CASUAL FRIDAY
A navy blazer and jeans are two of the building blocks of a modern wardrobe, and when paired they can be the foundation of a myriad of casual looks. In this case, colored denim is a fun alternative to blue jeans.
When wearing a colored bottom, it's easiest to keep the rest of the outfit neutral. Here, navy and charcoal help ground the green jeans, and the layers keep the top half of the outfit interesting. The blazer acts as a piece of outerwear, and without it the outfit will still have dimension.
I sometimes like to layer the shawl collar of a sweater over the lapel of a blazer - it's a different way to show the silhouette and not feel too chunky under the blazer.
Layering bracelets heightens the "cool" factor, and this blue/green leather wraparound is one of my favorites.
You can never go wrong with striped socks, and desert boots are the perfect casual friday shoe.
Navy blazer, charcoal shawl collar sweater, navy gingham shirt by J Crew. Green colored jeans by Gap. Striped socks by Banana Republic. Suede desert boots by John Varvatos. Watch by Coach. Multicolor beaded bracelet by Didier Guillemain. Blue/green leather wrap bracelet by Tateossian.
DATE NIGHT
Pairing dark blue jeans with the same navy blazer in essence creates a casual mismatched suit with a downtown vibe. The perfect combo for a dressed up date night.
I love the subtleties of color and texture in this outfit. While blue and grey may not be the most radical color pairing, the prints and color shifts create depth.
The paisley-inspired print in this shirt adds the ideal amount of flair to the outfit. And combined with the faint pinstripe in the vest, the inherent texture of the worsted wool blazer, and the herringbone weave of the tie, it exudes quiet sophistication.
I love this shirt. It was an investment, but a great one since it seamlessly transitions from casual (top 2 buttons undone, with colored chinos) to work (under a v-neck sweater) to dressy (with a suit and tie).
New suede shoes, bought on sale. What could be better? The color reads browny-rust, and echoes the red-orange dot in the socks and the similarly colored beaded bracelet.
Navy blazer, charcoal striped vest, navy tie, belt by J Crew. Printed shirt by Sand. Grey pocket square by Land's End Canvas. Jeans by Gap. Dot socks by Happy Socks. Suede wingtips by John Varvatos.
WEEKEND
The same blazer does triple duty, elevating a simple weekend outfit of medium wash blue jeans and a v-neck sweater.
Adding a horizontal stripe t-shirt under a v-neck sweater adds some flair and keeps the outfit from going too solid.
Who says you can't wear fun socks with sneakers? I certainly don't!
Navy blazer, v-neck sweater, belt, socks by J Crew. Striped t-shirt by Topman. Sneakers by H&M. Watch by Tourneau. Braided leather bracelet by Orvis (similar). Beaded bracelet by Didier Guillemain. Messenger bag by Jack Spade.
