Shopping can be fun, but adding new items to my wardrobe is something I am far more discerning about these days, and I'll often wait for an item that I am interested in to go on sale before purchasing. I do not mind following trends, such as switching from skinny jeans to ones with a wider leg, as long as I can keep a classic feel. I have enough "what was I thinking" moments in my fashion history and do not want to add any more if I can help it! Here are a few items I currently have in my closet and have had for years, along with some newer items that I contemplated before purchasing and have been wearing regularly since. Just click on a photo to shop!

I bought this raincoat in 2019 during a sudden downpour while my husband and I were visiting Epcot in Disney World. We can always count on the Norway pavilion in the World Showcase for a quality, non Disney-themed sweater, jacket, or backpack if the weather takes a turn. I love this coat in white but it comes in a couple other colors online. Be sure to enter promo code Gretchen DiNardo for a 10% discount on your first purchase. ​I am wearing a size small.

Years ago, I bought a teddy coat, but it was so heavy that I hated wearing it. By chance, I found this one while browsing stores in Disney Springs. It was so soft, warm, and lightweight that I fell in love immediately. I probably could have bought a small, but they only had a medium in stock, and I did not mind it being a little oversized. It has now become one of my favorite coats! I have never shopped at this store before so I am not sure if this is a standard item they carry every season, but the sale price is too good to pass up. Do not sleep on this one!

Along with the faux leather leggings I mentioned above, I wear these over-the-knee boots all winter, and typically I wear them together as styled in the pictures above. The double-layer that these boots provide on my legs helps keep me warm on frigid days. I love to wear heels and find these to be quite comfortable. I have walked all over Paris and New York City in them without any issue! I also have these in dark grey. 

These winter boots are great for trudging through the snow since they are insulated and waterproof. They also have a good tread on the bottom to prevent slipping on ice. My feet stay nice and warm in them even without socks because of the shearling interior. I love that they can be styled both laced up tall or flipped down short to show the shearing!

When it comes to winter coats there is nothing better than one which feels like being wrapped up in a big warm blanket. This camel coat is a favorite of mine because the style is classic, timeless, and elegant - like it could have been passed down by a fabulous great aunt to her niece, and still be just as fashionable on her as it had been when she wore it as a young girl. I had been coveting it for a while and finally bought it about five years ago. It is everything I hoped it would be. It is warm and comfortable to wear without being restrictive or heavy. I love that I can wear it over a dress and heels, or casually pair it with jeans and sneakers. It makes me feel glamorous the moment I put it on, even if over my gym clothes! This particular coat is a luxury item which means the buying experience in the boutique was an event and included champagne! Although it is expensive, it is so well made and beautifully constructed that I will have it forever - maybe I'll get to pass it down one day! It is made from real camel hair, so it is very soft, provides great insulation, and is durable.
You can find my exact coat here. The designer makes it every year, but the price increases a bit each season. If you are a bargain hunter like me, then you can find it on sale. When considering buying something lux, I always think about it for a long time to see if it haunts me. I ask myself what I will wear it with? Will I tire of it? Does it fit my personality and style? Most importantly, is it worth the money? The answer concerning this iconic coat is a resounding YES!!
I have found a couple of other great options of camel-colored coats that are almost identical at friendlier price points here and here, that I would want to purchase if I did not already have mine. Here is a very affordable duster that is similar in style and here is a fun cropped version. This one, this one, this one, and this one are also great options if you like the belted wrap style, or this, this and this one if you prefer buttons.

For our trip to Marrakesh, I was not entirely sure what to pack. The closest I had ever been to Morocco was their pavilion in Epcot at Disney World, and admittedly, all I could mentally reference was Jasmin, belly dancers and glamorous Arabian night themed parties. Some of the bloggers I follow had recently been to Marrakesh, so I consulted their Instagram photos and reached out for advice. What I was told to bring was layers, and flowy dresses or skirts. What I saw in their perfectly poised Instagram photos was long floral wrap dresses, crop tops with skirts, chunky heels, wedges and bright colors. I had all of those things in my closet, so I was pretty confident to start picking out pretty sleeveless sundresses, crop tops with skirts or flowy pants, and strapless jumpsuits/maxi dresses. However, when I googled "What to wear in Morocco," I read on several sites that conservative clothes and modesty is best since it is a Muslim country. One article read that showing any skin, in general, should be avoided out of respect for the culture. The only people you will see wearing shorts or tank tops (or even short sleeves) are quite obviously tourists. I was momentarily at a loss and had to start over with my outfit planning. I was not necessarily trying to blend in, but I did not want to dress offensively either. Since I was going to spend some time in France before Morocco, I was trying to pack for 12 days in two different climates all in a carry-on! It did not help my planning that the forecast kept changing. After a while, I came up with some great stylish but modest outfits that I was excited about and zipped up my carry-on with confidence. I had grand ideas of taking stylish photos in cute outfits for my Instagram and blog recap of Marrakesh, but once we got there, I realized quickly that some of these outfits were just not practical to explore the city and go on the excursions our friends had planned. After the first day, I experienced some major packing remorse and started thinking about all the things my closet that would have been better suited for this trip. ​

These were the only dressy outfits I wore heels with on the evenings when we went out to dinner. However, it is not necessary to dress up to go to dinner unless you go outside of the medina where there are fancier restaurants with belly dancers and other performers. Light, breathable materials such as silk or linen are best. I would recommend wearing looser clothing in general.

Any questions? Do not hesitate to ask! Have you been to Marrakech or somewhere else in Morocco? Share your thoughts!

At the end of last winter, one of my girlfriends that lives in Paris posted a picture wearing this coat on Facebook. She bought it in the camel color and looked beautiful in it (and very Parisienne). The style of the collar, along with the hardware accents intrigued me enough to ask her who it was by and hunt it down for myself. Since it was the end of the season, I was able to purchase it for about half the regular cost! I already own a camel coat, and a couple of black ones, so I decided to get it in the color oxblood. Burgundy has been a long trending hue and can be worn from autumn into spring.  The lining of this coat is also beautiful, so wearing it open looks just as lovely as wearing it closed. I often get compliments on the color and know I will be wearing this coat for many years to come. Ted Baker makes this coat every year, but the details change slightly. This season, the hardware at the collar is different but still makes a subtle statement. The price of this coat varies depending on the length and material, as you can see here. I have found a very similar option for the short version on sale here for only $30!!  

After making breakfast and cleaning up from my stepson's sleepover last night, I had the much more difficult job of deciding what to wear to church today. I was looking through my closet and saw this Rebecca Taylor blouse that I probably had not worn in over a year, but have not wanted to put in the donate pile yet either.  I thought, why not pair this with something else that hasn't seen the light of day in a while? This fantastic faux-leather midi skirt by JOA Los Angeles was just right!  I love timeless pieces because no matter how long I forget about them, I can still wear them years later! I decided to complete my outfit with some classic accessories such as this Chanel purse, YSL black pumps, and a Comptoir de Cotonniers coat. All of these pieces I've had for several years, but today they were new to me again! As they say, "A good classic never goes out of style".