bring it on Fall!

Yesterday's post featured this dress for all my endless-Summer lovers, but today is all about everyone who is PUMPED for the next season... Pumpkin Spice Latte Season Fall.

I love early Fall because it is so easy to update your favorite Summer pieces for the chillier days ahead with just a few key accessories! For me, my go-to-Fall accessories are a felt hat + {faux} leather jacket + booties. You can literally put this exact combo on almost any Summer dress to take it to the next Fall layer - try it for yourself and let me know!

So, are you an endless-Summer fan, or early Fall celebrator? Which style of dress is more your style?

dress: Boohoo cold shoulder maxi dress

hat: H&M felt fedora (several years old, previously styled here). Linking similar styles below (for under $30!)

shoes: open toe booties that I've had since 2014. I love this style, especially for the Summer-to-Fall transition - linking similar options below.

jacket: ASOS red vegan leather jacket (under $50!)

necklace: c/o Kendra Scott - I love that it is adjustable from choker length to mid-chest.

lipstick: Nars matte lipstick in "Heat Wave"

All Photos | Walnut Street Photography 

{shop these pieces + similar styles}

Work Dress? Check!

I picked up this gingham shirtdress thinking it would be a great work dress & while I was certainly not wrong, I also love it as an after work look too! My favorite trick of adding a belt to change the look of a dress strikes again + my Summer-to-Fall transition accessories make this a perfect end-of-Summer look. 

As far as being a work dress, I'm pretty sure that 3 other teachers at my school saw me in this dress & have already purchased it. Our historic school building is gorgeous, but not air conditioned, so we are all looking for pieces to wear in the crazy heat now, and well into Fall. The shape of this J.Crew Factory shirtdress is the right mix of being loose, but not baggy. I think it is so flattering & I can't wait to pick up some of their other shirtdress options.

dress: J.Crew Factory gingham shirt dress

sunglasses: Warby Parker lucite sunglasses

clutch: Loving using pops of "Autumn" colors to help move my looks from Summer to end of Summer and even into Fall. Below are my favorite Fall clutches (the 2nd option is more affordable than it looks!):

shoes: open toe booties from years ago. They first made their blog appearance in this outfit photo (circa 2014), & year after year I am so super impressed with how well they transition from Summer to Fall. Shop my favorite current similar styles below: 

lipstick: Nars matte lipstick in "Heat Wave"

All Photos | Walnut Street Photography

{Shop these exact pieces}

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Customized

I am still trucking along on my latest Teacher Capsule Wardrobe. I tried to put a few "risk" pieces into my capsule, & have also been pushing myself to put together outfits that are more unique too, including: monochromatic colors, mixing prints, & playing around with pants (I live on the wild side, I know).

One piece that is certainly not a risk is this custom made pencil skirt from Rita & Phil. I have had this skirt for over a year & think it is absolute crazy pants that it hasn't made an appearance on the blog yet, because it is hands down the best fitting piece in my closet, is super comfortable (not like those other binding pencil skirts that make you do the pencil skirt shuffle), & I adore the print!

You might be thinking that I must have a money plant at my house to afford custom made clothing, but Rita & Phil is more affordable than you might think & the process of sending in your measurements is so quick & easy! I happen to have a hip-to-waist ratio that mass produced clothing simply does not fit, & usually spend an extra $15 - $30 having a tailor adjust the waist bands of my skirts/jeans/pants - after having paid for the actual price of the item - highway robbery I tell you! But, I absolutely hate having my skirts spin around during the day, & as someone who spends most of her time with vicious middle schoolers, they are merciless when they realize that the butt of your skirt is in the front - they have even given it a name, "front butt" (admitedly they aren't the most original namers, #facepalm).

I got my custom Rita & Phil skirt made in the "Irene" print & love that when you check out there is no "size" to select, because the skirt is made to be size YOU! Looking to start the process to have your own custom skirt made, use my referral link to start earning points to earn a free skirt! And if you aren't sold on my recommendation, I urge you to read their customer reviews - everyone who tries it, loves this service!

Have you ever tried a custom clothing service? How did it go? Who else is making quality, affordable custom clothes?

top: J.Crew Factory striped top (I have this top in a small & an XS, & prefer the XS)

vest: older from Le Tote - linking similar styles below

skirt: customized pencil skirt c/o Rita & Phil (currently on sale for $20 + sign up for their newsletter to get 20% off your order! Bonus: they have free international shipping/returns)

watch: Daniel Wellington watch

sunglasses: Ray Ban aviators

purse: "Tori" tote c/o Gigi New York

shoes: old mules from DSW - linking similar styles below

All Photos | Noah Berg Photography

{Shop these exact pieces}

pink about it

This "sleeveless blazer" was all the rage last year (I styled it here & here), but I had been struggling lately to incorporate it into my weekly wardrobe - so it was find a way to wear it, or send it to the donation pile.

