Hello Friday!
Is it just me, or has November been a whirlwind of a month? Aside from posting on Instagram, I haven’t had the chance to even remotely think about blogging. Between the end of first quarter, planning meetings at work, and catching up on my graduate school load, I even postponed celebrating my birthday! Although I should probably read or grade right now, I’m thankful to be home in San Diego and for some extra time to indulge with y’all for a bit. I hope you had a great Thanksgiving.
Velvet Midi Skirt & Ruffle Blouse
This month I’ve been crushing on deep reds and greens, and my forever favorite – mustard. (See more mustard picks here!) I’ve also been gravitating towards luxe fabrics, such as velvet & chenille. (In case you didn’t see my previous post on seven sweater trends to this autumn, you can see all my favorite chenille knits here. They’re SO good and many are on sale this week.) This marigold velvet midi skirt, however, is one of my favorite purchases. (This similar one is on sale today for under $40 with code BESTFRIDAY!) The color is rich and the fabric is heavy, making the skirt appear more expensive than it is. It also has a subtle metallic sheen making it a great piece to style for the holidays. Just add a red top and red lip or go for a monochromatic look with an oversized gold sweater. (If you follow me on social media, you may recall that I styled this skirt earlier this month with new my favorite tee for my birthday. You can still catch the black girl birthday magic here.) Although this ruffle striped blouse is generally out of my comfort zone, I adored pairing it with this velvet midi. This skirted pea coat, added just the right amount of retro vibes.
Accessories
I purchased this stellar burgundy wool hat when I bought the skirt. I achieved my twist out bang with three simple bantu knots, and I love how it turned out. My mom said I look like Bruno Mars. Given that we both think he’s a cutie, I knew this was a compliment! Y’all these hooped tassel earrings are perfectly festive, and to top it all off, come in a box of two for under $50! The other pair has burgundy tiered tassels and I’ve also been wearing them non-stop. I bought my Valentino dupes last year, but the retailer discontinued my hue. Other colors are available here, here, and here. I found a similar pair with a simpler design, for fantastic price. Last winter, I purchased this clutch and because I love how effortlessly chic a velvet handbag is, I rounded up some other favorites for you.
Gratitude
This year, I am sincerely thankful for each and every one of YOU. Thank you for sharing this creative outlet with me. Thank you to quiet supporters, avid commenters, and new friends. I hope, like me, you are shopping Black Friday sales from the comfort of your bed. Today, as we purchase gifts for friends and family – and some for ourselves – remember, however, there are those missing loved ones and truly are without. If you didn’t yesterday, say a prayer for those who have lost this year. My heart goes out especially to those affected by the death of Kevin Raymond, my former student, and those in Puerto Rico. If, like me, you want to help in some way, start Giving Tuesday early. Donate to an organization whose work is dedicated to helping those affected by disaster and tragedy. As always, thanks for reading!
Donate to Relief Efforts for Puerto Rico
Donate to Efforts to Work with Communities Affected by Gun Violence
I’m working on gratitude more myself. It goes a long way to be grateful for what I have and where I am. I like the idea of Giving Tuesday! Gonna have to look into that and participate.
Agreed! You know I love myself a good sale, and am obviously just a tiny bit obsessed with clothes, but the last few years I’ve been trying to be more mindful of the ways in which I give back. I’m working on a post for Giving Tuesday that will include a handful of brands that I love that give back in awesome ways. Look out for it!