Cheryl Shops

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.