I was looking for layers to use in my Teacher Capsule Wardrobe & I thought it would be a great time to put this trendy piece to the foundation item test. This is one of the ways I have been wearing it to work & I can't wait to show you the other ones as well.

Pink on pink is such a fun way to do "neutrals" in my book.

top: J.Crew Factory pink striped tee (also available in short sleeve here)

skirt: J.Crew Factory pink pleated skirt (I also have this pleated skirt - available in lots of colors, just not pink - & love it)

This pink, linen skirt is also super chic for Summer! Shop it here.

blazer: sleeveless blazer (old from BB Dakota) - linking similar styles below

shoes: black booties from years ago - shop similar styles below

necklace: Bauble Bar "Queen Bee" Necklace

bag: Tori tote c/o Gigi New York

watch: Daniel Wellington classic "Sheffield" watch

All Photos: Noah Berg Photography

{Shop these exact styles:}

work to play all day

I'm still working on my 2nd Teacher Capsule Wardrobe post (see the first round up here) & this Of Mercer dress is definitely a rockstar of my work outfit rotation. But no piece in my closet is allowed to be a one hit wonder, so although love this dress for work (like in this outfit), I also wear it out & adore how flattering the cut is. As my mom always told me, "modest is the hottest", & this dress is super feminine without being revealing or uncomfortable. If you are always looking for high quality & functional work clothes & you haven't checked out Of Mercer yet, do yourself a favor & head there now!

What are you best tricks for making your work clothes do double duty for events outside of your 9-to-5 life?

dress: "Baxter dress" c/o Of Mercer

belt: studded belt (saw Carrie wearing it in the Sex in The City movie & don't regret this purchase for a second!) I remember getting mine for cheap from a fast fashion site years ago (2008?), but found 2 second-hand styles for sale here & here.

shoes: open toe booties (old from DSW) - this style of shoe is a serious staple in my Spring wardrobe, so I've linked many similar styles at all price points below.

purse: Clare V. leopard clutch

watch: Daniel Wellington classic watch

All Photos: Noah Berg Photography

Shop these exact pieces:

stripes + tweed

shirt: J.Crew Factory

skirt: J.Crew Factory

purse: Michael Kors (available in 8 gorgeous colors!)

shoes: DSW (similar peep toe booties from Sole Society)

sunglasses: Carrera ℅ Sunglasses Shop 

(enter to win a giveaway for your own designer pair from Sunglasses Shop using the widget below)

watch: Michael Kors (currently 50% off!)

All Photos | Kate Davis Photo

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I wore this outfit to the Southern Blog Society (Now with national membership spots available at The Blog Societies) meet-up in Nashville last weekend & seriously can't get enough of these pieces! Remember this striped top from this jeans look last week? And stay tuned for this skirt to get remixed with something a little edgier next week!

Tweed is such an IT print for Fall & I love that it isn't just for super buttoned up looks anymore! Although the wannabe prepster in me was seriously considering getting this tweed jacket + pencil skirt combo, I'm thrilled to see the tweed print on more casual pieces like these slip on sneakers & color blocked tee. 

Have you embraced any tweed for Fall?

Shop my outfit + similar styles below:

power of the pants

{ What I Wore to Teach: J.Crew white button down (more affordable option) // necklace ℅ Daisy Gem // pants ℅ Darling Clothing // DSW booties // Ray Ban aviators }

All Photos | Zipporah Photography

I hope everyone had a lovely long weekend! Ours was filled with sunny lake days, home cooked meals, glorious fireworks, baby kisses (love my nieces!), groggy afternoon naps, & belly laughs. My face is slightly more freckled & my body is rested & ready to hit the ground running again today… back to teaching kids math!

Lately I have been trying to mix up my teacher wardrobe of skirts & cardigans with funky pants & fun jewels.

True story - one of my Summer School 3rd graders told me that when I wore bold prints, all my prancing around at the front of the room made him dizzy… guess that is why you have your eyes on the board & not on my pants kids!

Looking to mix up your Summer wardrobe? I suggest adding pretty jewels from Daisy Gem! Shopping at Daisy Gem is now even better with their new GemRewards program which rewards members for all their purchases with points. Sign up today & receive free 50 points. Every $1 spent = 1 point, & 100 points = $10 gift card, so everyone is half way to $10 just by signing up!

And if you are looking to shake up your Summer wardrobe even MORE, enter to win $500 from the lovely ladies below. A random winner will be selected via Rafflecopter after 7 days.

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