Hello all! When I saw Helena's recent post,
https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....to-make-do ,
my first thought was... I have similar items, I want to try this!
Today was finally 1. cool enough (10-15C), 2. not raining, and 3. non-clinical so free to dress more casually, so why not!
I started with my Gap striped shirt (a very recent replacement for my old Gap striped shirt that perished), a relaxed style but new enough that it hasn't lost all its crispness. I don't have dressy beige trousers but these stone coloured chinos filled a similar role (hence the need for a casual day).
On to the footwear: I have wedge-heeled suede desert boots I intended to use. But I wasn't up for the heel height, and worried that the combo would leave me feeling unfab. So I tried it with these cordovan loafers (Cole Haan, thrifted, men's) and then echoed them with a cordovan braided leather belt. Now it felt more like me, with some needed contrast.
Outerwear needs: I could have worn my short hooded trench coat (again), but it's had so many wears with our rainy September that I'm bored with it. Early fall is my best opportunity to wear a blazer, which I love but have such a short season for. My navy and black blazers seemed too dark and contrasty, the Black Watch plaid too busy, then I remembered the navy houndstooth Pendleton collarless blazer. I turned back the shirt cuffs to make it less formal.
The whole was coming together, but skewed a bit too masculine. Putting my hair in the usual braid or half-up didn't feel right. Then I spotted this huge baby-blue bow, that usually seems just a bit too much. But this time, clipped to a low pony, it provided the yin balance to a rather yang outfit.
So, here's the end result. I am quite happy with it. I've also wandered rather far from Helena's polished minimalist elegance that was my inspiration. I also seem to have ended up (by tiny steps without a planned destination) with an outfit that is stone cold preppy, although relaxed and a bit RATE.
So that's how I got from where I started to where I ended up, for those who enjoy hearing about the journey.
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