I love pleated midi skirts (as evidenced here, here & here haha), but they are challenging to make work appropriate. A jacket on top of a midi skirt can often ‘overwhelm’ your body, making you look shapeless. To fix this, I decided to try something new with a blazer – tying it at the waist.
linen ivory blazer // button front white camisole // pleated midi skirt = Aritzia. Similar pleated midi skirts: (one , two) // similar nude bow heels
This won’t work with a more stiff/structured blazer, but with a linen blazer this a great style hack to change up the look of your work look! This can give more shape to a pleated skirt outfit or can give a regular black pants work look a more light & spring ready vibe.
Linen is popular again this spring (not shocking given everyone’s desire to have lighter materials in the warmer weather) so you can easily find blazers like this one that can be tied. My exact blazer is from H&M and I definitely recommend it! It runs a bit large though, so size down a size. (I’m wearing an H&M 6). This blazer is definitely perfect for warmer spring & summer weather!
Because mixing neutral colors is a big trend for spring, I went with a white button front camisole, and nude shoes & a dusty rose colored skirt as my pairings with the linen blazer. I like the mixed neutral palette a lot; more than I thought I would!
As you can tell, spring has arrived here in Vancouver! Our cherry blossoms are out in full bloom and are such a gorgeous sight around the city. Getting to take these photos in front of one of the big cherry trees downtown was great!
… You know what is less great? My birthday. While I am normally (I think?) a very bubbly, very bright & positive person, when it comes to my birthday I am not a happy camper. I think the last time I looked forward to a birthday I was 11? Maybe 12. I stopped having birthday parties after that (which I remember my mom thinking was so odd- she bugged me for years to have a birthday party!!) Even at that young of an age I hated the idea of a being a year older. The reminder that time is marching on did (and does) give me anxiety.
My birthday is on Sunday April 7th, and I’m turning 33. Part of the stress for me is that I’m not where I wanted to be at 33. You hear the adage “trust the timing of your life” ad nauseam, but it can be really hard to actually do. For me; a person who L-O-V-E-S structure & plans, the whole ‘not knowing the future’ thing is such a struggle. Some of you must feel this way as well, right?!
This year I am trying to be less stressed and remember that at the end of the day, it’s just another day. Yes, I am another year older, and yes I am not where I wanted to be, but I have a lot of great things going on. From great friends, to new ventures coming up with LegalLee Blonde (stay tuned – I can’t wait to share a big new thing with you!), to the flexibility to travel and explore a ton, I know I am really lucky and I am going to focus on that.
… Plus, by not being married or having kids I can take an hour long bubble bath with an Aperol Spritz at 4pm on a Tuesday and let’s be real, I am not complaining one bit about that 🙊.
Wish me lucking in my endeavors to not freak out and stress this weekend. On Monday I’ll be back with a birthday post – I’m sharing an outfit I am so, so happy with – and some more thoughts on being 33 and lessons I’ve learned.
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First off, love how you styled this outfit! Such a unique and inventive way to use a blazer! Secondly, I totally feel you on not being where you thought you would be by this age. I had a structured no-fail plan for mine and it turned out completely different than I thought it would … but in the best way possible. I think you’re very accomplished for your age and I do think that things happen for a reason. You never know what doors will open next year or even tomorrow <3
Lizzie
http://www.lizzieinlace.com
Thank you!!
And that is so true, thanks for the dose of positivity Lizzie, i needed that! <3
This is such a cute idea! I’ve never thought about tying a blazer
Thank you!! I’ve been tying so many button down shirts like this lately that when I had to add a blazer to this look for work, I figured why not try it; and I loved the result!
Tying a blazer is such a cute idea!!! When I turned 33 I thought I was turning 32 for the entire week leading up to my birthday. It was such a bummer to find out I had been lying to myself haha! Hope you get to enjoy yourself <3
Thank you!! I love it for spring.
And bahaha that’s amazing!! I’ve definitely caught myself forgetting my age periodically since I turned 30. I definitely had to pause and think last month whether I was about to turn 32 or 33.
I love this blazer, you cannot go wrong with a white blazer for summer in your closet. Happy birthday this weekend, let go and enjoy it and ride the journey. I just turned 40 and that’s what I’m doing!
Kellie
Happy belated birthday! Sounds like you’ve got a great attitude for the year ahead! <3
This may be a cliche, but it’s true:
“It’s a drag to be another year older…but it sure beats the alternative !”
Seriously, I know of too many people, who left this life far too young, who would love to be able to complain about being another year older. Besides, the thirties are a great decade for women. Trust me. ( a big fan of legalleeblonde who is almost 67 years young)
very true
This outfit is absolutely gorgeous on you!! And can we talk about how chic that blazer is?!
Thank you!!
I hope you have an absolutely wonderfull birthday! You don’t look a day over 21 my dear!
Thanks Greta!
I love that pleated skirt!
Thank you!