Stripes, Button-Up Denim, & the J.Crew Chateau Trench

Coat: J.Crew Chateau Trench in 'Barley'-- 20% off right now with code GETSHOPPING
Striped Tee: Topshop | Skirt: ASOS | Shoes: Converse | Bag: Chloe 'Drew' in 'Motty Gray'
Bracelet: Vita Fede | Watch: kate spade | Necklace: Roberto Coin | Earrings: Gorjana via Rocksbox

I'm sharing a casual spring look from the weekend today--we are still loving our early spring weather in Denver. (And it's hard to believe that bare legs are possible in early March!) The spring temperatures have brought us some rain instead of snow recently, and my new spring trench from J.Crew is perfect for cooler, damp weather.



You may remember that the J.Crew Chateau Parka was one of my favorite coats this winter (read my review here), so I was happy to see that J.Crew had taken the same silhouette and designed a similar spring coat in a lighter, water-resistant fabric. The Chateau Trench is lined in a darling gingham fabric and has slightly longer sleeves than the Parka, so turning up the cuffs to reveal the lining is a must.

I debated between the Barley color I got and the bright red Fiery Sunset for a bit. I love bright-colored outerwear, but I felt the more traditional color was a better fit with my mostly-neutral work wardrobe. I saw the bright red on Kelly in the City recently, and love how the color looks in contrast with the gingham lining, so if red works well in your closet, go for it!



Since the coat is advertised as water-resistant, I decided to take it for a spin while walking Stanley during a light evening shower. As raindrops hit me, I could see them bead up on the fabric and run off without any soaking through. While I'm not sure if it would keep you totally dry during a downpour, I'm happy with how the Chateau Trench protected me from the average spring rain. I also gave it a quick test under a faucet for about ten seconds, and my arm stayed dry even though the sleeve was completely wet on the outside.



As far as sizing goes, I took my normal 00P, but I noticed that other reviewers thought the fit was a little small in the shoulders. I've found that many of J.Crew's coats are on the smaller side in the shoulders, so if you're looking to layer underneath, it's often a good idea to size up. The bell shape of this coat (something I really like about it) is not as obvious in photos as it is in person. If you're looking for a more fitted, classic trench, this coat is probably not for you. I'd suggest the Icon Trench instead--it's also available in petite and regular sizing and is currently 20% off as well.

This button-through denim skirt is another new addition to my closet. I have a couple denim skirts in my wardrobe already, but I liked the A-line shape and 70's styling of this one. It's such a versatile piece and can be styled for warmer or cooler temperatures. At under $40, it was a budget-friendly option, too! When shopping at ASOS, keep in mind that their sizing runs quite small. I'm wearing a Petite 0 and could have probably gone up a size if I wanted it to sit a little lower on my waist.

Hope you had a great weekend--happy Monday!

x, Tam

Morning Radiance with St. Ives

Those of you who know me in real life know I am not a morning person at all. Rising and shining is definitely a daily struggle for me! Most days, I have to be out the door at a totally uncivilized hour, so I rely heavily on my morning routine to make sure I look and feel radiant.

Enter St. Ives and OatMeals--they sent along this lovely care package that made my mornings brighter this week. It contained two servings of OatMeals' special St. Ives Radiance Boost Bowl oatmeal in cute individual mason jars along with the new St. Ives Nourished and Smooth Oatmeal Body Scrub and Nourish and Soothe Oatmeal and Shea Butter Lotion, which gently soothes skin, restoring its natural radiance. I love that the lotion is made with 100% natural moisturizers, including shea butter and glycerin.



Here's a peek at what my mornings usually look like:

• First things first: a long, hot shower to wake me up. I like using an exfoliant like the Nourished and Smooth Oatmeal Body Scrub every other day to keep my skin soft and glowing.
• As soon as I'm out of the shower, I put lotion on while my skin is still damp to lock in the moisture. The Nourish and Soothe Oatmeal and Shea Butter Lotion smells great and keeps my skin from becoming dehydrated in our dry Colorado air.
• I wrap my hair with an absorbent towel, put on my cozy robe, and eat breakfast while I read my favorite news sites and blogs.
• Next I dry and style my hair, clip it back, then put on sunscreen and makeup.
• My last step is to put on the outfit I've laid out the night before (accessories and perfume included), pick up my already-packed bag, and rush out the door.

