timeless pieces (with the fall season in mind)

Boys. Their closets are SO freakin simple, with clothing and accessories that are re-worn over and over until I'm sick of seeing them (at least the boys I'm mainly around).  Yet being around them so much lately has actually inspired me to re-discover my appreciation for timeless pieces -- pieces that are forever staples to your everyday outfits and which can be worn again and again, every year until you wear them to death.  These pieces are just no-brainers: you put them on and you know they'll look good on you all day, all night, and best of all, you don't really need to purchase anymore similar items throughout the lifespan of the timeless pieces.  With that said, I believe that these items are worth the investment and splurging, if you run out of discounted/sale options of course!

I wanted to share my top 10 timeless pieces for fall I can not live without (but really, I can wear these items in any other season, weather permitting) and pictures of pieces from my wardrobe I already staked out.  They are in no particular order.  I plan to do outfits of the day on my blog in the near future once school picks up and motivates me to actually wear nice outfits, instead of my pajamas:

1) Trenchcoat

Anthropologie Tiered Trenchcoat

Lightweight but can be layered for extra chilly days, waterproof (I think most are?), put-together, a statement in of itself, and chic.  I absolutely love this unique coat and how practical it is for St. Louis weather!


2) Jeans

Levi's Outlet Jean Leggings

I think a nice pair of jeans that fit well is a worthwhile investment, but I personally don't like to spend +$100 on jeans.  If you have my body type (wide hips, big butt (relative to my frame/size), small waist, and stocky legs), I find that the skinny jeans or skinny jean leggings from Guess and from Levi's make my butt and legs look amazing.  They are my go-to brands!  Skinny style of jeans de-emphasize the stockiness of my legs and balance out my short legs + long torso. I think people with long legs can wear bootcut and flared jeans much better than I can, so lucky you if you're one of those people.


3) Flats

Isola Britt Flats

My toes are the ugliest pieces of nasties, but I'm obsessed with wearing flip flops and sandals since I like my toes to be freeeee :)  Lately I have been slowly giving up on my flipflops in order to look a little nicer and less scrubby/cavewoman-ish (my toes just don't help to make me look done-up).  I've been obsessing over good quality flats since 1) they hide my nasties and 2) they're versatile (can be paired with shorts, my skinny jeans, skirts, dresses, tunics, leggings..etc) and 3) can be made to dress up any outfit.

4) The Go-to Bag

Wilson's Leather brown bag with gold hardware

This is the first purse I have ever owned, and there's a silly story behind this bag.  My dad bought me this after being frustrated with my resort to storing EVERYTHING in my pockets.  And ladies, you know how freaking tiny our pockets can be.  Thanks to my dad, I've had my go-to purse for +7 years now and it still has many years before it breaks/tears/gets gross.  I'm glad I chose brown since it matches almost anything, but I would have gladly chosen a black or other neutral colors.

(fun fact: My sister and her good friend have the exact same go-to bag except in different colors and different hardware color)

5) Simple Studs

Kate Spade Clear Square Stud Earrings 

I'm loving these high quality studs and how they don't weigh down my ears even though they are pretty decent-sized (covers the majority of my earlobe).  They're so simple yet are still a statement, especially when exposed to sunlight.  Fall is my favorite season, but unfortunately, cloudy, rainy days become more common.  Thus, a bit of bling to capture some light for an outfit is necessary for me.  :D

6) Chain with Single Charm

Replica of a Tiffany and Co. Crown Key Necklace

Close-up of the real deal

Sorry Tiffany and Co., but I'm cheap so I got a "knock-off" version.  I like this key on a short silver chain as shown above or a long silver chain paired with a flowy, over-the-shoulder top and shorts (this summarizes the majority of my summer outfits).  I feel like I won't ever need another necklace anymore I love this one so much.  There are so many charms out there, but I like keys and dog tags with messages/quotes the most.  Keys are in many ways mysterious since they can mean different things to different people.  Dog tags not only have meaning behind the message/quotation but also (if it was a gift) tell a story about the awesome person who gifted this to you, along with the memories you had with that person.  It makes me giddy when pieces of my wardrobe have a story to tell like that.  As well as it should be that way for timeless pieces since they will last you a very long time.

7) Cocktail Dress

I haven't really found my "timeless" cocktail dress yet (the dress below is currently my favorite, but when I get older or when my body goes through unfavorable changes, I don't think I'd be able to pull this dress off haha).  Dresses are one of the most expensive items, so I think I'll wait till I have a steady income to invest in a timeless dress.  But while I'm thinking about this future dress, I will probably naturally gravitate towards neutrals and blacks, as they are timeless colors in my opinion.  Plus, you can add fun accessories and shoes with them to make the outfit more interesting if you want to be trendier or spontaneous for an occasion.

Alexander Wang Fitted Corset Dress (I have so many good-lookin friends! :)

Alexander Wang Fitted Corset Dress in better lighting

I thank ebay for this crazy find.  I don't even know if my dress is real or not, but it is a dang good fake if it is a knock-off.

8) Boots

Left: Urban Outfitters lace-up cognac boots | Right: Banana Republic black boots with silver hardware

My favorite type of shoe on those cold days!  Because I have short legs, tall boots elongate my legs, so I gravitate towards tall and over-the-knee boots.  I can't wait to bust these babies out in the fall. (Tip: stuff them with rolled-up magazines to keep them standing up!)

9) Blazer

Gap Navy Blazer

Zara White Blazer

I don't know why I love blazers so much, but I think it has to do with the fact that I love dressing up outfits in the fall.  I think it has to do with the fact that in the summer, I dress down practically everyday with a flowy tee, shorts, and sandals; thus, by the time fall comes and school starts, I become more motivated to change up the usual summer routine.


10) Scarf

Forever21 Grapes Scarf in Grey


My number 1 accessory is definitely a scarf!  Especially when they are ruffly and have cool textures/prints on them.  You can tie them in different ways, take attention away from a low neckline, keep you warm, flatter your collarbone (which I think is the sexiest part of a woman) with an off-the-shoulder top (which I have a lot of), or add a pop of color to an outfit. Seriously though I want to wear them every day if it wasn't so dang hot.
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The reason why tops, sweaters, shorts, skirts, sandals, etc. did not make my top 10 list is either because 1) I like varying the style/colors too much that picking a favorite is impossible and 2) I couldn't find an item timeless enough to make it to the top 10.

With all this said, the best fashion tip I've ever gotten and will always remember is this: If it looks bad on you, don't buy it no matter how cute it looks by itself or on someone else.  It seems simple, but many times people forget that, including me, which means that the brands' ads work on suckers like me haha


Thank yall so much for reading my blog and ramblings!  I really appreciate everyone's support!!! :D


heart, alice