Wednesday's Wardrobe: Pre-fall Mix

Sorry for the absence, life is getting in the way of life as I like it.  For you, this means I wear clothes (even cute ones) but I don't take pictures of them.  After a sweet commenter mentioned that my yellow shirt was perfect for the Every Body: Every Wear challenge last month, I  decided I needed to participate in future challenges.  When mixing patterns was selected as the EBEW topic du jour, I panicked.  On a normal day patterns scare me, but mixing them together? Aah! My worst nightmare, and yes I do dream about clothing.  While so many others combine patterns in the most intriguing ways, its just not my cup of tea.  You see, it can go horribly wrong if you don't do it right and I don't trust myself to steer clear of that territory.  So this is what came to me in my dream (no joke).  I mixed two patterns, albeit subtly and safely but I like it and it forced me to pull my leopard print shoes out of my fall/winter shoe bin.

Dress - Filene's Basement, Shoes - Steve Madden,  Belt - Betsey Johnson, Bracelet - Provincetown shop

Speaking of fall, all this back-to-school hype makes me nostalgic for those before school purchases. School shopping for me meant new shoes and jeans, a new bag (until I got the enormous L.L. Bean backpack that refused to die) and a new outfit for the first day.  In the spirit of nostalgia, here are my new back to school shoes.  These are a serious upgrade from my white leather Keds, those Thom McAns with the knotted laces and the plastic Payless black flats from 2003 (that also refused to die) that I have been wearing for 8 years.  Please excuse Flipping Out, our red Wii and Homer Santa in the background...

Tory Burch flats - Nordstrom sale

With shoes down, I'll begin my quest for a new bag.  I'm currently craving a brightly-colored clutch for fall like this or this or a neutral satchel to tote to work.  What are you currently craving?