Pencil Skirt POW: Casual, Chic, and Coxy Tuesday

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Outfit Mission Statement: Mix easy basics and comfortable pieces with your chic pencil skirt for a nice twist on casual

No place like Tuesday outfits are casual, comfy clothes for working from home, working at home, parenting (at home), and anything else where comfort is key and you are home. Although they will work for errands and anything else casual. The POW (Piece of the Week) is the pencil skirt in general, and the cabi Fall 2016 Sigourney skirt in particular. Pencil skirts may give off a certain va va voom, but with a cozy cardigan sweater or plain tee you can dress them down for a fun alternative to a tee shirt (or sweater) and jeans. You can opt for a plain pencil skirt or go fancy and have fun dressing down a lace one, as shown below. Focus on mixing the pencil skirt with comfortable pieces that are forgiving and even loose to balance the pencil skirt, and make sure your feet are comfortable.

I’m showing two outfits here, a cozy winter one for those of you in more northern climes (and may have just gotten snow), and a cooler spring version for those of us getting hotter temperatures. Both follow the same concept, and both can be a fun way of dressing down a pencil skirt.

 

Tips:

  • Choose comfortable tops with a forgiving and even loose cut to balance out the smooth, body hugging pencil skirt 
  • Opt for a fun, but more casual accessory, like an animal print belt or funky necklace 
  • If you have a solid pencil skirt (like the Sigourney skirt), you can mix print for a fun, more whimsical way to dress it down 
  • If you have a fancier pencil skirt, like the blue lace one, go for basics in solid colors to dress down
  • Go for comfortable, practical shoes, such as canvas sneaker or fuzzy boots
  • You can treat the long lean shape of a pencil skirt like leggings or skinny jeans and wear longer, even bulky layers over it, like with leggings and skinny jeans, you’ll end up with a longer, lean line
  • Don’t be afraid to dress the pencil skirt down and take her to the park or running errands—you’ll look great and feel just a bit more sophisticated

 

Outfits:

Sigourney Skirt outfit:

Lace skirt outfit:

 

 

 

 

Related Posts:

  1. Pleated Star POW: Pretty Terrific Geek Chic Thursday Posted September 29, 2016: Mix a pretty skirt with geek pieces for and edgy, feminine geek chic look!
  2. Run Around POW: Muted, Playful Contrasts at Home Tuesday Posted April 26, 2016: Dress down your black skirt in muted tones, with pops of fun and sunshine
  3. Margherita POW: Easy, Breezy Contrasts Tuesday Posted May 10, 2016: For coverage and/or added casualness, wear a contrasting tied tee shirt over your favorite sundres

Or browse the other casual “No Place like Tuesday” outfits and tips!

Pleated Star POW: Cozy Cabled Rocky Coast Saturday

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Outfit Mission Statement: For a cozy take on a pleated skirt, add comfy pieces like a big cowl-neck sweater and suede boots

Play Day Saturday are clothes for taking your kids to the park, running errands, talking your dog for a walk, shopping, picnicking, traveling, going to a museum or a zoo—out and about or home having fun clothes. These are the clothes you often live the best parts of your life in! The POW (Piece of the Week) is the Pleated Star Skirt from Canvas by Lands’ End. This outfit, especially with the boots, makes me feel like I should be walking along the costs of Maine in the fall—warm cable sweater over a pretty skirt with some (more or less) practical boots. I can see it in my head. A gray day, with some fog, crashing surf, rocky shores, a crisp feel to the air, and some color in the trees. Why this picture? Partially because this sweater seems like an updated and stylish fisherman’s sweater. Partially because I’d often throw a cozy sweater on for warmth over a pretty outfit, when doing something like walking in cold weather; and often it didn’t matter if the sweater, flannel, or whatever went with what I was wearing. I just was adding warm. Of course, in this case, the sweater goes quite well, and the combined outfit is cozy, and pretty, and as good for walking a museum as walking a rocky coast.

I do show two versions of this—one with flats and one with boots. This is to show the transitional versatility of the skirt and sweater. You can wear flats if it is still warm or transition to boots if it is colder. And feel free to go more practically with the boot. I’d be wearing some wellies if I had them for this outfit, but I didn’t at the time (I do now, expect to see them soon1).

