James Perse spiral skirt | I’m wearing size 3
Elizabeth Suzann Patti shell (gift from Elizabeth Suzann to review) | medium
The Great denim jacket | few years old (classic Levi’s version)
Elizabeth Suzann Mules
Golden Goose sneakers | secondhand via TheRealReal
This outfit is pretty casual, although I would argue that you could wear it to a creative work environment, or on casual friday at a more conservative one (with more coverage under the Patti shell though…). The whole look goes “up a notch” with the Elizabeth Suzann mules though, and down with the sneakers.
I think the mules “go” better with the outfit, honestly, but I would rather wear the sneakers. Not that the mules aren’t incredibly comfortable and easy to wear, I just always default to sneakers. I keep buying “grown-up” shoes like the Mules, or oxfords, or loafers, and don’t end up wearing them as much as … you guessed it … sneakers.
And I actually love to take something that’s not casual, like this skirt (although it is pretty casual, it also lends itself to relatively dressy, depending on what you wear it with) and really dress it down by wearing it with sneakers. Juxtaposition every time.
I think I also use the sneakers to try and “fit in” a bit more? Like everyone else wears workout clothes/leggings or jeans and a t-shirt around here, so anytime I wear a skirt or dress, I stick out like crazy. Or feel like I do anyway. So sneakers are a way of bringing it back to “the people” LOL.
Haha. Again…just thoughts while getting dressed 🙂 I think I’ll wear the mules today.
Happy Monday!!! If you have a super-casual lifestyle, do you tend to default to sneakers? What type of shoes do you wear the most?
I think I like the sneakers better for this outfit, because they do stand out! The metallic is really cool!
Yep, sneakers in the winter, flat sandals in the summer. Sometimes I wear “dressier” shoes, like blank ankle boots, but even then I like those to be on the casual side. Today I’m “dressed up” for work and wearing some black ankle boots with lug soles. I keep using quotes because I’m still really super casual – I’m wearing a blazer but it looks like a cardigan because it’s knit. For some reason I have a really hard time wearing anything really structured, and blazers are the worst for me. I feel uncomfortable in this lazy blazer even now!
I spent my high school years in Converse, and then didn’t wear sneakers for a decade. Now I’m dipping my toes back in to the sneaker-verse. I eased in with white leather Converse, then picked up some white leather Vejas with gumsoles. I still feel awkward in them (plus there’s always the “conversation” with my boyfriend about which one of us is going to wear white shoes), so ballet flats and loafers are more of my go-to. Have you found a good pair of no-show socks? I’ve tried a few brands, but haven’t had much luck.
I like the Champion C9 no-show socks, I get them at Target. They come up further on the top of my foot than other no-show socks, so they stay in place better. The heels also stay in place better than some other ones. The ones I have are black with colored stripes.
I have a super casual lifestyle (also work from home); I tend to wear sandals in the summer and loafers or flat boots in cooler weather. For some reason I’ve always had trouble finding comfortable sneakers. I even struggle with running shoes. My feet are just built for loafers, I guess. I love your GG sneakers though! I’ve tried the brand a few times and have never found a good fit. Boo.
I love your metallic sneakers! I wear running shoes, but for running only. Recently what I’ve been wearing most are my Paul Green ‘Jay’ chelsea boots which I found at Nordstrom Rack last year. https://www.nordstromrack.com/shop/product/2025881/paul-green-jay-wingtip-chelsea-boot-women?color=BLACK%20LEATHER I like sneakers on other people but never feel comfortable in them myself. I don’t know why. I did almost buy a pair of black velvet sneakers at Target this morning but returned them to their shelf at the last minute. Where I live people wear just about anything so I never really feel like anything I wear is out of the norm.
In summer, I’m all about the sneakers (I’m umm’ing and ahh’ing about hitting buy on some Allbirds). Winter, it becomes all about ankle/chelsea boots.
Two reasons – I work in a lab (gotta have closed toe, closed heel) AND I have a fused ankle so need a shoe that has some cushioning but doesn’t have so much sole that it can’t flex.
