I’m often accused of coming to trends late in the game. What can I say? You caught me.
If you’re looking for an influencer who is first through the door, that’s not me. I don’t follow a single influencer under-30 because my life and the life of a woman in her twenties bare no reasonable relationship to one another. Living outside of a major city, I don’t see the trend in the wild for at least six months (more likely a year). And I no longer order four-figure hauls from multiple stores each month because do you know what a quart of blackberries and a year’s worth of Tree Top apple juice cost? I paid less for law school than my daughter’s freeze dried yogurt budget.
So if I embrace a trend late, know that I have done so because 1) it clearly had some staying power, and 2) it finally makes sense in my wardrobe. Style and trend don’t always have to match up perfectly. Sometimes, arriving late means missing all of the fashion detritus that will wind up in the Goodwill bin next season.
Scarves have been back on the scene for a minute, but I’ve finally found a use for them. Keeping my wool allergy at bay. Let me explain.
An elegant wool turtleneck is an easy fall-winter piece. Grab a wide leg trouser and you have an effortless work look. Slip it on with a pair of track pants and you look cooler than cool for afternoon pickup. But what if you develop a late-in-life wool allergy or just don’t like fabric rubbing onto the delicate skin of your neck? Follow the inspiration right over to Pinterest and tie up a silk scarf underneath the collar to keep the irritation at bay.
Sweater // Scarf // Earrings // Bag // Sunglasses
Sweater. A sleek turtleneck is an incredible option for most wardrobes. This one from Theory is spendy, but I have rarely seen such a smooth, perfectly thinnish weave on a turtleneck. It layers under a blazer beautifully. For a more affordable option, I recommend this BR Factory sweater. Plus-size? Eloquii has this one in several colors.
To keep the look from feeling too tight as the day wears on, I recommend sizing up. I want it to skim the body, not hug. If you want a more relaxed style, try a rollneck sweater. J.Crew has the best one around.
Scarf. I wanted an aggressively chic print on this scarf, and what says aggressively chic like jungle animals? The hints of pale blue and red are also incredible for bringing in more color. Looking for something more subdued? WHBM has a classic chain print scarf, and this one from Liberty London is just a work of art.
Accessories. If you want a simple top-handle satchel, I recommend hunting through your local antique shop. I spy so many of these purses from a bygone era populating vintage sections that there really is no reason to buy new. Also, the hardware on a vintage piece never feels like plastic. But if you want a modern look and not an old school one, this bag from Nordstrom is a good place to start for under-$500.
I love these earrings from Gorjana for giving you a statement that whispers. They look so incredible on the ear, just like a gold orb floating on your ear lobe. So fun and under-$70. You could also do no earring here like the inspo photo, but in that case, I would add a cool hair accessory.
These sunglasses are a steal at $50. I don’t often wear round frames because my face is already pretty round and they just don’t create enough angles to be flattering. These Dunhill sunglasses give me a similar effect.
Styling. Hair worn sleek here is the look if you have long hair. For my short, French bob, I am going to tone down the hot rollers and just refresh my second day hair to keep it a little flatter. I also recommend a sleek half-up or a low bun.
As for the makeup, you need mascara and a liner here. The eyes need the pop with so much fabric near the face. This is still the best liquid liner on the shelf. It never, ever goes grey, even after 12-hours of wear.
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