Autumn Trend: Military-Inspired

Last year for Christmas, I was browsing several of my favorite brands online, seeing what they had to offer, and creating a bit of a wish list. While on the Converse website, I found a pair of chucks that I wanted and was going to leave it at that when I decided to look through the apparel that they offered. I really enjoyed their laid back designs as they seemed to appeal to my 'rebellious' side. Then I came across a jacket in their outerwear section that really took me by surprise.

It was an olive green military-inspired parka that had a removable faux fur lining and fluffy brown faux fur around the hood.* They advertised it as a 3-in-1 utility jacket because you could wear it one of three ways (taking out the fur definitely makes it more spring/fall appropriate - see above). Something about it struck me as a piece that I could get a lot of use out of and it was unique to other jackets that I had been looking at for cold weather. My mother shot me a strange look when I showed it to her and gave me a hard time about making it my Christmas gift. I think she sees the light now with the impending fall trends as military styles seem to be taking over again.

Though the trend has been peeking in-and-out these past few years, I feel like this autumn it will really catch on and come into its own. Many 2012 Fall RTW runway presentations (including my personal favorite, Burberry) showed wonderful military-inspired designs from skinny cargo pants to lace-up boots and of course, the army-like utility jacket. The trend was all but cemented for me the other day when a very popular fashion blogger, Blair from Atlantic-Pacific, used a military-inspired jacket in one of her oh-so put together outfits that she called Party. She paired it with feminine pieces like a lovely Kate Spade feathered skirt and Giuseppe Zanotti leopard print heels. It looked really pulled together and fits perfectly with the summer-to-autumn transition.

I am really looking forward to using the jacket more this autumn and winter as I will be walking to work and utilizing its fur lining. Paired with thick leggings, a comfy sweater, and boots (or perhaps some lovely leopard loafers), this jacket will keep me warm and stylish. Take that mom (in a teasing way of course, I do love my mother very much)!

What autumn trends are you looking forward to this year? Some more that I'm looking to incorporate into my wardrobe include: the leather look, peplum silhouettes, borrowed-from the boys classics, and luxe detailing (especially when it comes to accessories).

:: katiegolightly x

everything is my own including opinions, photographs, and rambles alike. this is not sponsored.

*sadly, Converse is no longer offering the jacket, but many retailers have similar designs!

Small Haul: Shoes for Fall

As you might guess, I am a little overly excited for fall weather to begin. This summer has been brutally hot and particularly muggy. I'm all for some sunshine but not so much for baking and sweating to death. Fall is the season of comfortable sweaters paired with comfortable leggings and of course, comfortable shoes! While I was doing my 'grocery shopping' a few days ago at (you guessed it) Target, I noticed some of their cute fall shoes and decided to try some of them on which resulted in a few purchases that my husband wasn't too thrilled with. I am really impressed with these shoes as they are very on-trend but at affordable Target prices and very comfortable. Here are two pair that I picked up.

First let me start by saying that I have been searching for leopard printed loafers ever since last fall. I was especially keen on the Steve Madden pair but wasn't too comfortable with their price ($70-90 USD). When I spotted these I was very surprised by both the quality and look of the shoes. They are comparable in style to the Steve Maddens but are far more comfortable in my opinion. The leopard print isn't as large and lovely as the Steve Madden shoes, but it is still a nice print and doesn't come off cheap. The best part of these shoes is that they can be paired with just about anything. I can see myself mostly using them with skinny jeans and leggings, but feel they can be dressed up or dressed down depending on the occasion. The leopard print and several other colors are available in store and at target.com for $19.99 (what a bargain)!

The second pair I picked up are these short-style booties that have a bit of a western feel to them but will be a lovely touch to any outfit this fall. I love that they have a bit of a heel on them, but it is a perfect height that doesn't make them a pain to walk in. As I have a 20-minute walk to work every day, this was an important part of my decision to purchase them. I think these will pair nicely with leggings or skinny jeans and an oversized sweater. They could also go nicely with a casual dress but it will depend on how pale my legs get this autumn! The short boots trend has definitely carried over from last year so these will definitely come in handy. This style is available at target.com and also comes in black at the reasonable price of $29.99. 

I know that wasn't the largest haul you've ever seen, but as I get better at this blogging thing, I will give you guys a peek into all the items I purchased this summer in preparation for the fall season. Let me know what you think of the shoes, what you'd wear them with, and if you enjoyed this post. Thanks so much for reading!

:: katie golightly x

everything is my own including opinions, photographs, and rambles alike. this is not sponsored.