I adore the look of a cozy sweater when the weather is chilly. Unfortunately for me (and my bank account), I am super sensitive to most sweaters, and cashmere seems to be the only thing I can wear without needing to take twenty-seven Benadryls! Cashmere tends to be pricier and slightly more high maintenance than regular wool or cotton sweaters, solidly placing it in the splurge category. Luckily, as winter is winding down, this time of year is perfect to shop for these timeless sweaters. Most are on sale, and as long as you stick with basic solids or traditional stripes or prints, you can get years of wear out of them. I’ve linked to several great cashmere sweaters below, all of which are ON SALE (!!), priced under $200 (including a fabulous one under $50), and feature timeless silhouettes and colors. This Vince crewneck I’m wearing is 40% off with both free shipping and free returns.
Bright Spring Alternative to Your L.B.B. (Little Black Blazer)
Although Houston is having its first real winter in quite a few years (which I have LOVED!), we’re starting to get hints that spring is on its way. Little League has kicked off, Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo is just around the corner, and gala season is in full swing. When trying to decide what to wear for a dressy but not formal event, an L.B.B. (Little Black Blazer) is key for adding a little polish to any look. I often reach for my favorite Theory black blazer to pull a look together. Springtime, however, gives us a great opportunity to think outside the L.B.B. box! What better way than pretty pastels?!
Timeless Pieces for Every Wardrobe
Timeless pieces have a place in every woman’s wardrobe, especially those of us inching our way up in age! The older I get, the more I really try to be more intentional about the items I buy. And though I do love a good trend, my goal is to put my investment more into classic looks that will work from season to season and last for years without looking dated. I’ve put together a list of some pieces I think are timeless staples, and I’ve tried to include a variety of price points because classy looks can be found in any budget!
A Week of Whole 30 Dinners
Like everyone else, January for me has been a month of getting back on track after a VERY gluttonous holiday season! I started the Whole 30 program on January 8, and have been about 90% faithful to it for almost three weeks now. I like the Whole 30 because it’s not really a diet. It’s just about eating real foods. Proteins, vegetables, and fruits. If you’re like me, eating clean is not necessarily the challenging part; it’s the planning and executing! When you’re cutting out dairy, grains, soy, alcohol, and sugar, you can still make delicious meals, but you have to be a bit more intentional about it. You can’t hide an overcooked piece of chicken under a pile of cheese and call it a day! (I wouldn’t know anything about that, just heard that’s what some people might do…😳) I really like spice and complexity, so I always look at it a bit as a cooking challenge as well. I’ve put together a dinner meal plan below with some of my favorites. Each of these meals uses a loose “recipe” that can be customized according to what you like and what you have. I would gladly eat any of these dinners on any given night, not just during a Whole 30!
A Top for the Tropics
New year, new goals! One of which is to blog a little more regularly. Like most Houstonians, 2017 was a little crazy for In the Loop Style. One half of us flooded, both home and office, and the other half was displaced most of the summer by a plumbing leak. Truthfully, we were both just flat out not feeling it after the devastation of our city. And so…our blog fell a little by the wayside, but I’ve realized I miss it and plan to get back on track as much as my schedule allows!
I wrapped up an exhausting fall with a family Thanksgiving trip to celebrate both a milestone birthday and anniversary. We went from one hurricane-ravaged place to another. St. Barth had been on the books for a while, and though we contemplated canceling after Hurricane Irma struck the island in early September, we chose to make the journey despite the devastation. I’m so glad we did. What we found were resilient and loyal locals determined to restore this special Caribbean island. They were so grateful we had chosen to visit, and there was a special camaraderie not necessarily present on previous visits. Many of the beachside hot spots and all of the luxe hotels were shuttered during our stay, but there was immense beauty in the simplicity.
The trip found us staying in many nights, watching the sunset and eating dinner poolside at our villa while our kids’ cannonball splashes diluted our Sancerre! But we did venture out a little, and this blush Ulla Johnson silk top was perfect for the chic French restaurant scene. I gave it a Texas vibe with my vintage Squash Blossom necklace and kept things easy with the best skinny jeans and flat sandals (mine are two seasons ago from Target, but this pair by Loeffler Randall is very similar). This is a top that just feels special!