Tips:

  • Don’t rule out some of your childhood clothing practices, like throwing a big sweater on over a pretty outfit for warmth, but do consider ways you can make this work into a cute outfit
  • A big cozy sweater will add a casual, comfortable feel to a fancy pleated skirt
  • Don’t be afraid to throw on casual boots, wellies, or rain boots with a pretty pleated skirt for a casual and practical look
  • Have a favorite outfit? You can make it work in another season, or transitioning between seasons, by switching out the shoes (swap flats for boots and vice versa)
  • For a more casual, walking-the-rugged-Maine-coast look, keep to a neutral color palette, such as white, navy, and gray
  • If you live anywhere that has some cold winter days, make sure you have a wardrobe staple cozy cable sweater, such as the one here, in a neutral color—it will become a go-to piece and can easily be dressed up or down!
  • With a mixed metal necklace, you can accessorizes in any of the metals in the necklace for a put-together look

 

Outfit Breakdown:

Interested in purchasing? If my post inspired you to buy the lovely Pleated Star Skirt from Canvas by Lands’ End or other items from Lands’ End, please consider using my referral link. I’ll get 25% off my next order and be very grateful! Let me know you used my referral link, and give you a shout out including links to your social media.

 

Related Posts:

  1. Plume POW: The Stylish Safari Princess Thursday Posted April 14, 2016: For a trendy outfit with masculine and feminist touches, mix tulle and military/safari style
  2. Love POW: Sweater Saturdays are Pretty Cozy! Posted February 13, 2016: Start with a cozy sweater and add feminine and practical pieces for a casual, pretty, and lifestyle-friendly look
  3. POW Tuesday Edition Week 1b: No place like Tuesday in a Jacket Posted January 26, 2016: Integrate dressy jackets into your casual style, by keeping the other elements casual

Plaid POW: Twisting the Classics Tuesday

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Outfit Mission Statement: Twist a classic outfit by switching out trendy and fun pieces for the norm

Look! Snow! Had do take a flannel POW shoot with this backdrop! 

Look! Snow! Had do take a flannel POW shoot with this backdrop! 

Let’s dive in to our first Plaid POW post, starting this Tuesday this week, instead of the normal Monday start. No place like Tuesday outfits are casual, comfy clothes for working from home, working at home, stay at home parenting, and anything else where comfort is key and you are home. Although they will work for errands and anything were casual is key. The POW (Piece of the Week) is the L.L. Bean Slightly Fitted Scotch Plaid Shirt in Deep Evergreen Tartan. This outfit is a slight twist on a pretty normal casual flannel outfit. In fact, if you were to go to Maine (if not there already) and look around, you would see turtlenecks, jeans, and flannel shirts everywhere right now. So, this is not a surprising way to wear an L.L. Bean Flannel. But, I did say twist. Even a common outfit can be interpreted in unique ways if you think about how to apply the components. Instead of normal jeans, I added trendy destructed jeans, giving it an edgier look. I also traded out the typical turtleneck with a cowl neck shirt, which gives a very different neckline and overall feel to the outfit. The big earrings add a fun focal point and play off the casual and even rustic flannel. The side ponytail also add a twist to normal elements and makes this outfit even less common. Together we have a stylish twist on a classic casual and cozy look.

 

Tips:

  • Take a common outfit and update a few of the pieces different with trendy or fun variations for a stylish twist on a classic 
  • Choose big, bright earrings that play off your clothes for a bright, fun update to an old standby
  • Want some edge? Go with deconstructed jeans instead of regular jeans
  • Change out that turtleneck for a cowl neck shirt for a different neckline and a less uptight feel
  •  You can even add a “twist” to the common ponytail by making it a side ponytail or doing some other modern take on the classic.

 

Outfit Breakdown:

This snow stuff is chilly

This snow stuff is chilly

 

 

Want to twist a more spring look? Grab the boutique-styled denim Bardot Shirt, the Gathered Tee, and either of the destructed jeans in the cabi Spring 2016 collection—Destructed Slim Boyfriend  or the Destructed Skinny (in Curvy or Regular). Go with the white Slim Boyfriends if you are new to mixing denim or the darker wash if you are not shy about mixing. Add Shine Chaser’s White Sea Glass Wire Wrapped Earrings and the Bird Cage shooties for a fun twist on the classic denim shirt look.

