A few weeks ago, my friends and I spent a mostly sunny afternoon at the Navy Yard for the Pour the Core hard cider festival. It was one of the first days that really felt like fall, so I pulled out some of my seasonal favorites.
I love this tunic sweater. It’s comfy while making me feel put together, and it’s long enough to wear with leggings. Speaking of leggings, corduroy leggings are one of my secret weapons. I especially love them in olive. When it gets colder I wear them with riding boots, but for now I can tuck them into my combat boots,
In the past, I had my doubts about vests, being a Floridian unaccustomed to layering and all. Well, turns out they can make all the difference as temperatures fluctuate on a blustery day. I’m also glad that barrettes are trending again, because my hair cannot handle being windswept.
Now that the calendar says October(!), fall temperatures are around the corner. My budget is telling me not to stock up on too many cozy pieces, but that hasn’t stopped me from window shopping online browsing through the newest items at a local Philly store, United By Blue. (Hint: the Old City flagship also has an awesome coffee shop space.)
One of the coolest things about United By Blue is that they remove one pound of trash from oceans or waterways for every item sold. It makes investing in sustainable clothing even better. United By Blue’s whole aesthetic is perfect for nature lovers and explorers. That’s not necessarily me, but I still dig it.
I also love the inherent wearability in all of the clothes at United By Blue. The flannel shirt dress can be dressed up for work and dressed down for weekend brunch. The graphic pullover is ideal for a bagel run on a drizzly fall morning, and we all know I’m a sucker for cool graphic tees. I also firmly believe you can never have too many beanies (I actually own this UBB marled beanie in blue — it’s my warmest hat!). And do I even need to justify a cozy tunic sweater? I didn’t think so.
So shout out to United By Blue for making high-quality, stylish clothes with a mission. These are definitely classics that will find room in your wardrobe for years.
~ Sarah
P.S. This post isn’t sponsored, but I wouldn’t hate if it was!
Happy first day of Winter! On one hand, I’m glad our days are going to get a bit longer each day, but I know the snow and cold have just begun. I’m an extrovert, but even I have to force myself out of the house to try new things during the winter months. So this year, I’m crossing off items from my own Philly winter bucket list.
Riverrink
The Blue Cross Riverrink on the Delaware River Waterfront is a winter classic for a reason! I wouldn’t say that I’m a good ice skater, but I do’t have to grip the walls when I skate anymore. I almost always end up going to the ice rink on closing weekend, but this year I’m determined to make it there at least twice. They also have cozy cabins and wintery drinks so it’s nice to unwind after all your skating.
Philadelphia Distillery Trail
Breweries are a big deal in Philadelphia, and a fun place to spend weekend afternoons. It’s time to branch out though by visiting a distillery — if you’re feeling ambitious, you can tackle the whole Philly Distillery Trail. I think I’ll start with visiting Red Brick Distillery; I enjoy their whiskey and it’s in my neighborhood. Perfect way to warm up on a winter afternoon. Wine more your thing? Take a day trip to a local winery for a tasting — here are some wine destinations perfect for a winter day.
Restaurant Week
Center City Restaurant Week is coming (January 14-26, 2018, FYI)! East Passayunk also usually hosts their own restaurant week in the late winter. I haven’t picked out which restaurants, but it’s always fun to try new places and new dishes you wouldn’t usually order. Emily at Her Philly has great tips on how to conquer restaurant week too!
Winter Hike
Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean you have to be inside 24/7. Fresh air is necessary, though I’d suggest saving a winter hike for a sunnier day. I have plans to bring Arya to the Wissahickon this weekend, but my new hiking boots are begging me for a trip to the Poconos. (Don’t forget to check out my pet-friendly list of Airbnbs near the Pocono Mountains.) Prefer exercising indoors? Winter is a great time to try a new fitness class or sign up for Classpass!
Philly Theatre Week
I admittedly did not know this was a thing until LaNeshe told me about it! Philly Theatre Week makes theatre more accessible to the community by having free and discounted events (tickets are no more than $30!). Tickets go on sale Tuesday, January 16 and the celebration runs February 8 through February 18. You can see the shows available here. (Bonus: lots of options in the suburbs too.)
Let me know what’s on your winter bucket list, whether you’re in Philly or another city!
