This is my Spring “go to formula”. I’ll also sport the combination into Summer if the weather stays cool here in Seattle (we had our heat on until the end of June last year). 

The outfit components are tapered jeans, a boxy blouse, Spring outerwear and booties. Weather permitting, I’ll leave off the outerwear and wear ballet flats, peep toe booties, loafers or low heeled pumps. I am extremely comfortable in this outfit because it’s streamlined and simple, yet roomy in all the right places. I also feel extra crisp because all the components of the outfit are woven. 

These are my favourite skinnies that I’ve had for years. I love that they are zippered at the ankles. The quilted cream trench coat I’ve had for years too. You might recognize it from the 2008 Anne Fontaine post where I appeared in the YLF blog for the first time. Along with the zippered skinnies, the trench coat is a wardrobe favourite and a workhorse. Although it’s double breasted, I like to wear it both open and closed. Ideally it would be knee-length. But a mid-thigh length trench coat looks good over trousers and jeans, so I’m still happy with it. When I find the perfect knee-length cream trench coat, I’ll be adding it to my outerwear capsule without hesitation.

The boxy emerald striped blouse was love at first sight when I spotted it at J. Crew. I am besotted with the colour, fabric, quality and shape of this blouse. I love emerald green matched with ink blue, so that’s what drew me in. The stripes run in different directions on the back yoke and collar, which I like to make the focal point of the blouse by buttoning up and popping the collar. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea to wear a blouse this way, but it feels right for me. The breast pocket stripes are so perfectly matched up that you can barely see them. The back is longer than the front so it’s more like a tunic. The drape is heavenly. And when I button up and pop the collar, the effect under my trench is much like a scarf.

I like to surrender my waistline and wear soft billowing fabrications around my middle, just as much as I enjoy wearing waist defining styles. I feel “modern and no-nonsense” in this type of shapeless blouse because I can move freely and get on with the tasks at hand. The soft pretty fabric keeps the style alluring. The silhouette does make the straight lines on my body look even straighter, but I’m fine with that — we don’t need to accentuate our curves all the time. And while the lack of waist definition might be a man repelling look, that’s fine by me too. It doesn’t repel my man, which is enough validation for me.

I usually wear a black handbag with this trench coat, but threw in turquoise to change things up (the turquoise bag matches the inside rims of my specs). The cream booties bookend the trench, my hair and white rimmed specs. No jewelry, accept my wedding ring and wrist watch. I couldn’t hope to find an easier uniform for Spring.