Jeff's first date was in the early spring and fell into that second, sweltering category. I peeled off all of my layers and was perfectly comfortable, just looking over at Jeff in a button down and sweater and wondering how he wasn't dying. Umm, turns out he WAS dying and downed about eight glasses of ice water trying to cool down. So, you know, layers people. They're important. 

Tank - Abercrombie (I also love this one for transitioning into spring!) / Sweater (super similar) and Earrings (similar) - LOFT / Jeans - Gap / Boots - Kaitlyn Pan / Bag - Tory Burch 

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Unexpected Fall Colors

Dress (available in six colors!) - Lush / Blazer (super similar, I also love this one for under $100) - Ann Taylor / Booties - TOMs / Scarf (similar color or tassels) - BP / Bag - Tory Burch / Earrings - J. Crew / Watch - Wristology 

You know what's better than getting a present? 

No, I'm not going to be cheesy and say "giving a present" - obviously it's getting a present, forgetting that you got it, and then finding it six months later. It's like second present! 

Anyway, that's really a roundabout way of telling you that my sister bought me this scarf for my birthday last February, and I found it in a drawer a couple weeks ago. With the tags still on. Whoops. 

But really, maybe it was waiting in the back of my drawer all of that time so that I could pull it out and pair it with this dress. The pink (mauve?) and red (burgundy? oxblood?) are unexpected but also feel like they belong together. So you know, next time you're looking for a new color combo, try a little mauve and oxblood, and I promise you'll get a hundred compliments. Okay, I promise you'll get at least one compliment. Perhaps from a creepy stranger in your DMs, but hey, we're still counting it because a promise is a promise. 

I've now worn this combo on two different date nights (do you think Jeff noticed?) - one to the theater for Hamilton (!!!) and once out for some fancy drinks and then dinner. Did I mention that we went to see Hamilton (!!!) a couple of weeks ago? I feel like I didn't mention Hamilton (!!!) enough. But really, if you're thinking about going to see Hamilton (!!!), you definitely should. It was everything I hoped it could be. And I'm possibly turning into my mother, because I shed a tear during the curtain call. WHAT?! DURING THE CURTAIN CALL?!??! But yes, yes, it was that good. In case you're looking for tickets and don't want to shell out an arm and a leg, make sure to buy them the minute a new ticket block goes on sale. Of course, while you won't pay as much, you will have to wait for six months to go see the show while everyone around you sees it before you and tells you how amazing it is. Kristina life tips right there. 

Well anyway, I don't know how this post got so crazy. I can't even blame wine, because I actually did pour myself a glass before I started writing, but then forgot it in the kitchen. So if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go retrieve it now. Have a happy Thursday! 

Dress (available in six colors!) - Lush / Blazer (super similar, I also love this one for under $100) - Ann Taylor / Booties - TOMs / Scarf (similar color or tassels) - BP / Bag - Tory Burch / Earrings - J. Crew / Watch - Wristology 

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The Best OTK Boots

Blazer (currently less than $50!) - Ann Taylor / Blouse - Pleione / Jeans - Madewell / Boots - Kaitlyn Pan / Earrings and Bracelet (similar) - BaubleBar / Bag (similar) - Sole Society

Oh hey there, have I shared these over the knee boots with you yet? No?! What have I even been doing with my time? I bought these boots back at the beginning of February and have been wearing them all over the place. I haven't actually tried that $800 pair of OTK boots, but I'd wager that without trying them these are the best, and here's why:

1. They're super stretchy and stay in place! No droopy ankles, no sliding knees, and the perfect, flattering fit. Seriously, the stretch on these is so good that people usually have to do a double-take when I wear them with a skirt, because they look like really thick tights or knee socks at first glance.
   
2. The fabric isn't actual suede but microsuede, which means it's way more durable than regular suede. With real suede boots I usually freak out and refuse to wear them if there's even the hint of a puddle outside or if there's any chance of someone dripping a liquid on me, but not with these! I actually wore this outfit to my birthday party last month and assume I got spilled on multiple times, and these still look good as new.
   
3. They're really comfortable! I can wear them all day with no problem. The inside insole is just the tiniest bit slippery though, so I have been pairing them with yoga/barre socks so I don't slip around.
   
4. They're super warm. I wore them on a thirty degree day this week sans pants and my legs were perfectly warm. Like, warmer than if I were wearing tights. Except for those two inches of skin that were showing and scandalizing my mother.
   