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Love POW: Sweater Saturdays are Pretty Cozy!

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Outfit Mission Statement: Start with a cozy sweater and add feminine and practical pieces for a casual, pretty, and lifestyle-friendly look

Play Day Saturdays are clothes for taking your kids to the park, running errands, taking your dog for a walk, shopping, picnicking, travel, going to a museum or a zoo—out and about or home having fun clothes. These are the clothes you often live the best parts of your life in! The POW (Piece of the Week) the cabi fall 2015 Love Blouse. To me winter is all about the sweaters. I grew up in Maine and lived in as many sweaters as I could from November to March. Even here in Georgia, I wear them as much as a can. Sweaters automatically make things cozy! And you can do so much with them. Here, I took a longer, roomy open sweater with lovely stitches and a funky hem and added the sweet Love Blouse for a pop of femininity and some colors that suggest spring (which are often a nice promise on a cold day!). The skinnies carry the navy theme from the sweater and blouse, creating a longer line and a more put-together look. The brown buckle boots add practicality and contrast to the blouse. The rose-gold wire wrapped crystal earrings play off the blouse colors with adding a modern touch. Together, this look is cozy, feminine, and practical for whatever your errand or park game.

Tips:

  • Up the femininity of a roomy sweater by wearing a lovely blouse under it
  • Consider throwing on a cozy sweater instead of a coat when you need a warm layer but don’t want the bulk or coat look, or for when you will be going inside and outside often and don’t want the hassle of taking a coat on and off
  • Create longer leaner lines by having the sweater and jeans be the same dark color (or even the same color) 
  • Add a practical touch with sensible boots with strong details
  • Go for modern accessories that drawn on colors in the blouse to not go too feminine with the look and to keep a less fussy feel

 

Outfit Breakdown:

The clothing items in this outfit are all cabi Fall 2015, and no longer available. Contact me if you must have something and I may be able to direct you to a stylist who has it. Look for substitutes from your own closet or check out the alternatives below. I normally will make the POW a currently available item, but my blog launched later than planned and I wanted to share these outfits. The next POW will be of an available item, I promise!

  •  Blouse: This is the cabi Fall 2015 Love Blouse. To find a substitute from your own closet, look for a feminine blouse with a special feature. If you don’t have quite the right blouse to substitute in your closet, consider these cabi Spring 2016 alternatives: 
    • Vita Blouse: This gorgeous draped blouse is also sleeveless, and has a sexy cutout in the back 
    • Bella Top: This feminize, fluttery blouse has a similar feel to the love blouse 
    • Positano Top: This flowy top reminds me of vintage fabric with very current colors 
    • Gemma Top: This bright green beauty, has eyelets and lace for a vintage and trendy feel
  • Jeans: Skinny jeans are everywhere. If you don’t already have some dark skinny jeans, I’m sure you can find some you will love. If you want something a bit less skinny (and white), consider the Slimmie. 
  •  Sweater: This cozy delight is the Countryside Sweater—cabi Fall 2015 and not available. But cabi has some great Spring 2016 cardigans to consider: 
    • Blanca Cardigan: This white, ivory, and cream relaxed cardigan is a perfect layering piece for the transition to spring 
    • Sorrento Cardigan: This roomy black cardigan has over-sized pockets and a relaxed modern feel
  •  Earrings: These are rose gold wire wrapped crystal earrings by Shine Chaser Jewelry. She does not currently have any available on her Etsy page, but you may be able to commission some. She does currently have these similar White Sea Glass Wire Wrapped Earrings and others that will nicely work in a casual outfit (or any type of outfit!).
  • Boots: These are old Target favorites. Some available ones include 

 

 

 

Spring into Spring with this white version of the look: Take the cabi Spring 2016 Bella Top, Blanca Cardigan and Slimmie, plus the Fringed Reza Ankle Boot and White Sea Glass Wire Wrapped Earrings. I love this look! I may have to buy it all!