Grey & Black Fall Casual Outfit Of The Day

Fall is HERE! Or apparently that's what the calendar says. Southern California seems to have missed the memo.

Recently I did some shopping and added some basic fall pieces to my wardrobe, today I tried to break out one of my favorite new pieces this, beautiful jacket from Ann Taylor.

I love how the jacket is cropped at the back, but long and loose in the front. This is the perfect layering piece to my summer tank tops or dresses. It also adds a bit of sophistication to my otherwise very casual outfit. 

I took a very relaxed pair of boyfriend jeans I recently purchased from ASOS (on SALE NOW) and rolled up the hem to show off these beautiful, yet incredibly easy to walk in kitten heels from Valentino. Just because I had to be up at 7AM for a work meeting, didn't mean I couldn't be comfy. 

It's easy to take good basic pieces and dress them up for work meetings. If you removed my jacket and shoes, (which I totally did for lunch as it became 80 degrees) then I'd just be in relaxed jeans and a black tank. 

The perfect casual to sophisticated look, or work to picking up the kids/ running errands look. Just bring a change of shoes. 

What are your fall must have basics?

Don't forget to watch my full "Fall Fashion Haul" that will be up on my youtube channel next week! 

XOXO

Serein

Jacket- Ann Taylor, Jeans- Asos, Shoes- Valentino, Handbag- Celine, Tank- Velvet 

Purses are to Women as Balls are to Men

“I’m thinking balls are to men what purses are to women. It’s just a little bag, but we feel naked in public without it.” (Carrie from Sex in the City)

Like last week’s blog talking about what shoes say about a man (Dating and Shoes), I think handbags are to women as shoes are to men. I believe you can tell a lot about a woman by her handbag. To us, handbags are an everyday essential, even the non-handbag lady tells you something about her.  It says she’s fuss free and all about convenience with little thought to fashion.

Currently I am using a “small U Crossbody” bag in saddle by Dooney and Bourke, which I received as a Christmas present from my fiancé. If I think about it, the handbag makes a lot of sense in terms of what I’m going through in my life. It’s a “crossbody”, so it’s convenient for me to get things done and leaves my arms free to shop, carry things, and explore. It’s smaller than what I normally carry. It only fits a wallet, phone, keys, Chap Stick, and maybe some mints. Kind of like my life currently, I don’t have time or room for excess baggage or drama so it keeps me to the bare essentials. The color is classic and goes with most of my wardrobe. It’s a great everyday bag and I get complements on it all the time. It’s a great quality at a very reasonable price considering I use this item everyday. Even when I get sick of it, I’ll store it in my collection of purses and bring it out again every once in a while.

My best friend uses a Dooney and Bourke saddlebag that belonged to her mother and it still looks great! Having a nice bag that shows your personality is worth the price. Maybe that’s why designers charge so much for them? When I’m feeling glamorous, I like to borrow one of my mom’s many Chanel purses. The classic quilted leather and the rich gold chain just makes me feel more dressed up, even with jeans and a t-shirt.

So while I love a good bargain and encourage you to save money and really buy quality over quantity, when it comes to handbags, I can’t stress enough how much you are showing the world who you are with your bag.  Your purse can be a statement piece to who you are as a woman. It’s also the only item that you really can wear/ use every single day of your life; and if you buy a high quality one, you can use it, store it, re-use it, and pass it on. I still have my first Louis Vutton from when I was 5 years old. It’s way too small and I can’t possibly ever use the thing, but it is so cute and I can’t wait to have my own daughter one day so that I can pass it on to her. So what does your bag say about you?