Cheryl Shops

There really is no rule about not wearing white after Labor Day—it's something the department stores made up to encourage people to buy fall clothes when the weather was still too warm to wear them. That said, I see why people don't wear white as much in the winter—it's hard to keep clean in snow or rain, and with less daylight, we somehow gravitate toward darker colors. But I love wearing white jeans year round, and I find them very refreshing in cold weather. (Although, true, I rarely wear them when it's raining). This look is all about wearing a mix of lighter-colored neutrals for a breath of fresh, wintry air.


A few months ago, I posted on Instagram about how a good pair of white jeans was hard to find, and while I received many recommendations, Madewell was the front runner. I found this pair there on major sale (it was during one of their extra 30% off promotions) and while they weren't perfect, I decided I couldn't pass them up. In retrospect, I probably should have sized down—I'm in my usual 28, and they're a little too baggy in the thighs. I do like, however, that the denim is thicker and heavier than the usual thin, stretchy stuff, and these have a nice high-waisted fit.



As I mentioned in my last post, I've been on an outerwear spree. I snapped up this coat at Uniqlo during a promo; I'm not usually a Uniqlo shopper, but I was drawn in by the Ines de la Fressange collection and kind of fell in love with this one. It's unlined, so it's probably not practical for those of you who experience a proper winter, but it's the perfect weight for San Francisco. I still don't know how I feel about the contrasting lining, but the price was right, and I like that the coat looks just as good belted as it does without the belt. It runs a little big; I'm wearing a small, which you can see is still a bit oversized on me.



You last saw this sweater a few weeks ago in my all-gray post, and while it can get a little booby, I think the wrap-front is really flattering, and it worked well with the high-waisted cut of my jeans. I love wearing lighter neutrals together in winter—it feels a little rebellious—and gray, camel, and white are just so pretty together. Then again, there's kind of no wrong way to do neutrals in winter, or anytime!



In keeping with the lighter-neutrals theme, I added a gray scarf and beanie. It was not actually that cold when we were shooting these, however my hair was in dire need of a wash, so the hat was mostly to hide my greasy roots, rather than keep my head warm!




Christian Dior recently reissued its iconic logo saddle bag, and since then, I've been itching to break out my vintage Dior satchel, which I bought the last time it was in fashion, close to 20 years ago! This bag makes me feel like a fancy lady, although to be honest, its previous owner was clearly a heavy smoker, because it smells a little like tobacco. So this is not an everyday bag for me, which is probably for the best, because it's a little delicate anyway. Some things are just so classic, though.



Perhaps you remember the adorable bunion-friendly sandals I wore for my blogiversary post; the lovely people at Calla were kind enough to send me a pair of boots for winter, and I can tell these are going to be on heavy rotation this season. The heel is the perfect height, the almond-shaped toe is comfy and roomy, and the shaft hits the ankle at the most flattering part, making them the perfect height to wear with pants or skirts. Plus, as someone who suffers from bunions, I can wear these for hours without them pinching my feet. If you have bunions—or even if you just want a comfortable yet chic pair of boots—I can't recommend these enough!



Perhaps you heard the news story a few years ago about a couple who purchased a street in San Francisco on which some very wealthy residents live, due to a tax bill that went unpaid for 30 years. It was kind of a big deal here, and the city ended up rescinding the sale last year. Anyway, that street is called Presidio Terrace, and it's where we shot these photos. We thought a resident was coming out to tell us to leave at one point, but he was just walking his (very friendly) dog. The things we do for this blog!




OUTFIT DETAILS: Uniqlo double-face collarless coat | Topshop sweater (similar here or here) | Madwell perfect summer jean | vintage Dior bag (similar here, here, or here) | Everlane hat | Mango scarf | Calla Belle booties (c/o)