While it is certainly not sweater weather yet here in Southern CA, now is still a great time to stock up on these closet staples that'll carry us well into the rest of the year. Selecting the perfect sweater can be tough though! If you're like me, you'll likely ask yourself a ton of questions before committing. Will it last? Will the color match with everything else? Do I love the sleeves? If you shook your head up and down while reading through those questions, you'll be thrilled with the following. I made us a list of sweaters to shop for Fall and it's a good list. You're welcome. Let's get to shopping!

Maternity Wardrobe Staples

Okay, back to my favorite subject. Fashion! When I found out I was pregnant, I had no idea what I was in for clothing wise. To start, I love to dress up, so as my body started changing, it was really hard to keep it together lol. Straight up, maternity clothes are not the cutest, but they serve their purpose and that's something to be thankful for. As soon as I hit 6 weeks, I was extremely bloated and it only got worst throughout the rest of first trimester sickness. My stomach went down from week 13-18, but as soon as I hit 18 weeks, my regular jeans said bye see you later lol. Every trimester required something new, so in this post, I'm rounding up my favorite go-to pieces that still helped me feel like me. Okay let's do this!

Dressing For Success

 

Year nine of blogging and some things never change: I still love pulling outfits together that make me feel my best. When I started my blog, I was in Fashion PR and hungry to make a career out of marketing. I showed up to the office everyday with the best outfit I could pull from my low-budget closet even if my most important task was to grab coffee for the senior publicists at 1pm lol. We all start somewhere!

My Fall Fashion Preview

Told you guys I'd be back soon enough!  Can we just talk about how excited I am for fall!? It's my favorite season and just everything that comes along with it is so fun.  There are a few things I'm especially excited about this next season but the one thing I'm the most excited about is to bring back my DIY Halloween Costume Series.  I've already started brewing up some ideas and I'm super stoked to see what I come up with! Aside from this, I'm excited to bring out my neutral tones and dress up in fall colors, even if it'll probably be a solid 80 degrees until the end of the year haha.

Three Must-Have Summer Items

Hey guys!  Boy, is it summer or is it summer?  We're experiencing a rad heat wave this week and I'm definitely feelin' it.  I tried to curl my hair this morning and it all just fell flat, so basically, I'll be rocking beach hair all summer!  Aside from just heat this new season brings, I look forward to longer nights, a change in wardrobe and the yearn to participate in fun activities.  For example, every summer I feel like I say I want to get out to the beach more and then kind of fail, so this summer will be the one for change!  Along with cool activities I want to take part in, I've come to cultivate a list of three must-haves that coincidentally directly tie into my favorite summer plans haha.  In honor of that, in this post I'm sharing my three must-have items that you might want/need as well!  Okay, let's count them down.

My Target Style

Hey friends!  So it's no joke there is a huge Target obsession that took over out of no where.  I can't even remember when the "went to Target for soap, left with a thousand things" meme started but it is so true and I am not even mad about it.  One thing I do remember though was associating Target clothing to "not good enough" when I was in middle school because a girl younger than me wore Massimo jeans and I'm not even sure who said it, I overheard it, but some other chick said something mean about this girl because she wore Target brand jeans.  Ew some girls are so awful!  Well, joke is on whoever said that because Target is EVERYTHING.  So much so that my entire outfit in this post is from Target!

How to Wear a Romper This Winter

Hey friends!  This January has seen chilly evenings, which isn't fun since that's when my date nights usually take place - boo.  Usually, I don't change my wardrobe too often since Southern California weather feels more like a year-round spring.  Of course I add sweaters and new shoes to the mix, but when it comes to evening wear, I can positively say I have to get creative.  For example, I love love love rompers of all shapes and sizes. They are so comfortable, easy to style and a clothing item you can always wear.  Sure, some rompers aren't suitable for different types of weather, but there's always a way around it.  I have the most adorable and sassy (check out that neck line!) romper I wore to my sister's bachelorette party last year that I never wore again, and have been thinking a lot about lately.  I thought, "Gosh, if only I could wear this for Valentine's Day or a nice date I would be happy."  So, I dug through my closet for options and ultimately paired it up with thick tights, booties, a simple lariat and clutch.  In the end, it felt like a no brainer to use tights, but even those no brainer moments often feel like the overall vision might not make sense haha.  All smiles over here, though!  I loved how this looked and am so excited to wear this outfit at night soon.  How many of you are reaching for your summer rompers now?  Let me know how you like to style your rompers this season!  Talk to you guys soon.

