Hi loves!
I hope everyone is doing excellently well. I wanted to mix it up today and try this sleeveless suede vest in not only a work look, but also as a layering piece. When putting together outfits that I would wear to work, the first thing I always consider is “how can I layer this?” In Southern California, it can jump from 60 degrees at 7 am to 102 around 2 pm. In my office, it can range from slightly chilly to comfortable to having to fan myself in the middle of the day!
I definitely have to think about having pieces I can remove or add on as the day goes on. I’ve made the mistake before of wearing a long-sleeved lightweight (or so I thought!) blouse and suffering through half of the day, so I try to stick with a pretty basic formula for dressing now. I almost always start with a slim basic tank or camisole, like these from Gap. They’re frequently on sale and I have about 10 total in white and black. Next, I’ll wear a sleeveless or short-sleeved top in either cotton or a sheer fabric for coverage, but also to stay cool. To top it off, I’ll grab anything from a barely there cardigan to a more substantial open sweater or blazer. I’m also a huge fan of the lightweight trench for integrating into your work wardrobe. I’ve linked several options below that I think would be great additions. Look for a lightweight material, preferably unlined, and also with roll-up sleeves to adjust between temperatures.
I wanted to keep this look pretty tonal, so I added some black heels that have a white stripe accent; grey, gold and black jewelry; a faux snakeskin work bag and a black suede knee-length skirt fro StitchFix that I’m just in love with right now.
Suede vest / BohoCheri // Tank / Everlane // Trench / H&M // Skirt / StitchFix // Heels / Jimmy Choo // Tote / JustFab // Open bracelet & necklace / LA finds // Cage cuff / Nectar Clothing // Sunglasses / Amazon
Other great trench options here, here and here.
Shot by Holli Zenko Photography.
So, initially, I thought this dress would be tricky to wear due to all of the horizontal stripes, but it actually hugged me in all of the right places and was figure-flattering. I didn’t feel the print was versatile enough, in terms of being able to dress it up or down, so at $78, it was a pass.
Next up, this chambray-like top, as requested from my stylist. I loved the idea of keeping it super casual with a little tank and leggings. This one was pretty great, with it’s subtle pinstripe fabric, that also happens to be super soft. At $64, it was a touch on the pricey side, but I knew I would wear it often enough to make it work.
Here are the aforementioned peach jeans. Cute, but limited in terms of wearability. They were also about 3 inches too long, so I cuffed them up and added my favorite nude open-toed heels. I really liked the idea of pairing it with aqua tones, kind of a play on a coral & turquoise color story. Regardless, their longevity in my wardrobe was non-existent, and therefore, they were returned.
Hi loves!
Dress / 
So both the top and pants are 
I did mostly enjoy this dress, except for that extra drapey bit under the bust. No one wants droopiness near their bust area! Maybe if I had more to fill it out haha.. I was initially bothered by the print, especially around the hips and booty, but it actually worked! The cut was flattering and I think it would be nice in warmer weather when I don’t want to show my arms. It went back though, because it was $78. Way too much for a dress of this quality.
This top was pretty cute but a bit snug. It had a little cutout on the back and a grosgrain ribbon at the neck that bugged the hell out of me. It was also almost $50 for what boiled down to a t-shirt. Back it went.
The item that I actually ended up keeping, to save my styling credit from being wasted was this multi-layered necklace. It is something I can see myself wearing a decent amount and wasn’t overpriced at $28. It does get a bit tangled, but I think that’s kind of the nature of all layered necklaces like these.