CURATING CLASSIC STYLE

Daniel Wellington watch

Your wardrobe is a silent reflection of who you are to those around you. It goes far beyond the simple question of "what should I wear today?" and choosing between the three clean skirts in your closet. Style choices can have real implications on first impressions and truly do impact how others see you. With its far-reaching significance, it's not hard to see why personal style should be calculated and wardrobes chosen with care.

While I'm still creating and altering the nuances of my personal style everyday, I've established the foundation. Before I share my tips for curating classic style, it's important to note a few things:

+ On establishing personal style 
Developing a personal style is something that can take years. There's no hard-and-fast advice about how to refine your style. For me, comfort is queen. I never thought I'd outgrow the college days of wearing leggings and sweatshirts to class. Thankfully...that ship has sailed! I'm not willing to sacrifice comfort for aesthetic, and so I don't. Your wants and needs can work together.

+ On building a wardrobe 
Curating the perfect wardrobe can be a daunting task. Be sure to only include pieces that truly reflect your personal style. For me, if a piece doesn't fit 'just right' or is too far out of my comfort zone, I won't wear it, and it'll sit at the back of my closet for seasons. Don't make a trendy purchase just because the price is right. If you try a piece on and you don't love it, don't buy it. If you're unsure of how you feel, you don't need it. A mediocre piece won't add anything substantial to your style foundation. Unless you absolutely can't leave without it, think twice.

THE BASICS

The basics are arguably the most important part of a style foundation. Basics can be dressed up, dressed down, layered or worn alone — appropriate for nearly every occasion. Find some simple tanks and tees that fit you well. And buy them. In multiple colors. Pick up a few cardigans and relentlessly hunt for that pair of jeans you've been searching years for. I promise, a pair of jeans that is comfortable and fits your body right does exist! Shop my favorite basic pieces (that I can't live without!) by scrolling through the widget above.

THE NEUTRALS 
At the center of a functional closet is a flexible color scheme. A versatile color pallet is key. That pink sequin top is fun for a night out celebrating your best friends' birthday, but is hard to pull off the other 364 days of the year. Sticking to a neutral color scheme is a great way to maximize the utility of your pieces. My closet is full of my neutrals of choice — white, grey, camel and black. It's incredibly easy to mix + match pieces if most of your wardrobe works together.

THE STAPLES
Wardrobe staples can take a variety of forms, but they've all got one thing in common — they're pieces you'll reach for season after season. Whether it's a great structured bag or a pair of mid-height almond toe pumps, staples are relatively timeless and serve as a welcome addition to nearly any outfit. The 'little black dress' is a quintessential example of a classic wardrobe staple. It's season-less and is suitable for almost any occasion. My most-worn staples pieces are my Vince Camuto riding boots and J.Crew Chateau Parka.

THE SPLURGES
Splurge items are my favorite pieces to wear (and shop for) in my wardrobe. Often, these are designer items that tie together a wardrobe and provide a unique finishing touch to an outfit. I tend to splurge on accessories like jewelry, shoes and bags because their versatile nature provides the most 'bang' for your buck. Classic holy grail splurges — like the Chanel flap bag, David Yurman cable cuff bracelet, Cartier Tank watch and Valentino bow pumps — are worthwhile picks because they've proven to be pieces that never go out of style. Hands down most-worn splurge item is my David Yurman Petite Albion Ring.

Personal style can (and should!) be a calculated choice. Curating your perfect twist on classic style ensures your wardrobe is a reflection that you're proud to share.

Thank you to Lawrence Cheng Photography for shooting this post

POP-UP CHRISTMAS BAR

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I stumbled upon this article in the Washingtonian the other day about a "pop-up" Christmas bar in the Shaw neighborhood of D.C. The bar, called Miracle on Seventh Street, is a temporary installment running through the month of December. Essentially, it's just an ultra-festive bar that caters to all of the fun surrounding the holiday season. The bar's ornate decor, paired with a constant stream of holiday music and a festive cocktail menu make this a great destination bar. 

I stopped by on Saturday night with a few friends to see what all of the hype was about. It opens at 5pm daily, so the group of us arrived promptly at 5:15pm. As soon as we arrived it was clear that the entire City of Washington was also eager to check it out, because the line to get in spanned two blocks. The bouncer told us it would be about five hours to get in... ugh. 

