Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. Please consider clicking through them if you choose to make a purchase; this helps support my ability to run this blog. Thank you! All reviews are based on my honest opinion.
If you’re not quite ready to break out the pastels, check out these three moody late-winter looks to smolder through until spring.
A huge thank you to the amazing and talented Ian Bell who was a joy to collaborate with on this shoot.
Look One
Here are a few late-winter looks to spice up your wardrobe until spring.
The best part about working with other creatives is the opportunity to collaborate on how the setting and the looks come together to complement one another and tell a story. Our first location was this motel that felt completely abandoned. The empty quality lent itself to the pensiveness we composed thematically in all three of these scenes.
When Ian first shared photos of the motel with me, I already had this marigold C/MEO Collective blouse in mind. I’m having a love affair with marigold this year – it’s rich enough to go with other jewel-tones like plum and teal, but bright enough to create dimension against darker colors.
The ruffled sleeves are incredibly dramatic, so I paired the blouse with silk wide-leg pants that echoed the flow without taking away attention. Classic nude pumps and sterling silver accessories accented the look, and a swipe of dark lipstick was the finishing touch.
Blouse | C/MEO Collective gossamer top Shoes | M. Gemi The Lustro in natural – use my referral link for $50 off your order!
Look Two
The second tableau in our story features an asymmetric AQ/AQ dress from RTR that brought a different sort of drama, especially in this beautiful sunlit stairwell at The Walters Art Museum. I naturally gravitate to clean, minimalist lines, and I love the way Ian used strategic shadows to echo its angles.
The high ceiling and big glass window helped create images with openness and height that metaphorically reflect looking forward, of waiting for something yet to come. That was woven visually into this scene with the shots of me climbing the staircase.
I like letting one part of an outfit speak for itself and keeping the rest simple. These strappy Stuart Weitzman Nudistsong sandals are my go-to dressy heel – they’re well-balanced and at just under 4” tall, are surprisingly comfortable to walk (and even dance) in.
Dress | AQ/AQ black Jen dress via Rent the Runway Shoes | Stuart Weitzman Nudistsong in black suede
Look Three
We picked Penn Station for our last scene as it’s a transit hub that sees a lot of waiting – for a loved one to arrive, for a train to depart, for mundane work destinations and fun weekend getaways alike. It helped naturally create a feeling of expectancy and was a perfect place to showcase one last, more casual look.
As someone who can be overly-fond of black, white, and grey, the floral print on this scarf adds a quick punch of color to an easy monochromatic ensemble. Although I love coming up with cool outfit ideas, on a Monday morning it’s much easier to throw on something simple like this and let the scarf steal the show.
I’m always eager to leave behind my coat as the weather wavers between 40 and 50 degrees. Pairing a large, gauzy wool scarf with a loose turtleneck ensures warmth and style without bulkiness. Suede ankle-boots and a sturdy tote are practical but still chic.
How are you sartorially surviving these last chilly weeks? Let me know your go-to late-winter looks in the comments, and if you’re interested in renting any of the pieces featured here from Rent the Runway, here’s my code for $30 off your first rental – full disclosure, I’ll get $30 off too!
Sweater | Aritzia Titus sweater – Everlane’s oversized rib turtleneck has a similar vibe Scarf | Aritzia Josso blanket scarf – similar here
If you enjoyed this post you might also like: