The first day of spring has come and gone, but for many of us it still feels like winter. All over Instagram, we’re popping out florals and bright colors in the hope that we’ll channel warmer weather. Here in St. Louis, it’s quite gloomy with rain and wind in the forecast for the next week. To stay comfortable in this transitional weather, I’m turning to capes — women’s cape coats, cape jackets, and cape sweaters that is.
This style is universally flattering, especially because it hides the worst offender— the muffin top. Plus the sleeves give you plenty of air conditioning in case it suddenly gets warm. So it’s perfect for transitional style in this weather.
Capes to Try
Here are a few great capes to try. Since capes are always in fashion, these classic styles will work for you season after season. Plus they’re great for the office, in case the air conditioning is on full blast.
Stay warm and let’s hope for signs of spring soon! For more cape style check out this gorgeous striped look.
It’s that time when spring catalogues and mall displays rub your nose in warm weather fashions. You want to wear them right away, but it seems too cold to even consider. Here’s where transitional spring style works its magic. The dress over skinny jeans is one of my favorite ways to look cute and warm at the same time. It’s also a great way to dress down your look and gain some street style cred. So go ahead and show off how to wear a dress over jeans.
Here are some fabulous options for the dress over jeans trend:
I actually rock this trend year round. Plus a dress over skinny jeans is perfect for more modest fashionistas. If there’s ever a dress that I don’t feel comfortable in on its own, adding a pair of jeans is my secret weapon. I like a cropped, ankle length, or rolled up jean. But don’t be afraid of a pair of flares underneath with the right dress.
Cropped pants in the winter? Yes! It can be done. If you want to show a little leg without freezing, this is the perfect option. Figuring out how to wear cropped wide leg pants in winter (or spring) is easy with some simple styling tricks.
Choosing the right footwear is key — usually an ankle boot or a pair of kicks does the trick. On top, a cropped sweater or a fitted blouse looks great, especially when your pants have a high rise. Here I’ve styled a pair of plaid trousers with my favorite pointy ankle boots and a cropped cream sweater. Scroll through for more fabulous ways to try this look.
Sweater: Banana Republic (similar) / Pants: Paper Crown / Ankle Boots: Marc Fisher (similar) / Necklace: c/o Joya
I’ve broken down how to style this look into 3 simple steps with options for each. Follow along and choose your favorite combination!
1) Cropped Sweater
2) Cropped Wide Leg Pants
3) Ankle Boots/Kicks
Love these plaid pants? For more plaid inspiration, here’s some fabulous options. SaveSave
Everyday when we open our closet, we secretly hope the perfect outfit will instantly reveal itself. How to look polished on the regular is a daily struggle. My tip is to focus on one piece like statement heels or a gorgeous blouse and style from there.
For example, a polished blouse should have the right feel, be wrinkle free, and make me feel a little extra special. Recently I wore this adorable bouquet printed blouse with ruffles, which instantly elevated my look.
If I had a closet full of blouses like this, looking polished on a daily basis would be a cinch.
Blouse: Ann Taylor / Jeans: Articles of Society (similar) / Shoes: Shoptiques (similar) / Purse: c/o Boden (similar) / Earrings: Target (similar)
Blouses to Look Polished yet Casual
If you’re wondering how to look polished whether you’re headed to work, out for the weekend, or both, here are some great blouse options:
10 More Ways to Look and Feel Polished
Some women seem like they always look put together. Most likely there are a few rules that they don’t compromise on.
Even if it’s a challenge to get yourself out the door, why not create your own rules to live by? When you give yourself structure, you are less likely to waste time on random stuff. Eventually these tips will become second nature and you’ll notice an overall improvement in your appearance. (If you’re looking for ways to improve on the inside, here’s a great post on how to declutter your mind.)
These are some of my tips for how to look polished everyday:
Soft Lips: Always make sure your lips are buffed, smooth, and coated with a pretty color. I have a bad habit of biting my lip so I use a lip scrub daily. I love the lip scrubs at Lush and this one too.
Maintain Your Manicure: One of the most obvious ways to look disheveled is when your manicure is far from fresh. To make chips less obvious between appointments, try nude or pale pink shades. I love this option.
Stay Shine Free: Remember to carry blotting papers for a mid-day shine check. These are the ones I carry in my purse.
Hide Behind Your Sunnies: Keep your favorite pair of sunglasses in your purse in case you need to cover up the effects of a crazy night out.
Eyebrows Always on Point: I don’t feel like myself when my eyebrows have gone rogue. Schedule a standing appointment for your eyebrows every two weeks so you never have to worry about stray hairs or making sure your preferred stylist is available.
Keep the Grays at Bay: Ensure you’ve always got a box of your favorite hair dye stocked at home for when your grays reemerge. This is my favorite hair dyefor root touch ups.
