General Fashion

Classic black and white for winter

 in General Fashion  tagged chloe / outfits / winter 2020 by

silicon valley street style chloe aby it bagspleated skirts for winter

wearing: large gold hoops / lipstick / white knit turtleneck / black belt / spring nail polish / black handbag / black and white pleated skirt / knee high suede boots /

Let’s face it, white is not a slimming color. That being said, I love how this white knit turtleneck looks with my black and white pleated skirt. So, when my daughter asked for a trip to the American Girl Store to purchase the new girl of the year book (she loves their books), I decided to try and make this white turtleneck not make me too huge. haha

Black and white is classic and chic. So it is always satisfying to put together an outfit, which is black and white, and not boring. While this knit turtleneck is ribbed, and slightly body conscious, it is a little loose; perhaps I could have sized down? It needed a little something to elevate it; the top could not be worn alone. I have to say, the easiest way to elevate a plain top or turtleneck, without using a topper, is with a belt. There is something about belting loose clothing; whether it be a top or dress, which makes an entire look appear structured and put together. Love that!

I wear this belt all the time with my jeans, this was the first time I used it to belt an article of clothing without belt loops. It worked out really well. The belt took the frump out of the loose turtleneck, and pulled the black and white outfit together. It was perfect for browsing at Stanford Shopping Center, and bringing my daughter to the American Girl store for the book.

These pieces are part of my winter capsule wardrobe. If you have not read it yet, please check it out! It’s handy to have a few pieces each season which can be mixed and matched to create a large number of outfits. It saves money, and time. Stay tuned for more capsule wardrobes this year!

These boots are comfortable for walking too! Love!

Shop my winter black and white outfit online:

Do you ever belt an article of clothing to make it appear more structured?

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

winter outfit ideas

Cross body phone cases spring 2020 handbag trends

 in General Fashion / Handbags  tagged cross body bags / gucci / handbag reviews / spring 2020 / winter 2020 by

gucci phone case cross body bag street stylegucci phone case cross body bag

pictured: hoop earrings / lipstick (pictured below) / long coat / black knit turtleneck / belt / spring nail polish / skinny jeans (under $50!) / Gucci phone case cross body bag / western style boots /

New Year, new handbag trends for spring 2020! There is a new small, cross body bag in town, and it’s not a silhouette we have seen in quite some time. Enter, the cross body phone case for spring 2020.

You might be thinking, “I have way more than a phone to carry around when I want to be hands-free!” Well, that’s not a problem here; as long as you don’t mind carrying light. This north/south mini bag offers room for a phone, a small wallet, a set of keys, and a lipstick. You can also forego the wallet altogether, and use the built-in credit card slots to free up room in the bag. I am more of a wallet person,  so I prefer squeezing in my mini-wallet, but it is nice to have options!

Gucci Phone Case : Gucci cross body phone case review

cross body phone cases spring 2020 spring 2020 handbag trends cross body mini bag gucci mini bag cross body

I won’t lie, this is a tight handbag. As a mom, it does not leave me any room for when my daughter hands me her phone to carry, or my son asks me carry a baggie of goldfish crackers. That being said, this is a great mini bag for days when I want to be hands-free, and lighten my load.

There are several handbag trends for the upcoming spring 2020 season, but the cross body phone case is one which is new. It isn’t continuing from another season. This trend will replace your larger, east/west cross body bag from years past.

I chose the Gucci phone case as my bag for rocking the mini cross body bag trend because it offers a classic, vintage vibe. I am always feeling the 1970s, so this bag evokes a vibe which works well with my current ’70’s mood. Love that!

Shop the cross body phone case trend with Gucci phone cases around the web:

Shop my winter street style look:

What are your thoughts on the new cross body phone case trend? Is this a bag trend you plan to wear?

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO
Cathy

it bags 2020 gucci

Lunch in Calistoga with the kids

 in General Fashion / Travel  tagged calistoga / family / napa valley / travel tips / winter 2020 by

wearing: lipstick / blue and silver earrings / adidas sweatshirt / long sleeve tee / skinny jeans / nail polish / handbag / hiking boots /

We took some time to explore downtown Calistoga in between visiting the Geysers and the Petrified Forest during our road trip up to Calistoga in the Napa Valley. Downtown Calistoga is super cute! It is filled with historical buildings and shops. My middle child found a vintage store, and my son discovered some old train cars which were converted into retail space. Unfortunately they were not filled with shops to explore, but they did turn into an entertaining spot to take pictures of each of us being silly. haha

Our main reason for exploring downtown Calistoga was to find food! It was lunch time and we were starving. When you are traveling with kids, they can be a bit picky. We were lucky to find a Chinese restaurant in the middle of downtown Calisoga, which always satisfies picky children.

Soo Yuan Restaurant is located in downtown Calistoga and appears tiny from the streets. Once you go inside, the restaurant has plenty of tables, and offers a few large tables for families such as ours. At lunch, you have the option of ordering a la carte, or off the lunch special menu. We opted for the lunch menu, and it was a great choice! They food was sooooo good!

Soo Yuan Restaurant chines food calistoga

I had the prawns in black bean sauce and it was really yummy. We also ordered a pot sticker appetizer which was really good. Everything we ordered was delicious. If you are in the Calistoga area, and are looking for a great family restaurant, I highly recommend stopping in at Soo Yuan! It was delicious and the prices were reasonable too. Love!

We had a lot of fun visiting the Napa Valley with our kids. There is more to do than what we did, so we will definitely be planning another trip there soon with the kids!

Shop my winter sightseeing outfit:

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy