Cheryl Shops

I no longer know what day it is, what time of year it is, or where I'm supposed to be right now, which may explain the hot mess that is this outfit. The centerpiece is a boilersuit, or jumpsuit, and because it's spring (I think) and the weather has been all over the place, that may explain why I'm wearing a leather jacket and suede sandals with it. Earlier in the day, I was almost sweating while walking the dog, yet when we went out to shoot this, it became inexplicably chilly. And yet, I wanted to wear both this jumpsuit and these sandals, which Vionic sent me ages ago and yet it's been too cold to even think about putting them on, until now. Somehow throwing a leather jacket onto all of this seemed like an easy fix. I don't know...maybe it works? You be the judge.

Probably every blogger you follow has been talking about the Sephora Spring Savings Event recently, and for good reason—Sephora rarely offers blanket discounts. And while everyone has their favorite products to recommend, I'd like to think that mine come from a specific point of view. I rarely talk about my day job here on the blog, but for those of you who don't know me personally, I work at Sephora's corporate offices as an editorial creative director. Yes, it's pretty much a dream job, I love it, and I know I'm lucky to have it. As part of my job, I'm exposed to a lot of products, so I have pretty strong opinions on what works and what doesn't. In other words, I'm pulling rank here! So if you're in a place to be spending money right now, here's what I recommend. Don't forget to use code SPRINGSAVE through 4/29.

Back when I was in Paris (it feels like ages ago although it was only last month), I noticed all of the coolest women were wearing flared-leg jeans. At first, I thought, "Been there, done that," but Parisians have that effortlessly chic way of wearing anything that just convinces you to just go for it. At the ripe age of 42, I feel like I've lived through at least two rounds of flared jeans in my lifetime, but it appears they're on the verge of another comeback. And while I normally take a pass on trends I've already endured, I'll generally make an exception for denim. Thankfully I held on to a pair of flares from about 12 years ago, the last time they were in fashion, and I'm glad I did, because here we are. So here's how to style flared denim and not look like your 18-year-old self.

In a pretty stark contrast to last week's all-knit outfit, I'm in all wovens this week. And while normally this outfit would seem pretty casual, I felt rather dressed up wearing clothes with buttons and zippers! That said, this is a look that I more or less wore in London last month, but I had to keep the jacket zipped up because it was so chilly. It's definitely still on the cool side here, but these lighter colors at least look a little springy—hence why I jumped at the chance to shoot it again under some pretty blossoming trees. Here's how it all came together.

While Tuesday's outfit post was all about reality, this one is about escapism. IRL, I've pretty much been living in leggings and sweatpants, however once a week I put on a skirt and it makes me feel human again. And while I know there are bigger things to be worrying about right now, I'd like to offer a bit of optimism via fashion: soon life will return to normal, the weather will warm up, and we can dress up to honor the beauty in life once again. I have a feeling that's why this pin from my Outfit ideas for ageless style Pinterest board has been so popular lately, so in preparation for brighter days ahead, let's re-create the look. 

I know what you're thinking, so I'm going to cut to the chase: yes, I am wearing sweatpants AND Uggs at the same time. To be honest, I did it on the regular before this coronavirus thing happened, however it was usually while walking my dog early in the morning and it rarely showed up here. But these are strange days, and times have certainly changed. I am definitely dressing for comfort nowadays, however I spend most of my time on Zoom calls for work, so I do need to look somewhat presentable. Perhaps you've heard of this concept as "dressing from the waist up" and that's exactly what this outfit is: a somewhat presentable ensemble on top and a hot mess on the bottom. I encourage you to fully embrace it. 

So you're working (and schooling and eating and working out and relaxing) at home for the foreseeable future and the temptation to wear sweatpants every day is strong. I won't stop you—I have a dedicated sweatpants outfit post coming next week—but in case you want to change it up a bit, here are some comfy outfit ideas for when you're sheltering in place.

I'm going to cut to the chase and acknowledge the elephant in the room, which is that, yes, I am wearing a dress. A somewhat dressy dress. In the middle of a global pandemic when I'm supposed to be sheltering in place. And yes, even though I'm allowed out in public to exercise and make supply runs, I felt very obvious walking around my neighborhood in a zebra-print maxi dress. I'd like to think it's because this dress is so beautiful—and it is—but when everyone else in your vicinity is wearing athleisure and you're in a floor-length gown, you can't help but stick out like a sore thumb. That said, I have contractual obligations and social distancing was fully observed while shooting this post. Plus, we'll be able to return to normal soon, so might as well dress for it, right? Right! So let's talk about this dress that I can't wait to wear again for real.

Apologies for totally bailing on the blog last week. I had a ridiculously busy week at work and, honestly, was not feeling super inspired to write. After a very relaxing weekend, however, I've recharged my batteries, and I'm back. It still feels a little silly to be writing about fashion right now, but maybe we can all use a little distraction? Either way, if you have any topics you'd like me to cover, feel free to leave them in the comments below, or email me.

As I noted in my Paris outfit post last week, it feels rather surreal to be writing this post—and maybe more so now that we in San Francisco have been ordered to shelter in place for the next three weeks. How funny to think that just two weeks ago, I was in a foreign country, going to museums and out to restaurants like I didn’t have a care in the world! Selfishly, I’m glad I got to enjoy my vacation, and my heart goes out to everyone who’s had to cancel a trip. Granted, I know the collective health of the world is way more important and there are much bigger things to worry about. But if you could use a little distraction, here’s what I wore in London on my birthday.