Breakfast is such an important part of starting my day. I'm often on my feet in court all morning, and there's no way I'd make it until lunchtime without a healthy and nutritious meal before work. Oatmeal has nutrients that are known to give the body energy and boost overall health, like whole grain and soluble fiber.



You can find more info on the St. Ives products I'm using here on their website. Both the body scrub and lotion are available at Target, and are a great value at $4.99 each.

I hope you enjoyed getting a glimpse into my morning routine! Have a wonderful weekend!

x, Tam

Thanks to St. Ives for sponsoring this post. The opinions and text are all mine.

Review: Chloe Drew Bag

Bag: Chloe Drew in "Motty Grey" with gold hardware, available at Nordstrom, or Farfetch
Outfit 1 (top right): details here
Outfit 2: (bottom left): details here

Today I'm sharing my review of the Chloe Drew bag you've seen so often here and on my Instagram feed lately. I first noticed this bag in street style shots at various Fashion Weeks and on celebrities about a year ago, and I've been admiring (okay, stalking) it online ever since. I love how it instantly elevates any outfit and gives the simplest looks a chic, ladylike vibe. Click through for my full review!

Holiday Cozy Outfit + J.Crew Chateau Parka Review + My Picks from the Best of Cyber Monday 2015

Coat: J.Crew | Sweater: J.Crew (40% off today with code MONDAY) | Denim: 7FAM (40% off today) | Boots: MICHAEL Michael Kors | Bag: Coach | Sunglasses: Karen Walker (part of Shopbop's Cyber Monday tiered promo with code GOBIG15) | Necklace: Slate + Earrings: Gorjana via Rocksbox | Watch: Michael Kors

Yesterday was a gray and chilly day in Denver, so Sean and I headed over to Union Station to get brunch and check out the pretty Christmas decorations. We braved the cold for a few photos but mostly stayed cozy inside. It was the perfect opportunity to test run my new Chateau Parka.



I've had this coat on my wishlist since last winter, and I waited and waited for it to go on sale as the $365 full price was a bit steep. Unfortunately, it never seems to be part of the percent-off promotions J.Crew often runs. I waited until they had a tiered promotion and went for it then. When it arrived, I was happy to see that the quality was similar to my other higher-end wool coats. There is some pretty topstitching on the zipper placket and all seams appear to be well-constructed.

I did find that there was a less expensive version of this coat at J.Crew Factory: the Vail Parka. I had the opportunity to try it on in person in regular sizing, and while the finishing wasn't quite as nicely done as it is on the retail version, and the wool isn't quite as heavy, it is still a very cute coat, and the price point is much more affordable. It is down to only $115 for select colors ($139 for the rest) today as part of their Cyber Monday deal.



I took my regular J.Crew coat/dress size, 00P, and it fit me as expected. I saw some reviews that advised to size down, but I disagree. The 00P was the right size for me, especially given that in cold temperatures, I want to be able to layer or wear bulkier sweaters under it. At 4'11", the petite sizing was the right choice for me, but if you're a couple inches taller, I'd consider trying this coat on in regular sizing to make sure the overall and sleeve length work for you.

Another common complaint I noted in reviews was that the body of the coat was "too big." The body is an A-line, swing coat shape and bells out at the bottom. For me, I liked the silhouette and found it looked flattering and different from my other wool coats. The swing shape and fur-trimmed hood were what ultimately convinced me that this piece would be something unique in my coat closet.



Yesterday's temperatures only reached a high of 27°F/-3°C, and I was comfortable taking an evening walk in this coat with a chunky sweater underneath. I was lamenting my failure to bring mittens or gloves, but the front pockets kept my hands relatively warm despite a chilly wind. I was warm and dry even when a light snow began to fall, but heavier snow or wetter conditions would mean bringing out my water-resistant down coat or parka.



