Plaid fuzzy Sweater + Gucci Ankle Boots

Sweater: Hardwear Boutique (5 fancy similar versions here)

Pants: Blank NYC

Boots: Gucci

Bag: Chanel

Sunglasses: Dsquared2

In a typical move, I posted about five fancy fuzzy sweaters and then went and bought none of them because I kept looking for more and also kept trying to convince myself that I didn't need another fuzzy sweater.  When I saw this one in the window of the boutique though, I just walked right in, bought it, and left without really looking at anything else (I'm trying to be good).  When you know, you know.  I wore it to lunch with these Gucci boots that were one of my very first ankle boot purchases ever, about 6 years ago, which I also bought with a huge amount of conviction and no hesitation.  They haven't let me down since and they probably never will.  Let's hope the same goes for the sweater.  

Mixing seasons

Coat: H&M (also worn here)

Dress: Zara (also worn here)

Boots: Gucci, old

Bag: Gucci

Sunglasses: Stella McCartney

We finally made it to see Gone Girl (loved it!) after my poorly planned attempt failed a few weeks ago, and this is what I wore.  No science to it, except that I wanted to layer due to the chilly weather,  (without looking too eager about it) and I wanted to wear these Gucci boots I invested in years ago and barely get to wear every year.  I adore them, although a black pair may have been more complimentary here.   I'm not about that matchy-matchy life anyway.

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White Sneakers

Shirt: Zara

Skirt: Phillip Lim x Target (also worn here)

Shoes: Topshop (similar here, here)

Bag: Gucci

Sunglasses: Prada

I missed this skirt and I decided to wear it, except it was kind of hard because I've only ever worn it to work before.  If sneakers weren't a thing right now I would probably have found some sort of flat sandal.  Preppy is what it ended up being, thanks to the white shirt with white sneakers, although that wasn't the intent.  In fact, I had no intent (maybe cute mom on the go?) The only thing I wanted when I got dressed last Saturday was to be comfortable (and ok, fine, maybe a little bit festive), because we were going to a pumpkin patch.  Unfortch, our first attempt at visiting a pumpkin patch in L.A. turned out to be the worst one ever.  I won't mention which one we went to, but it was in the valley, in a CVS parking lot.  Even my kids, who are easily pleased, were like MOM, what IS this?  I don't know why but I thought going to a pumpkin patch in the valley would be more authentic.  It was actually just more ghetto.  My attempt to shun commercialization of holiday traditions failed.  My husband is still making fun of me.  

I redeemed myself this past weekend though, by selling out and taking my kids to the legendary Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch.  Turns out authenticity can be bought at paid for right in the middle of Beverly Hills - I don't know why I even had a doubt, and we had a GREAT time.  Hipsters, hate on.  

  

Pink Fuzzy

Sweater: H&M

Jeans: BlankNYC

Shoes: Report Signature

Bag: Gucci

Earrings: Chanel

Lipstick: M.A.C. "Kinda Sexy"

Finally found a fuzzy sweater that doesn't look too much like Barbie goes skiing, due in large part to the loose baggy fit.  I kept everything else black though, just in case I started to veer into the wrong territory.  I'm a big fan of anything that feels good against your skin (and your date's skin too, if it's date night) and this sweater feels like the softest baby blanket of all time.   

I wore this on Saturday night for date night with the hubby.  It was one of those nights where nothing really worked out the way it was supposed to.  In a very out of character move, I didn't pre-purchase tickets to Gone Girl, so every show was sold out (honestly, wtf was I thinking, trying to buy tickets on the spot for a 7pm show on a Saturday night at The Grove? Clearly I was being punished for being an idiot).  I stood at the ticket machine about to lose it like a toddler at Disney World.  I had perfectly timed our dinner reservation at Connie and Teds for 10 minutes after the movie was supposed to let out, and due to my lapse in good judgment, not only would we not be seeing the movie (we're trying again next weekend), but we also had 2 and a half hours to kill before dinner.  Have I mentioned that I love plans?  I literally can't live without them.  Thankfully, though, there's only one maniac in my marriage, and my husband was all like, chill, let's just go to the restaurant and see what they can do.  So they probably took pity on my husband because they sensed his wife was a Type A lunatic and sat us early, we had a DELICIOUS seafood dinner, and after some wine I calmed down enough to enjoy rolling with the punches (just this once).

Fucking Mercury retrograde - got me this time.

Cold Shoulder

Top: Blaque Label

Jeans: Current Elliott (also worn here)

Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell, old (similar here, here)

Bag: Gucci

Sunglasses: Prada

Belt: Zara, old

I'm starting to feel like myself again after being cooped up sick for a few days.  I basically spent 48 straight hours in pajamas and socks, and then when I couldn't take it anymore, pulled myself together enough to have lunch at Joan's and to finally wear this top I ordered a little while back.  Remember when off the shoulder tops had a big moment back in the late 80s/early 90s?  Do I sound old when I ask rhetorical questions about the 80s? Where's my retinoid cream?  Ugh, MOVING ON. 

