Cheryl Shops

One of my favorite pieces of the last year or so has been this Free People Normani slip skirt; this is its third appearance here (you last saw it with a denim jacket) and I wear it at least once every other week in real life. It's relaxed enough to wear on the weekend and can dress up with a blazer for work, plus it's super comfy and manages to look feminine yet pulled together no matter what the occasion. Lately, my favorite way to wear it has been with an oversized double-breasted blazer (one of my key pieces for fall); here's how it all comes together.



Of all the things I love buying at Zara, blazers are probably my favorite. Zara makes an incredibly well tailored blazer for the price point; I'm always amazed to find the pockets sewn together and the back vent basted, as you would on a much more expensive style. They are generally polyester or a polyester blend, which I'm normally not the biggest fan of, but the quality is almost always much higher than you'd expect. I'd typically say that blazers should be an investment piece, but I'm trying to shop within my means this season, and this one carries a lot of bang for the buck. I love the oversized fit and longer length; it's so long, I can get away with wearing it with leggings. It's almost like a long cardigan (and just as comfy), but more polished-looking. I am in a size medium, which is what I usually take at Zara.



As with the blazer, not all fast fashion is destined for a landfill. This T-shirt is from H&M and is probably close to 20 years old, I kid you not. It has amazingly not pilled or yellowed over the years, and the feel of the cotton just keeps getting softer and softer. I'd imagine H&M has cut some corners in its fabrics in the years since, but considering what I spent on it (probably something like $10 or $12), it has more than earned its cost per wear. And while I own a lot of black and white striped T-shirts, this is still probably one of my favorites. This one is nearly vintage, but I've linked a similar style below.



Now, back to the skirt—it comes in a bunch of colors, but I love this one for its unique silvery-lilac shade. It's great for traveling, as the fabric doesn't wrinkle much, unlike a real silk slip skirt. (I know I'm in a lot of polyester in this post, but hey, sometimes it has its benefits.) My one quibble about this skirt is that unlike most of Free People's clothes, it runs really small; I'm in a size 8 and the waistband is still rather sung—don't forget to size up!



While most of my clothes in this outfit are budget-minded, my accessories fall more into the investment category. I'm still carrying my Staud Bissett bag into the fall, and my Golden Goose Superstar sneakers are continually in heavy rotation. I like how the sneakers bring a more casual element to the look, and the bag lightens things up. It especially works this time of year when it feels like fall one day and back to summer the next.



OUTFIT DETAILS: Zara blazer | H&M tee (similar here) | Free People skirt | Staud Bissett bag | Golden Goose Superstar sneakers