traveling style.

I am one of those people that pines for the days of old where people dressed up on airplanes.

Obviously, I don't want to be wearing pantyhose or uncomfortable items -- I want to feel comfy and cozy like everyone else. But I just have to draw the line at the sweats and pj pants and god-awful outfits I see on others while waiting in the security line. I truly believe you can be comfortable and not look like crap. (I'm channeling Stacey London!)  It just takes a little thought and planning. Call me a snob if you must.

I'm very excited to finally have found Polyvore, b/c it's going to be awesome for packing. But this post is about the actual travel-wear and accessories.

First, the traveling clothes. (And I'm going with fall/winter-time here.) I'm not a big fan of jeans, b/c let's face it, many of them cut into the gut when you're sitting for hours and end up not being all that comfortable.  Leggings, however, will work. With a cozy sweater tunic/cardi/dress -- so cute and comfy.  Throw on some easy on/off flats, and you're good to go (just wear some of those little ped socks so you're not barefoot through security, ick).

sweaters & leggings by shopwithm

slouchy sweater dress by shopwithm

I saw these Cullen cashmere Blanket Wraps on Ruelala yesterday for $129, and they would be PERFECT for a flight. How cozy and soft, yet still looks chic! (If you need an invite)  I think that's a great price as well, and have had success with Cullen cashmere. (Probably can't do the heels for traipsing around the airport, but flats work too.)

Piperlime is touting the blanket sweaters this morning in an email, showing similar looks. This Laurie B Regent Sweater ($185) is a great option:

My other main item to have with me is a great scarf. IMO It's worth the splurge to get cashmere, b/c you just feel cozy and a bit fabulous with one. True, sometimes airplanes are hotter than hades, but most of the time, they get too nutso with the A/C, and no WAY am I using that nasty blanket. Nordstrom has a great cashmere tissue-weight cashmere wrap for $98 in a bagillion colors.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I'm not an expert on travel bags and suitcases, and it's a whole other box of wax when you have kids and all their stuff. I like a wheeled mini suitcase and a small duffle...and then I'll use a big ol' purse (or tote) as my "personal" item. I have one tuck-away/folding tote stuck in there for extras (the J.Crew canvas tote is great for this).  Here are some of my favorites:

Untitled by shopwithm

How do you travel? Are you over it and just going as comfy as possible, or do you try to dress up a bit? Am I just being a snob?  What are your go-to travel outfits?

OOTD: fresh plum & cardi

Alas, I'm feeling under the weather with a dratted cold. My little guy also has one, and that makes for a crabby and tired pair.  I'm chomping at the bit to head over to J.Crew with my card, and also am wanting to do some major Tablots try-ons.  Might have to wait a bit, as I don't want to share my germies with my fellow shoppers. :)

Thought I'd share my OOTD from yesterday, which I wore for preschool drop-off. Thought I'd be sitting and hanging out with the mommies, but yesterday was the first day we were told we could head out and leave the kids. Ack!  (This is his first preschool, and they ease into it, allowing us in the class the first day, and the next couple, we sit in a coffee room, just in case of meltdowns.)   So I was all dressed up...to head back home!

Ah well, it was fun to pull out my J.Crew fresh plum Perfect Pencil Skirt (ooh, it's avail online in a 6 as I write this for $80, and in black in a size 12 for $50!), and try it out with my new L.L. Bean cardi.  I'm loving this cardigan! It has a very Boden-esque feel to it, and the XS fits perfectly. I did get it with a 15% discount, so it wasn't too bad of a price, although still a bit more than I'd have liked to spend.  When I saw it with the fresh plum (and my bright blue one!), I knew it was a winner.

Now I'm off to have some O.J. and come up with some around-the-house projects for my little guy. I'm thinking we'll do some painting and make some acorn people. Are you jealous? ;)

ETA some acorn people -- I give you the ShopwithM family (notice mommy's bling necklace):

coats -- it's that time of year again.

The time when my coat obsession comes into full effect. I have...too many coats. Too many. But oh how I love them so. I also feel they are completely justified, because living in the Midwest, sometimes that is all anyone sees! 