It feels slightly surreal to be writing this mere hours after Trump announced a month-long travel ban to Europe, considering I just returned from a weeklong vacation to London and Paris on Saturday. While our friends in London were good-naturedly indulging in gallows humor (and stocking up on toilet paper), things in both places generally felt like life as usual. Granted, our flight home was less than half full, and in retrospect, some things were definitely a bit emptier than normal (but more on that later). That said, we had a wonderful time and are glad we went, regardless of when we'll be able to return. Here's how we spent two days in Paris, just as the Coronavirus began to spread.

I went to London and Paris last week for my birthday, a trip I’d been planning for months. And while no one expects a global pandemic, it was a bit bizarre to be so far away from home while all of the latest Coronavirus developments were unfolding. That said, it felt like business as usual in both cities (which have been pretty unaffected thus far), which was reassuring; we were able to enjoy our vacation, albeit with a little more hand-washing than usual (although that’s never a bad thing, especially while traveling). I’ll be posting my travel diaries over the next few weeks, but in the meantime, here’s what I wore in Paris.

Monday is my birthday, I'm leaving for Europe Friday, the dollar is strong, and I am going to shop. I am only two months into my no-new-clothes resolution and, let me tell you, I have the biggest urge to spend. (I realize it sounds like I have an addiction, and I probably do, but I'm working on it, I promise.) In spite of my urges, I'm not going to go on a shopping bender; I'm going to do it responsibly! Here's what's on my tightly edited birthday wish list.

When I lived in parts of the country that got a proper winter, this is the time of the year that I usually couldn’t bear to look at my winter coat any more. Things aren’t that dire here, but I am starting to look forward to spring. That said, this is an outfit that could be worn any time of year in San Francisco. The coincidence is that it’s inspired by one of my style icons, Kate Moss, which was exactly who inspired this leopard-coat look that I posted around the same time last year. What is it about me, Kate Moss, and February? Let’s find out.

Mid-February is probably not the best time of year to be talking about cashmere sweaters—one, because you’re probably tired of yours by now and two, because whatever is left in stores by now (which might not be anything at all) is on major sale due to spring (hopefully) coming soon. But, after several months of reflection on the cashmere sweaters I bought this year, I thought I’d take this opportunity to review what I got from the three major direct-to-consumer cashmere brands. Here are my thoughts.

I just came back from an amazing weekend with friends in Healdsburg, which is a town in the northern part of Sonoma County. I love the whole vibe of that region—it’s a little more laid back and less touristy than Napa and Sonoma (the town), but it’s home to some of my favorite wineries and some amazing restaurants too. We rented a house just outside of town, along the Russian River, and it was so incredibly peaceful. I walked Zuni down to the river every morning, then we spent the afternoons enjoying the unseasonably warm and sunny weather, often with a glass of wine in hand. It was so relaxing and rejuvenating, I can’t wait to go back. But until then, here’s what I wore over the weekend.

Blazer. White tee. Jeans. Boots. There's just something about the classics, which explains why this pin of Leandra Medine was this month's most-pinned look from my Outfit ideas for ageless style Pinterest board. Granted, her blazer is vintage Chanel and the rest of her outfit is probably pretty fancy too, but thankfully it can be re-created for a song. Here's how to get her look.

This is the time of year when I start to feel really uninspired by my winter wardrobe and begin to yearn for the lightness of spring. It’s also when I’m tempted to buy new things, just because I’m starting to get sick of my sweaters and boots and coats. Of course, I resolved not to buy anything new in 2020 (and to be more conscious about the pre-owned things that I do buy), so I’ve had to challenge myself to wear what I already have in new ways. This outfit is the result of much experimentation. You’ve seen all of these pieces before, but definitely not put together in this way. This is a casual look for sure, but one that I was really happy with, and as much as I hate the term “shopping your closet,” it can yield some unexpectedly interesting combinations.

Earlier this week, I shared a Valentine’s Day look, but why stop there? Here are more Valentine’s Day outfit ideas, with the caveat that you don’t have to wear them in a romantic context. These are outfits I’ve worn in the last year that have made me feel confident and feminine, in an empowered way. They’d be great on date night, but they’d also work for a night out with friends. You do you, dear readers! Some thought starters…

Full disclosure: I’m planning on spending actual Valentine’s Day in a cabin in the mountains with my friends (and with my boyfriend). But I think a lot of you are looking for date-night looks, because my most-viewed post from last year was what to wear on Valentine’s Day. So in the interest of service journalism (not that this blog counts as actual journalism!), I thought I’d share another idea for this year. Plus, I’ve been featuring a lot of pants lately, so I thought a dress might shake things up a bit. Here’s what I’d wear if I were going somewhere fancy.

The last couple of years, I've focused on gifts that you and your significant other can enjoy together. It's a nice sentiment—and one still worth pursuing—but after texting with my girlfriends today, I decided we're all a bit starved for some self-care, and so this Valentine's Day, why not take an opportunity to practice some self-love? I mean of the treat-yourself variety; this is a shopping blog, of course. ;) Here are some of my favorite Valentine's Day gifts to give yourself (sharing always encouraged).