The pièce de résistance for the first two looks is this belted trench coat. I just love this subtle shade of green. It almost reads as a neutral, but it’s such a nice, fresh hue to brighten up these dreary winter days.

This coat is fully lined with traditional notch lapels, side seam pockets, and a removable belt; and the double breasted style and 48″ length keeps it looking effortlessly modern while maintaining a classic silhouette.

It even has a storm shield on the back and a deep kick pleat, for ease of movement. This coat runs true to size, or size down if in between; I have a small.

The bonus outfit I mentioned features a black long sleeve rib polo and these black Vince booties from last year’s #NSale.

My boots are pretty much sold out, but these are a good alternative. And this sweater is fully stocked. It’s been getting a lot of airtime in my current outfit rotation.

It’s a high quality knit fabric, and I love the flat ribbing and polo neck detail. I also appreciate the way the dark buttons on the coat relate to the black sweater and boots when they’re all put together.

But as I said above, I’m itching to wear lighter colors at this point in the year, so I picked up this cotton/wool blend ribbed crewneck sweater in the Ivory Pristine when I was shopping last week. It also pairs beautifully with the seafoam green trench coat.

This sweater hits all the right notes with the classic crewneck, cozy cotton/wool ribbed knit, and raglan seaming at the shoulders.

It has an easy fit and a versatile 24″ length. In fact, I like this sweater so much, I also came home with the black/ivory stripe.

And these jeans are another new discovery from my recent shopping expedition. While wide leg styles may be the most fashion forward denim silhouette at the moment, flares are not far behind, and I immediately fell in love with this pair with their super stretchy denim fabric in the medium-light wash.

FRAME Le Easy Flare Jeans (29) (budget option) // Nordstrom Rib Organic Cotton & Merino Wool Sweater (S) // Dolce Vita Dee Pointed Toe Bootie (8.5) // YSL belt (option/option)

They’re the perfect 31″ inseam for me to wear with low heels or flats, and the high 12″ rise with the relaxed fit through the thighs and generous 24″ flared leg opening keeps them from looking too much like the low-slung bootcut jeans I wore almost exclusively when I was a young mom in the early aughts.

Style Tip: When we embrace trending styles we’ve worn before at another time of our lives, we run the risk of looking like we never left that era, so if you like to stay current, you want to pay attention to those small details that create a more modern look. (These jeans have a similar look for less.)

My pointed toe booties with the kitten heel also help to keep it current.

Speaking of styles we’ve worn in another era of our lives, I also happened to notice this denim midi skirt when I was wandering through Nordstrom last week, and I immediately grabbed it and took it to the nearest dressing room. As luck would have it, I slipped it on, and it’s pretty much perfect in every way!

At times in the past, I’ve worn the long straight styles and the knee-length pencil skirt styles, but these midi-length A-line denim skirts have been calling to me ever since I saw them popping up a couple seasons ago. I think they have such a fun, retro flair.

Nordstrom Rib Sweater (S) // Rails The Highland Denim Midi Skirt (29) // Sam Edelman boots (more options) // rag & bone belt (M) // necklaces (option) // earrings // Clare V. Midi Sac // similar sunglasses (option)

This one has the perfect amount of distressing and a raw hem so you can easily cut off some of the length, should you desire to do so. I also love the back vent and the rear pocket placement. Score one for Rails!

These A-line denim skirts can be hard to come by, so I was thrilled when I searched my phone and found this one fully stocked online at Nordstrom!

In fact, they’ve definitely upped the ante this spring to meet the demand, because I also found some other nice denim skirt options at various price points with good inventory. If you’ve been in the market for one, you’ll definitely want to check them out.

I almost paired this skirt with the black and ivory stripe sweater, but at the last minute, I decided to go with the solid ivory and pop the neutral look with this fabulous Clare V. camera bag.

The sporty stripes and red trim at the zipper are such great details, and the luxe leather and chambray lining is so Clare V. She always adds just the right touches to make a bag a little extra special.

These boots were another #NSale purchase that have all but sold out, but that’s the great thing about a neutral look like this. You can probably shop your closet, or find a similar pair with better inventory.

I love how this look came together. It’s casual and comfortable enough for daily activities, but also looks elevated enough to wear to church or some work environments, or even out to dinner on the weekends.

In fact, I had to run a few errands after my photo shoot, and it was nice to feel put-together and a little bit sassy, even if  I was just picking up groceries and dry cleaning!

Why do we save our favorite outfits for what we deem to be worthy occasions, when we can enjoy them anytime we want? This may be my new mantra.

If you’re looking for a few new pieces to get you through the winter doldrums, or want to try some new styles for spring, Nordstrom offers free shipping and free returns on all orders.

And if you have a store local to you, they also have BOPUS (Buy Online Pick Up in Store) and contactless curbside pickup options, so you don’t even have to get out of your car.

Also, be sure to sign up to be a Nordy Club member, so you can start earning points toward Nordstrom Notes when you shop. You also get to enjoy exclusive perks like members-only access to sales, offers, and events — like the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, which will be here again before we know it!

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photos: Alison Cornell