My Most Versatile Piece: the moto jacket

I recently added this red moto jacket to my wardrobe, & I am finally able to admit that I have a moto jacket obsession. However, after realizing that this is the 3rd moto-style jacket hanging in my wardrobe, I also had to justify that this was going to indeed be a versatile, & well loved item that played nice with the other items already hanging in my closet. I don't have time or room for just so-so pieces that are going to be one-hit-wonders. Read on to see my trip down moto-jacket memory lane...

I picked up this suede moto jacket from Nordstrom last year, but my moto jacket love affair started long before! I found a super cheap Old Navy moto jacket back in 2012 (full outfit here) & I rocked a light blue moto jacket while in San Francisco in 2014 (outfit here).

full outfit posts: here & here

But I realized that a moto jacket truly was a serious staple in my closet when looking back through my blog archives at all the times I have worn my H&M faux leather moto jacket. While it has made more than 20 appearances here on the blog + countless more in my daily life, it still looks as good as the day I bought it! (links to all outfits below collage)

{Shop similar styles - all for under $100}

From top to bottom: 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10 // 11 // 12 // 13 // 14 // 15

Once I had all of these photos together in one place, I was surprised at how versatile the moto jacket had been - from adding edge to denim shorts, texture to a tulle skirt, season transition with maxi dresses, layers with jeans & so many other styles! So it made sense that for me, & my closet, a moto-jacket is a piece that deserves being found in multiples. This might not be the case for everyone's closet, but I certainly recommend this practice if you are considering adding a duplicate (but not identical item to your closet). My thought process for making this and other decisions when buying new clothes:

Do you already get decent use out of the similar items in your closet?

Can you plan at least 3 outfits with the new piece + items you already own?

Is this a piece that feels YOU? (aka, not just a trend)

In my book, I have to be able to say a firm YES to all 3 for an item to come home - & I have another outfit featuring my new red moto-cutie later this week! She's a real winner!!

jacket: ASOS red vegan leather jacket

jeans: Nordstrom distressed jeans (currently sold out, linking similar styles below - all under $100!)

shoes: Steve Madden heels

necklace: Older style from BaubleBar, linking my current favorites below

shirt: J.Crew Factory layering blouse 

lipstick: Nars matte lipstick in "Heat Wave"

All Photos | Walnut Street Photography

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Don't forget, I'm also hosting a Giveaway with Newk's (My favorite fast casual spot to grab a BIG salad!). It is super easy to enter the giveaway now on Instagram (random winner picked this Friday). Enter Now.  

teacher style

The end of the year is near - only 8 school days left!!! - and I feel like I'm finally finding my teacher style groove! Today I'm talking about how I overcome my own teacher style challenges & sharing some great style tips from the experts over at the National Education Association Member Benefits. If you are a teacher, the NEA Member Benefits fashion tips are some really great resources that have helped me see new ways to overcome the difficulties of dressing for our jobs!

sweater: J.Crew Factory "Clare" cardigan

Cardigans are my #1 teacher style weapon. They help on those days that start out chilly (especially when you have to leave the house before the sun comes up!), & also cover up my shoulders when wearing sleeveless dresses/tops to maintain our conservative dress code.

dress: J.Crew Factory sheath dress

This basic black dress can be so many ways, easily accessorized with scarves, necklaces & sweaters. Its versatility comes in handy on my "I have nothing to wear days" & also quickly transforms from my teacher duties to any after school activities!

necklace: "Showgirl Fringe" necklace c/o Bauble Bar

My jewelry is the biggest part of my wardrobe that I can wear for both school & play. This necklace has been my go to piece for dinners out with my husband & long days at school. The gold fringe adds the right amount of jazz to any outfit!

shoes: Total Motion pumps c/o Rockport 

These are the most comfortable pair of heels I've ever worn! The soles are covered in padding & the heel is the perfect heigh to be flattering, without the pain! I just love the pink leopard spots, & the kids always give me the sweetest compliments when I wear these :)

Fit tip: I am typically a 7.5, but the 7 fits perfect in this style!

