Outfits Not Just Clothes

  top / shorts / necklace - Le Tote , sunnies- DIFF Eyewear , wedges- Eileen Fisher via Nordstrom , watch-Wenger(similar here ) Switching things up in this post from #funshortsfriday to #chicshortsfriday with this monotone outfit. Top, shorts, and necklace were all in my most recent tote, and these wedges I got on huge sale earlier this summer.  To be honest, I wore this look just to take these photos. I did also go to the grocery store (masked) afterwards, but I didn't organically wear this as an outfit in my daily life. If this was a normal summer, I would have totally pushed against the office dresscode and worn these suiting shorts and asymmetrical top to work and shocked all of the sartorial purists that think shorts and bare shoulders are inappropriate for the workplace. 

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...

coat/waistcoat-H&M(similar here and here ), shirt-Gap(similar here ), trousers- Banana Republic , loafers-Zara(similar here ) This androgynous OOTD is a great example of how outwear can make or break the overall look. On their on this shirt, trouser, and waistcoat are fine, but when you add the peacoat it becomes a more polished ensemble. Sure, the blacks of the jacket and pants don't necessarily match, but there's still a suiting vibe going on, as opposed to the topper being disconnected from the rest of the outfit. With the spring comes a chance to have way fun with outerwear and create a more cohesive look, instead of just wearing a coat. YAY! 

"suit"-J.Crew Factory(similar blazer here and "matching" culottes from Asos here ), shirt-Gap Menswear(similar here ), boots-Landsend(similar here ) Another fall-fantastic OOTD, this time with ALL of the plaids! Technically, the shirt is a check-print not a plaid, it's also a Men's medium to further play upon the androgynous suiting vibe. Fall is a great time to play with menswear-inspired looks and mixed prints. Technicality, the plaid in the blazer is not an exact match with these cropped trousers, but they work well together to create a "moment". Would I wear them together all the time? No, but in celebration of all this autumn & plaid this is a fun look.