Dressy

My favorite coats, hands-down, are J.Crew. They are well made, always uber-flattering, and the most beautiful colors (of course). My mom bought me a fabulous light blue double cloth coat probably 10 years ago and it's still my favorite.  I can't tell you how many people complimented the pretty color on a dreary winter morning, amongst a sea of black. I snagged the spiced wine Carlin and a black Lady Day coat for obscenely small prices in the summer, and can't wait to pull them out. I needed another new fun color, and also needed a black coat that wasn't so super heavy and hot. I'm also waiting for my backordered camel Plaza coat -- again, at a crazy discount.  Here are a couple pictures of my pretties:

My picks for this year:

Double-cloth Coletta Coat in heather twilight-- Ahhhh, love!!!!!!!! There's no chance I can do full price on their coats, but this is such a flattering coat, in some very nice colors. LOVE this blue. The collar is reminiscent of my light blue coat, and the blue color is TDF.

Wool-cashmere Icon Trench -- Classic, and the belt is great for defining the waist. Gorgeous. I'd go for camel for sure. At $325, it's an investment, that's for sure. Has anyone tried it on?

Old Navy's Ruffle Wool Coat ($89.50) -- Very like J.Crew's ribbon coat from 2009, but at a lower price point. Not many people want to pay that much for an Old Navy coat, but with all of their fabulous sales/coupons, you're sure to be able to snag it for much less methinks.

Old Navy's Double-Breasted Coat ($89.50) -- Ooh, I love this Infuschion color! Looks really cute and flattering, and with a coupon code, not a bad price. It kind of looks like it has an interesting texture. Hope to see it in stores soon.

Land's End Canvas Plaid Wool Overcoat ($180) -- Classic and still interesting.

Boden has some cute coats as well, that I might like to try out. Especially this Islington Coat ($248) in the green! Love that Peter Pan collar! (Remember to use a Boden code from a catalog!)

Don't get me started on Anthropologie's coats. I WANT THEM ALL. All of them. Seriously. You could close your eyes, pick one, and hand it over, and I'd be thrilled.  Alas, they are quite pricey. Like this
Chocolate and Coffee Coat ($398) -- GAH, isn't it so pretty and fabulous? It's well out of price range for me this year, but I can still drool.

Tyndall Coat ($248) -- This is like a chic version of something our grandmother's wore back in the day, no?

Harvested Honey Coat ($398 again, boo) -- Fabulous color.

Peacoat
A classic coat, and a bit of the prepster. It looks sharp, but it is boxy, so might not be the best cut for every body shape. I have an old bright pink peacoat from J.Crew that I still love, and last year picked up the Wool Harbor Peacoat for I think maybe $50 in the blossom color, which I adore. The Harbor coat is still available for $80 in ivory in a couple sizes. Here is a picture of the Harbor:

I still pine for the yellow Winnie, but don't think I'm going to bite at the Outlet version.  My pick is the navy or gray Stadium-cloth Milo (wait, wtw? It's now called Stadium-cloth Peacoat with Gold Buttons!) At $245.00, too pricey for me, but maybe on sale.

Gap's Wool Peacoat is really nice-looking, and offers a silver button (we're seeing mostly gold it seems, which I do like). At $128, a bit pricey, but again, they offer a lot of coupon incentives.

Casual peacoat pick:  Thermacheck 200 Fleece Peacoat from Land's End. Their fleece NEVER pills. It's awesome and this is a cute change from the usual fleece pullover/zip-up.

Leather
I've had a lot of leather coats in my day -- fond memories of Top Gun bomber coats and weirdly long 80's style blazer-types (don't tell DH, but I still have them, lol!).  I currently have two fav leather coats in my wardrobe. The first is a simple ivory jacket that I bought in Florence, Italy, and love for that fact alone. It's classic and beautifully made and is only brought out for special times when I know it won't get all marked up. (snort, WTH was I thinking with cream? sooo pretty though!)   I also have an insanely buttery-soft black leather moto jacket from DKNY that I found with my sister during Day-after Thanksgiving Madness. I think it was originally $375 and we got them for...$27. ??!! Pure awesomeness. (Similar coat here. Bluefly has a great breadth of leather coat choices, if you're so inclined. )

If you're looking for something a little different, my pick is the Cafe Racer Jacket on sale at Anthro right now for $129.95, a great price. Such a pretty color and look!

