Sterling, what about layering one of your shirts under the sweater instead of the tee? Too stiff?

It is a good idea, Aida. Truthfully, I have never mastered the concept of laying shirts under sweaters.

It looks so good on others, but I have never managed to get the shirt to lay flat. If I have time tomorrow, I think I will attempt it though. It will look more professional than what I had planned. Thanks for a brilliant idea.

For March 3, I have a rarely worn camel colored wool skirt and rarely worn striped crossover blouse planned. I like both pieces but they don't get much wear. I will probably wear gold loafers and may need a jacket. The bag in Finds does not get enough use either.
I have a midday meeting and grocery shopping planned, then change for dog walking or the gym and cooking. Changing will probably mean switching out the skirt for black jeans, gold loafers for gold sneakers, and maybe the blouse for a winter floral mixed media sweatshirt that has been an orphan this F/W.

WOW Joy. I love that camel outfit. Camel always looks so sophisticated to my eye. Do you wear the shell under the stripped blouse?

March 3: Good News. The temperature dropped. I am switching out what I proposed wearing yesterday for something a bit more appropriate for meetings. I am still wearing leggings (just the herringbone patterned ones). I am adding an Eileen Fisher silk tee shirt (very rarely item because I am "saving" it for something) and my red blazer (rarely worn item). I'll be wearing a column of black (which is new to me so I am still experimenting with it.

Joy -- thank you for reminding me that I own an Eileen Fisher top. I had literally forgotten about it until I saw your post this morning. Have a good day.

Hi all! Joy -- What a gorgeous ensemble. I love the juxtaposition of the biker jacket with the refined, ladylike pieces. The handbag is beautiful. Sterling -- Love your outfit for today… chic column of black with a fabulous statement jacket. You are going to look fabulous.

We will also be experiencing a cold snap for a few days, so I am taking the opportunity to finish evaluating unworn pieces from my winter wardrobe. Today's orphan is a somewhat cropped jacquard jacket that I have had for a billion years. I love the intricate pattern and used to wear this a lot when I worked in an office environment. I need to find ways to casualize it or decide to pass it along. I will be wearing it open over a cocoon sleeve tunic. I will also be wearing silver metallic skinny jeans, moto boots, silver huggie earrings and a mixed metal link necklace. (The jacket will probably come off here and there throughout the day, so I need additional interest. -- hence the jewelry).

El Cee -- I have so admired your Old Navy pants that I placed an order for Rockstar Jeans in two sizes (both long). I won't get them until the 10th of this month, but I am excited. Had I seen the metallic skinny jeans, I would have bought them too. I also collected your Mona Boots (although it is really the wrong season for me to consider buying them).

So today's outfit is a bust. I needed to look somewhat professional for morning meetings, but I wanted to wear leggings/soft tee shirts.

As a result, my ultimate outfit has the strangest feel of schizophrenia. I ended up bringing clothes that I can wear to my morning meetings. I intend to change immediately afterward into leggings/tee shirt. So I am actually wearing a lot of different looks today. The red blazer remains my previously unworn item for March 3.

Oh Sterling -- I so understand the desire to have professional looking, tailored attire that still feels like "jammies". You are not alone. I think every woman I know would agree with you on this frustration. I think your idea of having two sets of clothing for today is a very smart compromise. Hope you get a future opportunity to wear that lovely jacket. I am going to try to incorporate my own jackets into casual outfits this week and may run up against that same feeling of schizophrenia that you mention. About the Rockstar Jeans -- I got hooked on them a couple years back when fellow forum member Day Vies recommended them. For lower-end jeans they are surprisingly durable. And I find that it is a fun way for me to try something new (like a camo print or metallic) without spending a fortune.

Sterling, yes I am wearing the shell under the striped blouse. It has a tiny snap closure so isn't absolutely necessary but I feel less exposed.
I'm sorry that your outfit did not work out. If it is the colors together, try adding a third color or neutral, maybe a long silky top under the knit that peeks out? You need to wear that EF piece, but I do the same thing (save for an occasion).
El Cee, I love the jacket and the soft shades that you have chosen to wear with it. At one time I bought silver jeans similar to yours but the tag said that they had to be dry cleaned so they were returned. Do you wash yours?

Joy -- Re: the Old Navy metallic jeans -- I have not washed them yet and will be following the laundering instructions on the label very carefully: wash inside-out, cold water, gentle cycle, line dry. I have two pairs of metallic jeans from Long Tall Sally that are similar fabrication and have the same washing instructions and they came out just fine, so I am not too worried.

Outfit for today. I think the skirt is s near orphan because the slight A-line seems s bit grumpy. A pencil skirt might fair better. I wonder if the volume of the blouse is adding visual inches to my middle.

Hi Joy. I don't see any inches added to your middle from the blouse (in either picture). I also don't see an A-line skirt in either picture, but you would know better than me. I will admit that I love pencil skirts. They look and feel so sophisticated to me. I wear them even when they are not the dominant style.

Joy that outfit is beautiful on you! I especially like it with the jacket for a little added toughness. Tapering the skirt seems like a simple alteration, would it be worth doing?

Sterling the outfit you originally planned seems like it would be fine for meetings with a soft longer blouse in place of the tee along with smart footwear; or leave the tee and add a long necklace perhaps. You could always take the jacket off the rest of the day after your meetings.

Joy -- I agree wholeheartedly with Aida and Sterling that you looked gorgeous in yesterday's outfit. I do not see any visual inches added to your waist area. I also like the skirt. It is slim enough that it works with the more voluminous blouse, but I like Aida's idea of tapering the skirt a bit.

A running around day for me today. We also have a bit of fresh snow on the ground , so I need to dress warmly and comfortably, and prepare for slush. My orphan item is a coral V-neck pullover. I will be wearing it with silver metallic skinny jeans, a gray and white fade-out cardigan and a mixed metal and mother of pearl long necklace. For footwear: suede pewter boat shoes for indoors and Sperry duck boots for outdoors.

Thank you for your kind comments on my outfit yesterday. El Cee, the coral pullover will look extra rich with the silver jeans. Sterling, I hope that you are feeling better.
Inspired by Angie's blog post this morning, March 4, I think I'll try using an olive non-bomber jacket that is an orphan. It is a casual day. The rest of the outfit is still under consideration,but I plan to use either black or blue jeans and probably a striped tee and giraffe print ballet flats that don't get enough wear.
ETA: I think I may have yesterday's skirt tapered. Thank you for the suggestion
ETA: I could not find the jacket I had in mind and probably edited it out. The one I am wearing is a different one,an EF from several years ago. The second photo shows a little Gap cotton scarf added at the last minute, also several years old.

Hi. Got here later than everyone else I had today off so everything was pretty much something was had been worn already this week. Nothing exciting. Take care, Ladies.