I'm so excited for decorating my house this week now that we've returned from our Thanksgiving weekend in the mountains. I am trying to get my shopping done as soon as I can to make the Christmas season as stress-free as possible. If your inbox looks anything like mine, making a plan for shopping today is a struggle. Here's my culled and curated list of Cyber Monday deals and my favorite pieces from each:

• Nordstrom: sale prices up to 60% off + price matching. My top picks are here.
• Bloomingdale's: 25% off almost everything, including fine jewelry + a rare 10% off most beauty items with code BEAUTY10
• J.Crew: 40% off 507 styles, including the sweater I'm wearing in this post
• J.Crew Factory: 50% off + an extra 15% off + free shipping. My picks: this plaid skirt and this incredibly soft buffalo check scarf.
• Hanky Panky: Signature Sale with 30-40% off classic styles with petite sizes available.
• Loren Hope: 20% off with code THANKFULLY (including the Blythe Necklace I'm wearing here).
• 7 For All Mankind: 40% off full-price items (including the white jeans I'm wearing in this post) + 20% off sale + $99 styles for men and women.
• Madewell: get 25% off your entire purchase, including already marked down items. I have my eye on this gorgeous Zip Transport Tote as a potential new work tote and this cute checked cape scarf as an easy one-size-fits-all gift.
• Shopbop: spend-more-save-more promo with code GOBIG15. If you spend $250, you will get 15% off; $500+ gets 20% off; and $1,000+ gets 25% off. This offer includes all full-price and sale merchandise. A few of my go-to pieces: Karen Walker sunglasses, Clare V leopard clutch, and these distressed J Brand skinnies.
• Ann Taylor: 50% off all items + free shipping with code EVERYTHING. This burgundy lace dress and festive red skirt caught my eye.
  
• LOFT: 50% off everything with code CYBER50 + free shipping. I have this sweater in gray (runs large) and this sweater in ruby (runs small) and both have gotten lots of wear already this fall.

Hope you find some great deals and stay warm this Cyber Monday! x, Tam

Fall Color + an Updated Frye Melissa Boot Review

Jacket: J.Crew (this year's longer version here) | Sweater: J.Crew in XXSP | Denim: 7FAM | Boots: The Frye Company (also at Zappos) | Sunglasses: Valentino | Jewelry: Gorjana via Rocksbox

After going bare-legged for the last few days, I finally reached for jeans and my favorite Frye boots yesterday morning after a "winter storm" blew through Denver the night before. The storm didn't quite meet expectations, but we had a nice, crisp fall day afterward. The sunlight coming through the trees was just gorgeous on our walk to a brunch spot in our neighborhood.



I wrote a review of the Frye Melissa Button Boots previously when I bought them, but I thought it worth mentioning again how much I love them. The lower shaft height, narrow calf, and slim ankle make the Melissa Buttons a great style for petite ladies. I own them in two colors, distressed black and the pretty reddish color I'm wearing here (cognac seems to be the closest current color), and they have held up well over the last couple years. I'm not particularly gentle with them and often wear them to walk longer distances in cooler weather. I try to avoid overly wet conditions, but a splash here or there or snow on the ground doesn't seem to affect them at all.

Hope you're having a wonderful week!

x, Tam

Exercise and Meditation with YOGASMOGA

Tank and Shorts thanks to YOGASMOGA | Earrings: Nadri

As I mentioned in my post a little while ago about my tips for reducing stress and anxiety, I like to make sure exercise and meditation are part of my routine. For exercise, I like running, yoga, and HIIT (high-intensity interval training) workouts. As a former gymnast, gymnastics conditioning workouts (I find them on YouTube) feel familiar and fun for me, and it's amazing how little time it has taken to become much stronger with HIIT added to my exercise regimen.

I use the Headspace app on my iPhone for easy-to-follow guided meditation, but after using it for a while, I've found I've improved my ability to meditate on my own. It's still hard for me to do for longer periods of time, so I keep my meditations short and set a timer. I focus on checking in with and relaxing each part of my body, counting my breaths, and being aware of the environment around me.

