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keeping it casual
When I think of dressing for fall and winter weather, comfort, warmth, and casual are three words that come to mind. Thankfully, there so many outfit combinations that make for a cute and put together look, but are still comfortable, warm, and casual. For me, this outfit is a major winner when it comes to fall layers and a typical day-to-day look for a weekday or weekend. Going out and getting dressed up is fun of course, but for the day to day wear, casual is where it’s at! Vests are probably one of my favorite wardrobe items because they add a cool, effortless layer and are so versatile. Below are the links to this look, plus similar options. xo
images by felicia lasala
THE OUTFIT: vest (here, too) c/o | leggings (similar + similar) c/o
sweater c/o | sunnies c/o | shoes| lip color | bag c/o
SHOP:
classic loafer
First of all, how cool is the above image from Everlane? The relaxed, effortlessly-stylish vibe is what the brand is known for and this image completely captures that attitude. Lo and I are both big fans of Everlane, and are grateful that they sent us each a pair of shoes earlier this year to see what their brand was all about. I decided to go with the modern loafer and could not be more in love with this pair of shoes. At first I was a little nervous that they would be uncomfortable, but after a few wears they are already broken in and quite comfortable. These loafers are not only a timeless and classic addition to my wardrobe, but they are so cool. I have received compliments each time I have worn them, and they somehow look great with almost every outfit that I pair them with. I've rounded up some clothing items below that would look cute with loafers, as some style inspo for you. If you are considering a pair of loafers this fall, I would definitely consider this pair // xo melissa
OUTFIT INSPO // JUST ADD LOAFERS
suede skirt + bell sleeves
Do you guys ever get wardrobe anxiety? I am talking about the fear that your wardrobe isn't good enough- not fashionable enough, cool enough, organized enough, or perfectly curated enough. I definitely get caught up in this silly, made-up pressure situation, and lately I have been praying hard over it. Clothes, wardrobe, fashion, and personal style are all gifts that are supposed to be enjoyed, loved, and celebrated- not stressed over! After many thoughts and prayers about this matter, I have been focusing less on the fantasy that my wardrobe needs to be and should be perfect- not only is that totally unrealistic, but that goal takes the joy out of what I actually do have in my closet.A mantra that has been helping me lately is "appreciate more, accumulate less". I find myself repeating this phrase whenever I get the panicked thoughts of "Oh, I need this" or "Oh, if only I had that". Instead of striving for false perfection, I am making it a conscious decision to love and enjoy each and every piece in my closet. This includes being more creative with what I have, mixing and matching, and "shopping my closet" instead of shopping online. It's definitely a journey of growth and appreciation, and it's already resulting in a more grateful heart day by day. Amen to that!Details + links to Lo's cute fall look are at the bottom of this post // xo melissaimages by felicia lasala
OUTFIT DETAILS:
top (c/o) | skirt (c\o) | shoes (c/o) (similar) | sunnies (c/o)
SHOP THE LOOK:
travel tips + bomber look
Happy friday, friends! What do you guys have going on this weekend? Lo is currently in Dallas with her family as her twin sister, Britt, gets ready to welcome her sweet babe into the world- beyond exciting! This past week I went to NYC for work and this weekend Hamilton and I are headed to Deep Creek for my dear friend’s wedding weekend. With all of this travel that Lo and I both have going on this week, it got us thinking about packing and outfit planning. Below are a few tips before your next trip and we would love to hear any packing advice that you have in the comments section. Scroll to the bottom for links to Lo’s super cool, travel friendly outfit // xo melissa
Less is best
I tend to abide by this policy in my home, too. Clutter drives me absolutely crazy, so having fewer things makes it much easier for everything to have a place. Same goes for packing! I always find that I am happier when I don’t have a ton of stuff to pack up and unpack. I used to think that options helped, but I am no longer a believer in that philosophy. All options do are weigh me down and confuse me!
Make a list and stick to it
As you prepare for a trip, make a list of things you need. Also, check the weather and plan outfits accordingly. Once you have a list of items, stick to it! I used to suffer from making last minute changes- literally pulling things out and stuffing things in moments before walking out the door- and it never ended well. Thankfully I have cured myself of this bad habit and traveling has been much more peaceful ever since.
Pack versatile items
If you pack items that can be worn more than once, and possibly more than one way, you will end up packing less. This is a pretty simple tip and it really helps keep the total amount of things packed to a minimum.
Only items that you love make the cut
If you don’t absolutely love wearing an item, do not bring it on a trip! Only items that you love wearing and feel great in belong in the suitcase.
