I’ve been waiting to write this post since I watched “Love Story” this past summer. I was really inspired by the style of Ali McGraw’s character, particularly the cream colored, belted wool trench she wears in one of the last scenes. I actually had a hard time finding something comparable that I liked for the purposes of this post, but the Double-cloth Lady Coat below from j.crew does the trick.

I also discovered Coclico shoes while searching for boots for this post, which was a very welcome find. They have some of the most beautiful and unique shoes I’ve seen in a long time.

1. Double-cloth lady day coat in Sea Salt from J.Crew – $298
2. Knitted Pom Pom Beanie from Forever 21 – $6.80
3. Beauty Basics Scarf in plum from Ruche – $22.99
4. Couvert Asymmetrical plaid wool skirt on Etsy $95
5. Kira Carry by Frye – $398
6. Lena boot by Coclico – $495
7. Opaque tights in grey from Anthropologie – $12.50
8. Willy-Nilly bracelet in blue from Anthropologie – $58
9. Silk Origami blouse in dusty rose from Banana Republic – $79.50

What fall clothing and accessories do you enjoy shopping for the most?

Premium denim became the only way for me to find jeans that were not only long enough, but cut properly so that they were actually flattering. Retail stores started to catch on that not every woman is under 5’8″ but their version of tall jeans included a 34″ inseam and an extra long rise. Not. Cute.

Fast forward to today, I escaped the Midwest and premium denim is everywhere. However, now I’ve learned that I’d rather spend my hard-earned cash on traveling or having fun with friends (or just paying the bills) than spending $250 on a single pair of jeans. Thankfully many retail stores have upped the ante when it comes to denim and this is how I was able to spend $14.50 on a pair of jeans this past weekend.

Classic Skinny Tab Jean from Forever21

I’m not a huge proponent of retail, especially bargain retail, but I will admit that Forever 21 is a guilty pleasure of mine. This is probably wrong on a number of levels, including the fact that I’m almost 30 and I still shop there. But $14.50 on a pair of flattering skinny jeans that look just as great as a $100 pair? Yes, please.

They may not hold out as long and there’s not really anything special about them when it comes to the wash or the detailing. However, the one thing they did get right was the back pockets. I have a sizable… how should I say this…. backside, and I can’t stand it when pockets on jeans don’t go below the bottom curve of your rear end. It looks so unflattering!

You’ll notice this about many premium denim brands. Their back pocket positioning is lower which creates the illusion of a nice backside (in my opinion). Try it out for yourself. The next time you’re trying on jeans, pick a pair with small back pockets and then pick a pair where the pockets look a little lower or positioned to actually cover your butt and try ’em on.

Classic Skinny Tab Jean from Forever21

Before this post gets any longer (see? told you I could write a book), my point is that sometimes you don’t have to spend a small fortune to find a pair of jeans that fit. Even if you are six feet tall or not a size 2.

Even though I’ve drooled over Eames (or “Eamesish”) chairs for quite a long time, I’ve never really been able to picture myself using them. I tend to like more “earthy” looking things and the Eames chairs have always struck me as being a little too modern and retro. But not anymore! The neutral colored shells paired with the walnut or maple dowel legs are the perfect compromise.

The chairs above can be custom ordered in a variety of colors and base styles from Modernica.

Kim McCarty – Girl Kneeling

I recently went on a short, impromptu day trip down to San Diego with some friends to visit the San Diego Museum of Art (@SDMA) and some other galleries in the area. While at the Scott White Contemporary Art in Little Italy, I came across this beautiful watercolor done by a L.A. artist Kim McCarty. I’m not usually a big fan of watercolor but loved the almost tie-dyed look of her paintings. The expressions of her subjects are also very captivating.

Congratulations Alex and Monica!