Down

I have a ridiculous amount of down vests in a rainbow of colors, because they are practical, and I don't get crazy hot in them, running errands, shopping, etc. My favorites are the J.Crew Lodge Puffer Vest (cobblestone is on sale for $70 +20%!), Eddie Bauer and Land's End, as they look brand new, and were priced ridiculously low. (Eddie Bauer currently has free shipping, code OUTERWEAR, when you purchase any outerwear.) You can also find them super cheap at Old Navy, but I'd stick with something of more quality (and CS), like this Land's End Down Vest ($34.50):

I also have several light-weight short down coats from Land's End (here) that are a great throw-on for fall and spring, and actually for winter when you're going to be inside or racing around (I get hot easily). On the left is the LE Dory coat (runs big) from a couple seasons ago I believe, and the right is a similar down jacket from the Eddie Bauer Outlet. I'm not going to win any Super Chic awards for these coats, but that's ok. :)

...aaaand, if you can believe it, I just bought another down coat, from my Land's End Inlet. It's parka-length and covers my butt, which is key. It's this lovely shade of platinum, and I love how it has the double front zip, and a warm hood. I also like that I can remove the faux fur, b/c I'm just not a fan. With one of their coupons, I paid just $50, a total steal. Here's a picture (it's not so shiny metallic-y in person).

This year, my pick is their Luxe Down Parka ($189.50, wait for a coupon/sale!). Love the belt option with a down coat if it's going to be puffy! My sister has a similar style from Laundry she got last year, and it's really a flattering shape for a ginormous coat. ;)

So... are you a total Coat-Obsessed Freakshow like me? Or are you good with just a couple basics? Obviously we don't all need a million coats, but hey, we all have our thing. :)  Are you eyeing any of these coats?

ETA: L.L. Bean just released their newest outerwear, and is offering free shipping, no minimum.
p.s., J.Crew has extra 20% off sale items online and free ship on $150+ with OURTREAT, in case you haven't seen yet.

got the card.

Thanks for all the trip well-wishes! We had a great time with my parents, especially my son, who looooves to stomp all around the woods in their backyard. He also got to play a lot with his cousin, who is 8 days apart in age, and they are like long-lost twins. Lots of fun! But now, back to blogging! :)

I had a nice welcome home to the much-discussed 25% off coupon card. I was definitely going to be sitting out buying anything if I didn't get it, so I guess my wallet isn't as happy as I am.  I'm still really bummed that some of well-deserving fandom didn't receive one -- it's really disappointing. Another sad thing is that I went to the Crewlet on my way home, but didn't have the card, so didn't buy. (Well, that, and my son was a wild maniac, and I couldn't stay anyway.) 

Here are a few items on my wishlist. Can't get them all, so which do you recommend?

Moss Tweed Pencil Skirt -- Ok, yes, I have a good collection of pencil skirts. But this is a lovely colorway and I want. :)

Arrow Sweater -- Everyone loves it, and I still haven't tried it on! What the what? But I trust most of my fellow bloggers, and I lurve this camel color. I can see just always grabbing it to ward off the chill.

I know I should wait on this to go to sale, but I do love it:

Suede Floppy Belt

Whatcha think?

p.s. I thought my latest Talbots catalog was verrry interesting (and fab!), as they had a LOT of "to show our gratitue," "devotion has it's perks," and a final two pages simply saying "Have we thanked you lately? Merci beaucoup."  Oh, and also, they included a 20% card in the catalog! Wondering if they've noted that many J.Crew fans have been really not feeling the love from Mickey et al.

back shortly!

So sorry everybody! I had to unexpectedly travel to my parents' for the weekend, and their Internet has been very spotty, so I'll get a true shopping post up soon!!!

It's suddenly VERY fall-y here - hooray! 63 degrees and windy, with acorns falling all about. LOVE it. Wearing the boots. :)  Here are a few favorite fall Polyvores and a lovely autumn quote from Hal Borland.

bella, vintage bateau & pumpkin spice! by shopwithm

wool bell & la dominante by shopwithm

fall & wool ribbon ravine by shopwithm 

"Autumn is the eternal corrective. It is ripeness and color and a time of maturity;
but it is also breadth, and depth, and distance.  What man can stand with autumn
on a hilltop and fail to see the span of his world and the meaning of the rolling
hills that reach to the far horizon?
 

-   Hal Borland

talbots: grace, jackie and kate.

Talbots just sent me an email last night for 20% and free shipping -- did anyone else get this? Hooray, maybe I'll try one of these new items. (I wasn't one of the lucky people to get the 20% J.Crew catalog coupon, or the 25% off card, sigh. What's a girl gotta do?)  There are several new jackets, with new fit descriptions, Grace, Jackie and Kate.

