Cheryl Shops

Some of the outfits I feature here take months of careful planning. Others come together at the very last minute. Today's look falls into the latter group. I had worn the dress during the day and totally intended on changing into something else, but after a pre-shoot drink (a ritual to loosen me up) turned into two and the light started to fade, I realized I had to pull something together ASAP. The result felt very "me," if a little haphazard; there are some things I would have changed, but more on that later. The key takeaway for me is that sometimes a little spontaneity is a good thing.



I bought this dress (and a very similar top version) on sale at Athleta; the pink is still available in larger sizes, and they still have lots of sizes in gray. (For reference, I'm in a size small, which is what I almost always take at Athleta.) I have a black top made out of the same fabric, and it's one of my absolute favorites—super soft with a nice drape. You can't tell from the photos, but the dress has a cutout neckline—like a cold shoulder jr.—which is flattering in theory but kind of tricky with a bra (I've found thinner straps are best). And while this dress is incredibly comfy, I discovered while editing these photos that it's incredibly clingy when you move. If I were my mom, I'd wear a slip underneath, but I'm me, so in the future I'll wear something that covers my butt and hope for the best.



I forgot I had this jacket until I cleaned out my closet a few weeks ago (whoops!) and you've seen it here before. I love this jacket and it looks better in person, but I've come to the conclusion that it just doesn't photograph well, probably because like everything else at Free People, it runs huge. (I'm in a small and probably should have taken an extra-small.) If I could change anything about this outfit, I would have worn something more structured and in a different color, like my green field jacket. The coincidence is that while Free People is sold out of it in black, they still have three other colors and it looks like they're using a more substantial fabric now—if I were you, I'd get it in green!



Another thing I forgot I had but re-discovered while cleaning is this Balenciaga bag (last seen here), which has been experiencing a renaissance under designer Demna Gvasalia (and now costs more than double what I paid for mine way back when). This bag is the perfect size, in my opinion, and I think it's such a classic. They no longer make this particular size, but I've linked the most similar one below, with the same hardware and coloring.



If you follow me on Instagram, you are probably familiar with the story of these Loeffler Randall mules. I ordered them during the cardholder preview of the Nordstrom sale; the website said to size up, so I did, and they were HUGE. Thankfully I was able to exchange them, and now they are perfect. They were a bit of an investment, even on sale, but I love how feminine they are, and they make your legs look freaking amazing.



After this shoot, we went to one of my favorite neighborhood restaurants, Garibaldi's. It's very Presidio Heights—we're often the youngest people there—so the people-watching and neighborhood gossip is kind of awesome. We always sit at the bar, because we love the bartender, and the chopped salad is one of my favorites in San Francisco. Tell them I sent you!


OUTFIT DETAILS: Athleta Shala dress | Free People jacket | Balenciaga city bag | Loeffler Randall Luisa mules