10 random picks for you aujourd’hui! Nothing Halloween related. Sorry…or not sorry? Halloween is my least favorite holiday, although I have enjoyed experiencing it through mini’s eyes; she loves pointing at pumpkins on our strolls through the neighborhood (they are everywhere!) and this book has been a big hit in our house (<<actually a very sweet message). For Halloween morning, I hung little paper bats on the walls and stuffed her monogrammed trick or treat bag with some Halloween treats, including a new book, a paint kit, and a little bat stuffie.
But, that’s where my Halloween tribute ends and my random roundup begins:
Pick No. 1: Croc Errything.
I am into all things textured this season, especially faux-croc. (I mention a pair of epic croc-effect boots below as well!) I love Cuyana’s new zip-top tote. How chic? Kind of Celine-esque in shape? Also love this elegant little jewelry box in the same textured finish.
Pick No. 2: A Plaid Topcoat.
I’ve mentioned this many times lately, but I just can’t get over the classic-but-somehow-modern look of a plaid topcoat this season. It feels incredibly fresh.
I shared a couple of options for getting the look in a recent post (this is amazing and well-priced!), but I recently fell in love Sezane’s take on the style this season. I love how it’s styled — with white skinnies (<<my favorites) and smart loafers (<<swooning over these; $130 but look like they could be much higher end!).
Pick No. 3: The Feathered Mule.
Feathers are a major trend this season (ahem — this is one of the most popular items I’ve featured on my blog this year!) and I can’t stop ogling at these Tory Burch beauties (<<on sale!), seen below out in the wild.
Pick No. 4: The Leopard Midi.
Animal prints are HUGE this season. I feel as though leopard is on a pendulum when it comes to trendiness — it’ll be super chic for a few seasons and then suddenly it feels fuddy-duddy, trying-too-hard. And then a year later, BAM. Trendy again. (Note to self: hang on to all animal prints.) I love the look of the skirt below.
I’d get the look with this Saloni (big surprise — that brand just slays me), this Alice + Olivia, or this black leopard Rixo. I’m also not opposed to a leopard dress, like this short and sweet P.A.R.O.S.H. or this slinky Rixo. And if you don’t want to be too on-the-nose about it, how epic is this?!
Pick No. 5: The Croc Bootie.
I kind of surprised myself with this one because I tend to favor boots that have a little more refinement (as in – — a slender heel, or a long shaft, a pointed toe, etc) to them, but I’m head over heels for Ganni’s Callie boot, seen below. Luckily, I found this $149 lookalike pair from Zara. I’m torn between them and this python pair for $129! (Speaking of python and boots, I also ordered these. Yikes, I have a problem. About to be re-stocked! Or try these higher quality ones.)
Pick No. 6: Teddy Jacket for Mini.
Yes, I love me a good teddy jacket (featured some amazing picks here), but how about for mini? I stopped in my tracks when I came across this darling picture of Amanda Woodward Brown’s daughter on Instagram. How precious?! She’s wearing this coat by British label Outside the Lines. I also like this cream colored one from H+M and this faux-shearling one from Zara.
Pick No. 7: The Sequinned Dress.
I did a fairly extensive round-up of sequinned beauties yesterday after I was myself on the hunt, inspired by Giovanna Battaglia (at top of post and below). I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of both this and this to compare. I also considered: this $69 steal, this slinky P.A.R.O.S.H., this golden goddess bombshell Saloni, this cranberry stripe RIXO, and this Iorane (new-to-me label, but I saw Eva Chen in this dress and she ROCKED it; it didn’t look quite so boxy on her). P.S. If sequins are too too for you — THIS!
Pick No. 8: The Textured, Voluminous Statement Blouse.
I’d never heard of this brand, but I love the richly textured fabric and exaggerated shape of this blouse. Would look fun with some splashy flats, like these.
Pick No. 9: The Heart-Shaped Earrings.
Spotted these inexpensive Bauble Bar earrings on the stylish Arielle Charnas — so fun! I would never have picked these out on my own but I like the way she’s pulled them off below.
Pick No. 10: Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat.
I’ve written about this book before, but I have been loving this cookbook by Samin Nosrat. She does such an exceptional job of explaining why you’re doing what you’re doing that I’ve become a better cook just by virtue of using her recipes. I now actively think about where the heat is coming from in my oven and consider it when sliding my baking sheet into the oven, and why I salt the water when I do, and how much to season my meat. It is an excellent primer. And the recipes — while a touch involved — are foolproof thus far. (Except for the Persian-ish rice recipe. I wouldn’t add as much salt as she advises. We ended up with inedibly salty rice!) Nosrat also came out with a four episode series on Netflix that is worth a watch — again, I learned a lot listening to her and watching her emote around food. (She also led me to add olive oil from liguria, a ginormous (and inexpensive) utility kitchen bowl, and these plain notepads for list-making and note-taking to my shopping cart. There is something about her approach to cooking that is blissfully frill-free — all about doing things simply but well. And these accoutrements would take me there. (More great cookbooks here.)
P.S. This is fun. Anyone’s guess on the quality. It’s hit or miss with that site.
P.P.S. Are you reading this month’s book club book? Quite a shift in terms of the writing style (and, yes, quality) but delightful and surprisingly textured.
P.P.P.S. Update: I love this cotton.