Gina: Boots and blazers
Remember when I was super excited about my Old Navy sale spree?
Page the fail whale, because it wasn’t as glorious as I’d anticipated. I’d give it a 2/3 for the fact that I liked the tops and the dress a lot more than expected, but the things I was most excited about (the jeans!) were no bueno.
Problem #1: they didn’t fit. At all. The fabric was also thinner than expected. The good news is that I returned them in the store and got a gift card that could be used for Banana or Gap, so Livi ended up coming out on top with some Baby Gap finds after my shopping fail.
Along with the everything snowman, holidays, hot cocoa and Christmas lights, I’m also stoked for some fall/winter accessories. These kind that are extra special because in Tucson, they’re fairly short-lived. On the list: blazers, boots and scarves.
This season, I especially love the hued and textured blazers, funky wool jackets, military style casual jackets and classic trenches.
-Here are some cute ones I’ve found:
-BOOTS! I looooooove boots, but can almost never justify the cost of pricey ones (like the Tory boots below). I really love the boots at Aldo. For the price, they’re pretty decent quality.
Here are some of the boots I adore (in the market for a brown pair since I have a black pair I love already):
Amanda riding boot (I die)
UGG boot (love the color!!)
For the longest time, I had NO clue how to wear boots. Ok, let’s be real, I still have some issues (like the awful ankle pair I bought last year and have worn once). Thank goodness for fashionable people like Meggie to help a girl out 😉
I’d also love to experiment with scarves a little more this year as it gets colder.
As much as I love fall/winter fashion, dressing a 10-month old is a thousand times more exciting.
Animal hats FTW.
Any fashion fails lately?
Do you love winter boots?! Where did you get your favorite pair? Feel free to link away. As much as I enjoy a good pair of boots, I’m more of a ballet flat or TOMs kinda girl.
xoxo
G
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I agree about the Old Navy colored skinnies. Could they make us feel any fatter? I had to size up two sizes and they were still snug and I wasn’t thrilled about the thin fabric that didn’t leave much to the imagination. It was worth it to me to spend a little more and get some that were better quality and in a size that was more easily swallowed.
Born boots have been my all time favorites. I bought a pair of black and a pair of brown riding boots last year and I wear them WAY more than I do any of my other boots. SOOO comfortable and well made. I can tell they will last for a long time. They aren’t cheap, but not nearly as expensive as some out there. 6pm.com has a pretty great, affordable selection. Living in So. Louisiana, we get to wear boots for about 2 months out of the year, so I can’t really justify spending a ton.
I’m trying to figure out how to dress my pregnant body this fall. I’m still in my first trimester now, but getting to that point when jeans aren’t very comfortable. I think I might buy a few extra pairs of wunder unders and live for the remainder of the pregnancy in them. They make the BEST leggings — not see through at all and they hold everything in. WIN!
I got a pair of very similar boots at ALDO last year and L-O-V-E them. I also saw some super soft grey leather boots at Winners (Canada’s version of TJ Max) and adored them but alas, I didn’t buy them so they are probably lost to me forever. Le sigh.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve happily ordered a ton of stuff from Old Navy only to have to return it because it didn’t fit right. Boo.
I am LOLing that you called those “winter” boots! Ha. In Michigan, “winter” boots are Sorels or other fleece-lined, waterproof duck boots with traction so you don’t eat it when you walk on ice or frozen snow for 3-4 months of the year.
I love riding boots, but have to stay with the cheap ones. The best pairs I have are all vintage. Maybe someday I’ll be able to spend more than $50 on a glorious pair!
hahah our winter here is a little different. it was 80 last week, but 30 last weekend. tucson is crazy 😉
These aldo boots are really beautiful in person. I’ve walked away twice already (pricey!) but I don’t think I can walk away a third time…
http://www.aldoshoes.com/us/women/boots/tall-boots/90976866-laverdiere/28
those are amazing!!!! wish the cognac color was on sale, too. we’d be shoe twins 😉 heh heh
Being able to wear boots is probably one of my favorite things about winter. I absolutely adore the Tory Burch boots but yeah… the price tag is a little hefty. Although… I thinka nice pair of boots makes a good investment. Take care of them and they last for years, right? Riiiight? I may or may not be trying to trick myself into buying them 😉 Those boots from Aldo are really gorgeous too, though. I almost picked up a pair the last time I was shopping.
