Tank Leather

Over the past two years I’ve been on a journey to drastically simplify my closet. The real catalyst for this journey was a space limitation that occurred when my sweetie and I moved in together. We went from living separately in large downtown apartments in Austin to living together in a small studio with a closet built for one. Since the move, I can easily say that my wardrobe is about 1/5^th the size that it was 3 years ago in Austin. But the simplification really has been a benefit, because it’s forced me to examine and define the way that I want to look and ensure that each piece that I buy will be a workhorse that supports that aesthetic. 

One of the ways I’ve been rebuilding my wardrobe around fewer, better things is to look for diverse pieces to layer over basics. I look for vests, tube tops, corsets, and tanks that can be layered in non-standard ways. Here, I’ve taken a leather tank top that I scored on super sale from (Kate Spade) Saturday and layered over a minidress. You could achieve a similar look by layering any structured top (like a brocade or leather tank, crop top, or corset) over a bodycon dress. Lately, I’ve been wearing this tank over long-sleeved tunic tees and shirt dresses. I think this pairing over an American Apparel turtleneck dress is a great pairing for date nights. For a work appropriate look, I just wear the same thing over cropped trousers. 

OUTFIT DETAILS - American Apparel Dress; Kate Spade Saturday Leather Tank; Everlane Clutch; Calvin Klein Boots; J Crew Necklace & Cuff; NARS Roman Holiday Lipstick

Sunday Funday

We’re still having very wishy washy weather here in San Francisco. Humid, overcast, coolish, and sometimes rainy.

This lofty cotton Cheap Monday sweater has turned out to be a really friendly piece for this kind of weather. Sometimes I’ll wear it 4 different ways all weekend long. Here I’m dressing it up for a brunch date by pairing it with my new leather skirt from Madewell and an old Marc by Marc Jacobs clutch. 

This is the first leather skirt that I have owned, though I’ve been eying them for several seasons. I really want one of the Alexander Wang ones, but they sell out so quickly and are at the price point where it would be a major investment for me. This one from Madewell is at a good price, probably because it is constructed using several pieces of leather, so that really lowers the material cost. But I actually quite like the combination of the piecing together with the pebbled leather. Plus, it has an exposed back zipper, which I love!

By the way, I always recommend that if you are trying a new silhouette that you opt for a lower cost item first. Then you can experiment and build your confidence about how to wear it before spending more on an investment piece the next season. 

OUTFIT DETAILS - Sweater: Cheap Monday; Skirt: Madewell; Shoes: J Crew; Clutch: Marc by Marc Jacobs; Necklace: Elizabeth & James; Rings: Maison Martin Margiela; Lips: NARS Heat Wave