Black and gray with a pop of color or pattern (usually in the form of a scarf) is what you’ll find me in most fall and winter days. That, and a pair of Frye boots. My girlfriend turned me on to Fryes a couple of years ago, and I pretty much lived in these cognac ones last fall and winter seasons. I expect this year will be more of the same. They are comfy and stylish, and add such a nice warmth to the black/gray palate. And they’re much more practical for walking through fields in an attempt to capture the vibrant green backdrop than a pair of 4-inch heels would have been, which is my other shoe style of choice.

Gap sweater (not available online) | Banana Republic pants | Marc by Marc Jacobs scarf (old) | Frye boots | Tory Burch handbag, sunglasses and earrings

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How many J Crew puffer vests are too many? Does the number increase if you live “up north”? I actually like it when the brand reissues a style or color from a past season that I already have, as then I’m not tempted to buy another. This fun mustard (chartreuse, if you’re fancy) color is from this fall, and I thought it would be great for a pop of color with blacks and grays (I wear the red-orange one from last season all the time). Or, as in these pictures, to warm up – visually and literally – an already colorful, casual outfit. Interestingly, I used to not see the point in vests. When is the occasion when someone would need something so warm on their chest and back, but not at all on their arms? Especially in Minnesota, when the swing in temperature from one day to the next can be extreme. One day it’s 70 degrees (too warm for a vest) and the next it’s 40 degrees (too cold for a vest). But they really are super versatile – including as a staple piece for indoors. The drafts in the winter months, especially in an office building, can be surprisingly chilly, and the extra warmth is more than welcome.

J Crew vest | Banana Republic shirt and sweater (similar here) | AG Jeans | Tory Burch sunglasses, boots, and handbag (this season’s red, here)
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For our date night a few weeks ago I convinced Trevor to go to the one year anniversary celebration of the Madewell store in the Mall of America. We go to the MOA together pretty much never (or shopping at all for that matter), so even though I may have fibbed a bit and told him there would be men’s clothes, all was smoothed over when we learned they were serving craft beer. It was a fun start to our night – I found a couple of great staple pieces, and Trevor picked out these pants, claiming to “love them” when I came out of the dressing room. I like them because they live up to the caption on the Madewell site: “all the cool factor of leather, but the ease of a jean,” but I also happen to feel like a Storm Trooper when I wear them. This is also, I believe, the real reason Trevor loves the pants. You saw the look on his face in the Antiquing post when he was looking at the vintage Star Wars figures, right? Going with the space theme, I thought we’d take a jaunt over to my mom’s hometown, Cosmos. I recalled from my youth a rocket or something or other on the playground that I thought would hold the kids’ attention while we took some pictures. 

Madewell Jeans | Ann Taylor LOFT top | Tory Burch flats | Tory Burch handbag | Banana Republic necklace and earrings | Tag Heuer watch (old) | bracelet (old) | Tory Burch sunglasses

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