The most stylish women know that you don’t have to create something new every day to look polished and pulled together. Instead, lean into what you do well and enjoy perfecting that outfit formula so that it becomes a signature style. I do indeed find myself gravitating to a handful of outfit formulas that I enjoy wearing with confidence. So I’m trying to work those outfits into my lineup more frequently instead of “reinventing the wheel” each day. I’m sharing those five spring outfits that I’m wearing on repeat and the why behind them. But I challenge you to consider the outfits you most enjoy wearing and how you can perfect them with repeated wear, too.
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Spring Outfit No. 1 = Jeans + Ribbed Tank or Tee+ Blazer
Truly my favorite spring outfit of all time is a pair of jeans topped with a simple ribbed tee or tank and a snazzy blazer.
Especially during the spring, when the weather shifts daily, I enjoy the gently layered look. I can work it with any base layer from a sleeveless tank to a long sleeve t-shirt, but I’ve found it works best when the first layer fits fairly close to the body.
Sometimes I’ll add a belt to this combination. But if I don’t want to have to do that I wear a cropped length tee or tank. I italicized that because many women assume that anything labeled cropped will expose their midriff. But these days you’ll find cropped tees and tanks and shirts that still cover your waistband adequately, while giving you better proportions. The key is simply to have a top that defines where your waist is and gives you those enviable 1/3 to 2/3 proportions…even though you haven’t tucked it in.
In fact a YouTube viewer asked me just recently about the efficacy of wearing a long blazer (I think she was actually talking about the one shown here) with ankle length jeans. She assumed that would disrupt the proportions and make my body look cut in half. But remember, those visual proportions take into account the whole picture. So you absolutely can wear a long blazer or even a longer kimono or trench coat with your ankle jeans as long as you define the waist with a cropped length top as I’ve done here.
Why I love this outfit: The jeans + top + blazer formula works for me because I love the effect of a power blazer, whether it’s soft and subtle or big and bold. But I also appreciate the juxtaposition I can create with this outfit, swapping in sneakers for an even more casual look or wearing heels for a more elevated vibe. It suits my personal style angles well and helps me show up feeling like myself.
Spring Outfit No. 2 = Jeans + Lightweight Cashmere Sweater + Scarf + Spring Jacket
After living in Ohio now for almost 7 years (wow! how did that happen?) I’ve finally learned that spring is not a warm season. Like autumn, it’s a transition season, but with more cold days than warm ones here in the Midwest.
So the combination of jeans with a spring weight sweater has become a go-to seasonal outfit formula. Not only do I have a nice number of cotton sweaters for the season, but I’ve also begun to build a pretty collection of lighter weight cashmere sweaters in cheerful colors. I especially enjoy wearing this combination with white jeans, but I do wear it with blue and even grey or black denim, too.
Especially on cooler days, I complete this formula with booties. So I’ve learned to keep a pair or two of lighter colored booties in my closet even after I’ve put most of my winter wardrobe away for the season. But I also wear this favorite spring outfit with loafers, sneakers and pointy toe flats.
Why I love this outfit: This spring outfit has become a favorite because it meets at the corner of fashionable and real life. It’s cold here for most of spring. So I might as well embrace the weather and dress for it. Having lightweight, natural fiber sweaters in pretty colors that pair nicely with jeans and a trench for a polished look makes me feel like I’m prepared for the unpredictable spring weather rather than defeated by it.
Spring Outfit No. 3 = White Jeans + Solid Tee + Same Color Jacket
When I started blogging here at Dressed for My Day eight years ago, I didn’t know anything about the science or math of putting together outfits. I’ve always had a pretty good eye for fashion, but I didn’t know why things worked. I didn’t know I needed to achieve certain visual proportions with my outfits or match my contrast in intensity or wear shoes that accomplish something besides “go with” my outfit.
But as I’ve been doing the research so that I could help you and me get dressed for our day, I’ve learned so many tricks of the trade. And now one of my favorite style hacks that works every time is to wear the same color in my top and my topper, whether that be a jacket or cardigan.
So I work this formula as often as I can. In fact, I make a practice of always buying a top of some kind in the same color as any jacket or cardigan I bring into my wardrobe. In fact, for most every topper I purchase a tee or tank in the same color because that works best for my casual lifestyle. But occasionally I do also find a pretty blouse to coordinate with a jacket or sweater.
Why I love this outfit: This two punch effect works beautifully to create a cohesive outfit. And part of my personal style aesthetic is to look polished and pulled together. I like for my outfits to be easy on the eyes, not overly complicated. I think doubling up the color in your top and jacket creates that seamless vibe in an effortless way.
Spring Outfit No. 4 = Striped Top + Denim Jacket + Jeans or Cotton Pants
In this previous blog post I shared about the importance and the effectiveness of the trending striped tee. I do like to wear the occasional floral or geometric print, but the safest and easiest print of all is definitely the stripe.
Whether the stripes are subtle – as in my white and gold striped tee above – or more pronounced, the effect is a more styled look but with minimal effort. That’s why I think it’s so smart to have a few striped tops and tanks in your wardrobe for spring and summer. And I especially enjoy traveling with one because it gives you so much versatility.
Why I love this outfit: This outfit combination is that perfect go-to for when you don’t know what else to wear. I like to make sure I have navy and white and black and white stripe options for spring and summer because, between the two, I can pair them with almost anything in my wardrobe. But I know last year I also had a red and white option and this year I’ve also purchased this soft blue and white tank, which you’ll see me style in the next post.
Spring Outfit No. 5 = Jeans + Button-Up Shirt
Hmm. I said the first outfit formula was my favorite, but maybe… Well, this classic jeans and button-up combination is definitely in the top 5, which means it is my favorite on any given day! I know women either love button-ups or hate them, and I get it. Funny enough, I used to hate them myself. But as they’ve become more in vogue, brands have perfected them into soft, well-crafted options for an elevated everyday style. And now I love my button-up shirts for that classic, relaxed style.
My all time favorite button-up shirts are definitely the Eileen shirts from Frank & Eileen. I have them in Italian linen, flannel, polished cotton and Liberty of London prints, like the one below. The fabric is always amazingly soft and the top button is strategically placed between the breasts to prevent gaping. The sleeves are ample in width and the length is just right.
But I have button-up shirts from many other brands, too. And the striped shirt from Madewell below has become a true favorite this spring. Again, the cotton is super soft and the fit is true. And most brands have figured out the strategic button placement at this point.
Why I love this outfit: When you find a good button-up shirt that you can tuck into a favorite pair of jeans, you’ve found a true friend. It’s just an easy outfit formula that never lets me down, especially since I do have an hourglass shape that begs for a little waist definition.
Thanks so much for dropping in today. I’d love to hear from you in the comments. I don’t always respond to comments unless there is a question, but I read and enjoy every one of them. Let me know what outfit formulas you enjoy perfecting during the spring. Have a blessed and beautiful spring day!
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Blessed for My Day
Every day we are bombarded with messages from this world. Whether we’re intentionally scouring the Internet for information on a topic of interest, watching a favorite television show, reading a book, browsing through social media, thumbing through a magazine or driving down the road, we take in messaging from hundreds of sources every single day. Some of it we seek out, much of it comes through our ears and eyes without our notice. A little of it is worthwhile and even true, but much of it is persuasive advertising, faulty information, nuanced messaging and even lies.
What’s a woman to do if she wants to follow the Lord and navigate this world wisely? How can we live in this world and not be of it? Sister, it’s a battle. And if it doesn’t feel like a battle, then you may not be navigating it all that well. Even thousands of years ago, Christians knew that it takes intentional choices, determination and persistent practice to sift through the information and sieve out all but the truth. Today let’s choose to allow the Word of God to transform our thinking so that we know how to test everything we hear and read and see by the only Authority that really matters.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. ~ Romans 12:2
You can only have those ‘enviable’ proportions when you have a small waist.