W-F

So, I actually DID shoot most of my work outfits the other week, per my friend Rebecca's request. (I bet you all thought I flaked out!) And actually, I'm kind of glad I was too busy to go through all the shots right away, because now I can assess what I wore with a little more clarity.

Looking through the photos, I was suddenly struck by how simple all the outfits were.

Here's what I wore on Wednesday— all black with a bright skirt. The one little clever thing I did was pick out stockings that have a chevron pattern, which mimics the pleating on the skirt.

This is Thursday's outfit— a simple black dress, but worn with a cute polka dot blouse underneath to add some fun. The stockings also have polka dots on them which are really subtle.

I wore these shoes, which also have little dots on them.

And here's Friday's outfit. This one is as simple as it gets— a white shirt and blue jeans. Notice how I cleverly disguised this by adding apple red heels and a tweed jacket.

I love this jacket, because from far away it looks brown, but when you really look at the fabric you can see tons of colors. I take this to mean I can wear it with any color that is in the tweed— even if it's just a tiny speck, like the red.

Taking photos of my outfits for a whole week was a really fun exercise, although I don't know how some bloggers shoot what they wear every day. All week I was afraid I'd oversleep, and rush out wearing mismatched socks— and then be forced to post photos of them on my blog!

(W-F photos © Littlehouse of Style)

What I wore to Sunday brunch.

During the work week, getting dressed in the morning is fairly simple. I look through my closet of black and white, pick a few things, and I have an outfit— White blouse, black sweater, tweed skirt. Black and white dress, cardigan, tights. Easy. If I'm feeling particularly lazy, I wear a dress.

Dresses are great because they're a self-contained outfit. All you have to do is add shoes. And because you're "dressed up" people think you put in all this extra effort, when the truth is, you didn't even attempt matching a top to slacks because you were half-asleep.

When it come to the weekend though, I always have trouble getting dressed. Why is it so difficult to dress casually? There has to be a middle ground between looking like you just rolled out of bed and looking like you're headed to a meeting.

Shoes are the first problem. 90% of my shoes have at least a 3 inch heel, so aren't exactly conducive to weekend activities like laundry and grocery shopping. But if I put on sneakers, I just feel dumpy. And short.

A few years ago, I bought a pair of cowboy boots while visiting my friend in California, and they have become a staple of my weekend wardrobe. They are one of the most comfortable pair of shoes I own, but don't look ugly like most comfortable shoes tend to (ahem, Uggs and Crocs). They also have a slight heel, so I don't feel like a total shrimp.

I also wear brown a lot on the weekend. It just seems like a casual color to me. Instead of my black patent leather bag, I like to carry something brown or tan with enough space to hold a magazine or two, in case I find a sunny spot to read. I picked up this chestnut leather tote on sale about a month ago, and it's a real workhorse. It actually expands at the top to be even bigger!

The jacket is one of my most favorite pieces. It's made by an Italian company called Kiton, known for their men's suits. (I got it at Filene's basement for a fraction of its original price). Even though it's fitted, it never feels uncomfortable— a perfect weekend piece because it looks nice and feels nice, too. The cashmere tweed is so soft you would think you're snuggled in bed— which is exactly where I would spend my entire weekend, if it weren't for the lure of brunch . . .

(Weekend-wear photos © Littlehouse of Style: Kiton jacket, Polo jeans, American Apparel t-shirt, Gap belt, Justin boots, Alexander McQueen bag)