"Whenever women ask me for a life-changing nugget of fashion wisdom, a single, rock-solid rule to live by, I have, for decades, always given the same response: 'Girls! Go home and separate your clothing into two separate piles: WORK and PARTAAY. Take all the sensible work clothing, career skirts and corporate blouses, and give it to the Goodwill. Now you are free to wear party clothes for the rest of your life. Yay!' -- Simon Doonan, former creative director at Barneys New York
I kept Doonan's good advice in my mind today. Am having dinner or drinks or something or other with a friend later on, so I used it as an excuse to dress in something that had a little bit "more" than my usual office attire. I really do wish I could take all my "sensible" clothes and throw them out the window, but, alas, I work in an office and really can't wear too much crazy. I get by with enough crazy as it is. Today it's sequins. Yes, sequins. By day. It's awesome, and you should try it.
Granted, I'm wearing a sequined T-shirt, not a gown or anything super out there like that, but still. Sequins are sequins. I took a cue from a fellow blogger, Tania of What Would a Nerd Wear, when she put together this outfit. I mean, that's basically my T-shirt (same color), except hers is a tank. In blatant style thievery, I also paired it with a heather grey cardigan, although I went for a black pencil skirt instead of a full, A-line one with accordion pleats. The only reason for that is that I don't own that skirt, but if I did, I would totally have ripped off the look entirely. I think the olive/brass color of the top is hard to mix. You can't go gold and you feel weird going silver, and although the grey is in that family, it still works. Rather than sandals, I wore these pale green flat boots (this color, but not that boot). It works, it mixes color well, and I get to wear sequins in the day time. Everybody wins!
A secret I'll share with you, pursuant to the Doonan quote--I did actually once upon a time have a closet like that. Party clothes only. I worked managing events at night (concerts, etc...) so I had a lot of lovely dress-up clothes, and zero office wear. Part of me feels like that's exactly the kind of wardrobe I should have, always (to be fair, this is the part of me that thinks I should be a lounge singer), and part of me is aware that I need more practical clothing for my now more practical life.
And speaking of (sort of) practical, I have a wish list of necessary items that I will also share with you:
1. Raglan-sleeved grey sweatshirt-style top. I love this kind of thing, super easy and casual. Summer-weight of course.
2. A white, V-necked T-shirt. A classic, really. Can you believe I don't own one? (I'm actually completely bad about T-shirts because I normally don't ever wear them.) I want it a little over-sized, to wear with skinny jeans and a little jacket.
3. Celine wedge ripoffs. It was curiousity at first sight, and now it's turning into love. You know my obsession with wedges.
4. Opera-length pearl necklace. What? I've wanted one since forever, and am just waiting for this place I like to have a coupon, which would put it in the $100 range. Probably not Mikimoto quality, but I'm a beggar, not a chooser.
5. Tomesode Kimono. Silk, of course. And I'm waiting to find one with just the right illustrations on the edge. At around $80-$100, it's really not a bad price to pay for a silk kimono. The Tomesode Kimono was usually worn by older or married women. I'd love one with a red silk lining.
Ok, wish list portion completed! Hope you're enjoying the sunshine.
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