Waiting for fall to come in Texas is like waiting for cherry blossom season, and then it’s gone before you know it. I’ve never let it cramp my style though. Granted, I definitely miss my LA “seasons,” which essentially allowed me to dress like it was fall year round (le sigh). But alas, I vow to prepare for fall like a medieval knight going into battle. The easiest way, if you live in a warmer climate like we do now, is to start transitioning your wardrobe with a few key accessories.
Now I realize not everyone is made for hats, but for some reason my tiny child-sized head (I don’t know how to prove it to you, so you’ll just have to take my word for it) loves a good hat. We’ve been on a considerable budget after the move, so I dragged the hubs to my go-to bargain shopping spots while the munchkin was at preschool – cuz hat shopping with a toddler is, well, not recommended. First stop, Marshalls – where I hit the jackpot. I was looking for something of the felt variety and they had a ton to choose from. So naturally, a fashion show ensued with myself and the random shoppers silently judging me as they walked by who I was “this close” to asking their opinion, but I used the hubs instead. We settled on a black large felt fedora with a gold chain accent from the August Hat Company, which I loved because I wear so much black and gold.
That same week, I convinced myself to try on the sweetest LBR (Little Black Romper) as we were perusing the Houston Premium Outlets. If you know me, you know this was a big deal for me fashion-wise, since I’d been swearing off rompers after the local tweens starting sporting them 5 years ago. It wasn’t that I didn’t think they were cute, they were cute alright, but I have a strict style code to not wear a trend just because it’s a trend. But as I slung each leg one by one into aforementioned romper – I realized the real reason I had been so afraid to wear them. I didn’t have the body confidence I once had in my younger years, and I was afraid of also looking like I didn’t belong in the “romper club”. A club that I imagined was only reserved for size 2 wearing, legs-for-days petite girls that this Italian mama didn’t stand a chance getting hazed into. But as I slowly and rather awkwardly (I mean seriously, a man must have designed these contraptions) pulled the soft black cotton over my shoulders, a funny thing happened. I felt. Cute. And let me tell you – moms rarely feel presentable half the time, let alone cute. So I strutted my mom bum out of the dressing room, tugging on the shorts legs as if to miraculously make them longer. I tried desperately to find Grant for a final “hubs nod of approval”which affirmed my cute feelings inside. Of course being the doubtful person I am, I tell him I just want to look one more time around the store for a size large because all I found was a medium. Knowing full well that the medium fit, I still was allowing my disbelief (and fear of romper membership revocation) tell me I was too old or too curvy to pull this off. The awesome hubs that he is pushed me to get it, and man I’m so glad I did. I was growing so tired of wearing shorts and running out of cute outfit ideas to pair with them – and I never realized the versatility of the LBR. So I decided to pair it with my new sassy fall hat and favorite lace-up brown suede sandals, to attend a girl’s reunion with all my former co-workers from my first job in Houston at Perry Homes – most of whom I hadn’t seen in over 11 years. I managed to snatch up my friend Molly’s new baby boy for a shot before we parted – check out those baby blues below…
Shop the Look:
August Hat Co from Marshalls, Felt Fedora (similar here, here and here)
American Eagle, Front Cross Strap Romper (similar here, here and here)
Dolce Vita from Nordstrom Rack, ‘Jasmyn’ Ghillie Sandal (similar here and here)
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