Two Outfits, One Formula

I definitely have a couple of outfit formulas that I wear most often.  Jacket with straight skirt statement shoes is what I wear most work days.  That is closely followed by the very similar jacket with ankle pants and statement shoes.  Here are two outfits that are the same formula, even the same color palette, yet different.

Both outfits pair my favorite black ankle pants with a black jacket.  Since I love shoes, and I love outfits that are all about the shoes, ankle length pants are my favorite work pants because they allow the shoes to be fully seen.  They are also very comfortable and I've been wearing them on weekends instead of jeans to elevate my look as well. 

In this first outfit I added a bright pink blouse and black Hermes belt. This outfit is a bit less casual than the second.  The jacket is a little more tailored, the solid color shirt is more businessy, and the classic belt are all more professional than the second look.  This outfit I started with the shoes and picked out the rest of the outfit to go with them. In the second outfit I started with the floral blouse and went from there.

I fell in love with these embroidered heels as soon as I saw them.  I liked them even more after spending a day in them and realizing how comfortable they are.  I usually wear shoes with slim heels, and I really noticed a difference in these. My sister always tells me how chunky-heel shoes are more comfortable, I just never believed her!

 

Here's a close up of the shoes.  They are still available at White House Black Market.





This second outfit is the same black ankle pants with a slightly different black jacket.  I could have worn the same jacket though.  A few days ago my daughter asked me why I have so many black jackets and I honestly had no good reason to give her! I do wear and enjoy them all, even if I do need to take a course in minimalism!

This time I paired them with a floral peasant blouse. Floral prints are hit or miss with me.  There are a lot that I really do not like.  If the print is too small, or the colors too muted then I stay away.  The pattern on this blouse is a medium size and has enough vibrancy to not look matronly to me.

I finished the outfit off with these pink sandals that have been in my closet for a while and a matching pink belt.



  

Which is your favorite?  Do you have any go to outfit formulas that you use regularly?

Pinstripes and Cobalt

Here are two outfits combining cobalt blue with black.  Even though I'm wearing the same blouse and shoes in both outfits, and both outfits consist of a skirt and blazer combo, they still look different enough and create a different feel. 

My cobalt blue blouse is from Express.  It has vertical pleats down the front which I love.  It also has short sleeves so when it gets warm in the afternoon I can take my blazer off without being self-conscious.

My cobalt and black heels are by French Connection and I got them at DSW.  They are suede with a small platform and remarkably comfortable for their over 4" heel. 

In the first outfit I'm wearing a seasonless blazer from White House Black Market. I bought it last year and it has become one of my favorite blazers.  It has 2 rows of buttons that give it a double breasted look, but actually closes with hidden hook and eyes, so it doesn't have all of that extra fabric that a true double breasted jacket has that can be overwhelming on my short frame.  The sleeves are 3/4 length and there is a slight puff in the shoulder.  Sometimes puffed shoulders make me feel like a football player, but these are subtle enough that it just adds a pretty feminine touch.

My skirt is a black pinstripe that is the bottom half of a two piece suit. I used to always only wear my suits in the pairs they came with.  Then I started hanging the skirts and pants of my suits in one section of my closet and the blazers in a different section.  Doing this instantly increased the number of outfits I came up with because it became easier to mix and match.

My black Prada hobo and blue and white pearls are the finishing touches.

Recreate the look:

Skirt - pinstripe pencil skirt in plus sizes, JCrew Pinstripe pencil skirt

Blazer - WHBM current version of the above blazer, cute one with ruched sleeves, gorgeous crop blazer

Shoes - blue suede platform pumps, blue suede pumps by Nine West avail in several colors, blue suede pumps very sculptural

Blouse very similar, knit version

Purse Similar

 

In my second outfit I wore a different black blazer.  This one is Tahari and has a subtle snake print design in the fabric. It has a more classic cut than the one above, but still has the shortened sleeves.  This time I paired it with a straight houndstooth skirt and my Hermes belt. For my necklace I chose my short David Yurman choker, and it gives it a different look from the pearls above.

Recreate the look:

Skirt - Similar with black piping, Similar for under $20

Blazer - WHBM current version of the above blazer, cute one with ruched sleeves, gorgeous crop blazer

Shoes - blue suede platform pumps, blue suede pumps by Nine West avail in several colors, blue suede pumps very sculptural

Blouse very similar, knit version

Purse Similar

I use affiliate links in this blog. That means each time you click on a link to a product I get a few cents, even if you don't purchase anything. I have a full time job and I keep this blog purely for fun. All proceeds I make here I donate to charity, so please click away and know it's for a great cause! Many thanks!

