get the look: white out

images via could i have that?

sometimes it's the simple looks that strike me the most. this outfit is pretty much exactly how i want to dress this season (and next season, for that matter). a crisp white coat, high-rise denim, a soft cardigan, statement heels and a black tote are a foolproof combination. get the look with these pieces (at every price point) below:

1. harlowe and graham coat, $70 (same jacket seen above)

2. guess double breasted boucle coat, $159 (on sale)

3. isabel marant calf-hair trimmed wool coat, $1,575

4. old navy v-neck cardigan, $25 (same cardi seen above)
5. ami dans la rue open cardigan, $180
6. marc jacobs angora-blend cardigan, $1,100
7. j.crew toothpick jean in distressed cone wash, $75 (use the code HOLIDAY)*
8. rag & bone mid-rise skinny jeans, $200
9. goldsign "the glam" jeans, $238
9.  j.crew falsetto silk pumps, $208 (use the code HOLIDAY)*
10. loeffler randall "charlotte" d'orsay pump, $350
11. tabitha simmons strappy heel, $1,245 (same shoes seen above)
12. mansur gavriel large tote, $435
13. alice.d leather tote, $495
14. saint laurent sac de jour tote, $2,550

*get 30% off these pieces + everything else at j.crew with the code HOLIDAY

leg warmers

image via pinterest

this post is dedicated to leggings. yes... leggings. 

i know it's been a while since leggings were cool -- we can thank the leggings-as-pants phenomenon for that -- but let's be honest. we all still wear leggings. what's better than a giant thick sweater, soft leggings, leather boots and a cozy scarf in the middle of winter? or even just when you're lounging on the couch watching a movie?! leggings are great. they're necessary.

however, no one ever said leggings are warm. the temperatures have really dipped here in new york (we're talking 20 degrees) and the insane gusts of wind we've been having make it feel a thousand times colder. when i was walking near lincoln center last night, i legitimately thought the wind might knock me over. 

ironically enough, i was on my way to bed bath & beyond to pick up a space heater for my private igloo bedroom. while i was wandering around the store (because how can you not wander aimlessly around BBB?) i discovered something truly amazing. 

fleece-lined leggings. 

they were hanging inconspicuously near the bedroom section (really emphasizing the "beyond" here) and at first glance, i thought they were going to be awful -- a thick, cheap, scratchy disaster. what a terrible gimmick! but no, i was wrong. these are the best leggings i have ever owned; they're thick but not too thick, flattering, totally opaque, and insanely warm. the fleece on the inside is thin enough that it doesn't add bulk, but it's as soft as cashmere. these leggings would actually stand up to a windy day in the city. i bought the space-dyed charcoal color, but i'm planning on heading back next weekend to pick up several black pairs. for $10, i highly suggest you do the same.

if you can't get to a BBB, these styles from anthropologie and target sound nearly identical, and these waffle leggings by splendid might be a nice update, too. shop even more styles below...

II emily

seasonal sparkle

j.crew jeweled sweater, on sale for $103.50 (orig. $138)*

there's nothing like a j.crew sale to get you in the holiday spirit. while clicking through their "winter favorites" -- which are all 25% off with the code WINTER (*UPDATE: as of 11/25, the entire site is 25% off with the code GETGIFTING) -- i stumbled upon this holiday-ready sweater with all of my favorite things: a festive fair isle print, colorful jewels, bold stripes, and deep fall colors. paired with ankle boots, a fuzzy hat and leopard pouch, it might just be the perfect look for shopping, catching up with friends, cooking christmas dinner, swilling cocktails, and everything else the season entails...

 

{ j.crew jeweled sweater, $103.50 // iris & ink jeans, $105 // club monaco hat // bite beauty lipstick in "brick red," $24 // madewell clutch, $78 // madewell boots, $228 (also here) }

II emily

odds & ends

a few recent additions... becca's "the one" beauty brush (thanks to my mom) which ingeniously works with liquids, creams, powders, bronzers, and highlighters, essentially negating the need for any other brush; the $9 asos pearl earrings i mentioned in this post; this epic lucite and gem-studded j.crew cuff, which was a gift from my boyfriend (what can i say, i've trained him well!); and my new favorite perfume, see by chloé paint-a-scent. 

i have to admit i was initially intrigued by little brush applicator -- you brush it onto your skin like nail polish -- but the scent inside is just as charming. with notes of bergamot, apple, jasmine, ylang, vanilla and musk, it's a playful mix of masculine and feminine -- as it turns out, the perfect scent for me. until i purchased this at sephora last week, i hadn't bought a new perfume in years (i've been alternating between trish mcevoy sexy 9 and the addictive original chloé) and this was a welcome change.

