october’s positive purchases can be categorized by two words —bow and toes. technically that’s three words but you know what i mean. if the end of summer saw me obsessed with flower chokers, late fall has me focused on bows. i added a few to my hair collection and already find myself reaching for them as we barrel straight into the holiday season. and in terms of fall footwear, i finally landed upon the perfect pair of metallic flats (see photo above) and i loved them so much, i also ordered them in the season’s hottest color –RED. speaking of red, i also ordered this rosette after seeing it on leandra cohen. with those two pops of color, i’m well on my way to usher in the christmas season. november 1st it’s on, guys. see you then!
the homeruns
freda salvador jada handwoven ballet flats (9.5 –ordered in crimson red and silver crinkle) || it has taken me a while to get here, but i am a bona fide freda salvador STAN. their shoes are truly superior to all other brands and they are worth every single penny of their investment price tags. i have been waiting patiently for the red version of their popular jada flats to come back in stock so when they did, i pounced on the opportunity to add a pop of red to my shoe collection. red is the IT color for AW23 so i am excited to style them with my neutral wardrobe. the silver crinkle pair is a fun pop of metallic and even more stunning in person. i cannot wait to sport them during the holiday season and well into early spring. these flats run true to size and have zero break-in time. i cannot speak more highly of them!
target a new day organza bow hair barrette (black) || i recently saw a blogger coin this time of year as “more is more season” and i couldn’t agree more. i kind of live that way every season of the year, but most certainly as the holidays draw near. i love to invest in my closet but one place i’ll look for more affordable options is in terms of my accessories. a little bow or flower can add a big impact to any outfit but there’s no need to spend a fortune to achieve that style. this little organza bow is only $8 and can be worn in your hair or clipped to the lapel of a shirt for a little pizzaz. i love its whimsical vibe and i can’t wait to style it over the next few months.
target a new day velvet bow hair barrette (brown) || to me velvet is synonymous with the holidays so in addition to the bow above, i also bought this velvet version in a dreamy chocolate brown shade. it looks more luxe than its under $10 price tag and would be the perfect accent mark on your festive attire.
the misses
free people we the free lucky you mid-rise barrel jeans (25 ordered in ultra light beam) || let’s be honest, i’m never not trying new versions of horseshoe-style denim. i’ve heard great things about free people’s barrel jeans, especially in terms of being a viable (and more affordable) alternative to my beloved citizens of humanity version. now they definitely didn’t work for me, HOWEVER, i will say they are a really cute shape and mimic the horseshoe style well. if you’re not as long-waisted as i am, i would highly recommend trying this pair. they retail for under $100 and achieve the popular silhouette. they also come in a variety of washes. i found them to run TTS, so stick with your normal denim size. depending on your body shape, they may sit lower on your waist but that’s also kind of the “look.”
jeffrey campbell moira embellished flats (10 –ordered in natural) || rhinestone flats are having a moment this season. despite the fact that i still spend many a morning at the playground, sparkle flats felt like a fun way to punch up my mom uniform so i threw caution to the wind and ordered this jeffrey campbell pair. unfortunately they were sold out in my size so i opted for a 1/2 size up and ultimately they were a hair too big. before i could opt for the proper size, the style sold out completely. i suppose it wasn’t meant to be. but they were very comfortable, i will say so if your size is still available, i say treat yoself to some sparkle and shine.
free people we the free moxie metallic low-slung barrel jeans (24) || silver pants feel extra but sometimes i’m a little extra. turns out not extra enough to keep said silver pants but i highly considered keeping them before ultimately honoring my more practical self. the fit of the pants is great, just make sure to size down. i sized down one size and they still felt pretty generous, however, i believe the intention is for them to be on the baggier side. they have a slight bowed silhouette but not so exaggerated like my horseshoe jeans. the tie at the waist is fairly thick, giving them a more casual feel, but i paired them with my sparkle heels and was surprised by how the extra height transformed them. overall, they’re a really fun pair of pants (they also come in a bunch of different denim washes if silver isn’t your thing) but i just knew they’d sit in my closet collecting dust.
citizens of humanity gaucho vintage wide leg jeans (24 –ordered in sodapop) || aside from raising the twins and teaching for studio barre on demand, i’d say my full-time job is buying denim. i cannot stop! the latest purchase (and subsequent return) was this wide-leg pair from citizens that i had previously tried on in black at anthropologie. while i LOVE the silhouette and vintage light blue wash, they were very similar to a few other pairs i already have in my closet. honestly that’s the ONLY reason i decided to do the prudent thing and return them. perhaps in the future i’ll reorder them since they are a really great pair of wide-leg denim (and they come in a variety of washes. they do run big, so make sure to size down one size.
frame high-rise barrel tapered jeans (25) || after i decided to return the gaucho jeans, i stumbled upon this tapered pair in a classic dark denim wash. i naturally lean toward a more mid-blue wash when it comes to my jeans, but as we enter peak fall/winter, i am finding myself warming up to darker shades of denim. i loved the fact that these are a slimmer barrel leg and the fact that they are cropped (i love an exposed ankle). when i tried them on, they fit like a glove and were flattering enough, but i wasn’t MOVED by any means. when i’m investing in denim (or any garment, really), i operate on a strict “if it’s not a HELL YES, it’s a NO” policy. because these jeans weren’t an immediate OBSESSED, i knew they had to go back. i will say that if you’re intimidated by the barrel/horseshoe trend, this slimmer style is definitely more accessible if you’re looking to jump on the trend.
and what has yet to arrive
citizens of humanity horseshoe jeans (24 –ordered in skylight & nova washes) || two new washes to try! at this point, i can’t not order them. they, in addition to being obsessed with all things travis kelce and taylor swift, have become my entire personality. just be sure to size down!
free people oversized bow choker (ordered in creme and black) || normally i just use hair clip bows to adorn my button-downs (at the collar) but when i saw this choker, i was intrigued. if these work, they’ll be so much easier to pair with my peter pan collar shirts. they also come in a petite variety that i might try as well. the latter feels very 90’s.
citizens of humanity marcelle low slung cargo pants in incognito (24) || whenever i see camouflage, i aways think of that mean girls quote, “i saw cady heron wearing army pants and flip flops so i bought army pants and flip flops.” truthfully camo isn’t usually my aesthetic but i recently saw this pair styled with a white button-down and black slingbacks and it was so incredibly chic, i wanted to try the pants for myself. of course when i first tried to order them, the site sent me the wrong style and in the meantime they proceeded to sell out. luckily i found them on another website but they’re on backorder until…JANUARY 2024. so happy new year to me!
steve madden vinetta rhinestone flats (9.5) || rhinestone-adorned flats are having a moment and i have been on the hunt to find the perfect pair. after this style didn’t work out, i landed upon this black mary jane style that seemed to marry the sweetness of a ballet flat with just a touch of edge. i figured they would be a great addition to my winter/holiday wardrobe, not only that, but they were under $90, so i decided to order them. they’re on backorder until mid-november so hopefully they’ll be worth the wait!
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