I have never ever had the opportunity to take photos during “golden hour,” but I have always loved sunset photos because the lighting is diffused and warm, which gives the photo a vibe unlike any other. So I recently trekked up to my rooftop during sunset to snap these beautiful photos.

I had the perfect outfit in mind for the night. I recently received an order from Marée Pour Toi, one of my favorite plus size brands to shop for work and play, and inside was this beautiful Pleated Suede  Skirt and V Neck Sequin Top. Originally, I ordered the skirt and the top to be worn separately, but upon opening the package and seeing the two together, I fell in love with the contrast. If it was a bit cooler outside, I would have topped the look off with my Open Sleeve Blazer, which I also wore to the Lex Deaux Plateaux while I was in Paris. I have since wore the skirt on many occasions. I just cant resist the buttery soft, cozy material and pairing it with all of the fall sweaters in my closet.

SIZING INFO: I am wearing both the Pleated Suede  Skirt and V Neck Sequin Top in a size 18, which is my usual size, and both garments fit perfectly. For the sequin tank top, the fit is a little more structured and doesn’t stretch at all. 

I don’t think I have ever owned a raincoat—until now. I guess I have never really needed one or I thought they were kind of excessive. I usually go for a cropped moto or leather jacket when it’s raining, and then I transition to a winter coat because here in Chicago, we barely have an actual fall season.

However, I am excited that I have a raincoat this year, and it’s very chic to say the least. This We Hound Love Houndstooth Coat is unlike any kind of coat I’ve ever seen, and I had to get my hands on it. What makes this coat perfect for rainy days is the coated material it’s made of, which gives it a shiny look and also makes it sort of water repellent. I could wear the trench with anything this season, but on this day, I paired it with this beautiful Phoebe Pleated Midi Dress. I love this dress because it’s something that will stay in my closet for years because its classic and versatile.

If you love this Fashion Nova look, you can score it for 20% off with the code “NATINTHECITY.” 

SIZING INFO: I am wearing a size 2X in both the Phoebe Pleated Midi Dress and the We Hound Love Houndstooth Coat, which is my usual size, but I think both of these garments have slight fit issues. First, let’s start with the dress. The dress is a little tight, and unfortunately because it fits kind of snug, the pleats aren’t very apparent. If I could do it over again, I would order a 3X.

 

Fashion Nova sent me this look to review. All opinions are my own!

In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Gordmans is turning October into Pink October. Throughout the rest of this month, you can help Gordmans raise money for The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) by shopping in store and posting about your #GotItAtGordmans finds on social media and using the hashtag #IPinkICan! For every Instagram photo posted with the hashtag, Gordmans will donate $1.00 to support BCRF. Gordmans believes that research is the only way to end breast cancer, which is why they have decided to help BCRF lead the way. Gordmans also wants to honor those impacted by breast cancer and their loved ones this month, and they encourage you to tell them your reason for standing behind breast cancer research through using the hashtag:  #ResearchIsTheReason.

Of course, I also wanted to partake in helping Gordmans empower BCRF! To celebrate and raise awareness for Pink October, I headed to Gordmans for inspiration. I don’t have a lot of pink garments in my wardrobe so I was excited to add some pops of color into these looks. I’ll be wearing this look to work at least once a week! I love that this Lane Bryant top is feminine and fun with the orchid color and pleated sleeves. I have never had anything like it before! I actually tied it in the front to transform it into a crop top to go with this houndstooth skirt, but I could have also tucked it in. I can also wear this as a normal blouse with jeans or slacks—versatility is always key with me! To top off the look, I plopped on these rhinestone clips, which are so trendy! Overall, I scored this whole look for less than $40! Can you believe it?!

While I was shopping, I noticed that Gordmans had “Pink” items, including this watch, and I learned that 50% of the purchase price of these items will also go to BCRF. You can learn more about how your store will be celebrating Pink October by clicking HERE. Of course, this watch will pair well with anything, but I had this gorgeous, cozy pink sweater in my cart and I couldn’t envision it with anything else. I love this second look as a casual, everyday look that’s effortlessly chic—and comfortable!

Find your closest Gordmans store by visiting Gordmans.com… and do not forget to invite me!

Thank you to Specialty Retailers, Inc. for sponsoring this post. I am a huge proponent of brands that promote inclusivity and sell high-quality, well-fitting clothing. All opinions expressed in this post are 110% my own! Thank you for continuing to support the brands that make Natalie in the City a possibility!

