For the longest, over-the-knee boots have been in the spotlight. Though I've always wanted to own a good pair of OTK boots of my own, for some reason, it kind of slipped my radar. With the fashion seasons going through some strange times this year, I'm so excited to see some everyday-wearing trends come full circle. I've always been a big fan of knee-high boots. Something about tall boots that aren't too dominating for any outfits yet still serves as a statement just makes a lot more sense for my capsule fall wardrobe.
It just happened that I was in a fisherman village in Kyoto this past week so this outfit was definitely channeling some fisherman style. If you've been following me for a while, then you probably have already seen this pair of color-block pants styled a few different ways. Hopefully, this will inspire you to dig up some of your favorite pieces to refresh with a pair of knee-high boots.
I went through a period of my life when sneakers, jeans and an oversized shirt or sweater would do. But this was way back in middle/high school, when my parents could barely afford rent each month. As a little girl who grew up wearing a different dress everyday before I moved to the States, this American Dream uniform didn’t really bother me since it was something different than I was used to.
The idea of wearing over the knee boots then would have been thrown completely over my head. Before these thigh high and over the knee boots were introduced, the to-go was ankle boots and knee high socks instead.
Maybe it’s because we’re all basically running out of ideas or getting lazier over the years - knee high boots seemed like they would be a more efficient replacement for the two steps process of wearing ankle boots with knee high socks. In reality though, it takes me about 20 more minutes to put on most over the knee boots as it take to do it the older, cheaper way.
Even so, being a part of this over-spoiled generation, I too, ditched the knee high socks with ankle boots thing, and acquainted myself with the update.
The comeback of biker shorts was something completely out of hindsight for me. To say it is timely would be a little inappropriate because it's not like we all were looking forward to a 2020 spent mostly indoors and leaving our homes just to throw out the trash or pick up groceries.
Biker shorts took a bit to grow on me especially because it was something I felt too casual to incorporate into a "going-out" outfit. Fast forward to fall and as things are starting to resume here in Tokyo, biker shorts are my go-to for oversized t-shirts and sweaters. Usually, I'd pair them with my usual sneakers, but they are surprisingly chic with a pair of knee-high boots.
If you haven't added a pair of knee-high boots to your fall/winter wardrobe-- what are you waiting for? I'm pretty late to the knee-high boots game myself because I got my first pair only just last year. You might have seen me style a few outfits from summer through fall with my black suede boots, but I'm excited to add these brown croc ones to my collection too. I especially love the versatility of knee-high boots for the fall because you can rock them with midi dresses layered under cozy knits, or even tuck in some trousers for a more utilitarian look. Here I'm just going for a simple black dress and a structured black blazer for some form and topping it off with this brown pair of boots that's the perfect fall statement.
First week into November and I just got around to sharing this mini dress that I picked up over the summer. I've been a big fan of the brand Aje for the longest, and with everything that took place this year, I decided that I would treat myself to a dress that I usually wouldn't spend this much on for my birthday, back in August. In my defense, the dress has pockets. And here I am showing you just two out of the multiple ways that I've worn this dress so far. If you're interested, it also comes in white, and it'll live in your closet for the next 3-5 years.
It might just be human instincts, but everyone seems to start putting away their dresses as soon as the temperature drops below 50 degrees, but for me, dresses are just so fun to style in the Fall and into Winter. On milder days, an oversized sweater over any of your summer dresses can be one of the quickest ways to decide what to wear on mornings when you can't choose between a hoodie with shorts or a loose top with regular pants. One of my go-to is to just throw on a bomber jacket over a mini dress like this with some knee-high boots. The trick is, if it's bulkier on top, keep it chic with sleek shoes, and if it is a dress that has a fuller skirt, then go for chunkier and bolder footwear.
This isn't the first time you've seen me in this pair of color-blocked pants that I've scored on a sale from Petar Petrov, but I'm pretty sure that you're not sick of them at all (because everytime I share them, I get such a boost of confidence from all the compliments that I get). Fall is my favorite season for so many reasons, but fashion-wise, I get excited to try and style some of my favorite pieces again for cooler temps.
When you think of color-blocking in 2022, many of us will think of bright and bold colors right away, but to speak to how circular trends are, I love how these neutral color-block pair of pants have been working for me for the past three or so years (so that's like six fashion cycles). Of all of the clothing pieces that I cherish, these pants are one of the ones I've blogged the most of: 'Trifecta', 'Color-blocking', with Aedye knee-high boots, and Jimmy Choo crystal flats. I recently found a cute sweater that just went perfectly with them. It's always so exciting to build on my current wardrobe with new pieces. Unfortunately this color block sweater from Ciao Lucia is sold out, but I will be sure to share other color-block finds via Instagram if I come across any.
