Wednesday Wants: Rachel Zoe Fall 2016

As most of you know, I am a huge fan of Rachel Zoe. I've watched all of her reality shows and I wonder when and if Fashionably Late with Rachel Zoe will back on the air any time soon. I'm also a big fan of her apparel. I own several pieces (seen here/here/here) and would gladly add more to my closet. So when her fall 2016 presentation images were released, I immediately reviewed them and picked all of my favorites.

According to Rachel, this line is very different than anything she's done in the past. As she told InStyle, "The '60s and the '70s—it's my thing, and it's never going to change. Hopefully, people will always come to me for a great flared pant or a great jacket. But I also want to show what else I can do." This collection took inspiration from the 1930s and then traveled back to the 1990s.  "We have menswear tailoring with feminine silk slip dresses, pearl beaded sweaters, velvet pajamas, and super rich fabrics. This girl feels very expensive and glamorous without trying."

What I love about the collection is that there is definitely a nod to past designs with the faux fur, over-sized coats, and sleek blazers. What I especially love this go around is the white! I'm obsessed with all the white. I adore the dramatic look of the long top coat in a mix of black and white. It's definitely a statement making piece. I love the flirty white dress with shaggy black accents on the sleeve and hem. And the grayish metallic suit is fab! Simply put, this collection is gorg!

Now, what would I actually wear from the pieces I've chosen? I would have to say a lot of it. Sure, I'm a work from home mama who doesn't really get that dolled up anymore, but when I do, I would strut it in all of this! The long coat would be amazing with flared jeans. The shaggy black vest could be worn with pretty much anything. All of the white pieces could be mixed and matched with other pieces in my closet. And the suit? Well, I would just find a place to wear it!

One last look that really stood out to me is this.

Would I wear all the pieces together? Probably not. I mean, I'm not Rachel Zoe. But the coat is ridiculous. The cropped top would be flattering with black pants or paired over a black dress to give it a little something extra. The print is amazing. The colors are crazy. And it's signature RZ!

"I like to make clothes that people want to live in and dance in all night," she says. "I want to have fun with fashion." 

I would say everything about this fall collection is just that, fun!

All photos courtesy of Rachel Zoe. 

Dressing for Home

Sweater: Piperlime (cute option); Shirt: J.Crew Factory; Jeans: Loft (similar); 

Booties: Sam Edelman; Shades: Prada; Jewelry: Stella & Dot

This is probably one of my favorites sweaters, and yes, I say that about almost all of my sweaters. I've always been a sweater girl, but there is something about this one. I've styled it so many ways with a simple black t-neck, that I wanted something a little different. A plain white tee would be too much of a stark color. It's WAY too cold to think about wearing it sleeveless, and to be honest, I'm not sure I could ever wear it sleeveless. I think the wool would drive me crazy. Then I had a revelation. What about pairing it with my denim shirt? Perfection!

Another great thing about this look is that I wore it while working! That's right, this girl had a trunk show last night, only it wasn't in someone's living room, it was virtual. Okay, someone may have been in their living room or kitchen or in bed for the night, but this girl was parked on her couch working from her den. My awesome job allows me to work from home, when I can, and wear something as casual as this. However, I think it's the perfect look. It's not too casual, but not too dressy for being at home, and it's the best way to work....in my opinion!

The Sweater: Before and After

     

 

My rule of thumb when working from home, get up and get dressed as if you were going into an office. I could have gone the lazy route and just played the part, but instead I showered, did my hair, applied makeup, and got dressed for the day. I did a little work before the show and felt more productive because I felt the part. And when it came to the party, I was ready to take on the night!

If you work from home, what do you do to get your mind the game? I would love for you to share your motivational tips! 

Warmth

  Top: ZARA; Jeans: Loft (similar); Booties: Sam Edelman (similar); Handbag: Frye;

Shades: Prada; All Jewelry: Stella & Dot; Lip Color: NARS Heat Wave

I would have to say that this is the warmest top/sweater/sweatshirt I own. It's incredibly thick, with a heavy cotton lining, and the faux fur is super thick as well. My only wish is that it had longer sleeves! My wrists were freezing! 

This was my running errands look. You know, when you're in and out of the car on a freezing cold Saturday, and you don't really want to have to carry a coat! The first time I wore this top, photos were never taken, I paired it with skinny jeans and tall boots. This time around, I wanted something a little more laid back. Nothing is more laid back than boyfriend jeans. But, I amped up the style with leopard print booties and loads of gold jewels! And, I'm currently having a love affair with my NARS Heat Wave lip color. This is definitely not just a summer burst of color!  