Unlike most fashionistas, I tend not to accessorize too much. It’s not that I have never been into jewelry or accessories, but it’s more so that I just never think to put any on as I am rushing out the door every morning. However, this is not the case when it comes to eyewear. I take my sunnies game very seriously!

Shopping Ray-Ban sunglasses at Kohls

I recently added some cool frames to my roster that I had been eyeing for a while These Black Ray-Ban Aviator Frames from Kohl’s were exactly what I had been looking for when it comes to a versatile style that can easily be worn with any look, any time.  This style of frame was originally designed in 1973 with pilots in mind, but they have since evolved into a style everyone loves to wear. Aviator-style sunglasses have always suited my face very well, but I have never had a black pair. I decided to take a risk and order these ones from Kohl’s, which was super easy, and I love that I got Kohl’s Cash to use on a future purchase!

Ray-Bans look great with every outfit

Because the sunglasses are black, they are extremely versatile. Today, I had a meeting downtown and therapy right after. I was wearing one of my go-to looks—a leather jacket, gray crop top, and ripped black jeans—and these sunnies elevated the look and gave it more of an edgy feel. Since these aviators are my first pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses, there were a few things I noticed that I loved right away. The first being that the glasses were so lightweight that sometimes I even forgot about them being on my face, which means that I was walking around inside casinos with my glasses on—and that’s actually not out of the ordinary for Vegas so I fit right in. I also loved how compact they were when I folded them because they fit in every purse I carried throughout the trip and never took up too much room.

Overall, I am very excited about my new purchase, and I can’t wait to experience the endless ways I can pair my Ray-Ban sunnies with every outfit in my wardrobe!

Thank you to Kohl’s for sponsoring this post. I am a huge proponent of brands that promote inclusivity and sell high-quality, well-fitting clothing and accessories. All opinions expressed in this post are 110% my own! Thank you for continuing to support the brands that make Natalie in the City a possibility!

 

 

 

 

 

If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I recently just took the brand trip of my dreams to San Francisco and Napa with Chic Soul. I have been working with Chic Soul for a long time—since 2016 to be exact. And I was so excited to be with the brand in California to celebrate the launch of their Fall/Napa Valley line!

We stayed in a beautiful estate in the hills of Tiburon—right outside of San Francisco—and we traveled to Napa twice to ride in a hot air balloon and then to visit local wineries. The trip was wonderful, and the clothes are even better! Something I really love about the Napa Valley collection is that there is something in the line for every kind of girl. I only wore the collection during the trip, and at first, I was a little worried that I wouldn’t have an outfit for every occasion, but as soon as I saw the Napa Valley Line, all of my worries were calmed. I was very impressed with the versatility of some of the pieces and I also loved that I could take almost anything from day to night. There were dressier looks for fancy dinners, slouchy chic looks for pizza night, and fun dresses that could take me anywhere. This collection is also perfect for fall as it boasts cozy sweaters and statement cardigans. I was never bored with any of my looks, and I truly felt that the mix and matching possibilities were endless.

When I arrived at the estate, I was feeling bougie—it was a $14 million mansion overlooking San Francisco. So I slipped on this Dream Date Maxi Dress and roamed around one of the house’s charming courtyards. I am wearing a size 2X in this dress, which is my usual size, and it fits perfectly! The dress comes with shorts so that you aren’t having a see through moment, which I loved!

The second Chic Soul look I wore from the Napa Valley Collection was this Take on The Night Dress when we went to Fisherman’s Wharf for dinner on the first night. It was perfect for the mild temps and I loved how it fit my body. I am wearing a 2X here, which is my usual size, and it fits perfectly! 

My third and one of my most favorite looks was this Early Dismissal Skirt and Born Beautiful Top combo, which I wore when we went up in the hot air balloon. While it was very chilly that morning, I felt that this outfit would be perfect for creating whimsical images thousands of feet above Napa. And I was right…just look at these photos! I am wearing a 2X in the top and skirt, which is my usual size, and the top fits perfectly. I feel like I could have sized down on the skirt because it was so stretchy. And I didn’t need to worry about any of the buttons gaping because only the top two were functional!

After we came back from our hot air balloon adventures, my blogger friend Britney and I ventured out to San Francisco to take pictures near the Golden Gate Bridge. I had a feeling we may be doing quite a bit of hiking since San Fran is such a hilly city, So I kept my looks simple with these Because I can Capris and I switched off between the Angel In You Sweater and this Pouring My Heart Out Sweater. I loved the slouchy fit of the white one and the more true fit of the red. They were beautiful. I am wearing a 2X in the Pouring My Heart Out sweater, which is my usual size, and it fits perfectly. I was actually wearing a size 1X in the Angel In You Sweater, and because it is supposed to be an oversized fit, it actually ran a little big on me.

