Classic black and white for winter

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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

Japantown San Jose with the kids

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wearing: blue and silver earrings / lipstick / white knit turtleneck / blue scarf / grey faux fur teddy coat / belt / bootcut jeans / black satchel / spring nail polish / western style boots /

The San Francisco Bay Area is full of hundreds of nooks and crannies. There is always something to do, and something to see. Although I am born and raised Bay Area, I had never been to San Jose’s Japantown before this month!

We decided to take the kids down to Japantown San Jose in order to see what was there, and also enjoy some sushi. Unfortunately, I won’t share the sushi lunch with you, it wasn’t very good. I think we chose the wrong restaurant. That being said, I am sure there are other places to eat, and I heard the ramen place is really good! Wish we had gone there, but I digress. . .

There are plenty of fun things to do in Japantown San Jose with kids. There is a museum, the temple, and many historical buildings. It is easy to walk around and see everything in one day. There are also cute shops with imported items from Japan. Some of the shops have been owned for generations and have their history posted inside. You can learn a lot by chatting with the shop owners, and reading the signs! It’s really a cool outing.

san jose wall art japantown

My son posing in front of one of the murals found in San Jose’s Japantown. This area of Downtown San Jose is full of street art. It’s fun to walk around and enjoy the beautiful murals. This one was my son’t favorite. He loves the characters depicted, and seems to know who they all are! I had no clue!!

If you are local to the Bay Area, and are looking for a fun daytime outing with the family, or without, I highly recommend visiting Japantown San Jose; and wearing walking shoes! High heel boots were not my best choice for the day. haha

Shop my winter faux fur teddy coat look:

Have you been to Japantown San Jose? What is your favorite site to see?

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

japantown san jose things to do

Cross body phone cases spring 2020 handbag trends

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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

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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