sunglasses: Carrera sunglasses ℅ Sunglasses Shop

All Photos | Catherine Truman Photography

Teaching has its own very particular set of wardrobe challenges that I never even considered before I became a Middle School teacher. Most schools enforce professional dress codes (dresses or slacks for women, slacks + ties for men), which oftentimes come with their own fit issues (but seriously, why are work clothes so awkward!?). But then teachers also have to consider the range of activities that they do during any given day - lunch duty, bathroom duty, recess duty, cleaning their rooms (I go through a can of Lysol wipes practically every week), setting up Science experiments, the list literally goes ON & ON! And while I can't speak specifically for the male teachers, female teachers also have to make sure that their skin is appropriately covered, ensuring that when they bend over to pick up pencils, or reach up to write on the board, extra bits are not peeking out!

Combined with the toll standing on your feet for 8+ hours a day takes on your legs & feet, picking out my outfits each morning is much more difficult than when I threw on jeans + a tee everyday as a graduate student.

May is teacher appreciation month, and The National Education Association (NEA) is also celebrating National Member Appreciation Month. To help their community of teachers and educators feel confident in their daily roles, NEA member benefits is taking about teacher style during the month of May. NEA gave three educators amazing makeovers with a style expert.

I loved getting to watch 3 deserving education professionals getting their style updated:

Jossette, is a paraeducator who wants a bolder wardrobe - see her transformation for yourself. Cameron, a 6th-grade teacher who’s stuck in a style rut - see his make-over. Tara, a 4th-grade teacher who is on a weight-loss journey & got her teacher style updated here. 

AND, along with the other amazing member benefits that NEA offers, they are now also giving away a personal style make-over too! 1 winner will receive a $1,000 Visa reward card for his or her own style shopping spree, and 25 winners will win $100 Visa gift cards, too. Check out all the details & enter here. 

Get social with NEA: Twitter // Facebook // Instagram // Pinterest

This post was sponsored in part by NEA Member Benefits, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

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nerdy by nature

This is an outfit made of "most-perfects". The most perfect chamber blazer. With the most perfect graphic tee. The most perfect shape of a handbag. And the most perfect thick, distressed in all the right places, ripped denim. What? I couldn't help myself!

shirt: Suburban Riot graphic tee

jeans: BLANK NYC distressed denim 
Fit tip: I'm wearing a size 26 & they fit a little tight. If you are looking for more of a boyfriend fit, order 1 size up

blazer: Banana Republic double breasted chambray blazer

purse: c/o Cuore & Pelle

necklace: Showgirl fringe necklace c/o Bauble Bar

shoes: Steve Madden heels

All Photos | Catherine Truman Photography

It is most appropriate that this is the "showgirl fringe" necklace from BaubleBar & I am inappropriately obsessed with it!

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black velvet

This past Fall Nashville officially stepped into the future when we got our own Sprinkles cupcake ATM - I completely approve of this advance in technology. To be honest, I never really got into the whole cupcake frenzy, but this cupcake ATM introduced the perfect combination of single served cupcakes & on demand delivery in a way that completely blew my mind.

Just as I was getting used to the unlimited access of red velvet cupcakes in my life, Sprinkles had to go & up the ante - rolling out a Black Velvet cupcake to celebrate their 11th anniversary! I stopped by the Nashville shop this past weekend to test it out (hey, blogging is a tough gig!) & dressed up in my best black duds to ring in the occasion. I managed to hold off devouring the cupcakes until I got home & then my husband I devoured them, barely holding ourselves from straight up licking the plates! Never in my life have I experienced whipped chocolate ganache, but I am a changed woman!

If you have a Sprinkles in your area, I highly recommend this experience, but don't wait #BlackVelvet is only around through the end of April!

Peep my Black Velvet inspired outfit below :)

top: LUSH long tunic tank (only $34 & comes in 7 gorgeous colors! I ordered the XS & it fits perfectly!)

necklace: "queen bee" necklace c/o Bauble Bar

jeans: BLANK NYC distressed denim (love the raw edges & the denim is so thick and dreamy!)

shoes: Steve Madden heels

cupcakes: Sprinkles Cupcakes (the cupcake ATM in 12th South is so cute!)

All Photos | Catherine Truman Photography

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