I love me a good English professor outfit. And it makes for a cozy ensemble on a crisp fall morning. I stole this look from my husband (who, coincidentally, is actually teaching a class at his old alma mater this semester), and I think I may have to keep it for a while – metaphorically speaking. There are a few more versions of it I want to try, for sure.

Before I forget, allow me to apologize for the quality of my photos, which has reached a new low, I know. With winter most assuredly on its way (*sob*), it’s now too cold and dark in the mornings for me to take photos outside before work. I’ve set up a “OOTD photo taking” space in our (unfinished) basement, but it’s not ideal. Even with a couple of industrial strength floodlights I pilfered from the garage, the lighting is an under-eye bag-enhancing tragedy. Canadian blogger problems, y’all.

Ok, the title is a misleading sort of pun, because you know that shopping secondhand never leaves me feeling blue. So, while this outfit has me wearing a lot of aqua, that’s the only kind of blue in the picture. Har har.

But, yes, other than the necklace, this is an outfit made entirely of consignment or thrifted pieces. Coincidentally (or not?), it’s also made up of some pretty fancy pieces – things I certainly wouldn’t want to buy at retail prices. Lucky, then, that this outfit cost me only about 24% of its original retail value – on things (like the bag and shoes especially) that looked to be brand new. Have I told you lately how much I love shopping secondhand?

I should also tell you, if I haven’t lately, how much I love this J. Crew blouse. The silk has a nice drape to it, and gives off a lovely romantic vibe when it’s tucked in. It works as beautifully with a pencil skirt as it does with my Zara midi skirt.