I'll Take My Autumn with a Side of Boots Please

When September rolls around, as it inevitably does every year, it brings with it the smell of freshly fallen leaves we all love so much. Me? I smell leather. Boots are the epitome of fall fashion. Every time I pick up the September editions of In Style or People StyleWatch, first and foremost, I flip to the always-there-like-an-annoying-ex-boyfriend section: "This Year's 'It' Boots." The ensuing pages are pasted in delicious knee-high, mid-calf, leeather, suede, black, brown, camel, flat, heeled, wedge goodness. Can you I tell I have a penchant for boots?

Here are some of my favorites that have been dancing alongside the sugar plums in my 2011 dreams:

Ankle Boots & Booties

Betsey Johnson 'Derbby' Bootie, $65.90 on sale

J.Crew Pierce Spectator Booties, $250

Lumiani Kate Booties, $129

Frye Harlow Campus Bootie, $258

Mid-Calf
(I have a thing for vintage mid-calf, western-inspired boots; if that was all I owned in the way of boots, I'd be very happy)

Campus Stacked Boho Mid-calf Western Boot, vintage

UGG Josie Boot, $250

Frye Carson Pull on, $313.20 on sale

Below-the-Knee

Enzo Angiolini Karissa Boot, $189

Vince Camuto Braden Boot, $198

Anthropologie Ridgecrest Boots by Frye, $298

J.Crew Tall Booker Midheel Boots, $348

In closing, here is an old picture of me when I was still secret-pregnant, in my all-time favorite boots ever: J.Crew Glenbrae Tall Boot from 3 seasons ago. Yum.

Oh boots, how I love thee.

The Dreaded B-Word

Budget.

There. I said it. I loathe the word; with its ominous undertones and its ability to make me cringe at the very uttering of it. But alas, it is necessary, and husband and I have come to the unfortunate realization that a budget is necessary right now. We've whooped it up with weekend trips to the city, shopping benders and dinners out more often than dinners in. Now it's time to pull the reigns back and start, shhh, saving. Gulp.

Since I have an almost bottomless closet, I will be on a shopping hiatus for the time being. But for those on a budget who still have an open invitation to shop, here are a few of my favorite picks for fall at a price point that doesn't come with a big heaping pile of guilt.

Trend: Midi dresses/skirts

Forever 21 Chevron Strips Dress, $22.80

The brown tones of the stripes in the dress make it a good transition piece for fall. Just add this:

ASOS Cropped Boyfriend Blazer, $86.20

And these:

Michael Antiono McMahon booties, $59.00

And you're good to go.

Forever 21 Flowy Calf Length Skirt, $18.90 (!)

In another great fall color, this skirt would look amazing with this:

H&M Top, $14.95 (in stores only; I will dance a jig on top of my desk at work the day H&M makes online shopping available)

And this:

ASOS Oasis Skinny 60s Belt (jade green = fall trend), $20.69

And these:

Charles Albert New 3010 pump, $19.97 on sale (!)

Voila! All for under $75! Damn I'm good.

Fall trend: 70's inspired clothing

Forever 21 Stonewash Bell Bottom Jeans, $19.80

Which would look adorable with another fall trend: a ladylike blouse, tucked in with a cute belt and platforms.

Forever 21 Bow Front Button Up, $24.80

This blouse would also pair well with a pair of skinnies tucked into these:

Just kidding. Gotcha! That would be taking the 70's trend a little too far...

How about these instead?

Liliana Rachel-1 Knee-High Boot, $26.88 on sale

The end. As my "budget" quest continues, I imagine my updates on cheap-chic clothing will, too.

Living Up to Its Name

What better way to honor the name of this blog than by wearing something pleated. I'll answer that: there is none. So without further ado...OOTD.



Here is the skirt I blogged about last week that I was concerned might not fit due to it's "petiteness." Luckily...




It did!

ASOS PETITE Pleated Midi Skirt in cafe creme, $60.34, www.asos.com
Target Xileration tee, no longer available
Target belt, $22.99, Target stores
Target earrings, $7.99, Target stores
Lucky Brand Meghan sandal in dark latte, $74.25 on sale, www.zappos.com

Okay, enough about pleats.

July moved into August rather quickly this year, as it seems to every year. August is following suit by breezing by at rapid fire pace, which always makes me think of fall. Football games, dog days turning into chilly evenings, mellowcreme pumpkins, leather boots...and fall fashion. Summer is probably my favorite time of year (for obvious reasons), but fall comes in a close second. If it didn't signify the end of summer, it'd probably be my favorite season. Fall fashion, on the other hand, is my favorite fashion. Maybe it's the childhood memories of new school clothes that raises in me a giddy anxiety for new trends and new options for my wardrobe. It seems that fall always brings about a change in the tide of fashion, if you will.

