Ok so maybe it isn’t boots with the fur. It’s more like boots and the fur, but I just couldn’t resist the opportunity to quote Flo Rida. Confession, I’ll probably never resist an opportunity to quote a 2000s song. Oh the simpler days. I think right about now, everyone is yearning for the times prior to quarantine when we could actually socialize. Even this week’s look is just itching for a little party. Honestly, quarantine is not doing great things for me. A lot of people are reveling in the slower pace of life, but I am not one of those people. I enjoy moving at a fast pace. A busy life full of responsibilities, social engagements, and errands is when I am happiest. It is difficult to keep new content up when I am not exactly doing anything other than schoolwork, but I am planning new looks to shoot when I am home (I have been doing a lot of online shopping during quarantine).
While I believe that the weather in LA is starting to heat up, the weather in Texas is much moodier. Some days it is chilly. Other days, I am sweating from the humidity. I can’t predict when we will get a thunder and lightning storm until it happens. Even a few times, my parents have had to bring the car into the garage because of hail. Prior to this, I had only ever seen hail once in my life. I was about eleven years old or so at a dance competition in Westlake Village, and I think nearly all of the girls saw hail for the first time that day. Even though LA is getting warmer, the Texas temps have been playing tricks on my brain, so I am going so share this chillier take on an old look. I first shared this dress on the blog last year for my 21st birthday (you can read about that here). While the dress is not new to the blog, I still think that it is important to share this look because it shows how versatile a dark floral dress like this really is. When I wore this dress last year to the Beverly Hills Hotel, I styled it very differently for the spring evening. At the time, I didn’t need anything more than a light jacket. However, this dress really spans all the seasons with just an accessories change.
Yes, this week’s look is a little more extravagant than usual. I mean boots, fur, and a patterned dress? Even I’ll admit that it’s kind of a lot…but that is exactly why I love this look! When I first styled this together, I pictured this for a chilly dinner in February or March, where you slip off the fur coat for your meal and bundle up under it again while you wait for the valet to bring your car around. Unfortunately, quarantine squashed any of those fun plans, but that doesn’t mean that another cold night isn’t waiting in the wings! It is important to know how to transition your closet between the seasons, and the trick is in the details.
I picked up this fur coat from Nordstrom after getting the impression that faux fur outerwear was going to make a statement during the fall/winter season. I was absolutely right too because this coat sold out so quickly! I ordered it for pick up from the store and tried it on before I left. Quick tip: always try on the clothes you order for pick up before you leave so that you can make the return while you are still there. After all, no one wants to deal with the hassle of shipping. One of the store workers was exceptionally fabulous and walked up to me straight out of the blue. He asked me if he could provide his input. Immediately, I got nervous. After seeing myself in the mirror, I absolutely fell in love with the faux fur beauty. I was terrified that he was going to point out something wrong to me. I didn’t want to see anything wrong with the coat. After giving him the green light to tell me what he had to say, he confessed “I think that coat on you is absolutely fabulous.” I felt like I was on top of the world.
As for the other statement of this outfit, the boots are integral in helping this dress transition from spring to fall. Boots for the cooler seasons is not a revolutionary idea, but these boots in particular have quite the story. I have seriously struggled to find wide-calf boots that are cute, trendy, and look just like the boots all the other girls wear. I know I have talked about this before, but the lack of size inclusivity in boots is something about the fashion industry that seriously bothers me. In this day and age, it feels ridiculous that there are only two calf width options for boots: regular and wide. It feels even more ridiculous that the wide-calf options are not always offered, are very difficult to find, and are often times only available in styles significantly less cute than the popular trends. I’m not plus size; I am muscular. I have been an athlete all my life, and genetics have played a large role in my muscular calves. It should not be so difficult for someone that is not plus sized to find boots that are wide calf! End of rant. I promise.
Fortunately for me, after scouring the Internet for what has probably been years at this point, I found the most perfect pair of black suede heeled boots. I had been looking for over-the-knee black suede boots with a heel for quite some time, but I noticed the trend this year shifting to a knee-high boot, which felt very reminiscent of the sixties! I decided on this pair from Torrid. Because I am not even close to plus-size clothing, it never even crossed my mind to look at Torrid for boots. This pair is surprisingly affordable too. While this is likely an up-side for many, it made me very skeptical of the quality. However, when they arrived, I was very surprised to find that they look and feel great! I sprayed them with a bit of suede protector, and I have absolutely no complaints. These boots are now a regular in my fall/winter wardrobe.
Fair warning for anyone who buys boots from Torrid: all their shoes are wide in the sole and toe box. My feet are not wide (just my calves apparently), so I have to wear a very thick sock with these boots so that they don’t flop on my feet. Also, be sure to check the calf width of their boots. Even I will admit that these boots are just a hair on the side of too wide. I may not fit into regular width boots, but these ones have a tad too much wiggle room and even slouch down a little bit. Neither of these things are deal breakers. Instead, just be mindful while you shop so that you aren’t surprised.
While it may just be one look, I most certainly had a lot to say this week! With my first round of midterms over, I can hopefully spend a little more time on the blog. In the meantime between now and my next post, I hope everyone stays healthy. We will be able to return to our lives eventually, and I am eager for when that will happen, as I am sure everyone else is too.
xx
Emily