Grace Fit Shetland wool velveteen jacket ($159.00) -- "Grace" fit is described as: "Defined as the "fit for everybody." The Talbots Grace Fit is classic and always flattering. It is semi-fitted, just skimming the body. Measurements proportion and balance have been standardized with offerings in long, three-quarter and bracelet sleeves."   Pretty colors! gray, pink, red, yellow, green, blue.

Jackie Fit plaid jacket ($269) -- "Jackie" fit: "Reminiscent of the boyfriend blazer, the Talbots Jackie Fit is playfully narrow and straight through the waist with generous room through the bust." Love the texture and colors, but not sure how this will play out IRL fit-wise.

Kate Fit Boiled wool lady jacket ($199.00) -- "Kate" fit: "The romantically curvy Talbots Kate Fit sits close to the body, contouring the shoulders, bust and arms and defining the waist."  Adorable collar! Cute detail on the picket. Wish it came in more colors.

There are a few other new ones, but these were the three that caught my eye. What do you think?

p.s. I just added a link on my sidebar to Shop M's Closet. If you'd like to check it out, I've started posting some items for sale.

how I wear a pencil skirt casually.

I've had a few people ask me how I wear my beloved J.Crew pencil skirts casually.  As a stay-at-home mom, at first it might seem silly to have such a collection of pencil skirts. However, I've actually found it is a super easy way to look pulled-together without a whole lot of effort. Plus, you know, it looks hotter than sweats. *snort*

I totally get that women who have to dress up for work are most likely going to want to stick to jeans on the weekend. I did, at least. And some people just do not dig skirts, and that's cool too! Now that I don't have an office that requires skirts, I find myself wanting to wear them more.  (Grass is always greener, right?)  Since I'm not in a work environment, I can also wear crazy tights (Anthro foxes anyone?), or I can skip them altogether and go with tall boots and socks. Bottom line, it's way more fun to wear my skirts now that there aren't any rules.

No, I'm usually not donning these outfits for the 8:00am grocery run, but if I'm heading out for a full day of errands, why not? I'm never going to be a sweatpants kind of girl. They're great for shopping, especially in the winter, when it's so friggin' hot in the malls/stores. Also, my experience is that I'm better treated in stores if I put in some effort in how I look. (Definitely not saying this is right or wrong! It's annoying, but just what I've noticed.)

It doesn't take much to make them work for casual wear -- honestly, it's usually a tee (sometimes layered with a blouse or turtleneck) and a sweater/jacket, or a sweater turtleneck, and some boots. The fun heeled oxfords that are trendy now are cute too. I'm not a huge heel person, so for the most part, I stick to my flat/wedge boots for daytime.  My favorite pencil skirts are J.Crew's Perfect Pencil Skirts in wool solid colors, but I also love their prints. They are crazy flattering. This summer was the first year I really embraced the summer pencil skirt, and am glad I did. I had some pencils in my wardrobe already from days in the office, but have gradually added more, all via sales or eBay. I'm trying to actually think if I own any other brand, and nothing's coming to mind!

Anyway, ramble ramble ramble, I thought I'd show you a bunch of IRL outfits. Please note that in order for this not to take 40 hours, I didn't switch out my shoes every time, or add in different jewelry/bags. It was also sooo hot, and I couldn't deal with tights.

First, here's one example of shoes making a difference.

Whoops, forgot and changed into different sweater/tee before taking a pic with the boots. Same skirt though!

The J.Crew denim pencil skirt is a great staple, I highly recommend it.

The J.Crew Fleurette skirt with sandals, but I think would be great transitioning into fall -- just add boots!

I think I saw the return of the Perfect Pencil Skirt, in a color very similar to the Fresh Plum below, in stores.



I'm a big fan of layering...

Turtleneck sweater + pencil skirt = classic and flattering!

Hey, I can even wear a hoodie!

Also, here's a link to my Polyvore "fall skirts" collection, for some additional ideas. :)

I also want to direct you guys to Modestly Styled, Modestly Me, who rocks a lot of pencil skirts in her blog. Definitely check it out if you haven't for some great ideas. Also, check out AppGal's perfect plum pencil skirt ensemble just posted here -- cute!

Whew!  Sorry if that was a lot to scroll through!  What do you think? Do you wear pencil skirts casually or do you only use them for work? Have you tried J.Crew's pencils? Have a favorite in mind to share? Any other brand you recommend?