TBMD

Today's outfit is a contradiction. The weather was freezing, hence the reason I'm wearing an oversized down parka (and gloves to boot). But what's with the bare ankles?! There's no logical explanation other than fashion over function.

I call this my grown-up prep outfit. Note all the details: the polo shirt with a crest emblem, the cardigan with varsity stripes, the color navy, the low (and comfortable) block heels, and just a little bit of British plaid. I'm really not sure I can look any preppier.

My cube-mate is a 20-something guy who wears a blazer to work every day without fail. Blazers over dress shirts, over plaid shirts, over t-shirts. At first I thought he's trying to make a good impression since he's new. Then over time, I changed my tune and figured he must really love them. My thoughts were confirmed when he complimented me on my white blazer. Said it was "so fancy" and now he's looking to add one to his collection. The least expected comments always make my day.

Flowers are blooming, snow is finally behind us (knock on wood)... I'm so ready for spring! In preparation, winter accessories are slowly migrating their way to the back of my closet. This faux fur scarf has proven to be a consistent favorite, so I could not resist taking it out for one last spin.

PS - I came across this oversized faux fur scarf that looks amazing tied and worn over the model's gray coat. Love. Can a girl hope that it hits the sale section soon?

Remember what I said about the potential for sporadic blog posts while I deal with taking the Metro to and from work? Well, that really hasn't been happening. I'm probably posting a tad less frequently, but there hasn't been any prolong gaps between posts. The reason being... I've found a tripod solution in the form of a tabletop version!

Luckily there are plenty of ledges to be found during my commute, so it's almost as painless to set up as my regular tripod. My only must-have criteria during the search was a tripod that could handle both landscape and portrait orientations (turns out this single criteria weeded out most contenders.) The tripod collapses to only 7" in height and is so lightweight that I can easily slip it inside my purse with my other belongings. I've only been using tote-style bags for work because I'm often carrying a combination of laptop + lunch + umbrella + camera. Unfortunately that means all my smaller purses are sitting in my closet collecting dust... but that's a dilemma for another day.

*** Sale alert: My favorite white blazer (okay, only white blazer) has been re-stocked in almost all sizes and is on final sale for $47.99 with code MUSTSHOP! See my outfits here. I'm wearing size 0, my usual J.Crew outerwear size. ***

Some clothing pieces just look right when worn together. The camel cardigan + burgundy blouse top half may look familiar, as could the lace pencil skirt + leopard pumps bottom half. Piece the two halves together and voila! A brand-new outfit.

I love everything about today's outfit, so much so that I must've exuded way too much happiness for a regular workday. More coworkers chatted with me than usual and I even received a few compliments! Well, with the exception of DH calling me "Gramps" after seeing my sweater cardigan.

I used to only wear short cardigans, but have found myself preferring longer lengths as I've aged. The Caslon collegiate v-neck cardigan in heather camel-navy stripe (sold here) is already a closet favorite. Made of 60% cotton/20% viscose/20% nylon, the cardigan is well made and very soft to the touch -- not at all thin with loose weaving. The horizontal stripes on the sleeves add interest for an overall preppy look. For reference, I'm wearing size XS; measurements are: 14" shoulder-to-shoulder, 28" in length.

While my cardigans are increasing in length, the sleeves on my blouses are only getting shorter. This is an uh duh moment for me, but layering is so much easier with sleeveless blouses! They're the perfect base layer because there's no need to deal with fabric bunching at the elbows or fear of fabric stretching. I've seriously been living under a rock all this time. The J.Crew Factory sleeveless blouse in vintage cabernet (sold here - 50% off) is an example of my growing love for sleeveless blouses. I really love this shade of burgundy. There is a slight sheen to the polyester fabric in person, but certainly not enough to cheapen the look. The blouse runs TTS but is long. For reference, I'm wearing size 00 P; measurements are: 12.5" shoulder-to-shoulder, 27" in length. Size 00 measurements are: 12.5" shoulder-to-shoulder, 29" in length.