While munching on mellowcreme pumpkins this fall, I will be bedecked in bell bottom jeans (I have yet to find the perfect pair), sturdy leather boots (searching for the ideal vintage Frye boots), pretty blouses, pointed toe pumps and blazers. I will also carry over my midi skirts and nude shoes, as these are classics that transition well from summer to fall.

Here are some more pieces I've got my eye on:


This entire outfit from J.Crew's fall preview


J.Crew Valentina Pump in spicy gold, $228.00, www.jcrew.com


J.Crew Schoolboy Blazer in Velvet, $168.00, www.jcrew.com


J.Crew Mona Leather Pump, $198.00, www.jcrew.com


Frye Sabrina 14L Boots in burnt red, $298.00, www.zappos.com


7 For All Makind Bell Bottom Jeans, $119.99 on sale, www.piperlime.com


Anthropologie Ottoman Poppies Blouse, $198.00, www.anthropologie.com

More fall fashion entries will inevitably follow this one.

Acceptable Nudity

Perhaps I was meant to live in a nudist colony; perhaps not. Either way, I have always been obsessed with nude-colored pieces. Shirts, skirts, (especially) shoes. I love how the perfect pair of nude pumps make your legs look much longer than they actually are. I love how a nude shirt matches any color bottom; and vice versa. Whenever I go to H&M (sadly, not frequently enough) I am immediately drawn to all of their nude-toned garments. They are notorious for having a lot of things in this palette.

Here is a sampling of some of my favorite pieces, found via what I like to call "online window shopping."

Marc by Marc Jacobs nude shoes, $162.25 on sale, www.zappos.com


J.Crew Mona pump in dusty clay, $198, www.jcrew.com


Tea Time Talks Polka Dot Dress, no longer available, www.shopruche.com


Four Seasons Pleated Skirt, $38.99, www.shopruche.com


Cole Haan Air Violet pumps in beige, $248, www.zappos.com


Steve Madden Roxxiee wedge in blush patent, $119.95, www.zappos.com


Ivanka Trump Bulbli in sand patent, $125.00, www.zappos.com


A.L.C. blouse in nude, $226.80 on sale (gulp), www.shopbop.com


ASOS Crochet Trim Button Front Cami, $43.10, www.asos.com


Enjoy being nude!

It's a Cinch!

I used to shy away from belts. I thought they added "bulk." Au contraire; I've recently learned they actually have quite the opposite effect. After I purchased a couple belts that really pulled my outfits together, I was hooked. Now I belt everything, from dresses, to skirts, to blazers...the possibilities are endless. Here are some of my favorite belted options, as well as some recommendations on stylish options for this little accessorizing wonder.

This tank has a little bit of volume to it, so unless it's paired with a skinny pant, it needs to be belted or tucked it in to avoid looking like big, gray balloon. I opted to add one of my favorite belts, which is both brown and black, making it universal for almost all color palettes.


Anthropologie Lace-Over-Leather Belt, no longer available


Pictured with J.Crew tank, no longer available, which is also part of my OOTD

I adore this maxi dress; however, because of it's pale color, it can wash me out. By breaking it up with a belt, I add color so it doesn't look so monochromatic.



ModCloth Bicycle Taxi Maxi Dress, no longer available, paired with Old Navy belt, no longer available

Again, I love this dress, but with its nude coloring, it almost begs for a belt.




These are some of my favorite belts, both skinny and thick options:


Topshop Tan Textured Flower Skinny Leather Belt, $32.00, www.topshop.com


Forever 21 Stitched Leatherette Stretch Belt, $6.80, www.forever21.com (you cannot beat that price)


Topshop Red Leather Wide Double Buckle Belt, $70.00, www.topshop.com (fun color, fun design, this belt is a whole bag of fun)


Eddie Borgo at J.Crew Cone and Pearl Belt, $125.00, www.jcrew.com


Anthropologie Channeled Belt, $29.95 on sale, www.anthropologie.com (Anthropologie has some of my favorite belt options; on sale, they are also affordable options)

My "cinched" OOTD:


J.Crew Schoolboy Blazer in Eyelet, $69.99 on sale, www.jcrew.com




Anthropologie Egyptian Eye Earrings, no longer available



Jessica Simpson Gladiator Wedge Sandals, TJ Maxx, no longer available