 

 

Let's talk about this arm party for a minute! I'm obsessed with the new pieces from the Stella & Dot Spring Collection! I mean, the Bridge Bracelet is stunning! And guess what? You can remove the chain and wear the ring and cuff as separate pieces! Amazing, no?! And the Tera Leather Bracelet is everything! Shop here for both!!

  

Look who got the Frye Fringe Hobo handbag for Christmas!!! This little number was sold out after the Nordstrom Anniversary sale and I was just sure I had missed my chance of getting my hands on one! My mom, the rock star, came through! It's so chic!

I am starting off the week with a bang! It's a big one over here! If you have the day off, take full advantage! Do something that makes you happy and full! 

XOXO

My Kind of Laundry

Vest: Laundry by Design (gift/ 50% off); Top: Loft; Jeans: Loft (60% off);

Heels: Ann Taylor (cute option under $40); All Jewelry: Stella & Dot; 

Lip Color: NARS Heat Wave; Nail Color: Essie 5th Avenue

I am loving my newest faux fur piece I received for Christmas! It's Laundry by Design and it's fabulous!! It's a little on the green side, a little dark in these photos, so I will style again soon to capture the true color. And it's the perfect layering piece for this cold weather. 

I wore this for a little get together with my Stella & Dot girls and it kept me warm while hanging out on the covered roof top of the restaurant. This top from Loft is the best investment as of late. I got it back in November, after styling my friend Christina for the 70s shoot, and I've worn it several times without photos ever being taken. I need to remedy that, right? I love the delicate cutouts around the sleeve and it's just the right amount of fullness. This look is just one of my favorites!  

Can we talk about my great hair day for a minute? I have been playing around with different products, as I'm finding my curls are different now that it's shorter and winter is taking out all of the oomph. On this particular day, I let it air dry too long before adding product, and didn't have time to straighten it. I decided to use texture wax, which I've never done on curly hair. I love how it turned out! And I've never really said that about my curls! I will definitely wear it like this again!

 

I'm sorry I haven't blogged much this week. With the cold weather, I'm just not inspired to get super dressed up these days! Along with that, we've been big homebodies lately, and who really wants outfit pics of me rocking the same outfit over and over again. I have literally worn the same navy sweater for days now. I think it needs a rest! 

Tomorrow is calling for warmer weather so I'm thinking we may be zoo bound. Hoping for a cute look to share on Friday!

Hope you're having a great week!

XOXO

A Reflection

 Sweater: Piperlime (similar); T-Neck: Target; Jeans: Loft (similar); Boots: J.Crew (similar); 

Handbag: Pour la Victoire (great option); Jewelry; Stella & Dot

 Sunday was a cool fall day with a bit of a wintry sky. We had originally thought of spending the afternoon at the zoo, but wound up at the Museum at Prairie Fire. McKinley is currently obsessed with dinosaurs and is constantly asking for a trip to see Sue. So since a trip to Chicago isn't in the near future, we decided to take him to the next best thing. The T-Rex display in the Great Hall of the museum. He was thrilled! We were relieved. From there, we spent some time in the Discovery Center where McKinley dug for bones, tried on masks from various cultures around the world, and explored the tanks of bearded dragons, corn snakes, tarantulas, and shell turtles. I was thankful they were all behind glass!

Speaking of glass, the front of the museum is a spectrum of various glass colors in staggering heights. It's stunning to see! I took advantage of the backdrop for today's outfit post and Joel took a more artistic eye behind the lens. He loved that he could capture my reflection for a different take on my blog photos. I'm so glad he did! I have to say that this is one of the best shoots we've had together in a while!

As for the look, I've worn this sweater in so many ways, yet I never tire of it. It's a mix of wool, faux fur, and my beloved t-neck style! It is definitely a piece that is the epitome of my style. Dark skinny jeans, tall boots, and gold accessories cap off the look. And I've brought back my trusty black tote. A classic that literally holds my life!

 

The Sweater: Before and After

    

Hope you had a fabulous weekend and that your week is a styling one!

Happy Monday!

Print Crazed

 Vest: H&M (fun option); Sweater: French Connection (similar here); 

Boyfriend Jeans: Loft (similar here 25% off); Booties: Sam Edelman (similar here); 

Necklaces: Stella & Dot

A couple of weeks ago, the guys and I headed down to Crown Center for a day of fun! We had lunch at Fritz's, spent several hours exploring Legoland, and then headed over to Union Station to check out McKinley's favorite exhibit, the model trains. Oh, and we were hosting Flat Stanley so he went with us. Are you familiar with Flat Stanley? He's a school project for most grade schools kids and this our third time hosting Stan!

