TBMD

I'm nothing if not predictable. The obvious is the blazer and girlfriend jeans combo that is on the verge of uniform territory. But wait! I almost always like to mix in something "new" (Bottega Veneta lookalike clutch) with the "old". Lastly, I wouldn't be me if I didn't look slightly disheveled. Today's perfectly imperfect touch is the messily wrapped scarf sorta tucked into the blazer. It was a bit chilly in the morning, so for once practicality won out.

A month ago, I wore this top and skirt combo with "summer" accessories. As the seasons change, so do the accessories. I probably went a bit overboard piling on all the cognac colors from my closet, but really, who can resist this warm brown color? It's gorgeous and such a great transition color for fall. Not to mention, it pairs wonderfully with navy and white. So, bring on all the cognac!

A quick preface before diving into today's post: there will be lots of fangirling ahead. Don't say I didn't warn you.

I have a handful of favorite brands that I constantly browse for new releases and styling ideas. I'd say I'm an equal opportunist shopper. Sure I go through phases where I'll buy from one more than the others, but never for a prolonged period of time. This year was a game changer for me. Ever since the Fall/Winter 2019 shows back in February earlier this year, Tory Burch has been it for me. I completely fell for the Lee Radziwill soft deconstructed bag on the runway (see how it slouches so beautifully?) and have been chomping at the bits for its release. Now that different colorways are slowly trickling out, I'm having a hard time picking just one. I am leaning more towards a suede version because the slouchy look should be easier to achieve than a leather version. Then there is the dilemma of plaid pattern or solid colors? Decisions, decisions.

The last couple months saw me make multiple purchases from their Spring/Summer collection -- shoes (like the ones in today's outfit), watches (yes, plural), and peasant top. I feel like I've been wearing at least one Tory Burch item every single day for the past few weeks, without stoppage any time soon.

The Lee Radziwill bag may be at the top of my wishlist, but there are several others that I'm holding out for to go on sale in the near future: yellow bucket bag, colorblock ponte dress, wool scarf, another pair of Penelope shoes. Oh who am I kidding. Just take all my money now, Tory Burch.

Casual but slightly dressed up outfits are my forte. I'm a tomboy at heart, and as I've matured over the years, I've found that adding adult touches (aka heels) is an easy way to straddle that middle ground between am-I-supposed-to-take-you-seriously and lighten-up-will-you extremes. It does help that I've found my new favorite pair of heels! A little glam but yet neutral (loving cognac so much lately) while being super comfortable.

I feel like my style has been all over the place this year. There's been a decent number of experiments (some good, others ehh), bold color choices, some arm-baring, just to name a few. For today's look, I'm doing a 180 and going back to my roots. Is there anything more classically summer than crisp whites with stripes? I think not. (I resisted the urge to carry the trendy wicker basket, but couldn't help but accessorize with the quirky lime coin purse).

I still remember the first time I wore this embroidered top. I paired it with white, wide-leg cropped pants and thought I looked so chic because everything was flowy! Upon further inspection, it was just too everything... too white, I looked too rectangular, top was too short, pants were too cropped. The only "too" statement I can make about today's outfit is that it's too casual -- but hey, there's a time and place for that (and it's not always a bad thing). The girlfriend jeans are just loose enough to counterbalance the shorter-than-I-prefer top.

I've styled this dress two ways thus far -- paired with a wide belt the first time, then now with a skinny belt. You'd think the dress came belt-less (or perhaps just ugly) given my decision making, but there's actually nothing wrong with the matching belt in the same color and fabric as the dress. I will pair the two one of these days... just having fun flexing my styling muscles for the time being.

Sleeveless in the summer?! Yep, your eyes aren't deceiving you. This is such a rarity for me, but sometimes when the humidity is suffocating, there just aren't many ways to stay cool. Note that I'm clutching the jacket on for dear life, ready to be worn the second I step indoors.

Summer is officially here! That means out comes the short-sleeves, especially if I'm spending the majority of my time outdoors. Though this sweater tee has good weight, so it also works fairly well in AC-heavy environments. When in doubt, I always keep a long-sleeve within reach at the office... you know, for those times when work is just so engrossing that I forget to take a break.

Hydrangea season is upon us! Per annual tradition, one who does not have a green thumb shall partake in the festivities by documenting with photos. Is it possible to feel under-dressed in the presence of flowers? Because I sure do, lol. Nevertheless, I really liked how this peplum button-up shirt looks unbuttoned. I was casually on the lookout for a boyfriend-fit white dress shirt, but that's no longer in the works. Love when that works out.

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.

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?