Cheryl Shops

I don't know what it is about warm weather that possesses me to ditch my usual polished, tailored pieces for a more boho look, but as soon as summer comes around, I'm all about embroidery, tassels, and drawstrings. Much like my vacation alter ego, it's my summer alter ego—she has the same taste in clothing. This alter ego especially loves peasant tops, and considering summer in San Francisco has a very small window, I end up wearing them as much as I can in a very short period of time. Of course, while there's something youthful and carefree about a peasant top, you don't want to look like you're trying too hard to be young and carefree. It's all about a mix of casual and classic.



I bought this top last year at Madewell and I was excited to see that they've brought it back for a second year—clearly it was a bestseller (and it's currently on backorder until August). I have a feeling they resurrected it because the colors—a mix of mustard yellow, taupe, and millennial pink—are so on trend this year. The front yoke and sleeves are embroidered with flowers, and the body has a flowy, forgiving shape that's perfect for camouflaging your burgeoning ice cream baby. I'm wearing a small, and I'd say the top runs pretty true to size. It's also lightweight and airy, and thus perfect for summer.



My very first weekend as a San Francisco resident, it was in the upper 70s when I left the house, and I went out without a jacket. Lo and behold, the wind picked up in the late afternoon, the temperature dropped, and my friend had to bring me a sweater to wear to dinner. I have since learned my lesson and always carry a light sweater or jacket—hence the cardigan I'm wearing here (last seen in this post). This is also Madewell, which may be why the colors go together so well; I love it and wear it all the time, as the weight is just about perfect for SF. I'm in a small in this one too.


A white denim skirt is both casual and classic; I went with it here to pick up the white in the top and to lighten up the look a bit more, and I love the contrast of a dark top against a light skirt. While I probably could have gone all-Madewell with this outfit, this one is by Topshop and it's such a perfect skirt, I own it in two colors. (I last wore the white here.) I always go up a size with Topshop; this one is an 8 US.


My accessories are where I kind of went off the rails a little, but I'm happy with how it turned out. I normally wouldn't think to pair a floral with a cheetah print, but the colors in my top and bag (last seen way back here) were so similar that I think it worked pretty well! I also really like the cheetah print against my pink sweater. Yay for happy accidents! As for my shoes, I originally had on a pair of more casual black sandals (yep, also by Madewell) but liked the more refined look that my Chloé pumps (last seen here) gave the outfit. The nude color also has a nice leg-lengthening effect, which is never a bad thing.




We shot these photos on a random street in Russian Hill, which is definitely one of the top-three neighborhoods I'd live in if I didn't live in my current one. There are all sorts of hidden nooks and stairs that lead to people's houses; as we were shooting these, several couples kept walking by on their way to a party. Can you imagine having to ascend several flights of stairs just to get to your front door? Such is the romance of San Francisco living!


OUTFIT DETAILS: Madewell sweater (sold out in pink but similar here) || Madewell top || Topshop denim skirt || B.P. leopard clutch || Chloe Lauren pumps || Stella & Dot Florence bracelet (on sale!), signet ring