this time last year

spider lady of shalott

Looking back on my style posts around this time last year has brought on a very acute sadness for the lack of changing leaves here in AZ. Part of me absolutely loves the gorgeous Fall weather here (gorgeous meaning sunny: a tad nippy in the evenings but bright and almost warm during the days). The other part misses my collection of boots and tights and scarves and gloves and hats. I've kept them in boxes, more content to keep them out of my sight than to remind myself how beautiful they all are.

This morning I did break open one box labeled "Caitlin Winter" (can that be my alter ego? because I dig it) and clutched all of the beautiful sweaters to my chest. Oh, how I have missed them. It felt like an early Christmas gift.

In looking back on last year's style, I grabbed a few photos of my favorite looks from the end of October through November for this wintry recollection post. More for me than you, but even so, I hope you enjoy.
This was around the time I started getting restless with my hair, and began curling it every day and going rogue by parting it down the center. I then dyed the tips red in an act of uncharacteristic edginess. It was also a rather glorious time of friendship, afternoon dates, road trip adventures, sleeping in, discovering new things, and loving life. Great memories swirling among those Autumn leaves.

frocktober: the end

afternoon dates

the tapestry bag

the vintage slip

frocktober: the end

Halloween dawned drizzly and melancholy, which I suppose was fitting for the holiday.

We actually took these pictures in the light rain that afternoon, but the beautiful tree above me blocked almost all of it.

I was imagining all the kids praying for clear skies before nightfall so they could trick or treat in good weather!

Our Halloween was simple. Candy, apple cider, pumpkin carving, and Children of the Corn. Can't get more Halloweeny than that!

I must say, I enjoy scary movies. But I'm very, very picky, because I'm very easily scared. So if I'm going to spend the night in total terror, I want it to be worth it. It needs to be a great movie. (Secret Window, The Orphanage, Signs...ok, ok, I know. Signs isn't that scary. But when I saw it in theaters at 14, it was scary enough.)

Or, as was the case with Children of the Corn, it needs to be so old and so cheesy that I can still sleep at night. 

Dress: Lauren Conrad/Kohl's, Top: Ruche, Booties: Urbanog

I've always enjoyed a little bit of creepiness. I enjoy cozying up with Dustin, anticipating the strange and terrible, plugging my ears and squinting my eyes if it's particularly intense. 

Even better is watching a great scary movie (or show -- have you watched Sleepy Hollow? One of my favorite new shows this Fall!) with a group of friends.

I don't celebrate Halloween, really -- I just like candy, and cider, and carving pumpkins. I love Fall, and that's all Halloween really is to me. It's wearing orange tights and binge-eating almond Snickers. It signifies the last big bash of my birthday month, my lovely October. It's the beginning of Thanksgiving time. It's a time to sit in the living room, jumping up whenever the doorbell rings, to see the cute groups of kids running around like I used to do, asking for candy. It's not evil, it's just imagination. I'm a lover of imagination, stories, magic, beauty, fairytales. 

October (and, in effect, Frocktober) was a beautiful month. A little sad to bid farewell.

But very excited for all the treasures of November! Even if the leaves aren't quite as bright, I'll just have to burn more candles and hang some glitter to make up for it. 

spider-lady of shalott

I love these tights.

They're a little whimsical and a little something wicked this way comes, if you ask me.

Halloween Eve called for a fancy dress in a toned-down outfit for work. 

I felt a little strange, because I had categorized this dress as date night only kind of attire, but I think it works here, too. It reminds me a little bit of Jess Day from New Girl, and her uncanny ability to wear party dresses on a daily basis and still look totally natural. She wears these amazing dresses and coats as her everyday look, and it looks great, because it's her. She just looks like she belongs in them. 

Dress: J. Crew, Boots (shop!): Urbanog, Tights (similar): Betsey Johnson

This ended up being possibly my top favorite outfit of the entire Frocktober month. It was a little bit out of my comfort zone, with the edginess of the tights, but the colors and the dress and, I'll admit, that little bit of fierceness made me feel like a rockstar.
That's why we put thought into our outfits anyway, right? To feel like rockstars, and have the opportunity for that daily bit of artistry.

These photos have almost a Lady of Shalott vibe, with a little bit of a Halloween twist.
The Spider Lady of Shalott, perhaps?

catty dresses and afternoon teas

Today's outfit is a cutesie print at its finest.
It's hard to do a cat-print right, but I think this dress definitely pulls it off.
Thanks to LOFT for producing such an adorable dress!
It was one of my favorite holiday-shopping finds.

Dress: LOFT (shop), Cardigan: Ireland, Tights: Target
Booties: Urbanog (shop), Necklace: Lia Sophia, Earrings: Chelsea Girl Designs 

I've gotten really used to having pockets on my dresses - almost to the point of being disappointed when I try on a dress without them!
But there's nothing better than a sweet, comfy shift dress with a cutesie print and side pockets.

This picnic area on our street is completely overrun by the hand of winter.
All the leaves in Lynchburg have somehow managed to congregate here, taking over every inch of ground with brown, crunchy foliage.
It was like a storybook, or some old poem.

The Land of the Leaves

The leaves go dancing, twirling 'til dawn.

They swirl until the night is gone.

They join together in amber-hued songs,

Browns and oranges joining the throngs.

Before the sun rises to see what they've done,

The leaves are all gathered enjoying their fun.

Every step taken brings a sweet crunchy sound,

The leaves have joined forces to cover the ground!

It was amazing to be out in the afternoon sunshine, after such a freezing week!

It was almost up to the 40s, which seems warm in comparison. It was such a beautiful day!

This morning, I slept in a little and and finished the book I had been reading, making coffee and taking my time getting ready.
I had an afternoon date with a friend to go to our little tea house downtown! I had been wanting to go for a few months, and we finally had a reservation set up for a relaxing hour or two sipping on hot sweet tea and munching on scones.

Sometimes there's nothing better than some fancy girl time.
It was the perfect Saturday!

I hope you get to take some time this weekend to get a little dressed up and enjoy a special outing.
Enjoying the simple things (like cat-print dresses) is the best way to spend a Saturday.

Cait