Skirt, Zara; blouse, J. Crew (via consignment); necklace, J. Crew; shoes, Ivanka Trump
I mean, obviously, that is a slight exaggeration, but c’mon – how lovely is this skirt?
who needs a pencil skirt?
I used to be a die-hard pencil skirt fan, but after returning to work from my last mat leave that started to change. I think a big part of the reason is that, unless a pencil skirt fits perfectly, it can be such a fussy garment. My weight has fluctuated quite a bit in the last 6 months and, well, you can start to understand my frustration with the old standby silhouette. Enter this Zara number. I’ll be honest: I paid way too much money for it (full retail price!) … aaaand I have no regrets. It’s incredibly flattering, notwithstanding the high waist and the past-the-knee hemline. It has a lovely, almost bell-like shape, but without any extra pouf around the mid-section (on the contrary). It is, quite simply, a skirt I could wear every week. And I plan on doing just that.
textures and prints, oh my
I was a little concerned at first about how the skirt would work with blazers given its silhouette (high waist, midi length, full skirt), but I think I’ve hit on a good pairing. This J. Crew Factory tweed blazer nips in at the waist just enough to give the outfit some structure and help me avoid looking like I’m wearing a sack. Agreed? .
I love this skirt. I really do. I could wear it pretty much every day for, like, a week without getting bored – and in Adinaland, that’s basically an eternity. Not bad for $8. Pairing with a chambray shirt is the height of unimaginativeness, but meh. I went there. No shame.
On the other hand … the hair. Ok, here’s the deal, you guys. I had my perm re-done the day before, and … and … it came out a little bit tight.
I know, girlfriend, I know
My hair tends to need a few days to settle into any new ‘do, and more so this time than usual. I won’t lie; I panicked at first. But things are getting better now. I think. Fingers crossed.
Details: Jeanne Pierre sweater, Zara skirt, Marquis sandals (all thrifted), MaxMara necklace (retail)
Thoughts: Swamp witch is back!! I thrifted this vintage sweater and Zara skirt on the same thrift trip, and I knew they were meant to be worn together. I see lots of possibilities in each piece separately — the skirt is intriguing in its shape and texture — but they are so wonderful together. The sweater was made in Ireland which seems appropriate given its brilliant green colour. I wasn’t sure at first how to “finish” this outfit. None of the shoes I tried worked. Then I remembered that I had this pair of bright green tights; I had bought them online, hoping for a darker emerald shade, and never found an occasion to wear them because they are so bright. Well, it’s just right for this outfit. I finally attempted the tights-with-sandals combo, which has felt intimidating for me in the past — too “fashion it girl” for me. Wearing this around the house felt like a safe way to test the waters.
Thoughts: Back to my comfort zone! I recently thrifted this black & white jacket, adding it to my collection of softly structured, southwestern print RL-brand jackets. Some are LAUREN Ralph Lauren, some are Denim & Supply, this one is Chaps — it’s a popular style for the brand. I like them a lot because they are comfier to wear than regular blazers, and are also pretty versatile.
Details: Oak & Fort top, Oscar de la Renta vest, Nocona belt, Fluevog shoes (all thrifted), Topshop skirt (swap)
Thoughts: I’ve been slowly getting into brown over the past year, and I’m not mad about it. Bad gets a bad rep, but it has way more potential than, say, beige, IMO. First of all, there are many shades, to suit many complexions and wardrobe colour palettes. Second, brown is a fantastic (way underrated) complement to many other colours. And, honestly, it’s not bad on its own too. I think this outfit is proof of that. And, yes, you can def wear brown and black together. Let’s also take a moment to appreciate this awesome vest-cardigan — it’s vintage Oscar de la Renta and it’s 100% amazing cashmere.
Details: Jeanne Pierre sweater (thrifted), Paul Smith pants (Poshmark), J. Crew shoes (thrifted)
Thoughts: Same sweater, different outfit. I had to bring out these pants again, it’s been too long and they are too awesome. I love blue/green pairings. Since the colours of the pattern on the pants are pretty muted, I decided to add a brighter pop of blue with the shoes. Simple but effective.
Details: H&M dress, no name cardigan, Marquis shoes, Rafael Alfandary necklace (all thrifted)
Thoughts: Just a fun, loose, knock-about-the-house outfit. I did try out another tights-and-sandals combo. The more I get my eyes used to this formula, the more comfortable I’ll get with it; and maybe, when it warms up outside, I’ll give it a real whirl. I’ve worn the cream version of this dress with this cardigan before, but I wanted to try the black this time. One, because I like brown and black together; and two, because I thought the polka dot pattern would pop with the patchwork of patterns on the cardigan.
