Two Ways: Bright Red Smoking Jacket

Blazer: Smoking Suit Jacket ($130)

From the Left, Bracelet: Tortoise Cuff ($58) Purse: Waverly Chain Bag ($258) Shoe: Kors Patent Pump ($195) Blouse: DvF Kenta Blouse ($298) Trouser: Minnie Pant ($90)

From the Right, Earring: Feather Earrings ($45) Bag: Edie Tote ($348) Shoe: Mckenna Thong ($45) Top: St James Meridien Top ($95)  Jeans: Citizens Thompson Skinnies ($178)

Polyvore Set Here.

For Casual Monday.  I like to mix printed pieces with solids in the same color palette.  Here, I paired a red tuxedo blazer with a red and white top to create a bright, on trend look without going overboard with the prints.

I paired the printed blouse and blazer with skinny twill pants from J.Crew.  I like the interplay between the snug and skinny pant and the boxy blouse.  I also approve of the fact that the jacket is long enough to cover the rear end.

With such bright pieces, I decided to keep the accessories simple and toned down.  A simple tortoise cuff with a geometric overlay, a simple bag that can be used three ways and a tan patent shoe to lengthen the leg and lift the tush.

For the hair, I would choose something sleek like a super-straight ponytail or a simple bun. For the makeup, I would choose something natural with either a light rose tinted lip (for the lipstick averse, like me) or a nude lipstick.  I would also keep the blush light, but strengthen the eyeliner.

For Saturday Lunch.  A striped top with white skinny jeans is simple and a little bland, but add a bold red blazer and you have something else entirely.  This would be the perfect outfit for a weekend coffee date or even a casual Friday.

I can’t wear thong sandals (high instep, high arches), but I really like these woven leather ones.  And unlike those cheap plastic flip flops you pick from the bargain bin at a big box store, these sandals have a bit of chic to them.  I also love the feather earrings and structure tote.  (I think this is the eighth time this bag has made an appearance, maybe I just need to buy it and put y’all out of your misery.)

I like to wear my hair simple and wavy on the weekends, before the humidity gets here and makes that impossible.  And while I was ambivalent about the red lip for the work look (it can look a bit costumey in a conservative work environment), I am all about a red lip for the weekend.