Top: French Connection Summer Spell Top ($98)

From Left, Rings: CZ Pave Ring ($69) and BCBG  Natural Stone Ring ($38) Bag: Sophie Hulme Envelope Clutch ($645) Shoes: Barney’s Octavia Sandal ($415) Earrings: Circle Drop Earrings ($29) Belt: Jimmy Choo Elaphe Belt ($475) Skirt: French Connection Crochet Skirt ($168)

From Right, Necklace: Danielle Stevens Nameplate Necklace ($95) Ring: Set in Stone Ring ($40) Bag: Coach Candace Carryall ($398) Shoes: Patent Flats ($129) Jacket: Aztec Notch Jacket ($120) Jeans: Distressed Toothpick Jean ($168)

For a Cocktail Party.  I wanted to create an outfit with a subtle boudoir feel–shades of blush, lace, chiffon.

I would tuck the blouse into the pale blush and lace skirt also from French Connection.  This would mean removing the flimsy tie belt and replacing it with a real, wide belt like this Jimmy Choo.

Belt to rich for your blood?  This $60 perforated belt could work, but I think this Bebe belt is closest, because you need a belt without an obtrusive buckle in a brown shade.

I wanted to keep the jewelry for this set on the inexpensive side, so I chose these dainty and sophisticated drops, a pale pink stone ring and a pave ring, all under-$50.  I also like this larger pink stone ring for $28, and this more expensive one in silver.

The jewelry may be inexpensive, the shoes and bag, however, are another matter.  I wanted a deep berry clutch for some zing, and a dainty, strappy sandal.  If you need similar items for less, I spotted this fuchsia clutch and this beaded flap clutch for $100.  As for the shoes, these strappy slingbacks are $198 and this sandal in a similar shape is $50.

For the hair, I would go wild with something messy and teased to within an inch of its life and pulled into a low bun or a braid.  For the makeup, I’m thinking intense smoky eyes with a pinky-nude lip.

For the Weekend. I love the mix of turquoise, blue and blush.  And the slightly boxy jacket with the notch color to die for.  I may seriously need to own that.

After I added the blouse and the jacket to the set, all I could think was, “Distressed jeans. This needs distressed jeans.”  But if you want to be able to wear this to the office, I would recommend going without.  I like the look of these curvy straight leg jeans from LOFT, and I like the wash on these 7 for All Mankind Kimmie jeans.

For me, a v-neck top = pendant necklace.  I’ve been searching for awhile for an inexpensive personalized necklace similar to this $400 Ginette-NY number, and I think this Danielle Nicole pendant is it.  I used the vertical one above, but I also like the horizontal one.

I need to just go ahead and buy this bag (or have a certain said of parents gift it to me), because, by my count, this is its twelfth appearance on the blog.  I don’t like to repeat once, so a dozen times is serious lust.  Like the tassel tote but  not the price?  This Tommy Hilfiger bag is close, as is this River Island bucket bag.

As for the shoes, these colorblock flats from J.CREW are great.  I love the mix of nude and navy, and they’re on sale right now.  I also love these tassel colorblock loafers, or you could choose a metallic toe-cap flat, both from C.Wonder.

For the hair, I think down and curled under is best, but up in a bouncy ponytail could be nice too.  For the makeup, I would do a palette of sable and nude shadow on the eye and a pop of color on the lips, maybe a raspberry.  And I would paint my fingernails navy.