Ah, leggings…these stretchy bottoms are the subject of many a fashion debate, inspiring heated pinboards such as this one. Although I agree with the general rule of thumb that they are best paired with something that covers the crotch, all leggings are not created equal, so the material and fit can make a difference! Earlier this year I blogged about two thicker pairs that I love – Zella Live-in leggings (now in a 24.5″ petite-friendly inseam!) which you can also work out in, and these Vince Camuto seamed leggings. They are both fully opaque and don’t get “sucked into” unsightly crevices, so I find it slightly less egregious to wear them casually as pants, especially if layered under a longer jacket.
I’m partnering with Nordstrom today to share some affordable staples for this cooler season. I’ve blogged about BP Trolley booties (updated version) quite a bit – they are a great basic under $100 and come in a huge range of sizes from a 4 (might fit 3.5 too b/c these run half size small!) to 13. I love mine in black (see outfits here and here), and held out hope that they’d bring back a classic brown color from years ago. The “cognac burnished leather” did not appeal to me online as it looks reddish, but I ordered them on a whim, and am happy to report they are more of a true medium brown in-person!
The block heels make these very easy to walk in (I’m usually between 5 and 5.5, and took the latter to fit socks comfortably). The cognac leather is pebbled which I love (easier to wipe clean than suede), and has a darker brown shading on the toes and the back of the heels. Here’s another look at them from my Instagram that shows the coloring better.
This tee is a looser fit throughout but works for a casual tunic top. I usually wear it tucked in like a regular tee, but here’s how it looks as a tunic – perfect for covering up “leggings crotch” just to be safe!
My utility jacket is very old, but I tried on a bunch currently available and mentioned that Madewell’s Fleet jacket in “military surplus” fit and looked the best in xxs, almost identical to mine. I wore this look for a full day of running errands, and loved how I could sustain temps swinging about 20 degrees from dawn ’til dusk with these three build-able layers!
Thank you Nordstrom for partnering on this post.
