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Hello World!

Welcome to my first blog post! As summer comes to a close, I wanted to post some of my favorite outfits of the season. I just want to discuss my love of dresses in the summer as well. They are an easy way to look polished in one easy step and the possibilities are endless from there. You can dress them up or dress them down, add accessories to make the colors pop, or you can go sans accessories for a simple look. Here are some of my favorites this summer. I am excited to bring in the fall, but not before a farewell to the summer frocks…for now.

You can find the first dress here. It’s an older style, so sizes are limited, but luckily they have the same exact dress in a fall like hue here!

Dress number two can be found here. It is pretty limited in stock, so let’s hope JCrew recycles this style next summer! (I’ll be buying one in every color)

Dress number three can be found here. Here is another cold-shoulder option I am also coveting.

Happy shopping! Watch out for more styles coming soon!

Let’s Not Forget About Thanksgiving…

Hello friends! I think you may have noticed an extended hiatus from me. And as the saying goes, life got in the way. Over the last two years, a lot has changed and with that change, Coffee Breaks took a backseat. However, I never even thought about quitting and giving up on the blog, because it is truly a passion of mine that I want to share. I think it is so easy to get caught up and say next week, next month, next year, but I was tired of putting something that makes me so happy off and I was done with the excuses. So, here you have it, a brand spanking new post about one of my favorite holidays; Thanksgiving!

Is it just me or did Thanksgiving really creep up on us this year? Even though it’s later this year than it has been in previous years, I feel like I blinked and late summer turned into Thanksgiving! Additionally, I feel like we are all forgetting about Thanksgiving and skipping right to Christmas. When did Thanksgiving become the black sheep of Holidays?! Not on my watch. Thanksgiving is a time for friends, family and…wine. It is a time for celebration (and most importantly gratitude) without all of the running around of buying gifts for the Holidays. And part of all of the fun is, you guessed it, dressing up. I usually take Thanksgiving as an opportunity to embrace rich, deep colors and embrace plaid like I don’t even know that other patterns exist. This year, I wanted to embrace winter whites and incorporate some of the trends we saw this summer instead. I hope these looks offer up some inspiration!

I decided to embrace the silky slip skirt trend that we have been seeing everywhere with a cozy sweater. It’s a great way to embrace a cozy outfit and elevate it with a flowy skirt that doesn’t sacrifice comfort. I also love that I can take a piece from this summer and extend its’ wear through the fall and early winter. I love the details on the sweater, it takes a cozy garment from casual to festive and it’s a little nod to what is ahead with all of the holiday sparkle. If you know me, you know I love to pair various colors together for some pop. I saw these shoes when I walked into a J.Crew store a few months ago and I knew I had to own them. They come in three different colors, but this emerald green color stood out to me the most, especially for the holiday season!

My second look involves one of my favorite fall pieces. This jacket has the femininity I love and a bit of an edge with the pronounced shoulders. I have worn it so often since I purchased it, so the cost per wear is already paying off. The silky top is again a nod to the silk trend we saw a ton of this summer. Fun fact, the skirt from the first look matches this top exactly! Pulling this jacket over it and pairing it with these leather leggings instantly took the look into fall. I tied the whole look together with the cutest pearl handbag.

If you are thinking, um, leather pants on Thanksgiving?! Have you ever heard of sides?! I swear these have enough give for that second slice of pie, and if you are skeptical, here is an alternative! The ones I am wearing are from last year, however, I found a similar pair here.

Whatever you decide to wear, I hope you have a lovely time gathered around the table (or living room) with all of your loved ones. There is much to be grateful for always, but it is nice to have a dedicated day celebrate this gratitude with others. Happy Thanksgiving! xoxo

How Your Budget Can Also Be Friendly

Shopping on a budget. Those words alone can cause angst and dread. The very thought of walking upon endless racks of clothing, staying within budget, staying true to your style AND finding good quality pieces can cause anxiety. Okay, maybe I am being a bit dramatic here, but I know the thought of shopping on a budget may be very unpleasant to most people. When we shop, we want to treat ourselves and we want it to be easy. No one wants to feel like they are on their way to a root canal while traveling to the nearest Nordstrom Rack.

But I am here to tell you that not only is it possible, but that you can have fun while doing it! Easier SAID than done, right? Well, I am here to not just tell you how you can stretch those hard-earned dollars (or euros, pesos, pounds what have you), but show you. I challenged myself to put together a spring outfit that would ring up to a total of 100 dollars. Yes, you read that correctly, 100 dollars for the entire outfit!