I do LOVE when this style comes back in, because it covers a major problem area for many of us (upper arms) and shows off an area that we all pretty much love about ourselves (collar bones/décolleté).  Unfortch, thanks to several scenes in Pretty Woman, it's been permanently time-stamped as a trend from a certain era, and not necessarily a wardrobe staple, but I think this top might be a game changer in that respect.

Craft LA

Tee: Banana Republic mens (borrowed from husband)

Skirt: Jean Paul Gaultier

Shoes: Tibi

Bag: Gucci

I envisioned this outfit in my head when I bought the skirt, but when I actually went to put it together I realized I didn't own a simple white tee that would be appropriate for dinner and not the gym.  So I made my husband give me one of his, which kind of worked after I forced it into this knot thing, but I didn't love the material or cut enough to outright steal his shit.  It was thick material, and had a higher neck than I wanted, which reconfirmed my opinion that this whole "boyfriend" or "borrowed from the boys" look works only when the actual clothes are made for a woman. Unless you're a supermodel or have that kind of body type, true menswear is really unforgiving in terms of cut, fabric and proportion  - no stretch, longer silhouettes, wider shoulders, wider waist and skinnier hip & leg measurements.  That works for pretty much no woman, when you think about it.  I mean, I don't want to look like I literally had to borrow some dude's clothes (walk of shame anyone?). So, after this I went to the women's department of one my favorite stores (rhymes with fordstrom) and stocked up on thin, lower necked (love a good collarbone moment) slightly stretchy loose tees that are much more tailored (pun intended) to what I need.                   

Combo top

Jacket: Zara, old (also worn here)

Top: Zara

Jeans: Current Eliott "stiletto"

Shoes: Alexander Wang

Clutch: Gucci

Necklace: Vanessa Mooney

This past weekend we left L.A. for the first time since moving here in June, and headed out to Santa Barbara, which has to be one of the most scenic places on earth.  I'm not sure how many towns you can visit in the continental U.S. where perfect weather meets ocean, sky, mountains, and palm trees all at once.  Oh, and amazing food and wine thanks to the tens of tens of infamous wineries in the area.  I was so inspired I actually rode a BIKE, guys.  Like, not the stationary kind that you ride to lose weight (I should probs get back on that too) but the real, beach cruiser kind.  After an afternoon of boozing and cruising we headed out to dinner at The Lark, and this is the outfit I wore.  The suede jacket came in handy because it actually got chilly in the evening, plus I'm looking for any reason to wear fringe now that the seasons are changing.  I like how black suede fringe can pretty much fall-ify even the summeriest of summer tops like this one.  More from Santa Barbara coming up soon. 

Just Add Stripes

Jumpsuit: Maje (also worn here)

Crop top: H&M

Shoes: Aminah Abdul-Jillil

Bag: Gucci

Sunglasses: Prada

Sorry for my brief absence - sometimes keeping up with everything gets overwhelming and something has to give, or else my husband will Baker Act me and that will be the end of blog posts forever.  This time, I took a break from the blog and just stopped thinking about whether my outfit was photo-worthy for a few days.  It helped me remember that I didn't start this blog to only post photo-worthy outfits; I started it so that other people in my boat (crazy harried working moms/young professionals who want to do everything perfectly and kill themselves trying) can see how I pull it together day after day and face the world, hopefully without looking like shi* and actually looking kind of put together.  That, in essence, is The Fancy Routine - being fancy should be such a natural part of your day (your routine) that it requires no thought on those mornings where you just want to be like #girlbye to whatever thousand things you have to do that day, but don't have the option.  You  can and should STILL look good on those days.

p.s. I wore this outfit to the farmer's market on Sunday morning; originally I was going to just wear the romper but it looked too dressy so I put the striped top on to dress it down, because stripes dress everything down.  Even sequins.  Try it and see.

grungy lace

Top: H&M

Jeans: 7Fam (also worn here)

Mules: Aldo

Bag: Gucci

Guys, H&M is killing it right now, and they must know it, because is it just me or have their prices been steadily inclining over the past little while?  I feel like the clothes are growing up - maybe the clientele they started with is growing up too, and they are trying to keep their aging customers (ugh, yes that would be me).  Although, depending on the location you go to, it pretty much feels like they are catering to everyone and their mom (literally).  

Anyway, enough ruminating on H&M's business plan; this top was actually a steal at around $25, and the quality and detail are both pretty good.  I was heading out for drinks at Pearl's Liquor Bar, and decided to toughen up the top with some black and some ripped jeans given the Sunset Strip location.  Turns out Pearl's is just like my outfit - a mishmash of feminine, edgy, eclectic, and a little grungy.  I'll be back for sure.