Coral Blazer 5 Ways

Here's my favorite coral blazer again.  I bought it last year at White House Black Market and had no idea what a wardrobe workhorse it would turn out to be. Even in such a bold color it has so much versatility. It easily pairs with black, white, blue, and tan which are the most common colors in my wardrobe.  I've worn it to work, I've worn it on date night, and I've worn it to casual events as well.

 

The cropped style and shawl collar let it stand out.  The 3/4 sleeves and linen blend fabric make it wearable for 3 seasons here in Houston. White House Black Market brings back many pieces year after year in a new colors or a slightly different cut. I kept my eye out for a repeat of this blazer all year, but no luck.

For Look 1, I paired it with a fit and flare knit dress that I got at Marshall's. It's in a heathered blue that makes it look like denim, and easy to dress down for weekends too.

Matching shoes also from WHBM and multi strand coral necklace from San Miguel complete the look.

 

Look 2: I've worn this bight jacket over a white dress with matching belt and shoes (see blog post).

 

 

Look 3: I've paired it with a nautical stripe dress for a patriotic look.

 

Look 4: I've worn it with a navy skirt and blouse, this time with brown studded sandals.

 

 

Look 5: And, I've worn it for date night with an embroidered bustier and black skirt.

 

 

Look 6 (bonus!): Paired with a matching knit top and white skirt with lace up leather sandals (See post). 

Embroidered Skirt Two Ways

I've enjoyed this skirt all summer. It is white with a subtle beige geometric embroidered pattern on it. I usually wear it with my tan blazer and nude shoes. I like to change up my blouse and jewelry though for more variety. Here I'm wearing it with a sky blue wrap blouse, and below with a simple white shell.

 

Embroidered skirt - White House Black Market

Blue wrap shell - Lafayette 148

Nude Heels - Christian Louboutin

Tan Blazer - Brooks Brothers

Blue chalcedony necklace - Sri Lanka

 

Embroidered skirt - White House Black Market

White shell - White House Black Market

Nude Heels - Christian Louboutin

Tan Blazer - Brooks Brothers

 

Tropical Print Skirt

Several bloggers I follow are already talking about transitioning to fall clothes. We still have two months of summer weather left here in Houston, so wardrobe adjustments haven't even crossed my mind yet! On the flip side, I tend to start thinking about spring outfits while others are still wearing their Uggs.

Even though I won't be able to pull out my knee high boots until November. There are some things that I put away in mid September. My seersucker suit doesn't feel correct after Labor Day, even when the temps are still pushing 100. Tropical prints, linen garments, and sun dresses will all be relegated to the back of my closet in a month too.  With that in mind I'm putting my overtly summery pieces in high rotation until then since I won't have a chance to wear them again until next year.

I'm not usually a fan of floral prints, but lately a few have crept into my closet. They are all bold and tropical like this skirt, so I guess I just don't like grandmothery florals! 

 

Skirt - Ann Taylor current season

Blouse - Vince 

Blazer - Brooks Brothers 

Suede sandals - Audrey Brooke (one of DSW's in house brands)

Black and White with Bright Shoes

Black and white is so easy to wear and always looks professional.  I love to pair bright shoes with my black and white outfits to make them more interesting. 

 

The wrap blouse is the Deneuve from MM La Fleur (exact.) I love it because it is sewn all the way up in the front, so I'm not adjusting it all day, and I can lean over without worrying about flashing anyone.  I love the bracelet length sleeves, it drapes beautifully, and it is wash and wear, so worth the higher price tag if you ask me.  It comes in 3 colors, they sell out often but also restock often.

 

This pencil skirt from White House Black Market. It's from last season, but I'm still wearing it.  The black horizontal stripes on the sides are so slimming, and its made a super soft knit so it is comfy all day long.

 

 

Shoes are Christian Louboutin that I actually scored on one of those Facebook swap pages!

 

I don't often wear these shoes to work.  I think of them as more of a "date night" shoe, but it's summer and there's hardly anyone in the office these days so I can get away with it. Besides I'm meeting a girlfriend for dinner tonight in the new swanky River Oaks District, so they're perfect for that.

 

***Update: This ended up being the perfect girls night out outfit.  I stopped in the Dior store on the way to the restaurant and the ladies in the store swooned over my shoes!  My friend told me I looked fabulous too. :)

 

Gray and Pastels

Last week I blogged about a lilac and gray outfit I was wearing.  It got me thinking about how gray looks great with all pastel colors. So, I used the same  gray and pastels formula for today's outfit of gray and sky blue.