II emily

girl with a pearl earring

it's been a while since the "mise en dior" pearl earrings made a splash. i saw them in countless magazine editorials, on the ears of jennifer lawrence and natalia vodianova, and, of course, in the stunning advertisements, above. i became instantly obsessed with the black-and-cream variety, especially after spotting them in one of harper's bazaar editor nicole fritton's "must have" shopping lists. these earrings are at once graphic, classic, and sweetly feminine. they ring in at $350 (which is actually pretty amazing) but you can imagine my excitement when i discovered these lookalikes at ASOS for just $9.

not only did these earrings go right into my cart, but i seriously considered buying them in bulk -- they would make a lovely gift for any fashion-minded friend, and i would never have to worry about misplacing mine. for that price tag, i may just have to stock up.

II emily

shoesday tuesday: fall edition

just a few shoes i'm loving right now... chic little go-with-everything leopard pumps, the perfect black ankle boots (mine are starting to look pretty bad), high-shine scalloped sandals for next spring, and edgy pumps that look comfortable enough for a day at the office or a night on the town.

II emily

censored

{ cynthia rowley tee }

it's only a matter of time before i pull the trigger on this cynthia rowley tee (also available here). i've been eyeing it for months. how good would it be for a lazy sunday in boyfriend jeans, flats and a sweater? or dressed up with leather pants and a blazer? the options are endless. 

and i mean, it's kind of perfect for me -- i'm a bit of potty mouth, but i'm constantly trying to hide it. i'm making progress!

winter re-vamp

{pictured: just a few of my must-haves... equipment cardigan, rag & bone jeans, c.wonder earrings, rgb nail polish, 3.1 phillip lim clutch, rms living luminizer, elizabeth arden 8 hour cream, report flats}

while i'm definitely excited for all of the fall trends, the truth is, i've been looking at these clothes since february — at some point, it starts to feel a little tired. which is why i am on a mission to find perfect, high-quality classics that will keep me going all season long.

for starters, i'm a huge sucker for cashmere sweaters – i have more than i can physically count – but i recently realized they're all pullovers or v-necks. no variety there. i'm hoping to switch up my game this season with a perfectly slouchy cardigan, and this equipment one is looking pretty dreamy.

i'm also in the market for a new pair of jeans (aren't we always? ) and rag & bone is my source for the very best denim. i'm hoping i have time to stop by their nolita store one of these weekends to get a pair. i'm a skinny-jeans-only girl, and these have the perfect rise, super-slim legs and a flattering dark wash.

another wardrobe staple for me? ballet flats. while i amassed quite the collection of j.crew statement sandals this summer (like these and these) i tend to wear ballet flats almost every day. (you can imagine how cold my feet get in the winter). i've been obsessed with these vince flats for quite a while – the pointy toe and d'orsay style are a nice departure from my standard ballets. since i haven't wanted to splurge, i was happy to discover this identical pair by report. they look strikingly similar and are beyond comfortable (yes, i've tried them on a few times). they also come in this super cute leopard style.

as for the earrings, they're from c. wonder and i am in love. (thanks, liz!) the $38 price tag makes them almost too good to be true. they look cute with everything, from a leather jacket and skirt to my favorite sweatshirt and jeans. i suggest you get yourself a pair.

next: do i need a furry clutch? i certainly do not. but that didn't stop me from falling hard for this phillip lim bag, $500 price tag and all. it's everything i want in a clutch – large, simple, functional –  and it's fuzzy. what could be better? now, how can i make this happen…

when it comes to beauty, i'm all about maintaining a solid routine. even though my skin gets drier in the winter, i'll still be using my favorite products – including boots botanics rose hip facial oil, origins brightening eye cream, boscia tinted moisturizer, origins mascara (i'll never go back to chemical mascaras), kerastase cristalliste shampoo, lancome flash bronzer lotion, neutrogena pressed powder (i love the finish), and nars laguna bronzing powder. i've used all of these for years, but i'm constantly trying new products, whether i'm stopping by sephora on the weekend or snagging free samples from work. in terms of new discoveries, i recently added elizabeth arden 8-hour cream to my arsenal (yeah, i'm about 10 years late) and i think i've found the perfect crimson polish in rgb's "classic red." my other new favorite thing is my rms living luminizer, which adds a glow in one swipe and includes just four all-natural ingredients. 

how are you updating your winter look?

II emily