I cannot get enough of the golden light in these shots! Warm, buttery, and alluring. Plus the fact that the view was just as perfect and golden. Love.

This LBD has been in my wardrobe for a long, long time. It is an investment piece, for sure. But I’ve worn it for everything from weddings, to a state dinner, to a fancy date-night out. It just won’t quit! The four season Italian wool has an incredible feel, and always lays perfectly– no tugging or shimmying required. (Please tell me you’ve all been there.)

I paired it with another wardrobe staple– the camel blazer. I hope you’re not tired of blazers this season because they are one of my favorite layering staples. Add some leopard pumps and a red lip, and you can trot from the theater to court with the Queen of England, in my opinion!

Have a fantastic Thursday!

XX, Megan

Blazer: J.Crew, Dress: J.Crew (this season), Heels: Nine West, Sunglasses: Oakley, Clutch: Target, Necklace: Kenneth Jay Lane, Earrings: Banana Republic, Lips: MAC Russian Red

There is reason people talk formulaic dressing, and go-to outfit options. These combinations allow you to throw it all on and go at a moment’s notice. Quick. Easy. Classy. Classic. Sometimes with small updates that bring a look into the present moment. J.Crew’s Jenna Lyons has exemplified this kind of dressing for years (though in a recent article, she bemoaned formula dressing as the death of creativity. I see her point, but question her self-scrutiny.)

For Lyons the formula consists of a killer white shirt, favorite jeans, the most high-heeled, high-end shoe you can swing, her quintessential thick-rimmed glasses, and a bun pulled neatly at the nape of her neck. There it is, and she’s done. If she doesn’t consider this a formula, maybe I could call it “reaching for favorites”.

For me, a quality blazer and stripes will always top the favorites list. This periwinkle number is a season old, but definitely not out of style. I love the way it pairs with the plum of these pants, and the unexpected pop it brings to dull gray fall and winter days when I am tired of layering with all things puffer.

What are some of your favorites? Do you have some? Anything you do in the grab-and-go mode that early mornings sometimes require?

The days are chilling more and more, the light is fading little by little. I hope this fall is feeling good to all of you!

XX, Megan

Blazer: J.Crew, Shirt: Saint James, Cords: J.Crew (similar color), Shoes: Old Navy, Sunglasses: Karen Walker Super Duper, Necklace: Gorjana, Earrings: Vintage, Clutch: Ralph Lauren (old, splurge, similar, save), Lips: Buxom White Russian

Not to overstep my bounds here as it’s been a few years since I was in a professional office setting. However, many of my friends struggle to strike that perfect balance between the doldrums of everyday office wear, and desiring to incorporate more individual and interesting apparel choices for their work wardrobe.

Enter the soft-wash shirt from J.Crew. The button-down makes this shirt office appropriate, just add dress pants and heels. Speaking of heels, no one says you have to choose a standard black. What about subbing your those classic black heels with a colorful option? These blue suede babies almost identical to the ones seen here and are both adorable and affordable!

What are your favorite ways to mix-up your work wear? I’d love to hear!

TGIT is all I have to say!

XX, Megan

Shirt: J.Crew (or save!), Pants: Ann Taylor, Shoes: J.Crew (current season, splurge, or save!), Bag: J.Crew Factory (similar or similar), Bangles: J.Crew (similar)

This puffer vest is a holdover hand-me-down from a friend in my Alaska days. Good stuff. I used to be a world-class thrifter. I found the PERFECT pair of cowboy boots, brand new Adidas Sambas, dresses of every description from every era, sweaters, wraps, and killer jewelry– all thrifted and appropriated to my closet. Sometimes older is BETTER and vintage wear always has this air of… No not mothballs, coolness.

We recently hit up our local thrift store, affectionally known to us as Uncle Larry’s. I picked up the perfect fall plaid flannel for 3 bucks. This is not that plaid shirt, but it is similar and soft, too. So if you’re in the market for change-of-season duds, don’t forget to check out your local thrift store. It can save you $$ and totally up the awesome factor in your wardrobe!

Or shop this exact Patagonia plaid shirt below. Make it a good one, friends!

XX, Megan

Shirt: Patagonia (this is the Men’s shirt, here’s the Women’s version, love both!!!), Puffer Vest: Vintage L.L. Bean (also Men’s, current season), Skirt: J.Crew (old, similar, love the pleated version), Boots: Madewell (similar, splurge, and save), Bracelets: Target, Necklace: Gorjana, Earrings: Gorjana

Blush is such a brilliant nude– not cream, not peach. That little lean toward pink is so alluring! I’ve said this many times before but I really vacillate between COLOR–and lots of it, and NEUTRALS–their clean simplicity. I’ll be real, this shirt is one I have to wear when I won’t be up close and personal with my kiddos. Too much margin of error for sticky hands, and boggie noses.

But this shirt is perfect for a casual date night, dinner out with the girls, or a weekday work meeting (just add dress pants vs. boyfriend jeans)! These little flats are another wardrobe workhorse. I’ve worn them for everyday life for almost… three years now, and I still love ’em! As they are oldies but goodies, I’ve linked some similar options for you to peruse below.

Last but not least, this little BAG! It’s Old Navy, comes in a million-and-one colors, and is the PERFECT mini cross body for ANY and EVERY occasion! Now enough of the outfit run down, how’s your Thursday?!? I am planning on a solid indoor cycling workout, make-up games for soccer, and a scrumptious Chicken Marsala recipe for dinner.

TGIT!!!

XX, Megan

Shirt: J.Crew on sale! (similar, similar, and similar long sleeves), Jeans: J.Crew, Shoes: J.Crew (old, similar and save), Bag: Old Navy, Necklace: Gift, Earrings: Gorjana