Finally...

What I'm wearing: Old Navy jacket, Forever 21 striped sweatshirt, Gap tee, Loft Outlet jeans, Sperrys, Forever 21 scarf, Urban Outfitters earrings, Mondani bag via Steinmart

Outdoor pictures! So exciting! I talked the boyfriend into taking a few snaps while we were on our way to a meeting yesterday right before the sun was about to set. This weather is such a tease; it feels so great outside, but I know it's not here to stay. Next week it's going back down to the 30's with a possibility of SNOW. Not okay after the gorgeous days we've had this week. I've had this printed scarf/striped sweatshirt combo in mind for awhile now. It's a pretty casual look, but it was great for a laid-back Thursday evening. And it was even warm enough to forgo the heavy winter coat and wear my favorite jacket from Fall. Yay for warm weather!

From Hot to Cold

Frankly, I'm exhausted. I'm still trying to beat this cold while juggling schoolwork and a part-time job. I'm definitely, definitely looking forward to heading home for the weekend and spending some quality time relaxing (hopefully) with family. Today was chilly, chilly, chilly. We seem to have skipped a huge chunk of Fall. We went straight from sleeveless shirt weather to having to bundle up in jackets and scarves. Not cool!

What I'm wearing: Old Navy utility jacket, Forever 21 slouchy top, Simply Vera by Vera Wang jeans via Kohls, Nine West boots, Scarf via SoHo street vendor, Vintage earrings, Forever 21 bangles

I really love all the fall colors in this outfit. It was nice to finally be able to pull out some of the items I bought over the summer in New York. My one complaint is: the jeans. All of my favorites are currently air-drying (I never machine-dry my jeans!), so I was stuck with these today. I bought these back in the days when I was too chicken to try out skinny jeans. They are a weird in-between straight leg that does not tuck very nicely into boots. I know they aren't awful; I just wish they were more flattering. But overall, I liked this outfit. This jacket is definitely going to be a staple for me this season!

Splurge or Save?

Today one of my work assignments was to go to Anthropologie and do a little inspiration shopping (yes, my job is kind of amazing). It was nice being able to stand in line there with a pile of clothes in my arms and not have a panic attack about how much I was about to spend…oh, the perks of shopping with someone else’s credit card. While I was there, I may have done a little extra research for myself. I have been wanting to buy a utility jacket for fall, but I was looking for one with a little bit more of a feminine take on the trend. And I think I've found it.

Anthropologie Lift Off Jacket

The flower adds a lovely girly touch, but its also removable if you want to toughen it up a bit. I also like how it has the cinched tie waist to add a little bit more shape to the jacket. Its more than I would normally ever spend on one clothing item, but I have been giving a lot of thought lately to quality vs. quantity. This blog has made me realize how many items I have from Forever 21 and H&M that are really just disposable fashion. It has also helped me realize that a lot of the items in my closet are solids or other "basics", and it might just be time to spice things up a bit. The more I think about it, I should be investing in things I absolutely love that will make me happy every time I put them on, not just buying things because they are inexpensive or a "necessity". I think my 30 day shopping ban that starts August 9th (the day I start the 30 for 30 challenge after I get back from New York) will be a good opportunity to mull this idea over and really figure out what kinds of things I should be buying. In the meantime, what should I do about this jacket? Technically its within the budget I have set out for myself for my time here in NYC, but it would mean I probably can't buy anything else until September. Should I risk it and wait and see if it goes on sale? Oh Anthropologie, how you tempt me...