I think one of the most important things to do when shopping on a budget is to go in with a game plan. I knew exactly how much I had to spend and I also knew that I wanted an outfit I could transition easily from winter into spring. With these two sets of parameters, I was able to lessen the panic or that overwhelming feeling that sometimes creeps up while shopping.

When I thought about where I would get the most bang for my buck, a place I go to for pretty much everything came to mind; Target. I have been admiring the Who What Wear collection for some time now, and I knew that I would at least find one piece I could build upon. I eyed a gingham top from across the store. I knew that it would be easy to build an outfit around this piece, and it was an easy top to transition from casual wear to dressy. First, I would just like to express how much I love the gingham pattern. I think it’s because it is a trendy pattern that is also a classic. I really like to invest in pieces I know I can wear for years to come, and I feel like gingham will always be in style even if not on trend. I then looked around the store a bit more, but couldn’t find anything to add to the top and create a perfect spring look. It was okay though, it gave me an excuse to go spend some time in the home section (I was committed to the 100 dollar spend, so it was just a little window shopping!). I circled back to the clothing section to give it one last try, and lo and behold, there was a red skirt with a trumpet bottom that I knew would be perfect for the top. I ran to the register (not exaggerating, those pieces go FAST) and the total came in at $55.98. A few days later I walked into Zara, with the intention of finding an accessory that would pull this outfit together. I found a great braided wicker bag and I knew it was the finishing touch I was searching for. The bag came in at $45.90 which means the total cost of my outfit came out to $101.88.

I know, I know, 1.88 over! To make up for it, I gave myself the leeway and promised that I would skip the coffee cart the next morning. While I know it’s important to stay within budget, I say it’s okay to give yourself some leeway so that you don’t feel like you are losing out on anything. With that being said, leeway doesn’t mean splurging on one piece that could completely derail your budget!

Here are some photos of the outfit:

You can find the gingham top here, I may just do a whole post on gingham this summer, I love this pattern so much! Not only is it a classic as I mentioned before, it is one of those patterns that you can easily mix with other patterns and prints. The skirt is unfortunately sold out, but I have linked a similar one here that will keep you on budget too. Lastly, this bag really pulls the whole outfit together. It adds a ladylike touch to the outfit and I just love the wicker bag trend that has been on the rise lately. I love that it is both trendy and classic. I can imagine myself wearing this bag for years to come even when the wicker bag trend is out.

The moral of the story is that shopping on a budget is not only manageable but FUN. It’s fun to challenge yourself because then your true creativity comes out. You have no choice but to be resourceful and to create something while still staying true to yourself.

Tips for shopping on a budget:

-Go in with a game plan- What is your budget? What look are you trying to achieve? What occasions do you have coming up that you can incorporate your new pieces into?

-Stick to classic pieces that you know will be investments (an investment piece does not have to be expensive).

-Mix and match! You can always mix less expensive items with ones that were more expensive.

-Stick to material that is breathable and will hold up well. This tip is super important. Shopping on a budget does not mean wasting money on items that you know just will not last. Do your best to stay away from synthetic materials or poorly made pieces.

Oh, What Fun….

It’s that wonderful time of the year again where trees glisten, streets sparkle, and the cheer can practically be felt in the air. The Holidays are a special time in New York City, and I really can’t think of a more magical place to be during this season. Part of that magic is in your dress, of course. This is the time of year where you can add a bit of sparkle without crossing the line into juvenile territory. This Holiday season, I was obsessed with incorporating plaid into my wardrobe. Along with plaid, I am a big fan of Fair Isle and as mentioned earlier, a bit of sparkle never hurt nobody. My first look incorporates both plaid and sparkle, go big or go home, right? The jacket is super comfortable, and most importantly, for those brutal NYC winter days, WARM. And we all know how hard it is to find a jacket that is both stylish and functional. The second look is on the dressier side, but still super comfortable which is, above all, the most important aspect of holiday attire. You want to be warm and comfortable, no one looks cute shaking and shivering from the cold.

For this fun and laid back Holiday look, I paired this jacket with this lovely top from J.Crew. The top has two of my favorite elements; sparkle and soft pink/rose. AND it’s a turtleneck, and I love a good turtleneck. It’s a great top because you can dress it up or pair it with jeans as I did for a casual yet festive look. And don’t let the metallic texture fool you, I promise it’s super comfortable! The jeans are recycled from previous posts, and you can find them here. The shoes were a gift to myself, and one of the few items I have ever splurged on. I had been lusting after them for years, and finally decided to go for it a year ago. They are the most comfortable flats I own, and I love that they can dress up any outfit even without a high heel.

