Pink Velvet Booties + Embracing My Personal Style

I’ve been thinking a lot about my personal style lately, and the internal conversation almost always comes up when I get down on myself for seemingly “wearing the same thing every day.” And after a lot of thought on the subject, here’s where I’m at: it’s okay to have a uniform of sorts, no matter who you are. Maybe your “uniform” is wearing a dress every day. Maybe your uniform is styling over-the-top outfits each morning. Or maybe your daily wardrobe revolves around jeans. Or yoga pants. Or great sweaters. Or turtlenecks. Or tee shirts. Whatever it is, embrace it!

Embracing my truest self is one of my top goals for 2018. (If you’re interested, I’ll be sharing more on those goals soon!) Labeling myself as a “fashion blogger” can sometimes lead me to putting this unnecessary pressure on what I wear… I start to question myself, and my style, and go down the mental rabbit hole of not feeling “good enough.” Not a good place to be in!

Lately, though, I’ve been coming to terms with what my style looks like right now. Sure, I love beautiful, feminine dresses, but I just don’t wear them that often with my current lifestyle. My “normal” days consist of working from my desk in my apartment, spending a few hours on my laptop at a café or coffee shop, getting a workout in, potentially grabbing lunch with a prospective brand partner or friend within the industry, and maybe grabbing dinner or a drink with girlfriends. I live in Chicago where it’s freezing for months on end in the fall, winter, and spring! And I also love exploring the city on foot and try to walk to-and-from where I’m going whenever I can.

So where does that leave me? Warm sweaters, lots of denim, fun coats, and walkable booties or sneakers. And that’s how I kind of got to the bottom of my personal style predicament! That’s what I feel the most comfortable in, what fits with my lifestyle, and what still feels true to my style.

The judgemental part of my mind goes to a place screaming B-O-R-I-N-G. But it doesn’t have to be! Sure, jeans + sweaters + booties/sneakers can sound like the recipe for a pretty plain outfit, but I’ve realized that’s why I gravitate towards such fun pieces with personality. They make these more basic outfits feel a lot more “me.” Sweaters with statement sleeves. Sneakers covered in glitter. A little (faux) fur handbag. You get the idea, yeah?

I saw these pink velvet Robert Clergerie booties on Farfetch and couldn’t place the order fast enough. Whereas I used to be more comfortable spending a few hundred dollars on a dress I’ll have in my closet for many years, I now realize that I’ll get so much more use (and bang for my buck) out of an insanely comfortable pair of booties that just make me feel like a million bucks when I have them on.

Speaking of personality, I saw this Maison Kitsune iPhone case and had to have it, even though it’s kind of extra! Maison Kitsune is one of my favorite places to frequent in Paris (their coffee shop, too!) and this croissant cover reminds me of days in France.

And for my Chicago ladies (and gents) out there, Maison Marcel in Lakeview has the best almond croissants that I’ve found outside of Paris! Their lunch and coffee are both great, too, and it’s the perfect working environment throughout the day. I’ve been trying to add it to my rotation of cafes to work from during the week when I need a change of scenery from my apartment! So if you see me there, don’t be surprised if I’m wearing this outfit or some version of it. 😉

Get the Look…

White Elephant Ruffled-Sleeve Sweater (on sale!)
Levi’s 501 Jeans
J.Crew Faux Fur Handbag (on sale!)
Robert Clergerie Pink Velvet Booties
BaubleBar Earrings
Kyi Kyi Double Pom Hat
Le Specs Matte Black Aviators
Maison Kitsune Croissant iPhone Case

Created in partnership with Farfetch