We decided to head over to the (almost) neighboring Dacha Beer Garden for a bit while we waited out the line. Dacha is one of my favorite open-air bars in the city — mainly because they allow dogs. I never thought I'd be at an outdoor bar in December! It was about 65 degrees that evening, so we just had to take advantage of the unseasonably warm weather. 

We returned to Miracle on Seventh Street around 9pm, and waited just over an hour to get a peek inside. My thoughts? Well worth the wait. The photo doesn't do it justice! The festive ambiance of the bar really stood out against other bars that get sort-of jazzed up for the season. My favorite cocktail off their menu was "Gretchen, Stop Trying To Make Fetch Happen," aptly named after the movie Mean Girls. Because how can you not like a Mean Girls-esque cocktail?! 

The bar also boasts a daily lineup of festive activities, from holiday movie nights to photos with Santa. It's the perfect adult playground for anyone looking to enjoy an evening a little out of the ordinary!

THE CROWN BRAID

I wake up at 5:00 A.M. most mornings to hit the gym before work, so quick + easy hairstyles are a weekday must. After I shower, I don't have much time left to get ready before I need to leave for work. My solution? The crown braid. I usually throw my bangs up in a halo-style braid and head out the door. With a good amount of practice under my belt, I have this style down in five minutes flat! It's a great way to tame wild bangs sans heat or to disguise second day hair. Check out the tutorial below to see how it's done!

Thank you to Sanzero Photography for shooting this post 

LATELY - DECEMBER

Blanket Scarf || Chateau Parka || Boots (old, similar) || Leggings 

Wearing: I have a thing for cashmere scarves. There's just something so luxurious about them. I picked up this cashmere Club Monaco scarf (on sale!) and can't get enough. It's incredibly soft and a great size - big enough to use as a travel wrap - which I definitely intend on using it as. I've also been on a bit of a kick with heels lately, too.  Most recently, I picked up a pair (or two) of these Sam Eldelman Orella pumps. Obsessed. I had high expectations for these shoes and they did not disappoint. My only grievance is that they come to a point a little quickly, causing some toe discomfort. But they say beauty is pain, right? You can read more on my thoughts about the pumps here.

Watching: I've really been on a documentary binge lately. I find documentaries that revolve around social and political issues to be especially intriguing, so usually my curiosities gravitate me towards those types of films. I've watched quite a host recently - from Shenandoah, Into the Abyss, Jesus Camp, Tricked and The True Cost - to name a few. I'll admit, I didn't find any of them particularly riveting. I think my current favorite documentary has to be Cowspiracy - you can read my last post on that here.

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Listening: December is well underway, so you know what that means... Christmas music. I've been listening to Frank Sinatra and Michael Bublé since Thanksgiving. Really, I listen to both year-round, but their holiday songs are truly the best. I use Spotify Premium and it's by far my favorite music streaming service. Also, Premium is well worth paying a monthly fee. If you have student email account, you can get the student discount, making Premium just $5/month... that's one latte. My only regret about Premium is that I didn't make the switch from the free version earlier! Also, public service announcement: Serial Season 2 is out! This season follows the story of Bowie Bergdahl, an American solider accused of deserting his post who was captured and held by the Taliban for five years. If you've never given Serial a shot, now is the perfect time! You can read more about my love for the podcast here.

Consuming: Indian cuisine. When I was younger, I used to be a super picky eater. I've definitely branched out since then, but still have a ways to go. I went out for lunch with some coworkers the other day to Masala Art, an Indian restaurant near the office. So. Good. How did I willingly survive the last 23 years without trying chicken makhani?!

Coveting: I've had my eye on a Canon Rebel-series DSLR camera for a while now. I've always been intrigued by how photographers can create aesthetic in a photograph. The Smithsonian Institute offers some relatively inexpensive photography classes and I'd love to take a few course. Also, Santa, if you're reading, you could totally drop off a Louis Vuitton Neverfull MM this year.

On My Radar: This is a busy travel month for me. I'll be going home mid-December for a week to celebrate Christmas with my family and can't wait. I never though I'd say this, but I hope there's snow on the ground! The weather in D.C. has been balmy and I'm not expecting to see snow anytime soon here. I mean, it was 70 degrees this weekend! After Christmas, I'm heading to Mexico for New Year's. I'm pretty stoked about that, for obvious reasons. Finally, a week or so after that, I'll be flying into Chicago for a "girl's weekend" and to celebrate my best friends' birthday. It's safe to say if I'm not already an expert at traveling with carry-on luggage only, I sure will be after all of this!