I thought it was going to be a little warmer than it actually was, so I opted for my heaviest faux fur vest. I regretted my decision the minute I stepped outside. I didn't regret the look, just wished I had planned a coat instead. This from the gal that's hating coats these days! 

The Vest: Before and After

    

 

 Vest: H&M (fun option); Sweater: French Connection (similar here); 

Boyfriend Jeans: Loft (similar here 25% off); Booties: Sam Edelman (similar here); 

Necklaces: Stella & Dot

There are so many things going on with this look, but I love every bit of it!  There's mixed textures and mixed prints and I love that they go together but don't at the same time. I'm not scared to go a little crazy from time to time!

Stay warm out there today! It's freezing in KC! And snowing.....

As always, see something you like? Need it now? Shop the links!

You Say Cookie Monster.....

 Coat: Michael by Michael Kors (gift/fun option here); Sweater: Ann Taylor; Jeans: Loft (BOGO!!)

Boots: Sole Society (c/o/ similar here & 50% off); Necklace: Ann Taylor

Last weekend we took advantage of a gorgeous February afternoon and headed down to the Plaza for a Fountain Tour. A Fountain Tour is where I take McKinley for a walk around the Plaza, look at the pretty fountains, maybe have a cookie, and just spend time together. This time we took Dada along, had lunch, strolled along at a casual pace, and just enjoyed each others company.

It wasn't quite warm enough to not wear a coat, thankfully! I was finally able to wear this amazing faux fur coat I received for Christmas! You know how I love my faux fur and this one is so unique! My husband told me I looked like Cookie Monster, but based on the amount of compliments I received that day, I think otherwise. If you're going to make a statement, make it. Right?!

 

 Coat: Michael by Michael Kors (gift/fun option here); Sweater: Ann Taylor; Jeans: Loft (BOGO!!)

Boots: Sole Society (c/o/ similar here & 50% off); Necklace: Ann Taylor

 I can't wait to wear it again just so I can style it differently. That's the thing about a coat like this. Finding new ways to wear it so it always feel fresh and new. Love my styling challenges!

Hope you're having a wonderful week! Freezing temps in these parts. So ready for it all to be over! Well, on the other hand, maybe not. I need to wear this coat again STAT!

As always, see something you like? Need it now? Shop the links!

My New Year's Eve Statement

Coat: Tahari (similar); Top: Boden (fun option); Boyfriend Jeans: Loft (similar); 

Booties: Camper;Shades: MbyMJ; Bracelets: J.Crew; Ring: Etiquette Boutique (similar);

 Lip Color: MAC Girl About Town

Remember how I said we are pretty low key on NYE now a days? Well, this was my fairly low key look with a little hint of statement! I posted about how I thought you could make a statement on the big night and here's how I made mine. I added a gold, glitter, Peter Pan collar top, navy faux fur, and a bright pink lip! Paired with boyfriend jeans and my new favorite booties, that were all but forgotten, I was ready to ring in the New Year!

 

 What did you end up wearing for the big night? Did you add a big statement or subtle ones like mine? Can't wait to hear!

Speaking of hear, you heard it here first! I've got something happening on Style My Way and I'm dying to share it with you all. Check back daily to see the big announcement!

Holiday Girl's Night

 Jacket: H&M (similar); Tank: Target; Shorts: Zara (similar); Tights: We Love Colors;

Booties: Marc Fisher (c/o/similar); Necklaces: Ann Taylor/Tori Spelling (similar);

Belt: ASOS; Shades: MbyMJ; Lip Color: Chanel (c/o People Style Watch)

Monday night was our annual Holiday Girl's Night Out! For the past three years, my girlfriends and I go out to dinner to just simply hang out before the holidays take over and we don't see each other until after the first of the new year. We gabbed over pasta and wine and it was delightful!

Prior to the night out, I spent the day playing excavators with my son inside and out in the sandbox. For a winter afternoon, it was just warm enough to play outside for about 45 minutes. Prior to this getup, I was in boyfriend jeans and a fisherman's sweater. What a difference faux leather shorts make, huh?

And let's talk about this jacket for a minute. I picked this up at H&M for $10 on clearance! That's right, $10! Yet another point to my whole "you can afford to shop" post. It's a great fuzzy fleece piece that is warm and comforting. Just what a girl needs when in the warmth of girlfriends!

The Shorts: Before and After

 

 

 What are the pieces you're wearing this holiday season? Apparently, I'm very into black and leather (real or faux). Let's see what else I style up for all the other festivities we have planned! And to see if I can break out of my black phase!