WIW: New Year's Eve at home

We're not doing anything special for New Year's Eve, but I donned a cardigan that feels festive to me. I did go out to breakfast in this outfit, anyway. It's a cozy outfit for a day relaxing at home.

The outfit (worn for a day off): teal corduroy skinnies (Kut from the Kloth, Diana); ivory long-sleeved crew-neck t-shirt (Caslon); teal plaid fuzzy long cardigan (Pleione); espresso moto boots (Miu Miu); brown and gray wool coat (made by me); brown chenille gloves (gift of YLF Secret Santa); teal asymmetrical fedora (Asian Eye); brown and taupe croc-print bag (Brahmin).

Thanks for looking! I welcome your thoughts and suggestions.

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WIW: more brown & black

Again wearing brown and black, what Angie termed "dark moody neutrals."
There was a chance I wouldn't get back home to change before my Pilates class today, so I built an outfit starting with the skirted leggings, to which I needed to add a t-shirt, and preferably one that would go with a warm cardigan to keep me comfortable today.

The outfit (worn for taking a piano lesson and teaching sewing): black skirted leggings (Eileen Fisher); brown, black, gray, and taupe plaid print tee with mesh-knit ruffle up the front (made by me); heather brown-black long draped cardigan (Bryn Walker); espresso moto boots (Miu Miu). I wore my long black coat over the outfit and alternated carrying my black satchel, for driving & my black and brown snakeskin print cross-body bag, for walking (not pictured).

The outfit worked beautifully for my day. I did get to change to my yoga pants before Pilates after all. But if I hadn't, I could have gone like this.

Thanks for looking! I welcome your comments and suggestions.

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WIW: brown and black

I was debating over which topper to wear with this black, brown, and white tiny-bubble-knit dress. I went with what I felt was the safer option, but thought I'd post both here to see what you think of the bolder option. Safer is the black denim moto and bolder is the black and brown animal-print fuzzy cardigan.

The outfits:
1-3 (what I wore): black and brown bubble-knit dress (made by me); black denim cropped moto (Free People); black tights; black distressed suede boots (Donald J. Pliner, Devi); long black coat (Gallery); brown and black snake print cross body bag (Aimee Kestenberg).
4: fabric closeup (a little blurry, sorry).
5-6: option with the black and brown animal print fuzzy cardigan (Free People).

Thanks for looking! I look forward to your thoughts, suggestions, and opinion on whether the animal print cardi would work.

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WIW: gray days

A couple of gray-based outfits, worn on a couple of typical gray December days. It sounds more dreary than it feels. I don't mind gray days, when they are relatively mild. And these outfits felt fine.

The outfits:
1-3 (worn to work): wine silk blouse (Eileen Fisher); charcoal ponte boot-leg trousers (NYDJ); charcoal metallic tweed collarless jacket with zipper and ribbon trim (made by me); black suede booties (Paul Green, Barbie); charcoal cocoon coat (Lodenfrey); black satchel (Elliott Lucca, Olvera).

4-6 (worn for a day off): purple and gray striped cashmere sweater (Philosophy Dane Lewis); gray dot infinity scarf (gift from DH); dark wash straight leg jeans (Lucky, Sweet Jean); taupe nubuck booties (Paul Green, Jano); green trench coat (Gallery); black satchel as above.

Thanks for looking! I welcome your suggestions and thoughts.

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WIW: Christmas eve and the day before

I got a new sweater this week, thinking it felt holiday-esque, and wore it today for work and for a family gathering this evening. It feels festive and relaxed.

Also showing what I wore yesterday for a laid-back day off.

The outfits:
1-4 (worn to work and family gathering): black and gold ruffled dress (made by me); black 3/4-sleeve layering tee (Tees by Tina); black leggings (Halogen); teal plaid eyelash sweater (Pleione); hammered brass three-disc earrings (Lucky); gray moto boots (Frye, Lynn); long black coat (Gallery); black satchel (Elliott Lucca, Olvera). Photo 3 shows the dress, tee, and leggings without the cardigan.
5-7 (worn for a day off): dark wash straight leg jeans (Kut from the Kloth, Stevie); black, gray, and ivory blurred starry-print long-sleeved tee (made by me); forest green cashmere ruffle-edged shrug (made by me); black belt with ornate buckle, rhinestones, and studs (Bed Stu, Lily); flat black booties (Munro, Lexie); taupe trench (Calvin Klein); taupe hobo bag (Aunts & Uncles).

Thanks for looking! I welcome your thoughts and suggestions for improvement.

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WIW: remixing some favorites

Here are my outfits for the last few days. I realized in gathering the photos that all of them feature items I have worn a fair amount, but paired differently than before, which makes them feel fresh.

The outfits:
1-3 (worn to work): stone skinny pants (Classiques Entier, city weave ankle pants); purple and cream micro-houndstooth check cowl pullover blouse (made by me); purple lacy knit vest (made by me); gray moto boots (Frye, Lynn); taupe trench (Calvin Klein); black satchel (Elliott Lucca, Olvera). Not sure I've worn this blouse and vest with these pants before; I've worn them with sage pants in the past. Oh, and I noticed after I took the photos (after work) that I had one cuff up and one down! I unrolled a cuff to show someone in sewing class how I constructed the hem, and I forgot to roll it back up!

4 (changed into after work): purple and cream micro check top again, with wine cable-knit high-low hem wool sweater (Eileen Fisher) and dark wash skinnies (Lucky, Charlotte Rail).

5-7 (worn to work): black bubble dress with wired collar (Sun Kim); black and gray mesh knit cardigan (made by me); silver leather belt; black cable knit sweater tights (B.Ella); black suede booties with gray turn-down cuff (Paul Green, Barbie); mauve packable coat (Mycrapac); black satchel as above. First time wearing the black dress with this cardi and belt.

