Refresher Course

    Branching out can be intimidating, even more so as we get older and set in our ways, but I always try to challenge myself to keep trying new things, keep changing things up, so that I don't get too comfortable in a life or a style that used to work for me but just doesn't anymore.  I've been a dresses girl for most of my life.  I am now at the point where the only time I wear jeans or trousers is for my job and even then it's rare, or more often for doing home repairs and renovations, because for me dresses are the easiest thing in the world to wear.  Slip on a dress, grab some ballet flats and voila!  Instant chic outfit for any occasion.  

    At this point, anything outside of dresses is a little daunting because I don't do it often.  Never the less there are days when I do like to have an easy work or going-out outfit that involves trousers and a blouse.  As much as I love a bold novelty print for my dresses, I usually keep it pretty low-key on the blouses...until I saw this gorgeous silk blouse from Free People. I was watching Angela Braniff's Fashion Hacks video (because even a fashion lover like me can get stuck in a rut and need a refresher course on ways to make my clothes look better) and I loved everything about the outfit that she created with this blouse that I waited for FP's Memorial Day sale and then purchased it along with a couple of necklaces from JC Penney's sale.  In January I bought some linen trousers from American Eagle and haven't worn them much because they fit great in the store, but I found as the day went on, they were rather snug around the waist.  It was too late to return, so I shelved them for a while, until I had the idea of moving the top button over about a quarter of an inch so I could still breathe after having a meal.  Suddenly, this outfit came together.  In the future though I may swap out the wide leg trousers for a more straight leg jean.  Baggy tops need balance with a more fitted bottom. 

The take away tips from Angela on this style were the importance of sleeve length and a belt!  If I had been browsing FP I might have noticed how pretty the print on this top was, but I wouldn't have purchased because the fit it so baggy that it's unflattering.  It looks more like the shirt is wearing the model rather than the other way around.  However, with a belt in the right place and rolled up sleeves, suddenly this is a very beautiful and flattering causal look.  It wasn't my idea, and it's outside my comfort zone, but I love the way this looks!  

Outfit Info:  Tyler Shirt in Fuscia from Free People, Trousers from American Eagle, Jewelry from JC Penney, Shoes and bag from SheIn.