Layer by Layer

It finally feels like Fall in California, which is both a blessing and a curse. I love the cool weather, but it came at an inopportune time--cold weather is not for people who have bad colds. The consolation prize is that I get to dress warm. I haven't gotten the chance to layer in quite some time, and I had a lot of fun with it.

My work outfits typically consist of a lot of black and a lot of neutral colors, plus a dash of color or a bold detail. Lately, I felt like I've been stuck in a rut of wearing the same few pairs of black pants, same few jackets, and the same few beige and gray tops. While it was simple to get dressed and I looked put together, I wanted to make the neutrals a little more exciting again.

A couple of new staples injected a little boost in my neutral lineup. The first is a cardigan from the eco-friendly indie label Sublet Clothing. I've had my eye on the simple yet very pretty Anais cardigan for months and months, hoping it would go on sale. When I checked again a couple of weeks ago, it was finally 50% off. Even though I was sick and tired, I drove out to the big UPS pickup center to get it, and I even brought my Lucky magazine along because I expected to a while (lucky me, my package is always lost, left on the truck, or otherwise not ready for pickup even after I requested same-day will-call.). To my pleasant surprise, I didn't even have time to flip open the cover--the package was on the shelf behind the counter, and I was back in the car in no time.

The cardigan is just as good as the omen I got from the quick package pickup process. The pleats and puffed sleeves are cute details, and they are subtle enough such that the sweater does not become too girlish. The fit is perfect. The cream color is tranquil and pleasant. The fabric will take a little getting used to, however. Bamboo fabric feels so different from cotton--it is very soft, but it feels like some slick synthetic fiber. The strangeness aside, it's good to know that the fabric is made from a very sustainable material.

The second wardrobe booster is a pair of Nikes that I've been eyeing for a couple of months at DSW. Once the shoes landed on the clearance racks, I made my move. The shoe is shaped somewhat like a skate shoe, but much leaner and more comfortable. The bold gingham pattern on the shoe is rather unexpected, and I thought it would fit right in and perk up my frequent neutral-and-black outfits.

Both the shoes and the cardigan fit in harmoniously with all the black pants and outerwear. I knew that the cardigan would work with just about anything. As for the shoes, they integrate into my wardrobe even better than I expected. They add an interesting detail to an overall conservative outfit, but because the black and white is so ordinary, the shoes do not stand out too much or look out of place.

It's nice to know I have a comfortable alternative to heels when I need it.

[Nave coat (yay! I get to wear it again!), Sublet Clothing Anais cardigan, Gap heather gray t-shirt (I've been wearing this all the time), vintage scarf, Forever 21 cocktail ring, Forever 21 pants, Nike Blazer Low sneakers]