let’s just call august the month of the flat. i realized i purchased no less than four pairs of footwear over the last 30 days in an effort to build my fall collection. and the ironic thing? SPOILER ALERT –they all fell, wait for it, flat. i’ll be here all night, folks. but seriously, try the prime rib. ANYWHO, while my quest to find some fall footwear was unsuccessful, i did have a couple wins for the fast-approaching season. it should come as no shock that said winners were denim because i cannot and will not be stopped. but i cannot wait to wear jeans all fall/winter long because jeans make me happy and the more i can add to my closet, the better. so here’s to august and all that it brought to our doorstep, the most of which went right back to the likes of fedex, ups, and the post office. and on that note, see you in september!
the homeruns
citizens of humanity ayla baggy cuffed crop jean (24 –size down, brielle wash) || i’m a firm believer that if you find a style of clothing that you love and works for your frame, you should buy it in as many colors/washes as you can. case in point, buying these baggy jeans in their newly-launched mid-blue shade for the upcoming fall season. i bought the dark wash back in the spring and found myself reaching for them so often that a second pair in a lighter color felt right. when they arrived, i was smitten. cuffed pants are a big trend for autumn and i plan on pairing mine with ballet flats and feminine white blouses (my uniform!). as the name implies, this is a very baggy style and i suggest sizing down 1-2 sizes to ensure the proper fit.
gap 100% recycled puffer vest (xs –ordered in black) || last winter seemed to last for MONTHS and in preparation of that happening again, i decided to pounce on this puffer vest the moment i spotted it on gap’s website –it didn’t hurt that it was also on promo for 50% off. my “athleisure uniform” for park visits and trips to legoland is usually a long-sleeve white tee (this is a great one!), black leggings, my favorite white sneakers, and some sort of outer layer. i usually go for a puffer jacket, but a vest gives me a bit more mobility when i’m running around after the twins. this vest is the perfect oversized fit and long enough to cover my bum. it’s definitely thin but more than sufficient for san diego “winter.” it comes in two other colors and fits generously so i suggest sizing down.
re/done high-rise denim workwear pants (25) || let me start off by saying, this is an absurdly expensive pair of jeans. HOWEVER i found a coupon for almost $100 off and i figured returning all of the aforementioned flats provided the funds to turn around and order these for consideration. i LOVE the dark denim with the stitching and rivet-work, making them super unique and a fun addition to my fall denim rotation. this is my first experience with the brand re/done but the quality is pretty remarkable –again, this is why the splurge is justified because the quality that comes along with it ensures that your investment serves you for years to come. the rise is 13″, i believe and it is HIGH which for a long-torosed gal is amazing. they did run long but i cuffed them and loved the look of it so i might choose to keep them their original length for the versatility (but if you’re on the petite side, i’d suggest hemming them!). the rivets add a pop of gold which almost make them feel fancy despite the fact that they’re a “workwear” style. the dark denim also elevates them, making them perfect for a fall/winter date night. i went with my regular size and they fit perfectly, so i’d say they run tts if you want them to hit at your natural waist.
citizens of humanity horseshoe jeans in cinder wash (24 –size down) || guys, they came out with a grey color of my beloved horseshoe jeans and of course i had to try them. while the original ship date wasn’t expected until september, they arrived early! i haven’t owned a pair of grey denim in quite some time so i wasn’t sure how versatile they’d be. i decided to try styling them with pieces from my closet and just like that i was able to create SIX whole outfits. as always, they run generous so size down at least one size. i feel like people are finally jumping aboard the horseshoe jean trend and i’m just happy we’re all seeing the light. they’re my favorite style jean forever amen.
the misses
gap x loveshackfancy rosette pin (white, black & denim) || as you may know, i am in my carrie bradshaw era with my commitment to flower adornments (necklaces, pins & belts). i spotted these pins in the gap x loveshackfancy collection and immediately purchased all three colors. i had big plans on spicing up my long-sleeve tops and sweatshirts for a very romantic fall. unfortunately the accessories’ execution wasn’t ideal and when pinned on the lapel of my shirt, the rosette fell forward from its inability to support its own weight. i would have to macgyver it in order for it to stay in the desire place and that felt like an unnecessary step so i made the prudent decision to return them in hopes of finding something better mid-season. i also ordered a trench (that immediately sold out so i’m no longer able to link it) and it was too big on my frame so that went back as well. i had initially been so excited for this collaboration but it turned out to be a bust!
ganni mid-rise cargo pants in black (2) || despite my last ganni purchase being a bust, i decided to go for a sophomoric round with this pair of cargo pants. cargo pants continue to be a chic trend for fall and the oversized pockets and white stitching just won me over. when they arrived, i was pleasantly surprised by how flattering they were. they’re a super light-weight fabric, almost like track pants. this detail actually disappointed me a little? i was kind of hoping for a more substantial style to keep me warm through the upcoming cooler months. while i loved the stitching and the overall paper bag fit (i also loved the ties at the ankles), the vibe of the pants overall was a little too outside of my normal comfort zone. i love a unique piece, but it has to be one i’m THRILLED to put on everyday. i just knew if i kept these pants, despite some of their positive details, they wouldn’t be ones i would reach for when getting dressed in the morning. so for that reason, i decided to make the prudent decision to return them. that and well, as soon as i put them on, delilah screamed, “no, mommy, take them off!” i should have known to first consult my fashion consultant, lol.