To motivate myself to continue to engage in these two stress-busting habits, I like to make sure I'm outfitted with cute, well-fitting, comfortable, and functional workout clothing. A little while ago, YOGASMOGA asked me for feedback on some of their workout gear. I really liked the tank and shorts I'm wearing in the photos above. In an XXS (regular sizing), the Tickle Me Tank is a good fit for me, and the straps and overall length are petite-friendly. The foldover detail in the front is pretty and comfortable, and the band at the bottom keeps the top from slipping pr riding up during inversions and planks. The Sweet N Short shorts were also a good, compressive fit for me in a 2, and the length was such that I didn't need to adjust them constantly, a concern I often have with shorter shorts. Unfortunately, YOGASMOGA doesn't offer petite lengths for leggings or long-sleeved tops, which makes those items too long for my shorter arms and legs. (Note: I've found this to be a common issue with workout gear, and I've had my tailor successfully shorten leggings that don't have too much detailing near the hem.) I'm excited to get a lot of wear out of these pieces.

The weather looks lovely in Denver this holiday weekend, and I'm planning to fit in some exercise and lots of R&R!

Have a wonderful Labor Day Weekend!

x, Tam

Thanks to YOGASMOGA for sponsoring this post. All opinions, styling, and content are my own.

Transitioning to Fall: J.Crew Denim Jacket & rag + bone Margot Booties

Jacket: J.Crew | Top: Anthropologie (last styled here) | Skirt: Urban Outfitters | Booties: rag + bone 'Margot' Bag: Coach | Sunglasses: Karen Walker | Necklace: Loren Hope c/o Rocksbox (detailed Rocksbox review here) Earrings: Gorjana c/o Rocksbox | Watch: Michael Kors

Last fall, I got my first pair of rag + bone booties, the 'Newbury' style from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale (see me style them here). After finding them to be very cute and comfy, I then decided to add the 'Harrow' booties to my collection over the winter. When I started walking in them and found that the 3.5" heel felt like no heel at all, I was hooked (full review here). Now I've fallen hard for another style: the 'Margot,' which I'm wearing in this post. I had initially ordered them in black, but found the leather to look too similar to my Newburys and returned them; I was thrilled to finally snag a camel pair (thank you, Nordstrom Customer Service!).

Similar to my Harrows, the Margots are extremely comfortable, and it's hard to believe how high the heel is when you walk in them. The camel suede is a beautiful color, and it has a nice leg-lengthening effect. I like the ankle area of these more than my Harrows, actually, as it's more fitted for petite ankles. I'm wearing these now with skirts and shorts, but they'll transition nicely into cooler fall weather. A tip if you decide to spring for a pair: rag + bone footwear seems to run about a size small. I normally wear a 35 (5-5.5 US) in designer shoes, and 36 fits me well in all the styles I've mentioned here.

J.Crew has started offering some of their petite line in XXXSP and 000P, and when I saw this cute denim jacket on Kelly of Alterations Needed, I ordered an XXXSP to try myself. I think I would have been fine with my usual XXSP given how this jacket fits, but I like how slim this one is. Although it's too fitted on me for layering with long-sleeved tops, it's a nice late summer/early fall jacket. I'm looking forward to wearing it more often soon, but I'm going to fully enjoy the 90+ temperatures forecasted for this weekend.

Happy Friday!

x, Tam

Beachy Vibes

Top: Urban Outfitters | Shorts: 7 For All Mankind (also on sale here with some small sizes left) | Hat: Anthropologie (mine was on sale in store, but found this one and this one in the online sale section) | Bag: Longchamp | Shoes: Tory Burch | Sunglasses: Karen Walker | Watch: Michael Kors | Necklace: Loren Hope c/o Rocksbox (detailed Rocksbox review here) | Bracelet: Vintage | Right Hand Ring: c/o Rocksbox

Our wonderful, relaxing family week at the beach is drawing to a close--just like summer, sadly. I'm looking forward to all the new fall stuff I'm starting to see in stores, but I have been making a point this week to just take in the happiness of summer to try and get myself refreshed and ready to #GSD at work. Later this week, I'm going to post about my recent mindfulness mini-project of focusing on the good and really letting it soak into my thoughts and increase my happiness and satisfaction. Stay tuned if you want to join in!