This is a sky blue leather skirt from White House Black Market that I got last season.
The gray zipper eyelet jacket is Armani Collezioni that I got at Neiman's Last Call, also last year.

 

I paired it with gray and navy pearls, and a wrist-full of silver bangles.  I learned how to stack bangles from growing up in the Middle East...looking at these pictures I'm not sure if that projects the successful business woman image I'm going for, but I am in very cosmopolitan Houston, so maybe it works!

 

 

Here are the shoes I'm wearing.  The are still available at DSW, and are on sale. The gray tied in with my jacket and it's not obvious in this picture, but there are shades of blue throughout the gray, so these are just the perfect shoe for this outfit!

 

 

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Lilac and Gray

I got my inspiration today from Outfit Post's blog, and she got her inspiration from the Nine Thirty to Five blog.  They both paired a lilac tank with a gray cardigan and I liked the color combination.  Cardigans are too casual for my workplace, but I can always substitute them with a blazer to bring it up a notch.  I don't have much lilac or purple in my wardrobe, but I do have these lilac pants that I got at White House Black Market last year.  I have always paired them with a white top and blazer but that post inspired me to pair them with a gray shell and blazer.  My blazer has a pink/lilac pinstripe in it as well. I got compliments at work and at the gym, so thank you fellow bloggers!

 

 

 

 

And how about these gray suede peep toe booties! Suede used to just be a fall and winter shoe material, but if you look at the number of suede sandals seen everywhere, that rule is obviously out.  They are Nine West, and I got these during Nordstrom's anniversary sale that is still going on.  You can order them here, on sale until August 8th. They come in red and black too. I think they would look better if my pants were just a little shorter.  I'll have fun pairing them with jeans on date nights too.

 

 

Red, White, and Oops! I Forgot the Blue!

Happy Fourth of July Weekend!  We usually go to Austin for the 4th, but this year we'll be on our way to Europe, so I haven't really gotten into the spirit.  When I got to work today everyone was in red, white, and blue outfits.  Just by chance I'm in red and white, I could have put on some navy shoes and I would have been set!

 

As it is, I'm still working through my "never worn" list from my Stylebook Closet App (you can read more about my adventures with the app here  and here), and this skirt and top were both on there.  I've never paired this top with this jacket, but I think it works, even if it is bright.  The skirt, top, jacket, and even the necklace are all from White House Black Market.

 

 

I was really trying to put together a great outfit for my new shoes.  I love, love, love these new shoes.  My last look-book from Keaton Row included them. I wasn't going to buy them, but I kept dreaming about them. I kept looking them up online and smiling at them, so I went ahead and ordered them.  They arrived last night.  I was worried that all that leather crisscrossing might be uncomfortable, but they are remarkably comfortable. I decided they were keepers. If you're as dreamy-eyed as me you can still get them on Amazon.

 

 

 

Dolce Vita Harper Sandals

 

 

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Sometimes Custom Made isn't Great

This isn't actually a suit. The blazer is from Brooks Brothers. I have the matching skirt to make it a great summer suit, but it is a little tight on me right now (the struggle is real!). I paired it with this tan pencil skirt from White House Black Market today, for a little more casual look, and because it fits!

My French Blue blouse I had custom made in Thailand.  That's a thing there, there's a tailor on every corner. You can get beautiful clothes custom made for a fraction of the cost. My sister and I vacationed there several years ago. You can read about the trip on our travel blog, Two Traveling Blondes.

Unfortunately, my custom made blouse didn't turn out quite like I hoped. I took my favorite shirt for them to copy, but my shirt was a knit material and the tailor didn't have any stretchy fabric to choose from, so I picked out this silk in my favorite blue to try. The blouse doesn't work as well without the stretch. I have to wear a cami under it, as you can see, for both the front and the underarms, which gives it a much more casual appearance. It looks fine under a blazer for summer, but I usually pair it with jeans or shorts for a polished but casual weekend look.

My nude Louboutins round out today's outfit. They look custom made for me too! I don't think you could match my skin color any better! I knew I wore these shoes a lot, but since getting my Stylebook Closet App, I've found out that they are well worth the price tag, as they are the most worn shoes in my wardrobe.