investment dressing

BAF Weekly List

 in General Fashion  tagged baf weekly it list / investment dressing / summer 2026 by
summer 2026 trending beauty clothing handbags shoes

BAF Weekly List from top left: neutral knit top / lipstick / Hermes summer nail polish / Chanel summer nail polish / Dior summer nail polish / print dress / perfume sampler / caramel top handle bag / suede pumps / canvas tote / black boots / belted tote /

The BAF Weekly List is here! In case you didn’t notice, I dropped the “IT” since the IT era is currently over, and we are moving into an era of investment dressing, quality over brand names, and personal style. We are steering clear of matching everyone in the room, and we are making our understated, personal style statement. Love this!

I have always been into investment dressing, but I did get caught up in the IT era. I was mixing IT items with my timeless style which made my personal style a little hard to keep up with. Thankfully, the pendulum has swung back, and I am grounding myself to stick to my true style mantra; invest in something you can wear forever, or until it wears out and breaks. haha

What are your thoughts on the end of the IT era? You can read my post about it here.

As we move through the summer season, and towards fall, continue to invest in logo-free handbags, quality and style over brand name, and pieces you truly love. Play with prints, pops of colors, and styles you love. I am currently in my boot era. When the Nordstrom sale hits later this month, I will be all over the boot section! haha That being said, stay tuned for my report of what looks good at the sale.

Shop the BAF Weekly List online:

What styles are you loving right now? Do you feel free now that the IT era is over?

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO
Cathy

How to shop your closet for spring 2026

 in General Fashion / Shopping / Trends  tagged investment dressing / outfit ideas / spring 2026 / tips by

wearing: gold earrings (similar here) / necklace / navy shirt dress (also in petite!) / gold bracelet (similar here) / spring nail polish / black handbag / Mary Janes (similar here) /

Spring has sprung and it is time to get our wardrobes in order. It is always a good idea to shop our closets before spending too much on a new wardrobe and accidentally duplicating something we already own. So, let’s dive in!

There are new and continuing trends for the spring 2026 season, so let’s pull out what we already own and place these items front and center, then, make a shopping list!

Color: Neutrals and pops of color are hot this spring/summer season. Pull out shades of white, shades of brown, navy, shades of blue, and black. In addition, the hottest colors to add to your neutral looks will be blue, green, pink, and yellow.

Handbags: The anonymous handbag reigns supreme. So, steer clear of logos! Pull out your IT bags from the early 2000’s including the Fendi Baguette, Balenciaga City, Chloe Marcie, and Chloe Paddington. In addition, the belted tote, classic shoulder bag, drawstring pouch, and east/west silhouettes are still hot. Rock those bags!

Jeans: Wide legs are still hot as well as classic cuts, flares and bootcuts.

Footwear: Black boots on cool days are perfect. Continue to wear Mary Janes, ballet flats, loafer slides, quiet street sneakers, classic pumps, and slingback kitten heels. Woven slingbacks are hot this year, if you have a pair, pull them out!

Accessories: Dangle earrings, brooches, scarves, and pearl jewelry are hot this year. Pull them out or add them to your shopping list.

Tops: For spring 2026 we are seeing floral tops, puff sleeves, and horizontal stripes. Pull them out or add them to your shopping list too!

Well, that’s it! Get these styles out from the back of your closet and enjoy wearing them this spring season. Now, you can make your shopping list! Be sure to add woven slingbacks to that list if you already have a pair!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

Fall handbag trends 2025

 in Handbags / Trends  tagged fall 2025 / investment dressing by

From top left: suede moon shaped bag / east/west bag / belted tote / slouchy shoulder bag / suede bucket bag / east/west bag /

Fall 2025 handbag trends are hitting store shelves, and they offer cozy autumn vibes, quality, and anonymity. Love!

The anonymous handbag continues for the fall season and is showing no sign of moving to the back of the closet. So, keep those logo bags in storage and continue to rock your beautiful handbags. The fall 2025 season is all about quality, personal style, and investment handbags.

For the fall 2025 season, we are seeing a continuation of the handbag styles we have been enjoying these past few seasons. In addition, chocolate brown is moving to the front of the pack and proving to be the most important color of the season. Thankfully, it is also a classic color which means we can invest in chocolate brown handbags and more; without any guilt. Love that!

So, without further ado, here are the handbag styles stealing the show for the fall 2025 season.

Chocolate brown: We already know shades of mocha are hot for 2025, but the deep shade of chocolate has moved to the front of the pack. This is a timeless hue, so feel free to invest without any spending guilt!

The belted tote: Belted totes are continuing to be hot as we move into the fall 2025 season. Since it too is a classic style, this is a great investment tote for seasons to come. Your belted tote can be small and hold essential items, or it can be large to hold a laptop and the kitchen sink. Invest in the size which fits your lifestyle and tote needs.

The east/west bag: This horizontal style is still going strong, so you may already own a few. If not, feel free to invest in a shoulder bag style or double top handle style.

The slouchy north/south tote: Sometimes mistaken for a hobo bag, the slouchy north/south tote was hot last year and continues to be hot this year. There are plenty of styles under $300, so you don’t need to break the bank to find a nice one.

Suede: This is the fabrication of the moment, or should I say the year? Or the current era? Suede is hot and showing no signs of slowing down. I recommend staying under $1000 when it comes to suede. This is a leather which can be susceptible to weather and can be hard to clean. I love my suede bags, which all cost under $500. Suede does give you the ultimate slouch! I have to admit I am a fan! Just not on rainy days. . .

Hobo bags: The hobo is still going strong! You can wear a slouchy hobo, structured hobo, and anything in between. The hobo is hot.

Moon shaped or circle bags: Handbag which convert from a half-moon to a circle are hot. Also, circles are hot. Stay round.

Neutral hues: In addition to shades of mocha, including chocolate brown, handbags for fall 2025 are in neutral hues. Look for black, mocha hues, white, ivory, beige, tan, and navy. Seasonal hues such a deep red and dark green are also acceptable. Otherwise, stay away from overly trendy colors. They are not hot.

There you have it! Shop your closet for these styles first, then fill in with what you want to invest in! Love that!

Thanks for stopping by and stay tuned for more fall coverage coming up!

XOXO

Cathy