Xo,

Melissa Victoria

My Winter Closet Staple | The Duster Jacket

  

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Duster: Gozon.com (shop here) // Top: Target (shop similar here) // Leggings: Forever 21 (shop similar here) Headband: J. Crew (shop similar here)

Hey friends!  I have a fun style post this week featuring a new item that just hit my closet - the duster jacket.  Winter around Southern California is not at all the way I watch winter in other states.  I would definitely say the closest to cold weather we experience would be the equivalent to what a 65 degree fall day is elsewhere haha.  Yeah, we're a little lucky!  As much as I would love love love to wear huge furry jackets, I find so much contentment in tossing on a thin cardigan, kimono or duster.  The duster jacket, though, is something I find becoming more and more of a closet staple for multiple reasons.  The first reason is solely because it allows me to "look" like a specific season without dying of heat exhaustion.  Fall around here is pretty gnarly in the sense that it's pretty humid.  However, even through dry weather, I always find myself a little cold at night, so tossing over a duster seriously does the trick.  It looks like a trench, but it's not - talk about deceiving on the eye!  Another reason why I love duster jackets is because they compliment any outfit.  You can toss it over a skirt and crop top combo, or just a mini dress or even casually over distressed shorts and still look so put together.  The beauty about a duster is it's not meant for just one season, it's extremely versatile.  Another solid reason why I love it, especially this season, is because it keeps me as warm as I need to be on any given California winter day.  During the day, I find the weather to be a little chilly, but not chilly enough to toss on a sweater.  Dealing with the weather around here does suck, believe me!  One morning I wore a sweater and thought it was a wonderful idea, then by noon I was really regretting it because it was so darn hot.  With a duster, I can be just as comfortable in the morning as I will be in the afternoon when the sun decides to show itself.  

Anyway, I'm sure you guys are all wondering where this duster is from, and it's actually from Los Angeles based clothing boutique, Gozon.com.  It's currently $34 and comes in this mauve color and grey.  Both are so darn cute, I might just treat myself to the second color haha.  Anyway, this contemporary boutique carries several different seasonal items, they're always restocking their merchandise and certainly do not make shopping easy!  If I were you guys, I would definitely stock up on fun items, obviously including this duster, to give as gifts to your friends and family!  The quality of their clothes is so nice and you truly do get more bang for your buck with this boutique.  Check it all out for yourself by click on the Gozon.com link here and if you love this duster, check it out via the link above!  Anyway, I'll talk to you guys later.

Xo,

Melissa Victoria

How to Conquer Black Friday This Year

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Dress: Gozon (shop here) // Boots: Rockport (shop here)

Hello lovelies! Who is ready for the crazy wave of holiday shopping and Black Friday?  I've been ready since September 1st and I'm just so excited it's finally acceptable to dive straight into all things Christmas.  I know I know, we have to get through Thanksgiving first, but can a girl be excited!?  I guess the first step to realizing Christmas is upon us is none other than Black Friday.  Let's all take a moment to breathe in and out before we start talking about National Shop Until You Drop Day.  I worked retail for years and years and this might sound crazy, but Black Friday was my FAVORITE day to work ever.  I actually considered working retail this year just for the thrill of it, but then there's always the option to actually shop fun sales.  I feel people usually head to huge stores or malls to shop and coming from both the employee and consumer end, I think I've very well come up with tips to get the most out of the earlier hours of your shopping spree.  Alright are you guys ready? Let's get started!

1. Browse the Internet

Checking in on your favorite stores to see if they have any markdowns or Black Friday ads will save you so much time!  The worst is showing up to a store, expecting some kind of deal and then walking right back out disappointed.  Don't waste your time doing this.  If you're thinking of heading to the mall anyway, I would probably just do a walk through the day before Thanksgiving to scope out any signs of deals.  Honestly, just even ask an employee!  I remember people would always ask me about Black Friday deals and I'd spill them all out.  A sale isn't a secret and people will WANT to give you a heads up of what to expect so you can make it a point to go shop with them. 

2. Shop Online

This is my favorite way to spend Black Friday.  Yes, you can leave Thanksgiving dinner early to join all the crazy shopping, but you can also pull out your laptop and shop all your favorite online shops remotely.  Chances are your favorite stores may have already begun their Friday sales, thus making the overall experience way less stressful.  For example, womens online store, Gozon.com had a flash sale this week and I feel it was only a preview of what's to come this Friday.  All those who have signed up for their email newsletters were (and will be the first) to receive VIP Black Friday deals, exclusive coupon codes and new arrivals previews.  I would definitely recommend to sign up for newsletters prior to this Friday.  Because you are shopping remotely, you won't exactly have store hours, therefore you'll need to have some kind of notification, right?  If you haven't already added Gozon to your list of places to shop at this Friday, please do!  They're always adding new styles, their shipping time is beyond quick and gozon clothing is simply the epiphany of girl next door meets cool.  You'll find many gems, like the dress I'm wearing in this post, there!

