Embellish It :: sweater + blouse + OTK boots

An embellished sweater can change your life. Hear me out: ever have one of those days/nights when you know you have to look 'nice' (whatever that may mean) but you're so not in the mood to get dolled up and wear something that has any potential of being uncomfortable, unattractive, or unpredictable? WELL, introducing the embellished sweater - aka the answer to your fashion problems (cue applause). 

A decked-out sweater is not only an answer to the infamous question, "What should I wear tonight?" It's the answer to said question. This structured knit is made out of wool, which makes it super warm, but it's also the perfect piece for a special occasion. The gemstones give it polish but the soft texture and generous fit make it ideal for T-shirt lovers everywhere. Yay, win-win for everybody! 

This sparkle sweater tee looks fantastic on it its own, but I layered it over a simple button-up to give it an extra splash of elegance. Fun fact: I got way too excited when I saw this exact top in none other than InStyle magazine! It was a featured piece in their December issue and an InStyle editor was quoted telling the world how amazing this piece is. But even better, I already owned this baby before I ever saw it in the magazine... :) 

The trick to pulling off wow-worthy embellishment during the day? Grounding gleaming pieces with a dark neutral like black and/or denim. 

These glittery earrings echo the crystals on my top. And because I didn't need a necklace, I wanted something a smidge dramatic to increase the party vibe of this look even more. 

This Tiffany Blue purse is such a dream, isn't it? I love Kate Spade to death and this bag of hers is near perfection. From its attention-grabbing color, structured silhouette, and bow detail, this purse makes one heck of a companion. I love wearing it with neutrals to make it really stand out! 

With such a stellar sweater as this, there's no overwhelming need to go hog wild on the accessories. I kept my extras pretty simple, like with this elegant cuff by Ted Baker. It's hard to resist a dainty accent! 

Photos by Dan Harper 

[sweater: Ann Taylor // white blouse: Ann Taylor // jeans: Gap // boots: Ann Taylor (similar here) // purse: Kate Spade // earrings: Ann Taylor (old but I also like this pair) // cuff: Ted Baker (similar here) // pom pom keychain: Michael Kors // watch: Mark Jacobs]

So NYC finally got its first snow over the weekend! I'm telling you, we've been so spoiled with this unseasonably warm weather and I am not hating it! In my opinion, temps should not be allowed to dip beneath 35 degrees. But it WAS magical to experience the snowfall - even if it didn't stick! 

SHOP ::