A little about what I'm wearing: I've been looking for the perfect pair of destructed denim shorts all summer, and after sending back a couple pairs from J Brand and rag + bone, two of my go-to denim labels, I was thinking I might not find something that worked before summer ended. I kept finding the shorts to be too "boyfriend" styled, and my normal size was slouching right off my hips. I then ran across the 7FAM pair I'm wearing here, and they were a good fit for me size-wise (23 for reference), and they were just the color and level of distressing I had wanted. I've been wearing them a ton here at the beach!

My sandals are the Tory Burch pair that was available during Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale at a discount. The price has gone up, unfortunately, but knowing what I know now, I would be seriously considering buying them at full price. They are so elegant and comfortable; I've actually been wearing them as commuting shoes to work for a couple weeks, and I have gotten tons of compliments on them. If you missed out on these during the #NSale, snap them up now, or just add them to your wishlist and wait until the price drops again.

I'm still loving my Rocksbox subscription, which this month surprised me with the Loren Hope necklace I've had wishlisted for a while. It's so much fun to have a constantly rotating jewelry closet and to get a variety of pieces of higher-end costume jewelry to wear that ordinarily would be out of my budget. If you want to sign up too and give it a try, you can get a month free with my code: helloframboisexoxo.

That's all for now! Hope you've enjoyed your weekend!

x, Tam

Weekend Vibe + A Couple Reviews of my Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Picks

Top: Urban Outfitters (on sale!) | Denim: ASOS | Shoes: Joie via the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale (#NSale) | Bag: Mansur Gavriel (hint: these are notoriously hard to find, but you can pre-order one at Barney's right now!) | Bracelet: Vintage | Earrings: Nadri via the #NSale

Some of the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale picks from my previous post have finally arrived! While not everything is summer-appropriate of course, I thought I'd show you a look with couple pieces that I was able put to work right away and will transition easily into fall, my Joie lace-up sandal-booties and the Nadri Ear Jackets. Remember, the Anniversary Sale is still going on this week, but prices go up on August 3.



I've been looking at earrings in this style (with a back jacket) for a while now, and these pretty Nadri ones really caught my eye while I was browsing the Anniversary Sale. I was delighted to find that they are even prettier in person, and they are light as air on my ears.

I find it difficult to wear heavy earrings for an entire day; these are so light I even forgot to take them out before bed and had no trouble sleeping in them. The jackets have a couple different holes where you can insert the earring, so you can control how low you want them to hang below your ear. The backs are nice and sturdy, so you don't have to worry about them loosening or falling out. I think I'll be wearing these a ton this summer and fall!



One of my other favorite pieces I ordered from the #NSale? These Joie sandals (booties? a hybrid?). Getting into them takes a little effort, but once they're on, I found them to be very comfortable as long as I left myself plenty of room in the laces. The heel on them is a very walkable stiletto, and the leather is buttery-soft, so no blister issues there. I'm excited to style these in a bunch of different ways--they have so much potential!



I wore the look in this post yesterday, which was a very busy Sunday. Because of our work schedules, Sean and I don't get to run many errands during the week, so we jam as many as we can into our weekends. When we stopped to quickly take these photos, we had a car full of groceries, so I decided to grab my bunch of supermarket roses and use it as a prop here.



This location is another great Denver spot. Behind me you can see the interesting architectural features of the Denver Art Museum, and I'm standing on the promenade between the museum and the Denver Public Library. There are some fascinating pieces of public art around this park--here's a little more info on some of the big pieces if you're interested.