Frizz is a Daily Battle: Determine the best product to tame flyaways, smooth frizz, or define curl for your hair type and keep a travel size option in your purse for a windy day. I’ve been using this for the little wispies at my crown.
Raccoon Eyes: If you’ve got dark circles, find a good under eye concealer and highlighter for color coverage and brightening. This one really brightens my eyes.
Mask on Sundays: Set aside Sunday for some beauty pampering. A weekly mask like this one is a great way to keep up regular exfoliation, skin brightening, and purging for your face.
Confidence Always: Confidence is essential to looking polished. When I look my best, I feel my best. I’ve shared why wearing yellow is one of my favorite mood boosters. What’s yours?
What are some of your favorite ways to maintain a polished look? I loved to know.
My current shopping obsession is the statement sweater – the ones with an extra twist that keep you cozy and cute throughout the cold winter months. I’m torn between classic pieces that can be worn year to year, like this bell sleeve grey sweater below, and more whimsical styles that grab your attention.
Wearing chenille feels heavenly, as if you’ve got that luxe throw from the foot of your bed wrapped around you. It’s so soft that everyone will want to give it a touch. This winter has been blistery cold. So why not layer your look with a chenille sweater cardigan and wrap yourself in fluffy fabric.
One of the things I love about winter style is all the tartan plaid. I’m a sucker for a good print, especially an embellished one. This beaded top featuring winter plaid is on sale right now at J.Crew for 80% off and is now under $18. Plus there are several sizes left.
Attending FDCI Amazon India Fashion Week as a U.S. blogger is pretty uncommon. It took a lot of planning, a few key connections (thank you FDCI), and an epic level of organization to make the trip work. But for my first time attending, it was totally worth it. Seeing the designers, the runways, and the street style up close solidified my passion for the South Asian fashion scene. Here’s a peek at the week in Delhi highlighting my personal style, the Spring Summer 2018 runway looks, and a few fun activities in between.
Outhouse Jewelry Studio
On my first stop in Delhi, I visited the Outhouse Jewelry studio to meet designers Kaabia and Sasha Grewal. These two sisters showed us their most recent bridal collection featuring crisp whites and soft rose golds. Needless to say, I wanted it all! They provided a behind the scenes tour of artisans at work, vintage pieces from their collection, and a look at jewelry before its plated. It was incredible to see each stage of the design process starting with the initial sketch. In complete awe of what the sisters had built in just five years, I was seriously inspired and ready for fashion week.
After breakfast overlooking the beautiful verandah at Eros Nehru Place, I dove right into Day 2 of fashion week. While checking out the runway shows is always exciting, it’s getting to meet the designers and seeing their work up close that gives me the most pleasure. It was especially delightful to meet the talented and adorable designer Urvashi Joneja, whose pieces are full of bright and whimsical prints, geometric cuts, and thoughtful details.
From Left to Right: Varun & Nidhika, Urvashi Joneja, and Pooja Shroff
Amazon India Fashion Week: Day 2
FDCI AIFW SS 2018 (Clockwise from Top Left): Aartivijay Gupta, Vineet Bahl, Hemant & Nandita, Rina Dhaka; Photos by The Co Lab
Funny how when there’s so much to do and see, you’re willing to overlook jet lag and stop from going into full on zombie mode. It may help that I’m wearing yellow — the happiest color in the world — to keep things bright and cheery. After an indulgent multi-course meal at Varq, the Taj Mahal hotel’s high end dining spot for Indian cuisine, there was no time for a food coma. Onwards to more inspired runway fashion, networking, and people watching for a serious case of style envy!
Hanging out at the Taj Mahal Hotel in Delhi; Outfit c/o Boden: Dress / Jacket / Bag / Shoes.
Amazon India Fashion Week: Days 3 & 4
Thank you the Fashion Design Council of India for hosting and a lovely first Amazon India Fashion Week experience! And follow along for more adventures in Delhi, including a food tour of Varq, and Rajasthan, coming soon.
You know when you find a piece and you can imagine exactly how you’re going to style it? I saw this Anthropologie Hyacinth Jacket and was inspired. I had a picture in my mind of this look and when I tried it out, it really came together. When fashion inspires you, it’s a great feeling. And when it looks terrific, it confirms your faith in your vision and the ability to make good choices. At least style choices that is. The extra bag of potato chips I ate today after the gym – probably not the best choice.
There’s something about the stream of blue from head to toe that’s really calming about this look. The pops of pink and orange let the blue breathe a bit, making it a bit more whimsical. And these oversized, yet lightweight Clearwater Drop earrings add the perfect finishing touch.
Get the Look
Here’s some of my favorite colorful jackets to kick up your look a notch:
Playful Prep for Fall with Old Navy 
3 Ways to Style a Faux Fur Scarf: Belt it on One Side 
Navy Sheath 