3. Make a List

Be real with yourselves and think about what you want to buy and where you want to buy these items.  I have a few things I've been eyeing and know exactly where to find them the morning of Black Friday.  I went shopping one time and had no idea what I wanted.  I went with the mentality of, "Oh, I'll see what I find." and left with things I didn't really need or want haha.  I recommend you think of the what's happening next in your life and what you will be using most.  For example, I'm eyeing white dresses and anything wedding related because that's the next big thing going on in my life.  If you live in an area that requires you to use warmer jackets, maybe plan on purchasing a new one for winter!  Maybe I'm just a list type of gal, but that's the closest I can get to being organized and efficient.  Running around the mall, on one of the busiest shopping days, without an itinerary is like a death sentence.  Make. A. List. 

4. Set a Budget

Here I go again with my budget talk - I swear I've become my fiancé.  Listen, you might really love a beautiful maxi gown from store A, but store B might have a similar dress for half the price.  Familiarize yourself with stores you might not regularly shop at, get to know their merchandise and compare prices and sales.  Search 'floral maxi gown' and I bet you'll find several options at many different stores.  Yes, this might be a day to splurge, but there are ways to keep that splurge to a minimum.  If you're shopping clothes, think of all the womens trendy clothes and contemporary boutiques out there!  This might seem like conducting research, but if you're willing to set a budget, you should be willing to browse for the BEST deals you can find.  That, my friends, makes you a pro-shopper!  Again, make a list of items you want, put a price tag on each item and then eliminate the items you don't REALLY need to stick to your budget.  Getting more bang for your buck wasn't a term coined for nothing, ladies (and men!).

Woah, are you guys excited to shop this Friday or what??  I hope you guys enjoyed my list and if you have any other tips, please share in the comments below or drop me a line on Instagram.  Anyway, I hope you find all the items you're wishing for this week.  Don't forget to shop my outfit via the links above!  Happy shopping, lovelies. 

Xo,

Melissa Victoria

How to Cultivate a Fall Outfit Under $100

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Top: Gozon (shop here for $25.20) // Jeans: HM (shop here for $29.99) // Booties: Forever 21 - old (shop similar here for $19.99) 

Hey there! With the holidays coming up, I'm being extra aware of how I spend and when I spend.  The beauty about being engaged to someone in finance is having extra help in building budgets and sticking to them.  As much as I love to hit my local mall, there's really nothing like shopping local and online via some favorite women's online shops.  Sure there are some staples I can't seem to find elsewhere other than the mall, but as long as I'm within budget, I'm good!  I know, being financially conscious and running a style blog don't always go hand in hand, or do they?  They totally can.  When I started this blog, I never intended to write style posts that included pieces the average working girl couldn't necessarily shop.  Sure I have a few fancy pieces, but you will rarely see them on here!  For the most part, I'm all about budget-friendly shopping.  

In today's post, I was super excited to challenge myself to putting together a fall outfit under $100.  Maybe it wasn't much of a challenge since my outfit ended up costing under $80 (without the optional necklace.)  Something I realized while cultivating this look, was the need for a pretty top to make it happen.  I don't know about you guys, but when I people watch, I don't usually check out their jeans, skirt or whatever they wear.  My eyes usually go to the style of their top and then of course, shoes.  The top I'm wearing in this post is from online contemporary shop, Gozon.  This shop absolutely offers quality clothing at affordable prices that fit my lifestyle.  Even if they're Los Angeles based, they still have an awesome way of catering to consumers nationwide with their merchandise.  I loved this top for two reasons: Bell sleeves and mustard yellow is such a pretty color this time of year.  It actually comes in a few other colors (green, burgundy and red) and even if I loved them all, I usually feel like yellow is my color.  Gozon boutique is actually already hosting Black Friday sales and this top is on sale for only $25 - uh Christmas present, anyone?  

Anyway, my jeans and similar booties are also available via the links above.  These pieces are really just staples in my closet, that I'm sure you guys already have in your closet or other similar items.  The best piece of advice I could leave you with when putting together budget-friendly, seasonal outfits, would absolutely be to invest in tops.  Having a fun selection never hurt nobody, am I right?  Anyway, I'm signing off for now!  I have a Black Friday related post coming soon so be sure to check back in.  

Xo,

Melissa Victoria