I bought the most perfect pair of cognac riding boots with a little wedge at Nordstrom Rack and they are amazing! I wore them all day, every day in Vegas last weekend. I walked the whole strip two days in a row and they were very comfortable and kept me warm (it was cold in Vegas…boo!).
Speaking of Vegas, on your recommendation, I went to Mon Ami Gabi for brunch, it was so amazing I went back the next morning. Chicken, brie and apple crepe FTW!
do you have a link? i’d love to see them!
omgggggg YES! so happy you loved it. we eat there every day if we can- their breakfast is so good
xoxo
I don’t mind spending the $$ on boots but I actually found some cute Madden Girl ones for $59 at Famous Footwear online and bought them last night.
http://www.famousfootwear.com/en-US/Product/30088-28188/Madden+Girl/Cognac/Womens+Earnie.aspx?store=02982
Do you by chance use shopstyle.com? If you don’t, check it out (basically aggregates most online retailers and allows you to search for specific pieces. i.e. “cognac boots” and then you can pare down by price, retailer, etc etc) And I’m not pd to endorse their site but it’s incredibly useful and how I found the boots above!
oh those are beautiful! and YES- shopstyle is awesome!
I get so sad when I see all the beautiful boots I can’t shove my calves into. I have super muscular calves – I’ve even tried buying “plus sized” boots and they were too small as well (though I am by no means plus sized anywhere other than my calves. I have to stick to ankle boots for now, but dream of the day I can commission some personalized super wide boots!
Aldo will stretch boots for free if you ask! I also have muscular calves that are not boot friendly, but they have been wonderful to me!
I’ve had similar problems with Old Navy stuff (especially pants) for the last few years. Everything used to fit so well, but maybe they went with a different manufacturer? Nothing fits like it used to 🙁
I’ve been thinking about buying a pair of Frye boots for a couple of years now. The price tag is pretty hefty, but after talking with people, it sounds like one of those purchases I’ll have forever (provided I take care of them!). My hairstylist told me her mom still has a lace-up pair from the ’70s, so awesome!
that is amazing. i’ve heard great things about frye, too- i can’t believe your stylist has a pair from the 70s. love it!
I’m a boot-obsessed person without the budget to have a whole wardrobe of them but I go gaga over them. I need to grab a new pair and this post has inspired me 😉 My best friend brought me home a pair from Italy and I almost cry when I wear them because they are amazing.
I like Aldo boots for the price but I always like cost effective finds at places like DSW. I’m also a comfy wunder under and ugg boots person but we live in Chicago so warm boots are a must.
I bought brown riding boots THIS WEEK (eek!) and I LOOOOVE them. The pair I have are a lighter brown than the picture that the link (below, goes to Zappo’s) takes you to, but the style is very similar. I got them on sale at Belk so they were VERY reasonable. I love them SO MUCH it’s crazy. Good luck finding them!
http://www.zappos.com/madden-girl-zerge-brown-fabric
“I really love the boots at Aldo. For the price, they’re pretty decent quality.” Hey- Aldo boots aren’t exactly cheap at like $150+ a pop! I HATE when people make comments like this- I’ve decided not to buy them a few times because that’s a lot of money, and I’m niether cheap, nor poor!
Now that that’s out of the way, I love the filters on Zappos- I know it’s always a gamble to buy them online, but I love having my searches refined, espcially when it comes to things like thigh circumfrance and height.
mine were 90 and this will be my 3rd winter of wearing them- i definitely think that’s great quality for the price
i would have said the same thing if there were $30 or $300. 3 years of wearing them at least a few times a week, all season = good quality
http://www.stevemadden.com/Item.aspx?id=42992&np=595_896
I LOVE these boots, and that is an understatement. I know a lot of ladies that have them and have not heard anything but wonderful things about them. Most people I know are on their second or third pair (myself included). Also, you can always order them on Zappos and they have free shipping and return shipping. This was my first pair of boots because I was also just a toms/flats gal, and now I honestly wear them almost everyday. Once you find a pair of boots you love I bet you will be hooked!