I would totally wear what you’re wearing to work. But then we are casual as here.
i just got my allbirds over the weekend!! i wore them this morning to walk the dog, other than that it’s still too hot for me to even think about putting them on my feet. but you can’t pay me enough money to wear closed-toed shoes in the summertime!! i got the birch color and they’re great, more grey than brown IMO and very comfortable.
yeah, GG is not that comfortable on me 🙁 too bad because i love the way they look. i mean, i can wear them, and they’re not killing me, but i have other sneakers that are more comfortable, for sure.
i don’t know. i think we all just have to wear what’s comfortable – nothing wrong with that !! 🙂
i didn’t wear sneakers other than for exercise for the longest time. until about 5-7 years ago i guess? when they became “popular” with the athleisure trend maybe. i, on the other hand, can’t do ankle boots; they just don’t work with my wider calves, and i really dislike the way they look on me. but on others, i LOVE THEM.
i have a zillion pairs of smart wool secret sleuth socks and some nike no-show socks, but the smartwool socks are hands down my favorites. i live in them when the weather’s cooler…
haha! i sometimes have trouble wearing structured pieces too. i love them, and sometimes i really want a more “structured” black & white look, but it’s not my default by any means.
I’m super casual and can be since my job in retail is seasonal. When I’m off, I’m all about the comfort. No juxtaposition here…It’s all comfort with comfort! 😉
With shoes, tho, I’m kind of wonky. I’ll be wearing a sweatshirt and jeans, but slip on some bright red suede loafers. It’s fun and adds some personality to my outfits. (See? There is juxtaposition after all!)
I agree with both of you! That’s why I hate those “10 items every woman over 40 should own”….there’s always a blazer!
And I forgot to say that both of the options look good to my eye, but like Amy, I’m partial to the sneakers.
Totally sneakers. To the point where I bought a pair of driving loafers and returned them because they weren’t sneakers.
haha…that made me laugh, because i’d totally do that.
hate those lists. that said……..i am going to try everlane’s new oversized blazer. it looks like EXACTLY what i’ve been looking for at a much better price 🙂
Thanks, Amy! I’m going to try them. My husband and I actually had to turn around shortly after taking a walk because my stupid socks slid halfway down my foot causing great discomfort!
Can’t wait to hear what you think of the Allbirds long term. My brother has a pair and he raves about them.
Re: summer. The second I walk out the door at work, I swap my sneakers for jandals (you ain’t a Kiwi unless you have tan lines from your jandals 😉 )
Birks are my default in the summer, mocs in the spring/fall, and tall boots in the winter. I am almost always more comfortable in more casual clothing. I think I first fell in love with Portland OR (I live in the Midwest) when someone joked about a Columbia fleece being “jacket-required” dinnerwear.
Thanks Amy and Grechen! My goal is to find the one kind I like and stock up (as opposed to having ten different types, some I like better than others).
I have a hard time with sneakers (same with jeans). Probably because I went to boarding school and therefore spent my adolescence NOT wearing jeans & sneakers….I love comfort though! 2 years ago I bought some Ecco nubuck slip on sneakers and they’re great! Except I don’t love them with a skirt/dress (and I wear those a LOT). I think (because I work on a college campus) I’m burned out by seeing so much “athleisure” that is really just skimpy clothing worn in public. I don’t want to see that much skin when I’m at work!!! I never thought I was prudish. Oh well.
Also, I hate socks and only wear them when it’s REALLY cold. I can’t handle white or linen outside of the summer, but I’ll wear birkenstocks year round. Without socks. 🙂
i cannot wear sandals when it’s cold, my toes FREEZE … but i was just thinking that i would get a pair of chunky knit socks to wear with my birkenstocks this fall. i’ve never really liked that look, but for some reason i’m ready to try it now. i did wear that in college, but that’s college….
Love this outfit! I continue to love that skirt!!!
Agree with the above comments on blazers. I just can’t make them work for me.
My favorite pair of shoes right now is a pair of wine-colored oxfords with black soles/heels. If I ever find a similar pair I will buy them no matter the cost! Most of the ones I see now have a light colored heel. I love my Allbirds and my ES mules.
oh, i agree with you on black soles – that’s why i love the no6 clogs i got, the dark base – not enough companies do that. freda salvador seems to on most of their shoes though…
And a “crisp white button down,” which I have NEVER been able to pull off. I can wear some flowy rayon-type button downs but even then I feel like I’m trying too hard. :/
I’m still laughing over the mules are “easy” comment. For some reason, I can’t even wear them in the house without endangering myself and any person, pet or household goods within falling range. What’s up with that, I wonder?
You sound just like my husband, Kathryn, but his thing is flip flops. Anytime he sees our daughter wearing them (which is all the time in summer!) he says (only half jokingly…) “Those things will kill ya’, you know!” 🙂
I do wear flip flops, and MY husband shakes his head at me too! (but they are expensive flip flops with arch support lol.)