A Well Placed Bow: Fun and Functional

The thing about Fall is that it's often too chilly to wear a single layer and yet sometimes when you add another layer you feel too warm. Fall, like Spring, can be difficult to dress for since the weather can (and often does) change several times in one day.  It's not unusual to start off the day freezing and wishing you had packed a pair of gloves, only to have it sunny and warm mid day, and then have the end of the day erupt into a windy and rainy mess.  So, yes dressing for this season can be frustrating but it's also an opportunity to stretch your styling skills.  Plus, when you are given a beautifully sunny and crisp autumn day it truly feels like a gift.

The outfit I'm wearing in the photos above is a pretty typical weekend Fall look for me. A simple dropwaist dress with a fun print, a pair of leggings and a light coat.  I love 3/4 length sleeve coats for this time of year. It's also easy to change the look slightly by wearing a longer sleeve so that it peeks out of the coat sleeve, or even adding a pair of gloves.  This bell shaped coat pairs well with slim cut pants, denim and leggings as well as with pencil skirts, but my favorite part is the simple black bow at the collar. This well placed bow keeps my neck warm and negates the addition of a scarf, but it's also just cute without being "too" cute. Bows are often just added to clothing for fun but I think this one is pretty functional too.

P.S. Yeah, I haven't yet retired my straw hat for the season. Soon.

Outfit Details:

Coat (old): Nanette Lepore, purchased on Ebay

Dress (old): MADE Fashion Week for Impulse, Sleeveless High Neck Galaxy Print, Macy's

Leggings (old): Forever 21 (lots of leggings here)

CORNucopia at Philipsburg Manor

The last few days I've been warming up to the idea that autumn is really just around the corner. I'm still sad to see summer end, but there are so many things I love about fall that my anticipation of all those things grows a little each day.  There's something about the calendar flipping from August 31 to September 1 that triggers a seasonal shift in my brain. Today I took the Metro North Train to Tarrytown to attend the first ever CORNucopia Festival at Philipsburg Manor and was greeted by some of the sights and smells I associate with autumn. Even though it was hot and humid out today, I suddenly wanted to string acorns, carve a pumpkin, drink hot apple cider, and read scary stories by the glow of a fireplace.  Welcome September!

P.S. As a child, I had a great pop-up book about a haunted house perched at the top of a hilly street in Tarrytown. I remember the story pretty well and can even recall some of the illustrations but I can't remember the title.  I need to do some more searching online today because what I recall of the illustrations exactly matched what I saw of Tarrytown today.

Outfit Details:

Skirt (old) - Kalya Gauze Skirt by HD in Paris, Anthropologie

Blouse (old) - Blue Book Blouse by Odille, Anthropologie

Bag (old) - Co-Lab by Christopher Kon