Outfits Not Just Clothes

blazer-J.Crew Factory(similar here ), blouse- Old Navy , trousers-Anthropologie(more printed pants here ), loafers-Zara(similar here )  You may recall these toile trousers in this post here . For the OOTD above I kept the black, white, and grey color palette going strong, switching out the textured top for a more basic blouse, and the cardi for a blazer. Looking at these pics, it appears I have some grey hair happening in the back... but no, that's some dry shampoo residue, from this early morning photo shoot. I also neglected to dab on some lip color, so yeah no one can accuse me of being a beauty queen! 💄👸😉😜

trousers /"vest" --Banana Republic(similarish here via Poshmark ), shirt- Woolrich , shoes-Sole Society(similarish here ) Summer can be a challenging time for stylish office wear. Standard suiting is too heavy, even with blazing AC, a navy wool blazer and pants, just feels "off" seasonally speaking. I've always been a big fan of the "safari chic" aesthetic for warm-weather work-wear. This "vest" fits that bill nicely, running along that lines of professional, while also having a utility type vibe.  I've use quotation marks on the word vest, because I'm not 100 on whether this technically IS a vest, or a sleeveless blazer... the epaulets, pocket placement, and general silhouette give the feeling of a jacket, no? Either way, when paired with my go-to black trousers, a breezy button-down, and enmeshed oxfords, this OOTD is chic AF summer suiting, especially for the grey summer days we've been h

cardigan/trousers-Old Navy(similar here and here ), shirt/sunnies-Target(similar here and here ), slipons- Native Shoes , necklace-Gifted Just my standard, cropped trousers, printed button-down, and third-piece . It's a look that I have been sporting for years ( 2012 , 2013 , and 2015 ) and it's a simple enough to evolve over time, while still looking fresh and fitting into my lifestyle. That's the wonderful thing about having a style uniform that grows with you as you move from one chapter of life to the next. I experimented with various silhouettes and style combos before finding the outfit formula that worked best for me, and I've been tweeking it every since. For this iteration, it's really all about this bright pink pants(last seen here ). They are the star of this look, with the button-down picks up the color in the stripes, and the neutral cardi and sneakers finish things off with a nod to functionality. 

cardigan-Old Navy(similar here ), top/- Cupcake & Cashmere via Le Tote , pants-Anthropologie(more printed pants here ), loafers-Zara, ring- Le Tote , sunnies-Target(similarish here )  There is a special place in my stylish heart for printed pants as seen here , here , here , AND here . These toile trousers are my latest obsession in a long line of pattern bottoms. Purchased on mega-sale from Anthropologie, I paired these skinny crops with a crochet overlay top and neutral cardigan. It can be hard to style statement pants like these. Do you go with a minimal shirt, so as not to compete with the focus of the print? Or do you lean-in on the pattern and wear an equally dynamic top? Balance vs. contrast, subtly vs. statement? For me, it's a case by case decision, thinking about what will make for a better overall outfit. For this OOTD the black & white pallet makes it easier to wear more than one statement garment.