Tuesday Outfit: An Early Fall Work Look

One of my favorite ways to create outfits is to look back at what we were wearing in 2013 and update it. I spent a lot more time thinking about my wardrobe and my looks back then, and many of the styles still play with minor updates. Here’s a great example.

This look from Pinterest (no source, again) has some fabulous elements: a wrap skirt, a simple blouse, and a snakeskin heels. The soft neutral look is still wearable but feels a bit dated to me. So let’s update this look with a fresh fall color palette and some easy pieces.

The Skirt // Instead of camel, I chose this skirt from Ann Taylor in a chic “dried cilantro” color. This skirt is cotton jersey (for comfort) and blends well into any fall color palette. I also love the crisp corners on the bottom hem.

Now, I do not want a calf-length skirt. So I buy this skirt one size up, and I take it to my tailor and we take it up 4″. Why one size up? Because you hem a skirt like this from the top so as not to damage those aforementioned corners. As I am pear-shaped, I need that extra width to keep the proportions looking right. If you are not a pear, you can likely take your normal size.

Prefer different color? Saks has a wrap skirt in a pale blue. I also found this leather-like skirt at Amazon. Talbot’s has a breezy linen skirt (also in petite and plus). I also love this winter-weight skirt from Ba&sh.

The Blouse // I chose a navy blouse because I love the drama of the green-blue combo. It gives you the darkness you want for the colder months, in a color palette that works in other seasons. But you could also try a pale grey-blue blouse, a grey blouse, or even a mustard blouse.

This Favorite Daughter blouse is billed as being great for date night thanks to the super deep v-neck. I like it for work, but I did have a navy-colored snap added to mine so I can adjust the depth based on the occasion. Need something a little less spendy? Quince has a similar look (because of course they do).

The Shoes // Snakeskin is a great texture to add to your accessories. These t-strap heels from Tuckernuck are the ones that I want to wear. They are low enough that I can walk in them without pain, and the t-strap offers a bit more of a statement. For a higher heel, this block heel from Vince Camuto is worth a look. Want real comfort? Gentle Souls has your back.

The Accessories // A smedium-sized bag is what I want — not too big, not too small. I want a bag that fits inside a larger bag when I commute and can be carried to lunch without effort. This Cuyana bag is a great option. I also love the unique shape of this bag. JW Pei has a similarly modern look for $99.

For the jewelry, I chose a simple pendant necklace and a dainty ring. Could I have chosen the larger pendant? Yes. But I’m still in recovery from the bubble necklace years, and in that size, I’m getting the shakes. And with a v-neckline, I don’t need that weight to lengthen the look. If you plan to wear a crewneck, try this larger pendant.

Styling // Hair up is going to look a little bit school marm, so I would wear my hair down and bouncy. To add volume, I like this spray. And then, I would wear a soft makeup look with a sheer berry lip, which in my world means Clinique Black Honey.

{this post contains affiliate links that may generate commission for the author; I am also a Monica Vinader partner, but I buy pieces and sometimes receive gifted pieces}