COBALT CRUSH: PLEATED MIDI AND REVERSE CARDIGAN

I always thought that as I got older my love for bright colors would fade and I would start wearing only neutral colors but I’m more in love with color than ever before. I do love my neutrals too though. Orange was always my favorite bright color but this year cobalt blue and red might be beating out orange…it’s a toss up. The top you see here is actually my cobalt cardigan that you might have seen in this work look a few weeks ago. This way of styling it changes the look and lets my get more use out of this piece. Read on for details…

SKIRT: J.CREW FACTORY wearing size 00 Petite in Bright Ocean. Also love THIS for a more muted monotone look | CARDIGAN: J.CREW (25% off with code SUMMER) | PUMPS: SOLE SOCIETY | JACKET: H&M | BAG: OLD similar HERE

For this outfit I was going for a monochromatic look and needed a very close match to the blue of the skirt. The only thing that fit the bill was my Jackie cardigan so I re-purposed it to wear it as a blouse by just turning it around so the buttons were on the back instead of in-front. This gives the cardigan the look of slouchy top with a high, slightly-cowl neck. I like high-necked tops and this is one way to get the look without having to buy one. And it’s fun that the back now has button details. If you decide to give this a try I’d recommend buttoning most of the buttons up (leaving only one or two unbuttoned) and then putting it on like a pullover. Then it’s easy to just button up the last button or two from the front. Otherwise you have to be a contortionist.

The pleated midi is a major spring trend this year and for petite frames you can’t go wrong by tucking your top in. By tucking in you elongate the leg and define your waist. Another, more casual way I like to style midis is by wearing a longer sweater or knit over the skirt. The contrasting materials and laid-back styling create a casual vibe.

I grabbed this skirt from J.Crew Factory and the rich blue got me right away. I’ve been finding so many cute pieces from them recently – versatile inexpensive pieces that work really well for a busy mom and can take you from playground to dinner. I’ve linked some of my current favorite pieces from J.Crew Factory in the scroll bar at the bottom.

As I’ve probably said before, I’m always cold so it’s rare to catch me without an outer layer. Here I wore my utility jacket over these cobalt pieces to contrast the lady-like feel of this outfit and to create some urban wear-ability. I wear this jacket so much. It’s super casual and goes with everything. A cargo jacket like this is a wardrobe essential whether your style is more femme or if you like to live in jeans/pants. I find this one to be a nice balance between super-fitted and over-sized. Side note: I apologize for any wrinkles you see – I had just grabbed it from the dryer and didn’t have time to steam it. The good news is that is washes well. This is such a useful style across at least three seasons that I’ve linked a few other options below.

Thanks for reading and hope to see you back on the weekend!