I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m boot obsessed. I just got these recently in black and I love them:
http://www1.bloomingdales.com/shop/product/coach-martta-riding-boot?ID=655165&CategoryID=19212&LinkType=&color=Black#fn=BRAND%3DCOACH%26spp%3D7%26ppp%3D96%26sp%3D1%26rid%3D5
And I bought these last winter!
http://www1.bloomingdales.com/shop/product/frye-tall-flat-riding-boots-paige?ID=649923&CategoryID=19212&LinkType=#fn=BRAND%3DFrye%26spp%3D26%26ppp%3D96%26sp%3D1%26rid%3D5
I tried the ON skinnies on a few weeks ago and thought exactly the same thing you did, but last week I decided to give them one more try afte reading other people’s reviews. First thing to keep in mind– everyone has to go up 2 sizes, you arent a fatty. Also the fabic is different for different colors. The best thing to do is to try on all different colors in the store. Trust me they are totally worth it!! Who doesnt want a pair of purple pants?!!
Cole Hann normally has some pretty rockin boots at a decent price (compared to the beautiful Tori Burch.
You know? Looking through this post gave me an idea for you and Meg.
Gina, I’ve noticed that you have expensive taste (For example, the J Crew trench….which is gorgeous!). Even some of your sale items that you have gotten in the past are probably still a little high for an average Jane to buy and still be able to pay bills and buy decent groceries.
Meg, on the other hand, seems to really cater to a gal on a budget. Though, the items she finds do not look cheap at all.
I think it would be awesome if you pick some wardrobe favorites and then let Meg try to find those items at a much lower price. I think it would be a cool post!
P.S. I mean no disrespect at all by this. I love your style and I know you often get what you pay for. I just enjoy watching stylists on TV try to mimic a less pricey version of an outfit. I think it would fun 🙂
I’ve been contemplating buying those Aldo boots in black… I agree the quality is good for the price, but I still don’t know if it’s worth it. Both pairs of boots I’ve bought from there have fallen apart in less than 2 years. I think I’d rather shell out an extra hundred or so for a pair that will last even longer!
I used to love shopping for myself and looking forward to Fall fashion, but I seriously die over the adorableness of baby clothes! Right now I’m way more excited about buying my girls some stuff 😀 Plus, finally being able to fit into my old Fall clothes is going to be like an entire new wardrobe since I haven’t worn anything in almost three years!
Love the winter hat, adorable. I hope to some day have a little girl to play dress up with.
The only fashion fail of recent is buying expensive shoes that are not too comfortable. They’re so pretty it’s hard to resist.
I LOVE Tory’s riding boots. They are my favourite!! The price.. I don’t love so much.
I don’t buy boots at all. Sure, they last decades but the styles change often so it seems like a waste to me. Plus being from Colorado, boots are for SNOW, not the 50s, which is as cold as Phx gets. ; ) I’m so not into fashion. Obviously.
Um, drooling over the Tory Burch boots! A friend of mine has a pair…I’m so jealous! Of course, she also comes from a very wealthy family, so that helps…
As for me…
Bought these last year. I love them! They’re a bit dressy for everyday, but super fun to wear: http://www.famousfootwear.com/en-US/Product/30474-1028223/Madden+Girl/Cognac/Womens+Posch.aspx
This year? These: http://www.famousfootwear.com/en-US/Product/92575-1027969/CARLOS+BY+CARLOS+SANTANA/Cognac/Womens+Hart.aspx I recently moved from the South to the Midwest, and I sorely need to stock up on closed-toe shoes (hah…) and these were a great start. So comfortable, and they look good with jeans or leggings!