a lovely living

This year’s holiday celebrations are going to look a little different than they typically do for many of us. When I took a poll online, the majority of the reponses said they’d be looking for laid back holiday looks. To some, that may mean flannel pj’s and to others that could mean jeans and a festive sweater. I wanted to come up with a way to show you how you can make your closet a little more versatile for the holiday season, this year especially. I selected a graphic tee, a crewneck sweater and a plaid top (all of which you likely have on hand) and worked each piece into three outfits with a range of casual to semi-dressy. Depending on your plans over the next month, I’m hopeful that you can pull a little inspiration from these nine looks below!

A cute holiday tee can really go a long way. From pairing it with a cute pair of sweatpants and slippers to jeans and a festive cardigan to tucking it into elegant lace pants, the possibilities run the gamut. I love being able to add a pop in the form of plaid or red in these instances. Just enough to feel festive without going overboard.

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A solid crewneck sweater is another great staple to work with. It helps if it happens to be a festive color, but if not you can always add some cheerful accents with layers or accessories. I adore each of these looks, from the relaxed jeans and fleece to the bright and cheerful plaid blazer and obviously the elegant monochromatic look with the pleated skirt and faux fur scarf.

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Whether it’s plaid or any other printed button-up you have on hand, you can easily work it into a number of outfits. Here I started with some dark denim and bright mules to coordinate with the shirt. I also styled a couple of dressier options including a gorgeous tulle skirt and luxurious velvet pants. Fun and festive pieces to pull together if you’re attending any types of gatherings this year.

With a lot less pressure this year of having everything going on, I hope you find ways to enjoy and take in the season in some unique and special ways with your loved ones.

xx, Marisa

I popped into Aerie yesterday with a return and ended up trying on a bunch of great pieces that I thought would be worth sharing with you all! Cute pj’s, comfy sweaters, a great fleece and some other good basics. I also included some more online options that I have my eye on if you scroll below. Here’s what I tried…

**My jeans are not Aerie, but this years version can be found here. They have a great slim, wide leg which is very flattering.

If you’re looking for some cute winter pj’s, Aerie has a few fun print options. You can also mix and match pieces as they have a few different bottoms to choose from including shorts. The sleeves ran a little short (which is typical for me) but otherwise I’d say these pieces ran TTS.

I snagged this henley and will likely be ordering more in various colors. I’ve been loving henley’s more than ever lately because they are great to layer with. This one runs TTS.

This oversized sweater is a dream. It would be great with jeans or leggings thanks to the tunic length. There are a bunch of great color options to choose from. The fit is oversized, but I went with an XS here as the S (which I’m wearing in the green) felt too large.

Another pretty sweater, this one also is meant to fit oversized, but I’d say you could go with your TTS.

Cute graphic tee’s for the holiday season. Nice to wear under cardigans or to bed!

Super cozy fleece in a bunch of color options. It’s great alone but it would work well layered under coats as well, especially with the high neck. This one does run large, I sized down.

Aerie Top Picks:

Happy Friday, all! It’s been a week around here and for you all I’m sure! Despite what’s going on in the world at large, today is a new day and we all get up, get dressed and do the best we can with the day before us. That’s something we have control over, what we do with each day is up to us! I’m choosing to make the most of it, regardless of outcomes, and commit to listen to others knowing we may not always agree and that’s okay. I’d get annoyed with too many of myself anyway ;)

Below is a round-up of some of my everyday outfits that I’ve worn over the past few weeks. As is obvious, t-shirts and henleys are my layering staple lately!

Well, it’s November. And last night we saw our first snow flurries as the kids trick or treated around the neighborhood! It was so nice to get to see many of our neighbors out and about and experience all the creative ways they handed out candy this year. Instead of making the year feel even more strange, I think the kids got a huge kick out of catching candy from slides and receiving pre-packaged goodies bags! It may have been dark (due to the time change) and cold, but there was no lack of excitement!

I found this quilted pullover recently and already know I’ll be wearing it often this winter. I’ve already worn it alone and layered under my puffer coat to provide an additional layer of warmth. Although it’s warm, it’s not oversized which allows you to layer without feeling overly bulky. These jeans were a purchase from Madewell’s most recent sale and I could not love them more. They have that perfect straight leg with just a touch of stretch giving them a fabulous fit. I do recommend sizing down one from your true size.

Pullover / Shirt (see similar below) / Jeans / Booties (see similar below) / Sunglasses

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Following last weeks pattern, I decided to dive a little deeper into the camo trend and pull together some outfits for you all. I’m hoping that these may provide some inspiration and give you a few ideas as to how you could pull certain looks together from what you may already own in your closet. As I had mentioned with the leopard print last week, don’t overdo it with this pattern. One camo print per outfit is typically enough. One exception I can think of would be if you had a matching lounge set. In this case, I’d throw on a solid jacket over top with some sneakers and you’re good to go! Anything else and you may be approaching too authentic of a look ;)

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Last week I focused on leopard print and my love for incorporating it into my wardrobe. This week, we’re going to start out with some camo. I can’t say that this is a predominant print in my closet, but I sure do love it here and there. I purchased this sweater last year and I’m not sure I was ever able to share it prior to it selling out. Thankfully, I found it again this year in addition to a number of similar options in the exact and similar patterns. Another component to this outfit is the camel coat. A staple in many of your closets I am sure, this thing gets a ton of wear. I grabbed this one last year as well, but here is this years version. I also gathered a few other options that you can find below. It’s such a classic and practical color that pairs well with so many outfits.

Sweater / Jeans / Sneakers / Coat (similar)

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Leopard seems to be the neutral that’s slowly (or rather, rapidly) taking over my closet, anyone else? I love that is feels subtle on most prints, yet has a way of making a statement. Not to mention, you can find it on everything from bathrobes to sneakers, jackets and even shower caps! It’s a playful accent to add to your home or outfit without feeling over the top. Well, I suppose you could take it over board, but if you stick to one leopard piece at a time, you’ll be just fine! Above are some of my favorite leopard pieces to try out. Many of these would also make great gifts for anyone attempting to get a head start this year!

I love fall for so many reasons, but being able (or rather, required) to wear more layers is all part of the appeal. Fleece jackets are a critical part of my wardrobe this time of year. I have some pullovers and other zip-ups as seen here. They’re all I want to reach for every chilly morning I wake up to and provide the warmth that’s needed throughout the day. Layering them over a henley shirt as I did here, makes for a low-key everyday look. I topped off the look with my first pair of high-tops since childhood. I love the simplicity of this particular pair and already have them well broken in from the few weeks that I’ve owned them. Scroll below to shop the exact and similar items that I’m wearing and have a great start to your week!

Details: Fleece / Henley / Denim / Sneakers

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There are a lot of sales happening at the moment (hello Prime Day and Shop Bop Fall Event), but I was personally the most excited to see a sale pop up at Madewell. I often let my online shopping carts fill up as I wait patiently for the prices to drop and cross my fingers that my sizes don’t sell out in the meantime. Am I alone here? Currently you can get 20% off of $100 and 30% off of $200+ on your Madewell purchase. I’m most excited to try this plaid blazer. I love the mix of browns and light pinks and feel as though it would get a ton of wear as my outer layer or worn underneath a heavier coat. I’ve included some of my favorites of both clothing and accessories below for you to check out. SO many great pieces for fall and beyond!