8-9: I tried different boots with the outfit: gray moto boots (Frye) and flat black booties (Munro, Lexie). What do you think?

10-12: steel gray burnout scroll print tee (made by me); wine corduroy skinnies (Eddie Bauer); cream and gray stripey weave cardigan (Eddie Bauer); gray/silver belt; gray moto boots as above; brown and gray wool coat (made by me); taupe hobo bag (Aunts & Uncles). First time wearing this tee and cardi with the wine cords; I've worn them before with jeans or my pewter coated skinnies.

Thanks for looking! I welcome your thoughts and suggestions.

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WIW: skirted leggings

Inspired by karymk's post featuring her Eileen Fisher skirted leggings, I wore mine today. I didn't try to copy her outfit (yet!), but her outfit gave me just the nudge I needed to get over my paralysis in deciding what to wear with them. I decided to just do it, as Nike says.

The outfit (worn to work):
Black skirted leggings (Eileen Fisher); red little-floral print mesh tunic (made by me) worn over a black camisole (Shimera); black drape front cardigan (Olivia Sky, from Nordstrom Rack--apparently a cousin of Olivia Moon, carried by Nordstrom); black suede booties (Paul Green); green trench coat (Gallery); sage and multicolor scarf (made by a friend); black satchel (Elliott Lucca, Olvera). This outfit was super comfy, and I felt it was polished enough, for a busy day.
Not sure about the coat. What is a good length to wear over a look that is essentially a mini-skirt?

Thanks for looking! I welcome any comments and suggestions you may have.

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WIW: easy days-off outfits

Here are a couple of outfits I wore on my days off this week. The first is a cozy combo of some favorite colors--sage and teal--with the bootcut jeans I got this year at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. The second outfit, which features my other new pair of jeans from NAS this year, is a throw-back to my old uniform--a tee, classic cardigan, and jeans. I tried to make the outfit more like my current style than my older style, with the jewelry and belt I added. The difference is subtle, and probably wouldn't be noticed by anyone but me. I felt comfortable and stylish in both of these outfits.

The outfits (worn for days off):
1-3: pieced long-sleeve tee in teal, ivory, and brown prints (made by me); dark wash bootcut jeans (Hudson, Beth baby bootcut); sage merino boyfriend sweater (Halogen); sage and teal handknit shoulder cozy, worn as an infinity scarf (handmade gift from a friend); pewter cutout belt (Fossil); taupe nubuck booties (Paul Green, Jano); taupe trench (Calvin Klein); taupe shoulder bag (Aunts & Uncles).

4-5: indigo and gray birds-eye patterned cardigan (Eddie Bauer); charcoal crew-neck long-sleeved tee (Caslon); dark wash straight leg jeans (Kut from the Kloth, Stevie); silver bib necklace with faceted beads; piano wire bracelet with silver beads; silver belt; gray shimmer oxfords (Naot, Kedma). Same coat and bag as above. Switched to gray moto boots (Frye, Lynn) later in afternoon.

Thanks for looking! I welcome your thoughts and suggestions.

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WIW: a few outfits with booties

The past few days I've felt pretty good in my outfits. I really enjoy wearing the three pairs of booties shown in these outfits. Good footwear goes such a long way to making me happy with what I'm wearing!
I've had trouble wearing the purple sweater in outfit 1, and I struck upon this solution of wearing it over a mesh-knit top. I haven't really enjoyed the mesh knit as a top layer over a tank or other body-con tee, but I did like wearing it this way, as an under-layer. Win-win, right?
I wish you could see the detail better on the black skirt in outfit 2. It's a pretty fun design, with ruching up the six seams that join the panels on the skirt.

The outfits:
1-3 (worn to work): dark brown ponte knit cargo pants (made by me); purple boxy zip-back sweater (Halogen) over ivory pin-dot mesh knit tee (made by me); brown metallic booties (Donald J. Pliner); taupe trench (Calvin Klein); black and brown snakeskin print cross-body bag (Aimee Kestenberg).

4-6 (worn to play in a piano concert): black corduroy ruched skirt (XCVI Wearables); black layering tee (Tees by Tina); red and black wool knit shawl front cardigan (made by me); black tights; blingy necklace (from BP at Nordstrom); black flat booties (Munro, Lexie); ombre plaid black, ivory, gray, and taupe coat (MICHAEL Michael Kors); cross-body bag as above.

7-10 (worn to work): black ruched knit pencil skirt (Vince Camuto); gray silk popover blouse (Vince); faux fur vest with tie front (made by me); black suede booties with gray turn-down cuff (Paul Green); long black coat (Gallery); purple hobo bag (Kate Spade). I've shown the booties with the cuffs turned down in photo 7, but the rest of the photos show the cuff turned up. Which do you like better with this outfit? (My DH liked the cuffs down, so I wore them that way.)

I'm always open to your suggestions! Thanks for looking and sharing whatever thoughts you have.

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WIW: my version of red and dark brown

Angie told me what to wear to day. Or she gave me the idea of what I could wear; she wasn't at all bossy about it. Thanks for the idea, Angie.

In photo 2, I'm waiving at you, showing off my new gloves from my YLF Secret Santa!

The outfit (worn to work):
dark brown wool cropped pants (made by me); wine ("dark tulip") high-low pullover sweater and matching scarf with big checks in shades of wine and pink (Eileen Fisher); dark brown trouser socks; taupe nubuck booties (Paul Green, Jano); taupe trench (Calvin Klein); taupe shoulder bag (Aunts & Uncles); brown chenille gloves with suede palms (from my YLF Secret Santa).

This is a version of an outfit I wore several weeks ago and called "chocolate and raspberries." I love the flavors and colors together!

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