After leaving a matinee showing of the film, "Begin Again" and stopping in at Trader Joe's, I found inspiration for my next outfit in the checkout aisle and, wait for it, I was able to Shop My Closet.

Our weather has been extremely hot, humid, sticky and muggy and when Angie posted the cooling benefits of wearing a dress in the summer, I decided to put my pleated skirts into the mix.

My "inspiration" was getting her groceries bagged just before me and she wore a black knife-pleat skirt, white lace long-sleeved top and black flats. Check, check and check! Then, all of a sudden, up popped another black pleated skirt with a woman on a bike in sneakers on Pinterest! Time to make it happen.

So, yesterday, I wore my old Liz Claiborne black knife-pleat skirt and my new J. Crew cream eyelet sweatshirt. Was the sweatshirt the best thing to wear on a sweltering day? Probably not! But, that's why they call it a sweatshirt!!!

Then, today, when I returned a couple of things at Nordstrom and shopped at Zara and Sephora, I decided to do the same thing with my cream knife-pleat skirt. I want to thank Diana for her slip recommendation of the Vassarette, because it's a winner and a lightweight slip that felt like I had nothing on and yet gave me the opaque look I needed. Thank you, Diana!

I also want to give props to Viva/Vivian who reminds me to "play with mixing mood and proportion" and I find this so helpful. Thank you, Vivian!

1-3 J. Crew cream eyelet sweatshirt, black knife-pleat Liz Claiborne skirt, Ann Klein sport wedges

4-6 Inspiration photos from Trader Joe's and Pinterest today.

7-10 Zara cream and black striped Breton tee, cream Moda Int'l. skirt, Vassarette half slip (so comfortable), yellow Chuck Taylor Converse sneakers, sage green Chuck Taylor Converse sneakers. I wore the yellow ones.

11-12 For fun, I wanted to try a different pair of shoes, and instead of going with my red J. Crew pointy ballet flats (no photo), I decided on my blush oh-so-comfy Mercanti Fiorentini oxfords. These shoes are like wearing butter, or nothing.

Thanks for looking and I'd love to know where you draw your inspiration, because that intrigues me. Comments, welcome. ^_^