Transitioning Into Fall

It's almost my favorite time of year.. fall! And these next couple months are my favorite when it comes to clothing. I love being able to layer my light, airy summer pieces with blazers, close toed shoes, scarves, etc.

Here are some great pieces I'm coveting right now that are PERFECT for transitioning from summer to fall!

Open Back Blazer

Black & White Floral Camisole

Wide Leg Jeans

Black Patent Leather Wedges

Leopard Print Flats

Coral Infinity Scarf

A Classic Pair of Heels

Can you spot what these outfits have in common?

[ image sources via here ]

You guessed it - all of these women are wearing heels with a pointed toe! It's amazing how this classic shoe can pull together any outfit.

I LOVE this look, but it's not practical for me to wear 4" stilettos when I'm on my feet all day. The good news is, I recently found the perfect pointed toe heel!

Calvin Klein Dolly

With 5 Stars and 608 Reviews on Zappos, I decided I had to try them for myself. It's true - they are SO comfortable and look amazing! I actually ordered this color: 

But I think I'll definitely be ordering more in the other colors (like the classic black suede pair I posted above). 

And after I have collect a couple classic colors, I may have to get this pair!

Closet Classic: Cropped Black Pants

If you remember this post, I've been working on building a "classic closet". I was also looking for the pair of perfect black pants. I wanted to share with you guys that I found them (thanks to your help!!)

They are.... GAP Ultra Skinny Pants! They are $54.95, but Gap always has sales (right now they have 25% off!) I was really surprised that I liked them so much because usually Gap fits me weird, but they fit my hourglass figure PERFECTLY.

The KEY is to order a size smaller than you normally would. I ordered a 2 (I'm normally a 4 or 6) and they are VERY tight on me when I first put them on (I considered returning them), but then they do stretch out perfectly.

So, if you're looking for a basic pair of black pants that aren't denim.. I recommend these! (bonus - they are so affordable.)

I'm still looking for THE perfect pair of jeans. My body type is so hard when it comes to jeans.. I'm your typical pear shape.  I'm looking for a pair just like this:

Skinny but not too skinny, high-waisted but not too high-waisted, dark but not too dark. I sound like Goldy Locks ;)

Any recommendations?

Cute Top, Cute Blog

I don't really follow fashion blogs, but sometimes I'll come across some via Pinterest. I recently came across Julia's blog Gal Meets Glam and I love it!

Gal Meets Glam

Gal Meets Glam

Julia's shirt in this post is from ASOS.. I love the cut and especially the little pom pom trim.

ASOS Pom Pom Trim Shirt - $54.30

A shirt like this would be perfect for my goal of an "effortless and classic closet".

Closet Classics: Creating An Effortless Wardrobe

As I've gotten older, I've realized I have been drawn to "style" more than "fashion" when it comes to clothing. I used to love finding trendy "cheap" pieces at places like Target and Forever 21, but now those pieces frustrate me hanging in my closet. Time and time again I am faced with the age old dilemma "I have nothing to wear!" yet my closet is full.

Now that I am almost in my 30's, I crave a wardrobe that is simple, classic and full of pieces that are effortless and always look great. You know me, I'd much rather spend money on something for my house than something for my closet.. which is why I want to start becoming intentional with my wardrobe and stop buying "cheap and trendy" clothes on an impulse.

So, I've decided to start a "Closet Classics" list to keep me on track to creating an effortless wardrobe that works for the age I am now (and will work for years to come!) 

PANTS

Classic Black Pants

Dark Skinny Jeans

Wide Leg Jeans

Casual Medium Wash Distressed Jeans

White Jeans

TOPS

White Blouse

Chambray Button Down

Classic White T-Shirt

Cotton (or Linen) Oxford

Dressy Tank

Tunic

Blazer

SKIRTS & DRESSES

Little Black Dress

Sundress

Day To Night Dress

Pencil Skirt

Flowy Skirt

SHOES

Bold Statement Flats

Classic Black Flats

Casual Strappy Sandals

Wedges

Boots

Pumps

ACCESSORIES

Wide Leather Belt

 Skinny Belt

 Scarves

Leather Bag

Khaki Trench

I created this list for myself to work off of. There isn't a set number of items, and I'm sure I'll add to it as seasons change, etc. There also may be multiple pieces per item (i.e. blazer, tunic, dressy tank). But my intention is to keep my closet as simple and streamlined as possible. 

I also want to note some of my thoughts: 

+ Live Within Your Means: As much as I would love to go out and buy really high quality pieces at Neimans, it's important to live within your means. For me, a splurge is J.Crew or Anthropologie. As I grow older, I will be able to replace pieces with better quality pieces, but for now I'll try to get the best quality for my budget. 

+ Be Ruthless: One fault of mine is that I often buy things and then after a couple times wearing it, I don't like how it fits. I'm going to be ruthless before buying something to make sure that I only buy pieces that fit PERFECTLY and make me feel great in them. 

+ Stop Shopping: I think the best way to be intentional about my closet is to stop shopping. I know, that doesn't make sense. But I mean stop shopping while I'm out and about. When I buy online, I can think things through a little more, and I don't buy on impulse. It also helps to try on the clothes in my own house, so I can really concentrate on whether or not the fit is right. Plus, many companies offer free shipping both ways, which is great!

I'll be sharing my progress with you.. I hope you'll like this new "series"! I got some birthday money from my parents, so I'll be getting a couple new pieces soon. 

Have any of you edited and simplified your closet before? I'd love to hear any ideas/comments/great places to get classic pieces.