5. They're long enough for my super long legs! I've tried on tons of pairs of "over the knee" boots that barely make it over my knees. Not cute. These have a shaft height of over 23 inches, which means they come way over my knees. For reference, if I want pants to be full-length I wear a 35" inseam.
   
6. They aren't $800, so I can wear them without worrying. See item #2. If I had $800 boots I would literally never wear them because I would be too nervous about ruining them. Also, I would never spend $800 on boots. I get heart palpitations just thinking about it. 

So that's enough waxing poetic about a pair of boots, I guess ;) Are you a fan of OTK? Would you give them a try?

Blazer (currently less than $50!) - Ann Taylor / Blouse - Pleione / Jeans - Madewell / Boots - Kaitlyn Pan / Earrings and Bracelet (similar) - BaubleBar / Bag (similar) - Sole Society

Linking up with Style Sessions, Confident Twosday.

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Black on Black on Black

Shirt - Pleione (I also love this one and this one) / Blazer (super similar) - Ann Taylor / Jeans - Gap / Booties - TOMS / Bag (similar here and here)- Coach Factory / Necklace (similar) - BaubleBar / Watch - Wristology

I'm not usually one for going monochrome, and I rarely wear a ton of black in the first place. I don't know what's happened lately though, because this month I've basically only gone for black, including this cute velvet blazer I found on sale at Ann Taylor for just $30! I couldn't find the exact blazer to link here, but definitely try looking in stores if you're interested, my store had at least ten sitting in the clearance section. Velvet is not a trend I've tried since I owned a couple of pairs of velvet leggings back in 2012, but I was happy to jump back into it - it feels trendy without being over the top. Plus, at thirty bucks it's a trend I'm happy to try!

I also snagged this pretty Pleione shirt at Nordstrom a couple of weeks ago. I hadn't heard of the brand before, but now I basically want everything they make - it's all so pretty and girly! The only thing is, I wouldn't go for anything white. I originally wanted this shirt in white but it was basically completely see through. I tried it with a tank underneath, but that made it super clingy, which kind of defeats the purpose of having a draped top. All of their shirts I saw in stores looked to be made of the same exact fabric, so definitely avoid the white! I really love the top I snagged (and also have this one and this one on my wishlist!), the ruffle/semi peplum detail is so pretty and crazy flattering.

So are you thinking about going monochrome like me? The key is to mix textures. Here, the velvet, denim, and gauzy light fabric all reflect light differently, adding a lot of depth to a look that could easily fall flat. You could also try mixing in over the knee suede boots or faux leather leggings for a similar look! It's easily something I'd already have tried, but sadly my search for OTK boots that actually are long enough for my crazy long legs continues. Le sigh.

So tell me, would you wear all of the black?

Shirt - Pleione (I also love this one and this one) / Blazer (super similar) - Ann Taylor / Jeans - Gap / Booties - TOMS / Bag (similar here and here)- Coach Factory / Necklace (similar) - BaubleBar / Watch - Wristology

Linking up with Friday Fab Favorites, Spotlight Weekly.

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Ensemble: Velvet & Chambray

Happy week before Christmas! I'm taking the next week and a half off of work, so I'm going to have all kinds of time to celebrate the season.  When I put on this outfit for the first of my Christmases this weekend, I thought it looked "Christmas-y with a twist," but now it just looks like blue and brown.  It's okay velvet pants, I still love you!

There were some additional photos where I made friends with the duck statues that I'm sure my sister is just dying to see, but those definitely did not make the cut today ;)

Shirt and Jeans - Target / Necklace and Bracelets - LOFT / Boots - Chinese Laundry

All Target ensemble?  Yes, please. 

Ensemble: Turkey

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!  With three turkey dinners in as many days my stomach was quite pleased.  All of the colors in this outfit reminded me of a Thanksgiving dinner, with cranberry sauce of course.  Velvet jeans have really become my go-to this fall.  They're so comfy and soft, I want to wear them every day!  

Sweater: Old Navy / Velvet Jeans: Target / Boots: Bandolino / Necklace: Loft / Ring: World Market / Manicure: Essie Powder Clutch

Whenever I rock this particular ring the boyfriend starts to get nervous, he calls it my brass knuckles.  Don't worry, I've never used it for harm.  I actually got it from World Market, which often has some cool pieces for cheap.  Unfortunately the store by my apartment recently closed so that a Walmart Express could move in.  Double thumbs down.