Your clothing choices change with your needs. I no longer wear suits and dresses every day, and that still feels strange. So for 2025, I’m trying to let go of my sartorial past and build a wardrobe that reflects my current needs. I want to figure out a style that captures the clothes I love, and fits the life I live.
The inspiration photo for this look caught my eye because I love the mix of textures and neutrals. Pearls with casual clothes is an interesting juxtaposition, but these imperfect pearls make it work. Here’s how to recreate the look.
Blazer // I chose this light oatmeal blazer from Abercrombie because I love the clean look. The soft material is a nice choice for winter. This isn’t a suit blazer, so it’s a bit easier to wear casually.
Prefer a darker color? J.Crew has you covered. Plus-size? Talbot’s has a great option on sale in sizes 14-22. But I bet if you look, you have a camel blazer in your closet. If you haven’t worn it in a while, try changing out the buttons or having it tailored to see if that revives it.
T-Shirt // We talked about this last week: the only t-shirt for me is from Hanes. Period, end.
Sweater // If you want to pick up a few sweaters for January/February, now is a great time to hit the sales. You can pack them away for next winter in an under-bed bag and have almost new choices come October/November. For an affordable option, try Old Navy. Bloomingdale’s has a lot of sale-priced cashmere right now. If you won’t get a lot of wear out of a v-neck sweater, try a v-neck cardigan that you can layer over other pieces almost year-round.
Jeans // My favorite jeans purchase in the past two years came from J.Crew. I own two pairs, and I need to buy a third pair and have them hemmed for flats, because wearing high heel boots all the time to accommodate these jeans is annoying. There’s not another pair on my radar because these ones are so soft and comfortable.
Necklaces // Irregular shaped pearls are a wonderful way to wear pearls casually. Here, they’re mixed with gold accents to build a textural, modern combination. Start with the pearl and chain combo necklace. Add in a smooth collar. And finish the look with a pearl pendant on a chunky chain. Need to layer them perfectly? Don’t miss this multi-necklace clasp.
Shoes // I wanted something red for this outfit. Camel and red is one of my favorite combinations. These Dolce Vita sneakers were gifted to me (so many colors) and I adore them. They’re so easy to toss on and freshen up a pair of jeans. I loved them so much that I bought an even bolder pair: lavender with coral.
I like this outfit for a business casual office or a WFH day when I need to go out. It feels layered, pulled together and yet, still easy to wear. The perfect thing for when you don’t want to think about an outfit too hard.
