Cape-tivating

{Written while watching RHOOC Reunion Part 3 and eating Swedish Fish. It was a good night!}  Hello sweet readers!!  How was your Halloween? I sure hope it was lovely!  Aren't holidays the best? I can't wait for this time of the year to get into full swing! Speaking of swing... Capeity cape cape! This has to be my most favorite accessory of the season.  I live in hot California where we basically just make believe we have different seasons, and it's hard to pretend I'm going to get very much use out of over the knee boots or leather. But a cape? If you buy the right kind, it can be light enough to serve as a sweater {although there are some heavy capes out there--pretty wool and plaid--that I would wear in a heartbeat if we had the weather!} There are so many things I can wear this cape with to the office... And this dress! A little flarey, twirly hemline is all I need to be happy! It's a beautiful texture too! I've been really into dresses lately- maybe because they are so easy.  One piece and voila! You are set! On a side note, I'm telling you-- Banana Republic has been killing it lately! It's one of about 3 or 4 stores that I know without a doubt will have something office appropriate for me to wear, but lately, it's just been divine. And from what we all saw at New York Fashion Week, spring is going to be even better!  Alright, my loves! Thank you for stopping by and as always, I hope your day was just terrific! I just finished a fabulous book and I think next time, I might throw a little book review in here! 😘😘 Sweetly- Michelle

Dress || Cape || Shoes || Purse (similar) ||

Photos: Wendy Kathleen Photography @wendykathleenphotography

Colors + Ruching

Hello beauties! I am a lover of simple, uncomplicated things in my life. From food, to hair to jewelry- I like things to be classic and easy. No matter how hard I try to mix things up, I keep coming back to clean lines and comfort. Enter this soft ruched wrap dress from Banana Republic. It's a great silhouette, I don't think you can wrinkle it, even if you tried (and I've tried!). And that's important to me because I can't even remember the last time I fired up the iron (Am I alone here? Is everyone else out there ironing away?) And a pretty pair of strappy but not too strappy sandals work just fine for the office. Not that we will ever need it in Southern California I fear, but a long cashmere cardigan would really complete this look once (if?) the weather takes a dip. A girl can dream, right? Hope your weekend was fabulous and this week is off to a fantastic start! As always, thank you so much for stopping by. I appreciate each and everyone of you!!❤️❤️ Michelle

Dress: Here || Shoes: Here|| Cuff: Here  

NYFW: Day 1

Hi beautiful reader!! I had the absolute extreme good fortune to be able to attend around 48 hours(ish) of New York Fashion Week and what an amazing time I had.  If you are a woman and haven't been, like, dropped on your head, the chance to attend even 5 minutes of NYFW is a dream, am I right? And NYC... I am going to talk about this place a little later but for now, all you need to know about me and NYC is that I would do just about anything to spend a moment in this incredible city.  And what was the cherry on top? Spending this trip with my beautiful friend Vanessa @whatwouldvwear. Putting NYFW aside, the trip would have been equally perfect if it was just she and I, running around Manhattan (coffee and cookies in hand), shopping and seeing and laughing.

The shows were at Skylight at Moynihan Station.  I have no idea where this actually was.  It felt like we were sort of in the middle of Manhattan but one can never be sure. We did not use our Uber apps because predictably, my phone was always dead and who remembers to bring a portable charger? Oh wait, everyone. Everyone did! Whoops. I missed so many incredible shots because of what I will call "technical difficulties" 😘  and guess who I met in front of the shows? Yes! A little fluffy furry friend! With a nice owner who allowed me to borrow his pup!🐶🐩

We were able to go backstage at Tibi, which was pretty incredible. It was just as I expected it would be-- like a little bee-hive of activity with hair and makeup and just... people swarming everywhere. And Aveda was back there too, with their products and giving us hand massages and hair- dos (note to all who care: the low tousled pony is in! Who knew!?)

I was also able to meet some lovely bloggers at the Retreat at Vogue party. It was a little oasis of grey velvet and pictures of Anna Wintour. And the gift bags were unreal! Everyone was so nice and gracious!

So this entire outfit is head to toe Zara. How cute are these shoes, for crying out loud and oh my gosh! And comfy. Seriously. I hoofed it all over the place and not a blister in sight! It was perfect because it was light and airy and polished.  And it kind of looked like a Tibi outfit.  Its navy, and the top is completely sheer, so I just wore a little shell underneath. Perfect. Check back later in the week for more of my lovely adventures in the loveliest of cities! Happy Tuesday to you! xx Michelle

Top: Here ||  Pants:  Here ||  Shoes: Here  ||. Bag:  Here. || Cuff: @vwearcollection

A Shade of Grey

Well hi there you! It is Friday (again!) and I am still on my dress kick. I love wearing dresses to work, don't you? It's easy, it's office appropriate, it can be snazzied up with a blazer and the right accessories or made more causal with tights/boots and a sweater.  This little dress here is something  I bought in black as well from Zara this winter and its so cute. I wear it alone (it has the cutest details on the pockets and shoulders) or with a blazer and its perfect. I tell you, I am READY for Fall. I hope this El Nino stuff is true, not only because we really do need the water here in poor thirsty CA but because I have so many new coats for fall!! Every year, my hubby just shakes his head at me as I trot on in with my winter clothes- he's like " Why are you buying that stuff? It doesn't get cold here. " (he's from Chicago, fyi). And I'm like "Who dresses for the weather? When there are fuzzy sweaters in the stores, you buy them and just deal with the sweat! " Right? Are you with me??   :)  I hope you all have wonderful things planned for this weekend! We have a birthday swim party from someone in my daughter's class  (it's a horse theme, in case you were wondering. Its so funny that horses are still popular with little girls) and we are going to spend some time with my parents and see some friends and then what do you know, it will be Monday again!  Thank you so much for stopping by, dearest ones! xx Michelle

Dress: Zara (old, but similar here )  Blazer: Banana Republic (Here)  Shoes: Vince Camuto (here)