When I worked as a technical writer at a large bank years ago, I enjoyed shopping Ann Taylor for office looks that felt contemporary and sharp. Then, as a pastor’s wife serving large, traditional churches where dressing up for Sunday was very much the convention, I shopped Ann Taylor for classic dresses that felt elevated and feminine. But in recent years I’ve felt a little out of step with Ann Taylor styles, even though I continued to admire them. As a work-from-home writer my everyday uniform has taken on the vibe of a casual weekend. Well guess what! Ann Taylor has a lovely Weekend Collection that works perfectly for my casual but elevated style. It’s like dressing beautifully for the weekend…every day!
How to Shop Here: To shop the items I feature, just click on the words in the captions of photos, the highlighted words in my text or the images in the shopping widgets I sometimes include. When you shop through my links I potentially earn a commission on your purchases, but at no additional cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting my work here by shopping my links. Items that have been gifted to me by the associated brand are indicated with “c/o”.
Elevated Casual Style from Ann Taylor
I’m a big proponent of building a wardrobe that really works for your true lifestyle. And that can be challenging for many of us. Especially as seasons of life change, we sometimes struggle with creating a closet that suits our true everyday style needs.
Women who have invested the bulk of their clothing budget in elevated garments that were suitable for their work places often have a hard time shifting to a different plan when they retire. But even if you haven’t shifted out of the workforce recently, you may find that your closet is filled with an “aspirational wardrobe” rather than a realistic one.
The key is to invest the majority of your clothing budget in your everyday clothes, the ones that help you create outfits you’ll actually wear most frequently. But you also have to assess what your “everyday” looks like…and what you want to look like every day.
Some women make the mistake of investing too much in dressier clothes they only wear occasionally, but certainly not every day. Other women tell me that they’ve neglected to invest anything in their daily-wear wardrobes, assuming their everyday wasn’t really worth getting dressed for. The magic happens when you determine for yourself what your real lifestyle is and how you want to show up for it daily.
I’ve learned that I am happier, more productive, more energetic, more interesting and more likely to engage with other people if I’m dressed casually but with an elevated style. I like to create outfits that are coordinated, accessorized and pulled together with intention. And I like to wear things that look pretty on me and make me feel like a woman, even when I’m just running errands, going to appointments, meeting friends for lunch or checking things off my to-do list at home.
The outfit I’m showing you here starts with a favorite pair of wide leg trouser jeans from J.Crew, but the star is this colorful and super soft mock neck sweater from Ann Taylor. It’s a simple outfit really, but it packs a punch. And the soft mock neck sweater is machine washable, so it’s perfect for my real lifestyle.
I’ve created a number of style boards with pieces from Ann Taylor’s Weekend Collection below. These are elevated garments that are soft, comfortable and wearable for the weekend or any day, especially if you appreciate an elevated casual style.
Pair the washed black wide-leg crop jeans above with either the black and white striped turtleneck or the ruffle mock neck top and top with the quilted jacket for running errands or meeting a friend for lunch.
Comfortable but polished trousers like the wide leg ponte pant are a smart investment for an elevated casual style. Top them with a turtleneck top and a shimmer cardigan when you’re heading to a class or appointment.
The high rise tapered pant above is another smart choice for the woman with a casual lifestyle who wants to look polished and pulled together. Top them with a turtleneck top in the same color for an easy combination. Add a contrasting cable bomber sweater jacket for a slimming effect.
Even when you’re taking it easy at home you can look pretty in a waffle button down lounge top and coordinating waffle lounge pants. Complete this cozy look with fun horsebit fuzzy slide flats in leopard.
For a book club or gathering with friends add this embellished collar cardigan over a turtleneck top in the same color. Opt for a mid rise boot jean for a slightly dressier look.
For a day of shopping, wear a little color with these fun corduroy boot pants. Top them with a simple ivory cable sweater and wear the plaid cocoon coat for a modern look.
This plaid short trench coat keeps the camel cable turtleneck sweater and ivory wide leg corduroy pant outfit easy on the eyes. You’ll find these and many more elevated casual style options from Ann Taylor in the shopping widget below.
Don’t Miss a Post:
If you like what you’re seeing here at Dressed for My Day, I invite you to subscribe to my email list. You can receive an email each time I post (about 6 times weekly) or just on Saturdays. You choose! But you’ll also receive the password to open up all the subscriber freebies I offer. You can subscribe HERE.
Blessed for My Day
Some say that seeing is believing. But the Bible says that believing is not seeing and still being assured. That doesn’t mean that faith is blind, but that it sees beyond the visible. A biblical faith is trust in a God who keeps His promises and is able to do above and beyond all that we could hope or ask for.
If you are struggling to have faith today, consider shifting the focus on that faith. You do not have to trust that “everything will turn out okay.” But instead you can trust in the God who works everything in your life for your good. Put your trust in the God who loves you, moves mountains for you, keeps His promises, not in a hope that all will be well.
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. ~ Hebrews 11:1-3
Love that sweater on you. You look soooo good in pinks, reds, and blues. What size are you wearing?
I’m wearing a medium. Sorry for the delayed response.
I’ve been reading your post for a good hour. I think it’s my all time favorite. Thanks for so many great outfits and ideas. You are truly a gifted 🧡
Love the style boards. Thank you!
Love the style boards! Such great outfits!
Thank you for this post. I have never thought about wearing a top and jacket the same color, ow even pants and top the same color. But, I will try! It looks great on you! Also, Blessed for My Day really hits home. I do have an issue with trust when it comes to some of the people in my family. It’s really sad, but I really have to pray hard when asking God to help me fix something. I do trust God, but as stubborn as some of my family is, it’s so disheartening. I pray this will get taken care of soon. Anyway, I hope you have a good evening. ❤️
Love this outfit on you. So pretty. I love when you do style boards. It helps me think outside the box for elevated casual outfits which is my everyday lifestyle too.
The outfit looks so nice on you. I can relate to shopping at a career oriented retailer. I used to shop at Ann Taylor Factory when I worked. I’ve donated just about all those clothes. It was hard to adjust to casual after I retired. I’m doing a lot better now. That’s why I rarely buy dresses or skirts.