This J. Crew Factory top is so cheerfully summery, isn’t it? Yellow can be a tricky colour, but this pale lemon shade is eminently wearable even for a pasty one like me. It was an inspired choice for a beautiful, sunny Friday when I was lucky enough to get in some patio time. Oh, and it was no regular patio either:

As for the rest of the outfit, all pieces are oldies-but-goodies. This Theory blazer goes with everything. Like, seriously. Nearly every time I’m in a quandary about which topper to add to an outfit, this blazer turns out to be the right answer. Uncanny. The shoes are last summer’s Zara splurge, and they are surprisingly comfy for being faux leather. Strappy flats are still in this year, so I’m counting myself as being on-trend for once. Rounding out the outfit, my Gucci Britt bag is still going strong like the workhorse that it is.

Happy Friday!

I bought this cardigan because it’s an Anthro brand, and my buy-all-the-Anthro-things mentality could not countenance leaving it behind. Having worn it, I’m still not sure if it’s my style … but it sure is pretty. Paired with my high-waisted Zara skirt, it’s polished enough for a casual day at the office. Here’s a closer look at the print:

This skirt was one of my best retail buys of recent years; still a great silhouette and the quality is holding up just fine. These J. Crew shoes were also a good retail purchase — they’re quite comfortable, and the colour is a great accent for my wardrobe palette. Since I’m still looking for nude and navy pumps, they were a great choice for this outfit — picking up the hints of dark turquoise in the cardigan. Matchy matchy? But of course.

I think it’s no secret that I love dressing up. Nine times out of ten, I’d rather dress for work than for the weekend … but the tenth time, I stumble upon a casual outfit that I LOVE. This was one of those exceptions. I love how these colours came together, and how simple-yet-chic the whole thing looks. I’ve given up trying to emulate French women for the most part, but I think this outfit has a little bit of their effortless sophistication.

These are all old pieces except for the Club Monaco jacket, which is a recent thrift buy. A sleeveless field jacket is bound to have a short season here in Edmonton, but for $8, I’m willing to take a chance on it. I love the cut of the jacket, and I’ve been wanting to replace my Old Navy khaki jacket (now too large) for a while. The scarf and pants are also thrifted, and they are both pieces I love wearing on weekends. These Joe’s Jeans jeggings are just the softest non-pyjama bottoms I own.

The top is from J. Crew Factory, and it’s treating me alright so far. The shoes are also JCF, and about 2 years old; the patent (faux) leather is looking pretty rough (up close) but I can’t seem to quit them. I need to re-heel my vintage Ferragamo flats, and this is my only other black pair so I have a feeling I’ll be hanging on to it indefinitely — I have the hardest time letting go of comfortable, cheapie flats. (My last black pair before this one was from Old Navy, and I wore it until there was a massive hole in the sole.) I will say this: other than the beat-up pleather (whose condition is probably not helped by the fact I’m very hard on my non-work shoes), these flats have stood the test of time well.