I have always been a studs and pearls lover when it comes to earrings, but lately I have been experimenting with hoop earrings and I love them! They are great for the times I feel like I am in a rut and just need something different. These are from H&M.

This look is the dressier Holiday look with a bit of comfort built in. You can find this ultra cozy Fair Isle sweater here. This skirt is a J.Crew classic and comes back every fall and winter season. This burgundy one is from last year, but they have it in black! These tights added a bit of fun and texture to the outfit and most importantly, kept me (a bit) warm. Unfortunately these are sold out, but here are similar ones. This jacket has been a closet staple for me over the last few years. It is my absolute favorite jacket and it keeps the winter bright with it’s rich color. It is from quite a few seasons ago, but here is one option that is pretty similar. And my favorite part of this outfit, the beret! I have been looking for the perfect beret for some time, and I finally found it here! It’s the perfect way to wrap up a winter outfit with a special touch.

I am so excited to wear these pieces over the Holidays down in Atlanta with my family. Even more importantly, I am excited to take this time to recharge and spend time with loved ones. What are you doing for the Holiday season? Whatever it is, I hope you all enjoy and thank you for letting me be part of it!

Paris, je t’aime

I recently visited one of my dream cities, Paris. Paris is known for its chic and effortless style, so I was very excited to look to the streets for inspiration and to express myself through my clothing. So, as you can imagine, the weeks before were spent agonizing over the same question: what am I going to wear? My first thought of course was to overhaul my entire closet and buy new pieces because this was after all, a trip of a lifetime. But then I had a thought, what if I just shopped in my closet? So I embarked on the trip with a mix of items I already owned and bought a few pieces here and there to mix and match. We all know that when you are planning a trip it is very easy to go over budget, so for me, this was a way to keep my spending under control. As with any trip, I plan outfits ahead of time, and pack a few extras in case I want to mix and match or take a look from day to evening by adding a jacket, accessories or a different pair of shoes.

One of the biggest challenges while traveling is maintaining a chic look while still being able to manage navigating the city. I looked for pieces that were made with breathable material that would keep me warm, but also not cause any overheating. My first pick was a plaid and jean combo which was super comfortable. I picked a plaid wrap blouse and jeans with a fringed flare. The plaid wrap blouse is on the dressier side while the jeans added a laid back flair to the outfit. I added plaid slides that are super comfortable even after hours of walking, and I usually don’t like the “matchy” look, but the patterns are just different enough that it didn’t look too planned and the blue hue also added some edge. To put the look together, I threw my (favorite) jacket over my shoulder and I was ready to go! And go I did! We stayed out all day with a trip to the Louvre and Notre Dame, some shopping in between,and of course a visit to a sidewalk cafe for a leisurely lunch and wine.

You can find this top here, which is from Zara. It’s great because of how many uses you can get out of it! You can wear it to the office, to dinner or drinks, and apparently for sightseeing too! The jeans are here. I love the fringe on these, which is very in trend. I love the juxtaposition of classic pieces with a little edge mixed in. You can find the slides here. They are seriously the most comfortable slides I have tried. No blisters here, not even while I was breaking them in, which is a shoe miracle.

On this day, we took a trip to Versailles, so I really wanted to add some glam to my outfit. I picked a metallic skirt to add a hint of sparkle and I just love the way this skirt flows. I added a ballerina style wrap sweater to the mix. These are both items that I have had in my closet for some time now but I have never worn them together. I decided to pair them together for a ballerina-esque look!

The shoes were purchased with this trip in mind, and they added a touch of floral which I have been obsessed with this season (more on that later). This was another option that was super comfortable, but that I still felt dressed up and polished in. As I mentioned, these were items that were already in my closet, but I found a similar top here and a similar skirt here (and it’s on sale!).

This was such a great trip and it was exciting to think about writing all about it when I got back home. It meant that everything I did and wore was done with purpose, and it was exciting to add a creative component to the experience. It was certainly a test to my creativity, but I learned that you don’t have to go on a shopping spree every time you leave town. It’s actually even more fun to assess your current pieces and find ways to mix and match items that you have never put together before. I would recommend going through this exercise before packing since you want to avoid overpacking. Find a few options that you know will work and include a few neutral pieces that you can incorporate into various outfits.

I can’t wait for the next sartorial adventure!