Happy Monday!

x, Tam

Hello, Framboise + Rocksbox (+ a Free Month of Sparkle)

Cardigan: GAP | Tee: J.Crew Factory | Vest: ZARA Kids | Denim: J Brand (26" inseam = great no-alterations petite jeans!) | Boots: rag & bone | Bag: Valentino | Sunglasses: Karen Walker | Watch: Michael Kors | Earrings: J.Crew | Tricolor Gold Bracelet: Vintage | "V" Necklace: Gorjana via Rocksbox | "X" Ring: Wanderlust + Co. via Rocksbox | Labradorite Bangle: Margaret Elizabeth via Rocksbox

Guys, I am really excited about today's post! I've teamed up with Rocksbox to share some details on their fun jewelry subscription service with you and to give you all a month of free jewels if you sign up within the next 30 days! In order to get the month free, just enter the code helloframboisexoxo in the promo box when you sign up, and pretty designer baubles will be on their way to your door shortly.

Here's how it works: you sign up and create an account, part of which includes taking a style survey to help the Rocksbox stylists learn more about your taste in jewels. Just FYI: as part of the sign-up, you enter payment info, but you are not obligated to buy anything at all unless you love it and want to keep what you receive! You also get a 20% discount off MSRP should you decide to keep any pieces.

Once your stylist has your info, you'll get a notice that your first Rocksbox has shipped with three pieces for you to borrow. I'm wearing all three of my pieces from my first box in the pic above: a Gorjana "V" necklace, Margaret Elizabeth bangle, and Wanderlust + Co. "X" ring (links are to sites where they are available to purchase, but you can borrow the same pieces from Rocksbox then buy at a discount!).

You can borrow the pieces for as long as you like, but whenever you're ready for new pieces, you just pack up the ones you have (unless you've decided to keep any of them) and return them using the label and padded envelope that comes included in your original package. As soon as they receive your return package, your stylist gets to work picking out a new set for you. I just did my first exchange, and I think it was about two hours between when I saw they got my return and when I got my new shipping notification and tracking info. Shipping time is quick (about 2 days) and by USPS, with no signatures required, so it's really easy to send and receive.

While you can definitely let your stylist do all the choosing, you can also request pieces through the wishlist on the Rocksbox site or through their Instagram (@rocksbox). You can then check back and see which wishes have been fulfilled and add to your list when new pieces are posted. So far, I've really enjoyed having shiny new jewels to mix in with my old standards--hope you guys have as much fun as I have trying it out!

Happy Valentine's Day!

x, Tam

Disclosure: I was gifted a three-month subscription to Rocksbox in exchange for posting about my experience. All opinions here are my own.

Cozy Plaid (+ Sorel Slimpack Riding Boot Review)

Sweater: Anthropologie | Jeans: J Brand (the Mid-Rise Crop with its 27" inseam is perfect for no-alterations, ankle-length petite jeans) | Boots: Sorel 'Slimpack Riding' | Bag: Coach | Scarf: ASOS (currently out of stock, similar here) | Watch: Michael Kors

Since I haven't been able to do outfit photos during the week lately (Standard Time means I usually leave work well after dark), I've had to cluster my photo shoots on the weekends, which seem to be the only time it snows here. Although I prefer sunshine, I was happy to give my new Sorels a test run last weekend to see how they held up in cold, wet conditions.

I love my Frye boots, but they are definitely not made for wet weather, and my Hunter rain boots aren't always warm enough when it's really chilly. I decided to try out the Sorel Slimpack Riding Boots to fill the need for something "in between" during our Colorado winters. For mixing form with function, I liked the combination of leather upper + rubber shoe and sole + microfleece lining.

I found the sizing to run small. I normally wear a 5-5.5, and I ordered a 6 in these, which fit well for me with winter socks. While the calf area is pretty wide for smaller legs, the back has an adjustable tab that can be tightened to make them smaller. While this creates a bit of an awkward fold, I didn't find it to be uncomfortable or noticeable while I was wearing the boots.

Overall, they were comfortable right off the bat, and I wore them for an afternoon of walking and shopping at an outdoor mall with no break-in time necessary. My only complaint was that they were almost too warm for indoors when doing so much walking; while outdoors, on the other hand, I was cozy and warm in 20-degree weather. So far, I have found them to be waterproof in snow, slush, and rain, but I haven't given them a try in deep snow or big puddles. I'm planning to update this post with that info once I get to test them out in those conditions (I'm crossing my fingers for some snow this week in the mountains!).

Hope you're having a lovely Christmas week!

x, Tam