Oh, what a year this has been. 2017 has been trying to say the least, but it's taught me a few life lessons that I'll always carry with me. From the post-grad struggle of finding a job and questioning my purpose to the personal heartaches of losing my grandmother and family dog, I've been in a fog that caused me to withdraw from this blog and social media. I've taken a much-needed break to reevaluate my personal goals and next steps.

I'm excited to say I started my first full-time marketing job. I have a new Yorkie puppy named Buckley, who is wild and wonderful; I can't wait to share him with you on the blog. Fonzi just bought a townhouse--does this mean we're truly "adulting" yet? I also want to give more attention to Stitch & Strut. I started it as a side project to let my creative flag fly while descending into the depths of finance and marketing in my MBA program, but when my schedule became a juggling act, the blog always took a backseat. That changes now.

As I move forward more with Stitch & Strut, I want to know, what content do YOU want to see? I've posted a lot on OOTDs, but what styling tips are you seeking? Are you looking for budget-friendly staples? How to evoke your personal style in an office setting? Where to find designer-for-less accessories? Or maybe you need styling help for an upcoming event. Let me know in the comments below.

Despite my long hiatus, I have several posts saved up from past looks Fonzi and I shot that I still want to share with you all. As a massive fan of all things Target, especially its much talked about designer collabs, I was anxious to get my hands on the Victoria Beckham collection. As I usually do, I stayed up late before the release date to order a few must-have pieces before they sold out--and many did.

The star of the line had to be this black satin, embroidered bomber jacket. Beetles and bees adorned in gold beading, small crystals, and black lacquer-like vinyl swarm the jacket's back, while a lone beetle sits by the chest. I was surprised at how great the quality of this piece was; Target designer collaborations have never failed me in quality, but I was particularly stunned at how luxe this piece felt, especially at only $70. Satin bombers like this make for great layering pieces because they're so easy to dress up or down. Incredibly on trend, varsity stripes give bombers a casual, collegiate vibe, while embellished versions like this merge glamour with streetwear. Clearly, I'm a little obsessed. Target and Victoria Beckham also designed a sheath dress with this same embellishment, which I picked up to wear for my cousin's wedding in North Carolina this summer.

The other standout piece from the collaboration was this scalloped mini skirt. Wow, is this fabric amazing! Equal parts stylish and comfortable, this mini is a classic with a twist that has quickly become a staple in my wardrobe. The best part though has to be the pocket. Yep, that scalloping isn't all aesthetics; it's functional too. To let my bomber jacket truly do all the talking, I anchored it with more neutral pieces like this skirt and my go-to black-and-white striped ringer tee from American Eagle that I have practically worn the stretch out of. There's nothing in fashion I love more than a striped tee...

I opted for gold accessories to further complement my bomber jacket as well. This bee necklace from BaubleBar, decked out with pavé stones and faux pearls, keeps in line with the bug theme. I layered this with a crystal choker, pairing both with gold starburst earrings, both from BaubleBar.

A Rebecca Minkoff Love Crossbody continued the gold theme. This leather is tipped in a golden hologram finish that you have to see in the sun to truly appreciate. Circular sunglasses with dainty gold and silver daisy rivets from Coach added a mod twist. I finished everything with off with one of my favorite pair of summer sandals, a simple black, block heel from Target.

So that's all for now. To get the look yourself, check out the gallery below for similar pieces. Be sure to share below anything you'd like to see on Stitch & Strut going forward. And because this blog is called "A New Start" and I'm on a major Arrested Development kick lately (Tobias Fünke is my spirit animal), I'll end this with a simple hashtag: #anustart 😜

H&M

Short Bomber Jacket, $24.99