Fall Florals (+ the laptop metaphor)

One of the best things about being back in Chicago is the increased amount of foliage you can take in by simply walking around the city.

I think I say this often, but I’m holding on to bare legs season for as long as humanly possible — which is probably part of the reason I’ve felt under-the-weather over the last two weeks. Style priorities or stupidity? Potato, puh-tah-to…

At any rate, last time I wore this gorgeous suede jacket, it was to the tune of a bit of a different backdrop: A busy, crazy, bustling intersection in New York City. One of my favorite bustling intersections — but different nonetheless.

Some days it’s just nice to step out — in a swingy, floral skirt, no less — and take in a breath of actual fresh air. I’ve felt this more frequently since I moved back to the Midwest — and thankfully, Chicago’s Lincoln Park has no shortage of shrubs and such that stretch up and down the lake-front.)

I said this in my class the other day, but have you heard the laptop metaphor?

You know, how your computer just up and freezes when you’ve been on it for too long? (Or on an Apple/Mac, you get that stupid, annoying rainbow wheel of death that just spins and spins and spins?) You wait; nothing happens. And after awhile, perhaps you pull out the ‘ol CTRL+ALT+Delete trick — to no avail.

So you power down, reboot and start fresh.

Life is honestly a lot like this, too. Or rather, it’s a pretty accurate depiction of the wavelength I’ve been on lately. Not in a bad or negative way, necessarily — just one that’s made me realize how mindful I need to be about managing myself away from the tunnel vision of an off-balanced work/life schedule.

… And even if it is only Tuesday, it’s okay to take some time to unplug, breathe and reboot.

*IN THIS POST:

Clothing

Black aviators: Ray-Ban (25% off on Nordstrom this week!)
Floral midi skirt: Trina Turk (two gorgeous options from Kate Spade & Vince Camuto)
Cognac-colored moto jacket: c/o Azalea SF (15% off with code Signup15)
Grey sweater: Old Navy chevron stich pullover (similar styles here)
Blush-colored pumps: Loeffler Randall (similar pair here)
Embossed clutch: Gigi New York (comes in many colors)

Beauty

Nail Polish: Essie ‘Really Red’ (similar shades here)
Hair styling: Living Proof’s No Frizz collection (get the introductory kit here)
Blush: NARS ‘The Multiple’ in Riviera (blended with NARS Kabuki brush)
Lipstick: NARS satin lip pencil in ‘Palais Royale’ (new fave!)
Tinted moisturizer: Jouer (with SPF20)

*Click to shop: printed midi skirts | NARS lip pencils | this post (below):

*Shop the trend: patterned midi skirts
*Buy from: Nordstrom, Kate Spade, Tibi, Shopbop

*Hallie’s picks: Vince camuto floral midi skirt, $129; Kate Spade dot print skirt, $328;

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Iron & Honey Photography