My goal for December was to not wear blue jeans for work, and I've done great all month but yesterday as I was getting ready to go in, I just had to to wear jeans. I think it was as much about the silhouette as the material - my December pants are all either skinny or straight, and I was longing for a bootcut or flare silhouette, which I feel works well on me since I'm so top-heavy. So I gave in and wore a pair of old and very comfortable faded mini-flares from ON, paired with another favorite, my snakeskin print Docs. Once I'd given in that far, I sort of went all the way home and wore my favorite color combo: cobalt and black in the form of a black tank and old cobalt cardigan. I even put my hair back in a silk scarf and put on an old favorite lapiz necklace and an enormous pair of hoop earrings ... but you people have gotten to me, and I didn't like the way it looked. I remembered a couple of you mentioned I should try looping a scarf around my neck, so I took the scarf out of my hair and tried it looped around my neck instead. I liked it, so off came the necklace and earrings. I'm pretty much incapable of not wearing any jewelry at all, so I decided on these more delicate pearl and silver fan earrings (self-made several years ago).

Then as I was rooting around in the coat closet for a top layer, I pulled out this old (at least 10 years old) black blazer. I bought this when I worked in corporate land and I think of it as very dressy - which means it's been worn less than a half dozen times total. But the boxy silhouette and zip close actually gives it a rather polished casual air, so I tried it on - and kind of loved it. My late mother-in-law gave me the lovely silver road-runner pin, which was already pinned to the lapel. Since there was a lot going on near my face, I just pulled my hair back into a french braid and added some plummy lip color. (Anybody else struggle with hair as an accessory?)

I was very happy with this combo of old favorite pieces (jeans, cardi, boots, earrings) worn in a slightly different way (scarf and blazer) and the addition of a sentimental piece (roadrunner pin).

Thanks for looking and feedback always welcome.