TBMD

Today's outfit is not quite the segue to a long weekend. I meant to post earlier in the week, but that pesky thing called work got in the way. Anyhoo... the last (and first!) time I wore this blazer buttoned up as a top, I loved the way it looked more and more throughout the day. So, the experimental train continues with a more casual look today in girlfriend jeans. Have a great long weekend for those who are off!

Classic is a term I definitely overuse on this blog *ducks head* Am I referring to something that stands the test of time? Often repeated? If so, that also begs the question -- does that make it boring? How about all of the above? I've definitely harbored these thoughts, so do try to inject something fun/trendy/new/different (take your pick) into "classic" outfits. Today's such item is the wicker basket that I'm sure will be making numerous appearances throughout the year.

As promised, I finally decided to style this leopard skirt with something other than a black sweater (!) I felt a polo top was the conservative yin to the wild leopard yang of the bottom half. Personally I preferred the outfit with the trench coat as I felt it completed the outfit. As opposed to merely complementing, which unfortunately was how the outfit looked for most of the day as I spent it indoors.

With skirts that fall past the knee, I typically try to balance out the proportions by wearing a top that is tucked in (see exhibits: one, two, three, four). For today's outfit, I experimented with a slightly oversized, and definitely long-ish, double-breasted blazer. It took a few minutes for my eyes to get adjusted to the "stumpy" bottom half. But once it did, this look isn't half bad! What say you -- stick with tucked-in tops or keep the experiments coming?

I got 4 photos in (translation: one pose with variations of the head tilt) before my camera battery died. D'oh! So sharing 2 photos today is probably overkill, but what the hell... my profile actually looks fairly nice?

For the longest time, I was a firm believer in wearing wide-legged pants that skimmed the floor. Because god forbid I get mistaken for wearing high water pants. (TMI maybe: I would actually Clorox wipe the hem after a day of wearing pants that touched the ground). Perhaps I know my germaphobe tendencies aren't going away any time soon, or simply seeing more catalog models looking amazing in their wide-legged pants that do not fully cover their shoes (shout out to Ann Taylor and J.Crew!) I'm inclined to believe it's the latter. I think the key is to thread that fine line between wearing high enough heels and pants that skim just the top of your foot.

I'd estimate most outfits of mine to look better in real life than captured in photos. Today's is one of the rare exceptions. Doesn't the tweed dress look blue-ish? Up close and in real life, the tweed is definitely more multi-hued, aptly described as black rainbow multi on the website (I have nobody else to blame except for myself for my lack of reading comprehension). What really drew me to the dress were the gold buttons with the front faux pockets -- so cute! The v-neck is a bit low on me, hence the addition of the layered shirt. But I really liked how the overall fit is on the looser side for the a-line silhouette. If this blue-black-rainbow color isn't your cup of tea, the dress also comes in ivory.

Off the top of my head, there's nothing more spring-like than a wicker basket. The sight of one immediately conjures up picnics under a gigantic tree, or a lazy afternoon frolicking through the flower fields (making mental notes and adding both to my bucket list!) Though not very practical (perhaps only a bit more so than an evening clutch), I do love their whimsical nature. The easiest way to style wicker baskets is to pair them with feminine pieces (lace, frills, floral prints), light colors (white, pastels), and/or with warm temperature fabrics and textures (silk, linen, light cotton). I cannot wait to wear mine all throughout the spring and summer months. Yay or nay -- are you a fan of wicker baskets?