Dressing Room Diaries: Late Fall and Holiday Looks From Loft

I like to size up in ribbed sweaters like this to prevent them from clinging to every lump and bump. This is a nice soft rayon blend that comes in four colors, in misses and petite sizes. The sleeves are super long on me, so I’d opt for the petite version…and also size up.

These houndstooth pants are beautifully made with a coordinating belt included. I seldom like belts in the same fabric as the pants, but this one has grommet holes and a covered buckle, which elevates the look quite a bit. Their trouser styling is right on trend this year, and houndstooth is a forever classic.

I saw this bow cardigan online and wondered if it would be heavy, and I’m happy to say it’s not. The color has a creamy tone to the white, so it’s not bright. The v is low enough that I’d need a cami or top under it. They styled it over this slip dress, which would be a fun look if you have an occasion to wear it. They describe the dress color as maple sugar, which is a pretty good description of the shade of this sweater as well.

These pleated pants coordinate perfectly with the cardigan in soft shades of beige with a subtle metallic thread running through it. They have a drapey, easy fit. This inseam is 27″, and the petite is 24 1/2″, which is a significant difference. Here’s an instance when the petite pants would be way too short on me. My legs are average, but at 5″4″, I’m at the top range for petite height.

Their Lou & Grey collection is really hitting it out of the park this season with some fun, cozy pieces that are perfect for a casual and active lifestyle. These side pocket leggings came home with me because the pocket is incredibly handy, and the ponte is a great weight that holds everything in and smoothes things out. This legging is a bestseller for Lou & Grey in lots of prints and colors.

I couldn’t resist this Chillout Sweater in camel and black. It’s a classic shape with a fun motif. It’s not long enough to cover my backside, so I wouldn’t wear it out of the house with these leggings, but it would look great with jeans or these corduroy pants in either camel or black.

This hooded cardigan is made from a fuzzy knit that reminds me of the Barefoot Dreams fabric but at a much lower price point. The description says it hits at the thigh, but it’s knee length on me…which just makes it extra cozy to me. I think it runs large, so you could consider sizing down.

I paired it with this Apres Ski sweater, which has a classic shape and a nice loose turtleneck. It’s 25 3/4″ long, which hits just below the waist, and also comes in petite at 24 3/4. The colored stripes draw a horizontal line that grabs attention where it hits on your body, so this is a consideration for women with wider hips.

This super soft tee is 28″ long, which feels tunic length on me and is perfect for wearing over slim pants or leggings. It comes in four colors…I’m partial to this red:). The description says it’s a tight fit, which never appeals to me, so I sized up to a medium, and it skims my body nicely without clinging anywhere.

I topped it with this long quilted vest, which I was surprised to really like! It’s lined and has a high/low shirttail hemline, which dips up on the side, showing some leg that elongates their look. I love the drawstring for snugging it up and adding some shaping. This runs large, so I would size down one or two sizes for a perfect fit. These faux fur-trimmed booties would finish this look nicely.

I love how cozy the inside of this tunic top is. This L is too large for me, but that’s all I could find in the store. It’s a perfect length to wear over leggings and the prettiest cool-toned rouge color. It has side slits to help elongate the look of your legs while still covering the back and front. This tunic has a relaxed, easy shape and is also available in black.

This tweed shirt jacket has a cropped length and comes in reg and petite lengths of 20″ and 19.5″. This reg M is too wide and bulky on me, but the length is correct, so I’d go down to a small and fold the sleeves back. It more closely resembles a blazer than a shacket. I’m wearing it over a black ribbed turtleneck, the same as the ivory one I’m wearing above with the houndstooth pants. These jeans have a finished bottom (thank you, Loft!), a high-rise that sits at your waist, and a modern wide leg. This petite inseam is 28.5″, and the regular length is 30″. They’re fitted through the waist and hip, then gently flare out.

*Style tip– It’s best to wear your wide-leg pants a bit longer than a straight or bootcut leg so they don’t flap around your ankles when you walk.

I also tried this plaid wrap on in a M/L and preferred this size. If you plan to toss one side over your shoulder, I would choose the larger size; otherwise, this works perfectly to add a pop of color and cover your shoulders. This crew neck sweater is an easy basic that comes in five colors (I’m wearing Whisper White) in both regular and petite lengths. It has a relaxed fit with dropped shoulders, so you could consider sizing down for a more fitted look.

Here’s that same pullover tucked into straight-leg corduroy pants in the same soft white. These have a nice wide wale in a very soft fabric with a bit of stretch. They come in seven colors, sizes 24-35, in reg, petite, and tall, with inseams of 28″, 25.5″, and 31″. I tossed this plaid wrap on for a pop of color. It’s 28X76″, so large enough to wear around your shoulders and hold in place with a brooch.

This Fair Isle cardigan is in a super soft cotton/acrylic/spandex blend that feels soft and fuzzy. I love soft ivory and gray tones over the column of ivory. This also comes in petite, but you know me…I like the effect of a longer sweater. It is one size too large for me, so it runs true to size.

I could have worn this sweater in a small, but my store was sold out of them. It’s a gorgeous shade of green and also comes in periwinkle blue online. The classic fair isle pattern is perfect for this time of year, and the cotton blend is not too hot for indoor wear.

I’m wearing it over these wide-leg corduroy pants that come in five colors. They also come in twill in five colors here. It’s hard to see, but I am wearing the deep space blue. The inseam on these petites is 27 1/2″, and the regular has an inseam of 30″. I prefer wide-leg pants to cover my shoes, which helps to elongate the look of my legs. These petites feel too short on me, so I would choose the regular length and wear a low heel or have them hemmed.

I love the look of this Fair Isle sweater with these Riviera slim velvet pants. The Riviera Pant is a customer favorite and best seller at Loft, season after season. Its classic fit and slim legs make it a timeless basic for your wardrobe. These come in regular, petite, and tall. I’m wearing a regular with an inseam of 27 1/4″.

I topped these with this plaid cardigan in shades of blue and green that remind me of Blackwatch plaid. It also comes in petite, which is 1″ shorter. This would be fun over some jeans and is long enough to wear over leggings.

Pearls and a soft sweater really ring my bell. This one feels luxuriously soft in a machine-washable, cuddly acrylic blend with spandex. The cables are refined and subtle so the pearls can take center stage. It also comes in petite, but this regular is just 23″ long, so you don’t feel the need to tuck it in. The petite is 21 3/4″ long. It also comes in a pretty oat color.

This sequin jacket was the most exciting thing I tried on. There were only two left in my store, and luckily, one fit so it came home with me :).

I love the combination of the casual, wearable style with the elevated fabrication that would work over so many things. This is the kind of treasure I love to get on sale because it may not get worn a lot, but when it does, it’s very special. The regular I’m wearing is 22″ long, and the petite is 21″ so it’s perfect over dresses, skirts or even jeans!

I’m styling it over this petite scoop neck knit dress in a heather grey. This modern sweater dress is softly ribbed but not to the point of clinging like saran wrap, so a simple slip like this is all you’d need under this. It also comes in a camel shade. I’d also like a cardigan or denim jacket over this. It’s a great basic you could dress up or down.

Here are a few fun accessories I spotted on the Loft website: