I know most people talk about the weather when they have nothing else to say, but seriously, I’m so happy about the chillier weather lately. You may laugh at me, out-of-state reader from state-with-more-intense-seasons, but I’m super into the “slightly chilly” vibes while not freezing my face off. Yay, San Diego!

To mix up the pants choices, I added in a new silhouette to my denim collection – a trend I was relatively averse to initially: FLARES.

The last time I had bell-bottomed pants, I was probably 14 years old. They were from Abercrombie (which, btw… is Abercrombie making a comeback? pls discuss).

My latest treasures are from Madewell, a brand which has slowly begun to overtake the entirety of my denim wardrobe as of late. For my frame, the cut has always been on point.

Like I said, I was hesitant at first, but the apprehension dissolved once I went into the store to try them on; I was super surprised to see that these flares didn’t overwhelm my midget-esque physique. In fact, they made me look taller, and quite trim. As you can imagine, my innate reaction was SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY.

I’m trying to balance out proportions of the wide-legged look with a slimmer-fitting tee. It’s so important to be kind to your figure and keep things balanced, especially when you’re extremely petite like me.

When we set out to shoot this outfit, I really wanted to get a “cool fall environment” … and I was super disappointed when we couldn’t find anything other than palm trees nearby. I was grumbly up until we saw this sunset down at the pier, and then I stopped bitching because even though we don’t live in a place with seasonally appropriate trees, we do live in a place with sunsets like these. Check it out…

Also, let’s talk about one of my all-time favorite Christmas libations: the CPL. I have adored the Chestnut Praline Latte since its debut last year, sung my praises, and never looked back. It also tastes amazing in ice blended form as a frappuccino.

May I just say – while we’re keeping it topical – I love Jesus🙏, and I love these red cups. I think they’re simple and classy, and I have never been less offended by an inanimate object. I love that Starbucks kicks off the Christmas and Holiday season the day after Halloween (if you haven’t noticed, I strongly dislike that holiday), which always gives me a little something to look forward to. This year’s design aesthetic is simple, which is something toward which I’ve always gravitated. You’ll see a lot more of that in my holiday DIY, decorating and styling – which is all on deck! Eeeee exciting! 🎄🎅🏻⛄️🎁

Bringing back home to the point of this post, the important stuff: CLOTHES. Are you on the fence about trying flares? Are you petite like me, looking for a silhouette that won’t overwhelm your stature? Trust, I thought I was gonna look like a doll stuck in a cake, but I was pleasantly surprised to rid myself of that notion once giving it a chance. GIVE FLARES A CHANCE, U GUYS.

Top: Nordstrom | Pants: Madewell Flea Market Flares, Kenner Wash | Sunglasses: Urban Outfitters | Bag: Urban Outfitters | Shoes: Madewell | Nails: UO Undercover

Here are a few options that work for different body types!

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I hope you find something amazing to add to your denim collection this week! Some of those options are on sale, too – including the ones I’m wearing. You can buy my exact Madewell ones on sale at Shopbop, but if you’re petite (or anything under 5’8″, tbh) I’d recommend going into a Madewell store. They hem all full-priced denim for free, which is amazing. I took off a solid 4″ 😳

Have an amazing Monday!

xx,
Dominique

all photos © Arielle Vey photography [like I’ve said before: Nikon-wielding wizard]