the frankie shop hayla contrast denim pants in off-white (xs/s) || i have stalked these pants for months it seems after missing out when they immediately sold out upon launching at the beginning of summer. they recently came back in stock and i made sure to snap them up so as to not miss out again. i’ll say this, they’re funky. but they’re also fun. when i initially put them on, my immediate thought was that they were clear winners. but when it took me a second to properly button them at the waist and i walked around the room in them, i started to feel imposter syndrome wash over me. while i love to try new silhouettes –oftentimes ones that are a bit unconventional, these pants in particular felt just outside the realm of my usual personal style. i don’t know if i can properly articulate the exact sentiments, but something just felt off. similar to the cargos, i knew they’d be a pair of pants i’d bypass when getting dressed for the day and keeping them felt foolish. so even after all of that hullabaloo, i ultimately decided they weren’t for me.
j.crew zoe strappy flats (9.5, ordered in snake-embossed gold leather and pink satin) || after having these flats in my cart for weeks they finally went on sale for 30% off so i RAN and purchased them. of course it was only after i bought them that i scanned the few product reviews on the website and quickly learned that they may not be winners, but i figured i’d see for myself how they fared. god bless the people who leave reviews because they are truly doing the lord’s work and i should have just have read their thoughts first because their assessments ended up being spot on. the shoes run about a half a size big, first of all, and secondly, the ballet strap is super loose and therefore doesn’t ensure a secure fit around the foot. it would seem silly taking the shoe to a tailor to amend said design flaw, right? for $150 i expected a bit more out of the quality and design execution so for those reasons i decided to return both pairs. i will say the gold ones were striking with the snakeskin pattern and black contrast, but just not enough for me to justify keeping them.
doen odette ballet flats (40 –ordered in dusty pink suede) || if you’ve been following along for a while, you know that doen and i have a love/hate relationship. my last few purchases have been lackluster and unfortunately i have to chalk up these flats as the same. i saw so many influencers share these pink beauties when they launched in doen’s pre-fall collection and i, too, was so excited about their possibility (their dusty rose hue would be perfect juxtaposed with a cuffed dark denim). however, their fit was atrocious. i realize i have a fairly wide foot but the depth of the shoe was way too shallow for i’d imagine most feet? i had toe cleavage for days which similar to my own regular cleavage makes me feel uncomfy (just being honest) and let’s blame european sizing not quite matching up to their american counterparts because the 40 was a tad big for my 9.5 hooves. again, for the price (upwards of $250), they had to be PERFECT and they were sadly not a match for me.
madewell the greta ballet flat (9.5 –ordered in silver) || if you haven’t experienced it yet, silver is the new neutral for fall. she’s everywhere -on jackets, pants, handbags, and of course, footwear. i had some madewell rewards burning a hole in my pocket so i decided to jump aboard the silver bandwagon by snagging these in my size. turns out, i might not be a square-toe girlie. the shape felt too modern for my otherwise feminine style and the silhouette only made my foot appear longer than it is (an aspect that tends to make me feel self-conscious). i didn’t mind the black and silver contrast, but it also felt a little astronaut-y? as with all three aforementioned footwear, these were simply not HELL YES’s and in this house, if it’s not a HELL YES! it’s a HELL NO. and a return.
free people we the free lucky you mid-rise vegan barrel jeans (24) || that’s a mouthful! so as you know, i own the controversial horseshoe jeans in five washes (they just released a grey wash and, well, see below). i had been thinking about how cool it would be if they made a faux leather version especially with fall fast approaching. and then as i was perusing the free people website, boom –i landed upon these. now i realize there’s been a shift in the price tag of my purchases over the course of the last year, but i have to say, there is something to be said about a higher-priced product. the quality is just superior, it just is. this was one of those occasions where the dupe just didn’t live up to the real thing. that, and the fact that the rise was simply too low for yours truly.
gap 10″ high rise stride faux-leather bermuda shorts (26 –sized up) || i’ve wanted a pair of (faux) leather shorts forever so when i saw these in the latest batch of gap’s new arrivals, i was intrigued. then they went on super sale so i decided to at least give them a try. perhaps the bermuda silhouette just isn’t for me because while they fit well in the waist, the length proved to be super unflattering on my leg. i was bummed they weren’t winners since i think they’d be so chic with a white feminine blouse and ballet flats for fall. add tights and a heel and they’d even be holiday party ready come december. i’ll keep my eyes peeled for an alternative style but if you like a longer length short, these are a great affordable option. just make sure you size up!
and what has yet to arrive
the items on my september wishlist include: these flats in RED (currently waitlisted) and of course these jeans in the bravo wash.
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