On day three as we headed off to the winery tour. I wanted to wear something chic and whimsical, but I wanted to add a little bit of edge to my look. So I chose to pair this Cotton Candy Skies Dress with this Nights in Soho Cardigan, which ended up serving me well as the temperatures dropped a little as we headed into Napa. I thought this look was so beautiful, and I cannot wait to wear the cardigan with anything and everything this fall. I am wearing a 1X in the dress, which is one size smaller than my usual size, but the 2X was being worn by someone else. The dress actually fit me pretty well, although I would rather have my actual size. I am wearing a size 2X in the cardigan, which is my usual size, and it fits perfectly!

After the winery tour in Napa, we were exhausted… and a little tipsy. So I changed into some cozy sweaters to lounge around in. However, when we finally mustered up enough energy, Britney and I ran around the estate’s grounds and I ended up falling off of a hammock….twice. Needless to say, we had a great time, and we also looked great. I am wearing the Shot of Espresso Sweater,
which immediately caught my eye because of the color scheme. I decided to pair them with my Dig Deep Skinny Jeans. I was definitely catching fall vibes when I came across this Autumn Chill Sweater, which I lounged around in after my traumatic fall off of the hammock. LOL I was wearing a 1X in both the Autumn Chill Sweater and the Shot of Espresso Sweater, which is a size smaller than my usual size, but the sweaters fit perfectly.

I also wanted to take this time to thank Chic Soul for this trip. Not only was the entire week a total blast, but getting to know the people at the foundation of the brand was delightful. They will forever be a favorite brand of mine!

It’s an exciting month because my favorite store, Gordmans, is growing! Gordmans recently opened 72 new locations and is extending their Grand Opening Tour to 17 more stores! And I got to stop by my local store in Valparaiso, Indiana to stock up on some fall sweaters while staying in budget! If you have never heard of Gordmans, they are an off-price retailer, which means they buy excess inventory from designer names and sell them at a fraction of the price. Gordmans’ mission is to thrill every guest with fun finds and exciting deals at every turn, whether you are looking for fashion or home decor! I love shopping brands like Express, Nine West, Lane Bryant, and more at Gordmans, and the best part is that I never have to pay full price. Every Gordmans I have ever been to has an amazing plus size selection for both juniors and women, which provides access to these high-quality brands for plus size individuals who may not live near shopping malls or in metropolitan cities. I’m so happy that Gordmans is growing, and for my Chicago people, I am hoping there will be more store openings in the Chicagoland area! But for now, an hour drive to Valparaiso, Indiana, is so worth it to me!

A Chic Fall
When I arrived at Gordmans, I found everything I needed for fall, including cozy sweaters! The first sweater than caught my eye was this ___ shall. I paired it with some Express ripped denim and some Fergalicious knee high boots. These boots were not marked as wide calf, but they were very stretchy around the calf and fit me perfectly. Gordmans does sell wide calf boots, though! I also found this chic conductor hat, which was the perfect way to top off the look.
Shall: $16.99
Jeans: $22.99
Boots: $19.99
Hat: 6.99

Sexy, Cozy, Cool
This right here is my ideal fall outfit. I love to keep it simple, but I feel like this is such a classic, beautiful look. Instead of going with an average pair of black denim, I went for these coated jeans that have a shiny finish. I thought it would add a great contrast, and it totally did. As far as accessorizing goes, the possibilities are endless when it comes to a look like this. I kept it simple, but I could definitely see me adding a black coat with a scarf when winter comes!
Sweater: $12.99
Jeans: $8.99
Booties: $16.99

Just For Fun
When I saw this rainbow shredded sweater, I initially didn’t like it. However, I tried it on for fun, and I ended up loving it! It’s so versatile, and honestly, I have never seen anything like it. I wanted to pair the sweater with some light jeans to keep the attention on the sweater. I love that I could either wear sneakers or some simple heels with this outfit.
Sweater: $16.99
Jeans: $12.99

Thank you to Specialty Retailers, Inc. for sponsoring this post. I am a huge proponent of brands that promote inclusivity and sell high-quality, well-fitting clothing. All opinions expressed in this post are 110% my own! Thank you for continuing to support the brands that make Natalie in the City a possibility!