The general awareness of sustainable fashion brands and conscious consumption of clothing has increased tremendously in recent years. As someone who has been quietly advocating for a more thoughtful approach to participating in this ever-changing fashion industry, I'm really happy to see this shift in mindset. Personally, I think it’s extremely important to consider our consumption of clothing first and foremost while urging for a more sustainable fashion industry. At the end of the day, most fashion brands are businesses and the principle of any thriving business is products and demands.
Plus, let's say you're one of those people who don't believe in the fact that your small action will make a dent in the world, then I suggest looking inward and seeing if being more considerate about your consumption improves your day to day life. One of the reasons why I've always been passionate about fashion is that, I think it extremely poetic that, no matter who you are, you are always dressed in something specific about your life.
I can safely assume that for anyone who has started their journey on creating a staple wardrobe or have established a capsule wardrobe, that getting dressed has gotten much easier and that you now find joy and full comfort in the clothing that you naturally gravitate to. And I'm sure you have started to understand how important it is to have a wardrobe that is easy to access and reliable on a day to day basis.
Dress by Rixo - in Bali (left) and Mexico City (right).
That said, one thing that I don’t think is talked about enough is a sustainable vacation wardrobe. It’s very common and quite honestly understandable in this day and age to think about going on a trip and being excited to wear all your cutest clothes (that are most likely going to be new). I can't say that I'm 100% not guilty of this either, but seeing how some of my favorite dresses (like the bubble-gum pink dress I'm wearing above) have been repeating themselves on all of my trips in these past couple of years, I noticed a few patterns that I want to share to help you start collecting those vacation pieces to be more conscious of your travel/vacation clothing purchases.
Opposites Attract
While my day to day style consists of very basic and neutral pieces, I noticed that the pieces that I do end up packing (usually as back-up outfits) are louder and are definitely more statement pieces. I think this speaks volume to personal psychology as generally, I want to feel more "dressed up" than my usual when I'm away. I believe this could work opposite for those who have a more colorful and bolder style in the reverse way. I would definitely say if your everyday style is prints and color, a really good solid neutral maxi/midi dress could be that piece that you can safely count on for all of your future travels. And of course, vice-versa if you are like me.
Weather-proof
Ok, I don't mean that your dress is also a windbreaker- so hear me out. I think when purchasing a dress, it's really important to think about how versatile it can be worn. Whenever a dress arrives to me, I always try it on with several different types of shoes, layering pieces (such as jackets, sweaters, and blazers), and either tucked in as a top or worn as a skirt. Having a dress being able to simply go with two different type of shoes already guarantees that it can be worn with knee boots under for fall weather, or with sneakers/sandals in a more tropical location.
Get It On Sale
This one isn't mandatory but happens to be something that I noticed between all of my favorite dresses, and yes, they were all bought on sale. When talking about sustainability, no one really mentions about how inaccessible some brands might be and how that's directly unsustainable for our means of living (depending on your income and tax bracket of course). But, I find that waiting a period of time makes a dress that much more special knowing I have had it in my cart, and have been thinking about it all season long. And that extra attention to the piece helps me make sure that it's not an impulse buy as well. Plus, since I'll be repeating it for trips to come, I don't feel too bad about not being able to wear it right away.
If I had to sum up this year in a few words, I would say “It was fun while it lasted.” The view, from where I am, looking back, is quite nice.
That’s why I’m getting a little more festive this time and throwing a dress over myself to ring in the new year.
For someone who likes recycling clothes as if I’m on a mission to milk the most out of everything I own - I couldn’t just buy a dress to wear it once. This velvet slip however, had me at pockets!
In New York City, it’s always cold for New Years, and luckily turtlenecks are in this year because I love how they look under a cami silhouette. But just incase it’s a little warmer, I opted for a lace bralette under, a slouchy coat and over the knee boots for a sleek touch.
As the year comes to an end, there’s this feeling of excitement that comes over me. 2015 has been such a great year, and I think it’s the first year where I was able to fulfill some of my resolutions, which I generally forget easily a few days after all of the celebration.
2015 closed a really important chapter of my life. As I turned 22, graduating college, and finding my very first full-time job was two of the top things on my to-do list as they will pave ways into some of the things that I have in mind for 2016. I was lucky enough to travel to several places this year, Italy was definitely a highlight and I can’t wait to explore the rest of it in the near future. As I get older, the list of things that are important has definitely grown shorter, but traveling has somehow made it’s way up that condensed list of priorities.
For now, 2016 will be a year where I will have the opportunity to start fresh. First up on my list will be to kill all of my student loans, and of course, the second, is to collect more stamps in my Passport.
Were you able to keep some of your resolutions this year? And what are your resolutions for 2016?