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Houndstooth for Fall

 

The Houndstooth pattern originated in the Scottish Lowlands in the 1800's.  During the 1930's it became the design aristocrats used in for casual wear.  By the 1960's Christian Dior and others brought it main stream and it can now be found on all types of clothes and accessories.  My first item in houndstooth was a scarf I bought while in college that I still have. The pattern seems to be reinvented every few decades, as with most fashion trends.  The size of the pattern changes as does the color combination, but the small size in black and white is always classic.  Here are two outfits with my houndstooth skirt. 

 

I'm wearing it with this pumpkin blouse again (see how I last styled it here). This time I paired the blouse with this collarless J. Crew blazer in the same color (see previously styled here). I like this outfit formula of a matching blouse and blazer with contrasting skirt.  I tried it for the first time only a few months ago, after seeing it on Pinterst over and over.  I use this formula often now. 

 

 

Houndstooth skirt - Albert Nippon (similar)
Orange silk blouse - Joie (similar)
Orange blazer - J. Crew (similar)
Black pumps - Ralph Lauren (similar)
Handbag - Celine Nano (similar)
Belt - Hermes (exact, pre-owned)


For my second outfit I paired my houdstooth skirt with a cobalt blue blouse and a black blazer.  Until I saw these pictures together I didn't realize that I always wear my Hermes belt with this skirt! The skirt doesn't have belt loops, but it does have a defined waistband, so I guess in my eye that needs a belt.  My blazer has a subtle snakeskin print.  A bolder print would have been too much paired with the houndstooth, but this is subtle enough that it's not overpowering.  I finished the look off with my awesome suede cobalt heels.

Houndstooth skirt - Albert Nippon (similar)
Cobalt blouse - The Limited (similar from Target)
Black blazer - Tahari (love this similar one)
Cobalt pumps - French Connection (similar and cute)
Belt - Hermes (exact, pre-owned)

Charity - I use affiliate links in this blog.  That means each time you click on a link to a product I get a few cents, even if you don't purchase anything.  I have a full time job and I keep this blog purely for fun.  All proceeds I make here I donate to charity, so please click away and know it's for a great cause! Also, please tell me what your favorite charities are in the comments.  I will donate to the ones that are most popular. Many thanks!


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Pumpkin Spice

I'm starting to see pumpkin flavored everything in the grocery store, and this morning when I went outside it was almost cool. Fall will be here soon!

This pumpkin colored blouse will likely be in heavy rotation for the season. I just purchased it and it's made of a beautiful silky fabric that drapes nicely. With short sleeves it will be easy to wear with a jacket for work, or on its own on weekends. And, bonus, since orange is opposite of blue on the color wheel, if you have blue eyes the orange will really bring attention to them!

This crop tweed jacket is also a recent purchase from White House Black Market. It's light weight so I'll be able to wear it year round.  I've always loved military inspired details like these Epaulettes. I'm so excited to see military details trending. The neutral color is so versatile, and matches my suede sandals and belt.

I wore my favorite denim skirt for a more casual look, but my navy skirt or black skirt would have worked too. I chose the denim because it has belt loops, which gave me the opportunity to wear my reversible Hermes belt, that I usually only wear on the black side.

My Celine Nano inspired the whole outfit, and ties everything together by repeating the color palette. 

 

 

Crop jacket: White House Black Market, similar, similar 

Top: Joie available in several colors

Belt: Hermes

Denim Skirt: White House Black Market, similar, similar, and this similar on that's under $40

Purse: Celine Nano black and white version

Shoes: Audrey Brooke/DSW similar, similar under $50, similar

 

Over to you, what's your favorite pumpkin flavored food, or pumpkin colored item in your closet?

Charity - I use affiliate links in this blog.  That means each time you click on a link to a product I get a few cents, even if you don't purchase anything.  I have a full time job and I keep this blog purely for fun.  All proceeds I make here I donate to charity, so please click away and know it's for a great cause! Also, please tell me what your favorite charities are in the comments.  I will donate to the ones that are most popular. Many thanks!

Casual Friday

This denim pencil skirt from White House Black Market has become a workhorse in my wardrobe.  When I bought it I though it would just be a weekend skirt, but styled correctly, it looks professional enough that I can wear it to work on Fridays too.  The a dark wash, pencil skirt style, and small slit in the front all help elevate it to work appropriate. The denim has a lot of stretch in it so it's comfortable all day long also.

I've paired it with this white and beige chevron stripe blouse by Laundry, and this orange J Crew collarless blazer. I've accessorized with my Celine Micro Luggage bag, Hermes belt, and these navy suede Stuart Weitzman wedges.

I kept seeing these navy wedges on Princess Kate and after a little research (Kate's favorite shoes) I was able to find them.  They are my first pair of shoes in this brand.  I originally bought them in my usual size 7M, but they were too long and narrow. I exchanged them for a 6.5 wide and they fit well. I've since read reviews that this brand tends to run narrow. They took a couple of wears to break in, the outside edge of the shoe rubbed against the top of my foot, but I now wear them without any trouble.

Happy Friday!