Comfort
Comfort is always important, but extra important when traveling. This is especially true when it comes to shoes. If they aren’t comfy for walking pretty far distances, they don’t make the cut.
Don’t be afraid to re-wear
Sometimes I get weird about re-wearing an item on a trip, but this fear is really so silly! Re-wearing something that you love and that makes sense for the trip is a great thing to do. Re-wear with confidence, my friend.
THE OUTFIT
bomber + similar option| tank (c/o) | jeans (c/o) | boots (c/o) | sunnies (c/o) | lip color
photos by felicia lasala
SHOP SIMILAR ITEMS
back in love
Have you guys checked out abercombie lately? Lauren and I hadn't looked at their collection in years (since high school!) but about a month ago we noticed a few of our favorite bloggers rocking a few super cool pieces and they were from a&f. It sparked our curiosity and we got in touch with the incredible team over there to chat about their new collection and new direction. They were so kind and sent us some pieces from their newest collection, and Lauren and I are now back in love with the brand. Their new look is casual, cool, laidback, and not as "branded" as they once were. The effortless aesthetic is very appealing and the clothing items that we received are timeless, comfortable, and versatile. Above are a few style inspiration images & below are links to what we are currently loving at a&f // xo melissa
this grey wrap coat
these olive green skinnies
a classic blue oxford shirt
ankle cropped straight jeans
the coziest fleece jacket of all time
a chic black bomber jacket
casual and cool joggers
a simple grey tee
a water resistant jacket
a puffer coat for cold days
this suede utility jacket
a cool plaid scarf for fall
national handbag day
Today is a big day in my world and yours- it's national handbag day! As you guys know by now, my full-time job is as senior marketing associate for hobo, a quality and cool leather handbag + wallet company. If you want to learn more about hobo, check out our Instagram, read our story, and discover our leathers. At the bottom of this post I have listed my top 10 favorite hobo styles, including this backpack as well as this bag, that Lo has and loves. In celebration of national handbag day, I wanted to share the story of how Lo and I met! We haven't shared the story here on the mag before, and some of you might be wondering how we became friends since she lives on the west coast and I am here on the east coast! We thought that national handbag day would be the perfect time to share the story, as it involves hobo.
I was a follower of Lauren's on Instagram and a reader of lolo mag, so as the person who handles blogger relations for Hobo, I reached out to Lauren via Instagram early on in 2014 to see if she would like a hobo bag. She sent me the sweetest email and I sent her a bag. After that, she hosted a giveaway on her Instagram and we kept in touch via a few emails here and there. In early 2015, I reached out to her in hopes of collaborating with her on a press event in our showroom to celebrate the release of her second book, Your Beautiful Heart, plus our fall 2015 collection. Long story short, she said yes, and we had a small event in our NYC showroom for magazine editors and bloggers where they met Lauren (and her twin, Britt!), chatted with her about her book and her love for hobo, previewed our fall collection, and chatted with us about fall styles and other hobo news. It was such a fun event and Lo and I bonded instantly!
After the event we continued to keep in touch via email and social. Later that year, in the fall of 2015, I saw a post that Lauren Kay Sims was branching off from lolo mag to start her own blog. At that point, I can say with all my heart, that the Holy Spirit instructed me to email Lauren. It was as though it was instantaneous instruction, and thankfully I followed. I immediately emailed Lauren to see if she wanted assistance on lolo mag. The next morning I woke up to the sweetest email from Lo saying that she had been praying to the Lord to show her the next step for the mag and then received my email. Long story short, we talked logistics and plans in the next days and weeks, and then I became an editor on the mag. You might be thinking that this is a big undertaking in addition to my full-time role at hobo, but it has become second nature to me and a part of my lifestyle, and I love it! It's easy to make time for things that you love and feel called to do. I work on the mag early in the morning (like 6am), during my lunch breaks at hobo, at night sometimes around 9pm before I shut the laptop off at 10pm, plus I carve out a few hours on the weekends- typically Saturday and Sunday morning during my coffee time before the day gets going! My life feels significantly more full of joy and more complete since adding lolo mag to the mix. Not only has the experience been so rewarding to my personal growth and knowledge, but the biggest blessing of them all is Lo. Lauren and I have developed a sincere and special friendship that is truly one of a kind and I thank the Lord regularly for crossing our paths!I hope you enjoyed this story & below are my favorite hobo styles! We are having a SALE on www.hobobags.com today only, in honor of the holiday. 20% off fall styles + free shipping on all orders, ends tonight // xo
10 favorite hobos
the river backpack | the costa bag | the fast lane bag | the perfect union
the city girl | the evella | the vale | the fern | the sheila | the raine clutch