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Thank you to Ormi Malul Photography for shooting this post

WINTER WHITES + BEAN BOOTS

Denim || Top || Cardigan (old, similar) || Vest (similar) || Socks || Boots || Watch || Purse 

White is one of my favorite colors to wear. It's versatile, goes with everything and can play both roles of being bold and understated – the ultimate neutral. I love an all-white ensemble, it's one my go-to looks during warmer months. 

Wearing white in the winter can be a little tricky. What's up with that "don't wear white after Labor Day" myth, anyways? It's got to be like, some type of urban legend at this point. Whatever that saying is, it's nonsense. You can totally pull off white in the winter if you style it the right way. 

I wanted to go all-out with white, so I paired a white top with some white denim to create a monochromatic base. Sometimes, winter whites can be harsh and stark – to combat this issue, I styled the base with softer neutrals. It's a great way to achieve a (somewhat) monochromatic look without going overboard. 

From previous posts, you may have noticed I'm pretty fond of this J.Crew Excursion vest. It's the perfect layering piece and the versatile color can be styled with just about anything. The color is 'warm bisque' and I picked it up a few seasons ago from J.Crew retail. Since then, retail has updated their Excursion vest and bumped this version to J.Crew Factory (note: the Factory version is on major, major sale!). Personally, I prefer the flat-lay front pockets over the updated version's utility-style pockets... but retail has an identical color (called 'bleached sand') whereas Factory's closest color is a bit more of an off-white. 

And... on to the shoes! Duck boots have become somewhat "trendy" recently, but really, they're pretty timeless. L.L. Bean Boots have been around for over 100 years! Let me start out by saying I love L.L. Bean. They've got fabulous customer service and use quality materials in their products. Personally, I love that their Bean Boots are hand-crafted in Maine. Bean Boots are really popular and often sell out quickly... When I popped on over to the website, I saw that they're already backordered into March! When I went to buy mine a few years ago in November, I was bummed to find out they were backordered for months. I ended up waiting until April to snag a pair and scored them for an extra 25% off! If you have the patience to wait until the off-season, you could definitely end up scoring a pair for less!

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Thank you to Lawrence Cheng Photography for shooting this post

HOLIDAY LOOK: STATEMENT SKIRT

Skirt || Blouse (old, similar) || Pumps || Purse 

I love getting dressed up for the holidays. In college, it was a bit tougher to strike a balance between wanting to pull together a"fancier" festive look but also dressing to the occasion. In the past, I've mainly had a series of low-key family Christmas events to attend; more casual and comfortable than fancy and flashy. However, a lot has changed for me in the past year. Since last Christmas, I've graduated to the "real world" and started working an "adult job" in a big city. 

The best thing about being a young professional in a vibrant city during the Christmas season? Holiday parties. Lots of them. All month long. From casual, midday parties at the office to extravagant, ballroom style celebrations, variety is easy to come by.  It's not hard to find a reason to break out that bright red dress or justify a new pair of sparkly pumps. 

I picked up this festive red skirt recently at Banana Republic. I'll be honest - it's not something I'd usually gravitate towards. It's a little bold for my style, but it was on major sale, so I just couldn't pass it up. Right?  While quality is often a hit or miss at Banana, this skirt passes the mark... and the lady-like silhouette is just great for perfecting a wonderful holiday look.

I kept the rest of my outfit pretty simple to showcase the statement skirt. I paired it with a tie-neck blouse (similar) and my goes-with-everything Rebecca Minkoff Mini Quilted Affair bag. I finished off the look with a pair of classic, Cole Haan almond-toe pumps. This look is dressy (but not too dressy),  a great solution for that"I'm not really sure how to dress for this" holiday event. 

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Thank you to Sanzero Photography for shooting this post 

LOCAL'S GUIDE: MADISON, WISCONSIN

Image via Maxwell Thomas Haning, 2012

I miss Madison. Truly. A lot. It's funny how one word can bring so many fond memories to mind. I wanted to find a way to share with others some of my favorite parts about Madison, so I created a sort-of guide from a local's perspective on the best things to see, do and consume in the city. So, I'm officially introducing my Local's Guide: Madison, Wisconsin. I had such a great time curating a list of my favorites in the city and looking back on my not-so-distant memories. Check it out - I hope you consider some of my suggestions if you're in the area! 

On another note, I hope to start a sort-of local's guide to Washington, D.C. 

Keep an eye out for that coming in the future!