"All About That Hat"

by Laura Perkins


"Because you know I'm all about that hat, 'bout that hat..." Haha. I'm such a dork and have definitely had the song "All About That Bass" in my head. In all seriousness, I'm obsessed with hats for fall/winter. Not only do they keep your head toasty in this cold weather but they instantly update your look.  Plus they are my go-to for bad hair days. There are so many adorable hats out there right now. I scored this one from Anthropologie (for some reason it's only available in stores but there are a ton of cute ones online too!). I loved the flat brim and higher western structure of the top. Plus I've been wanting a navy hat ever since I spotted Bayleigh Bingham in my NYFW street style video for Loehmann's. When you're shopping for the perfect hat, make sure to try a bunch of different styles on. I've heard friends say to me that hats just don't look good on them. My response is "then you haven't found the right one yet." So don't give up. Your hat is out there...waiting for you! And to all my Florida friends - you can definitely rock a hat with a short sleeve blouse or skirt to give you that fall look without sweating bullets!

Styling tip: Since my hat has a bit of a western structure to it, I like to pair simple, feminine apparel (like this lace back sweater) with it so I don't look too country or masculine. And because the hat is pretty large, I think it looks best styled with a more fitted top vs. something baggy.


Mad for Plaid (One Plaid Shirt Three Ways!)

by Laura Perkins


Plaid Shirt: Zara  ||  Skirt: Bloomingdales (French Connection -old) similar  ||  Shoes: Zara (old, similar)  || Crossbody bag: Boutique in Austin (similar at Urban Outfitters)

Plaid Shirt: Zara  ||  Skirt: Bloomingdales (French Connection -old) similar || Cossbody bag: Boutique in Austin (similar at Urban Outfitters)

Plaid is a fall wardrobe staple. Whether it's a plaid shirt, dress, pants, scarf, jacket, purse or heels, I can't get enough of it this season! Most of us have a plaid shirt in our closet but finding new ways to wear it keeps your style fresh. This first look is probably my favorite. I love pairing plaid with a leather skirt (or pants). As you know, I'm a big fan of a dressy/casual ensemble. The leather dresses up the plaid or the plaid dresses down the leather (however you want to look at it!). I usually wear cute flats with this skirt (unless I have tights underneath) otherwise it's a little short since I'm 5'8" (it's all about balance, ladies!).

Plaid Shirt: Zara  || Jeans: Urban Outfitters (old, similar - I distressed) *Madewell has a similar distressed pair*  ||  Cossbody bag: Boutique in Austin (similar at Urban Outfitters)  || Shoes: Madewell (old, similar)

Plaid Shirt: Zara  || Jeans: Urban Outfitters (old, similar - I distressed) *Madewell has a similar distressed pair*  ||  Cossbody bag: Boutique in Austin (similar at Urban Outfitters)

For a more casual chic look, try a plaid shirt with ripped skinny jeans. I cut these black skinnies myself (see my DIY Distressed Jeans post for ideas). I paired this outfit with suede ankle boots. Styling Tip: To update your look, try rolling or cuffing the bottom of your skinny jeans with ankle boots, showing just a sliver of skin.

Plaid Shirt: Zara  || Sweater: J.Crew (old, similar)  ||  Jeans: Urban Outfitters (old, similar - I distressed) *Madewell has a similar distressed pair*  ||  Cossbody bag: Boutique in Austin (similar at Urban Outfitters)  || Shoes: Madewell (old, similar)

Plaid Shirt: Zara  || Sweater: J.Crew (old, similar)  ||  Jeans: Urban Outfitters (old, similar - I distressed) *Madewell has a similar distressed pair*  ||  Cossbody bag: Boutique in Austin (similar at Urban Outfitters)  || Shoes: Madewell (old, similar)

Plaid Shirt: Zara  || Sweater: J.Crew (old, similar)  ||  Jeans: Urban Outfitters (old, similar - I distressed) *Madewell has a similar distressed pair*  ||  Cossbody bag: Boutique in Austin (similar at Urban Outfitters) 

For colder weather (let's face it, winter's coming!), opt for a crewneck sweater over your plaid shirt. The key is you want the plaid to still show at the bottom. So either find a shirt that runs longer (like this Zara one) or wear a shorter sweater over it. You can also try a cropped sweater which would be super cute! And don't be afraid of a sweater that has texture like this J.Crew one. To dress up this look, you can add a statement bib necklace or fun heels. Or for a little funk, you could pair this with a sleek, floppy hat.