I'm been meaning to try these proportions (along with culottes and a return to wide leg pants) for months. A couple of days ago, in the chaos of the seasonal wardrobe transition, I hit upon a workable, practical version of today's ensemble post.

I would never have been able to pull this together without Angie! Silhouette changes, and long term wardrobe planning are the toughest, and YLF has made my style life so much easier in the last several years!

1.
Start off with black/white, but, to make things a bit fresher, make it more white than black. Add cropped flares (these do flare, but it shows more from the side) and suede booties, a structured knit gillet, and a Foxcroft blouse (that's a bit of an orphan). Top it off with a blingy necklace! This is what I wore for therapy sessions and new client meetings.

I wish this Foxcroft blouse wasn't such a soft cotton. A bit heavier weight would keep it from shifting during the day. As a lefty, shlepping instruments all day, I notice the buttons lurching toward my left arm. No tuck today, because these are high waisted pants.

2.
Sub out the blouse and necklace for a knit tee and a long scarf. A little subtle pattern mixing here, and a bit of bling in the form of a long pendant necklace. This is exceedingly comfy, and the knit gillet stays un-mussed even through car rides! I'm not wild on the shoulder line of the gillet, or on the way the loose striped sleeves make my arms look a bit rounder. But who is actually staring at my arms anyway? I could have lengthened the line by staying low contrast, but there are days when boldness is best! Also, I think the booties/crop pant gap is actually helped by my more sturdy ankles.