This blog is called "Life and Shoes and Stuff"...so this post covers all three (though not in that order). 😊 It's no secret that I like clothes...a lot. It's always fun finding just the right new thing...or better yet, "shopping your closet" to combine items you've never worn together. I've done that a lot this session, restyling old favorites and finding different outfit combos. I've also bought a lot of new stuff...they're always great deals, but I might officially have a problem. 😀😏 I've been wearing blazers to work more this session, so this list was helpful in coming up with combinations (I'm a very visual person). I stole the article from Verily Magazine and then added my notes and, when possible, links to items of clothing that I own to supplement the examples Kat Harris shared.
Keeping It Simple: 5 Ways to Wear a Blazer KAT HARRIS UPDATED ON MAY 17, 2015
There's nothing like a good wardrobe staple to have on hand, especially for those groggy mornings when it's hard to choose what to wear. One essential staple is the classic blazer. The blazer is one of those mainstays that has a lot of range in terms of how you wear it—from dressy to casual, from workplace attire to an evening out. If you plan ahead, you will be able to wear your blazer with countless outfits year-round!
Here are five ways to wear a well-made blazer—your constant companion through the seasons, and for years to come!
01. Blazer + Boyfriend Jeans
Boyfriend jeans can have a casual and unkempt feel, but add some heels, a slim-fit blouse, and a structured blazer, and you go from running errands to running a meeting. Within seconds your blazer will take you from casual to chic.
I like the shabby-chic look, dressing up jeans with a jacket or blazer...but I'm going to tell you up front, I'm not a fan of boyfriend jeans. They're too frumpy for my taste. Swap them out for a pair of skinny or bootcut jeans and I'm on board! Pairing them with some fun shoes is also a must. 👠 Here are a couple items from my arsenal that combo well together with a white (or black) t-shirt.
I like to call this look Tomboy Chic. Thanks to Jenna Lyons, creative director of J.Crew, for giving us city gals permission to do what we're already doing: wearing sneakers with our skirts. The graphic tee and Nikes make this look extremely casual, but add that blazer and a fun black purse and voilà! You're literally ready to run all over the city—while still dressed to be taken seriously!
This is the only suggestion that was rather...unhelpful for me. I'm not a sneaker kinda gal. I've definitely gone with the blazer-shirt-skirt look...I'm actually wearing that right now, but with tights and boots instead of sneakers.
03. Blazer + Boho Chic
This flowy silk dress is bohemian to its core and one of my favorite summer dresses (thank you, Anthropologie!). The leopard flats and blazer make this sweet dress more sophisticated, yet I still keep an eclectic element with my 31 Bits necklace. It's all about mix 'n' match, ladies!
I love the dress in this example, but don't own anything quite like it. Wish they'd have linked to it...though chances are I would have ordered it, since it's from Anthropologie! 😃 I do like wearing dresses with blazers - like the Express Notch Collar Blazer with the Old Navy Olive Stripe Jersey Swing Dress. I wore that combo a couple times this winter...they went together surprisingly well! My current favorite is the Bailey 44 Handkerchief Dress with the Grey Floral Blazer from Maurices. They're super cute together and the dress has a nice swish to it. 😊 Maurice Gray Floral Open Front Blazer https://www.maurices.com/product/gray-floral-open-front-blazer/106818?ref_page=search#color/C1830 Matty M Blazer https://tinyurl.com/y6234odl
Can you tell I'm a tomboy at heart? These blue trousers could be worn with wedges, converses, and a graphic tee, or a mixture of both as shown above. The blazer says I'm ready to take on this day with full force, and the hat says but I'm going to have fun doing it!
Maurices Open Front Blazer
So, I'm not much of a hat person either. To clarify, I like hats...but most don't look good on me, so I don't wear them often. But the rest of the outfit is fun. I have branched in to the colored pants arena (as opposed to just black pants or jeans).
The other day I wore my FTND tee with a vintage black blazer from Express (couldn't find a picture of it, but it's one I wear all the time) and the Victorian Blue Skinny Jeans to work. It was a bit casual, but it pulled together nicely.
Lest one think maxi dresses are only fit for sandals and summer, this simple maxi dress paired with a blazer and some killer heels has now become the perfect outfit for an evening wedding of cocktail attire. It's all about thinking outside of the box and working with what you already have.
This is a fun work-to-play kind of outfit. Personally I'd just swap out shoes...wear flats to work and then some awesome heels for any evening activities! I'm planning to wear something like this on the 30th, so I'm ready for the Sine Die party that evening! 😎
Work is crazy right now, but thankfully things will be winding down soon. Session is actually wrapping up a little early this year, so a week from Friday (May 31st) will be our last day. Before then we have three late nights scheduled (including tonight; they generally adjourn around 9:30-10pm those nights), 3 rounds of debate my boss's priority bill and an 8am hearing Thursday morning. Any day that I have to get here by 7:20am is not a good day. 😖 We also have the traditional Sine Die Party at the Country Club this Thursday and the rowdy Sine Die Party at the Pla Mor Ballroom on the 30th. I always attend the fun party (I've gone to the traditional one the last couple years) and I'm excited because this year my boss was asked to be the guest host (shhhh...don't tell anyone. It's a secret!). I've read his opening monologue and it's a hoot. 😆 The show that night is very SNL-esque, with skits and videos based on legislative inside jokes and mishaps from the session. It's a gathering of senators, staff and lobbyists with lots of booze and is a way to amicably unwind at the end of the year. I always leave once the show's over, arriving home safely long before all the other party-goers hit the road. Last but not least - my copy of Lewis Capaldi's "Divinely Uninspired To A Hellish Extent" finally arrived (I pre-ordered a copy months ago)! 😃 I was familiar with several songs on there (Someone You Loved, Grace, Fade) and was happy to be introduced to some new ones. My favorite of the newbies is "One," which made me think of Relient K's "My Girl's Ex-Boyfriend." In case you've never heard either, here you go!
That's quite an impressive Fashion discussion. I like em all! It's always helpful to see the links you include so I can jump right to whatever interests me. Thanks for helping me find a tee shirt! You should get a commission! Ha! Hope both Sine Die parties are enjoyable! Have fun!
That's quite an impressive Fashion discussion. I like em all! It's always helpful to see the links you include so I can jump right to whatever interests me. Thanks for helping me find a tee shirt! You should get a commission! Ha! Hope both Sine Die parties are enjoyable! Have fun!
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