work Archives » Alina Avery

A Week in (Leather) Outfits

September 28, 2015 by Alina Avery 1 Comment

I’m in San Diego this week for work, so it’s a lot less like fall all of a sudden, but I’m sticking with it anyway. And what says fall fashion more than wearing leather? Well constructed leather pieces are perfectly structured but soft, sleek but warm, and classic but versatile. I’ve been accumulating leather (and leather look) pieces for years and decided that last week I’d honor the onset of fall weather with one whole work weeks worth of outfits styled around key leather pieces from my wardrobe.

The pieces:

Like I said, I’ve been collecting leather wardrobe staples for years, so a lot of these aren’t available online anymore. But they are pretty classic and therefore easy to find similar versions of. Let me know in the comments if you’re interested in similar pieces to any of these styles and I’ll do my best to hunt them down for you!

To kick off the week, I eased into it with a pair of super soft semi-sueded joggers. Mine are from Anthropologie, and I snagged them on super sale a few years ago. When looking for a jogger style, which is still pretty trendy, go for a slimmer cut and a cropped length so they look more sporty and less “I Dream of Jeannie”. I paired mine with a cropped cashmere/cotton blend sweater from Banana Republic. The cropped length makes the top appear more fitted and balances the cut of the pants. Try not to go too voluminous, but you don’t want it skin tight either. You’ll also want to go with a pointier toed shoe, either a flat or a pump, to elongate legs a bit (these are on sale, I say forget the white after Labor Day rule and go for it!) I also wore my (leather, duh) House of Harlow necklace (via Rocksbox) and the Kate Spade Cedar Street Mini Maise in black which I always get compliments on as it’s the most adorable tiny purse ever.

Tuesday I was heading to an evening event for #bostonbloggers so I thought I needed to keep my style a bit edgy. I wore these leather-look trousers from River Island which I snagged right after Anna posted about them. They are the perfect high-rise-skinny-leg cut and the leather is almost passable as genuine, even though these are vegan. I paired them with a white silk back tee from Theory (my version of an elevated basic), my favorite gold lariat necklace from Madewell, a classic J Crew canvas jacket that pretty much everyone and their grandma owns, and a pair of (super uncomfortable) ankle boots from Steve Madden.

I love this look for Wednesday. I actually wore this dress for our wedding rehearsal dinner back in March, but with a few styling updates it’s great for fall too. I toughened it up with the same booties and purse from earlier in the week, a pair of sheer black tights, a simple black cardigan (because the office is freezing) and a stack of gold bracelet from Baublebar (tassels are so hot right now).

Thursday I opted for a pair of Helena Quinn Suede Shorts that I got on mega ultra sale at Anthropologie last year. Seriously like 90% off. Shorts can be a little much for work, so I toned it down by paring it with a casual grey cardigan and flats. These are the Jimmy Choo “Alina” flats that I bought for my wedding because 1. they are named after me and 2. duh glitter flats. Topped it all off with a simple black cami and Tom Ford nail polish in Scarlet Chinois.

And finally Friday. A leather jacket I picked up from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale this summer but had to leave in the closet for months until it was appropriate to wear. I dressed it up with a pair of (ok judge me) “Alina” pumps from Diane Von Furstenburg and a blingy necklace from Rocksbox (another item I wore at my wedding!) Then I dressed it back down with a simple v-neck t-shirt from Madewell (these are the best t-shirts EVER) and my favorite destroyed denim from J Brand.

So all-in-all, a pretty solid leather (slash “Alina” shoes, slash clothes from my wedding) week. As you can see, I tend to wear a lot of neutral colors when it comes to fashion and try to incorporate color with a bold lip or pop of eyeshadow. How do you wear leather? Do you have pieces you like to bring out every fall?

Desk Essentials

September 24, 2015 by Alina Avery 1 Comment

What’s on my desk?

Here’s a peek at the essentials I like to keep on hand at work.

Hand cream – Industrial, generic, anti-bacterial office bathroom soap is a dry hand nightmare, especially in the winter. I keep Aerin Rose Hand and Body Cream at my desk. I got a sample of this cream and loved it so much I went out and bought the full size. The scent is light but lovely, and the cream itself is thick and luxe, so a little bit goes a long way and the $40 tube lasts a long time. The packaging also is so pretty it’s nice to keep on display! I also have a travel size of my trusty Creme de Corps when I want something unscented, but mostly I reach for the Aerin.

Headphones – These Frends Layla Headphones were a splurge, but I was working at Birchbox when they were in stock, so I got them for a steal using a combination of holiday promotions, employee discounts, and points. They’re so stylish and unique and comfortable. I used to reach for earbuds, but after a couple of hours they get almost unbearable. Plus when you wear on- or over-ear headphones, as opposed to in-ear, it’s really obvious when you have them on, so people make sure they get your attention before trying to talk to you. I wish I had a dollar for every time a combination of long hair and earbuds led to an awkwardly one sided conversation.

Notebook – Mine is from Rifle Paper Co. In our digital age, it can be tempting to forgo written notes and reminders and try to do everything with your computer, phone, or tablet. But there’s something to be said for being able to jot something down or draw something out quickly and with little to no restriction. Also how gorgeous is the cover?

Water bottle – I could go into the benefits of making sure you’re consuming enough H2O, but this post would go on for ages. Part of the trick to drinking more water, for me at least, is to have a really pretty cup or bottle. I don’t know why it helps, but it does. I think the half liter bkr bottle is both functional and beautiful, and the ideal size. I’ve tried the 1 liter bottle and it’s just slightly too wide and too heavy (when full) for me to use comfortably. I try to aim to drink 2-3 of these bottles a day while at work and then as much as I can when I’m home.

Candle – Don’t light it! I’m obsessed with the Noisetier scent from Diptyque. It’s so earthy and warm (noisetier translates to ‘hazel’ in English). Most office spaces frown upon open flames, but even unlit the Diptyque candles throw scent in a small radius. It’s enough to be calming and peaceful, which is helpful when things get stressful.

Not pictured: This morning’s coffee cup with a half inch of cold coffee left in it, 300 or so cables and chargers, and about a dozen different lip products that got thrown in my bag in the morning, taken out for a touch up, and promptly left on my desk. (It’s either that or they get lost in my handbag for all eternity. Real talk.)

What do you keep on your desk? Any essentials I’m missing?