Cheryl Shops

I have a vacation coming up and have been ordering sundresses like they're going out of style; I tried on several in a row and all of them were terrible (the voluminous trend does not suit my 42-year-old curves) until I finally slipped into this IRO dress from last year, which I found recently on ThredUp. As I always say, know thyself: this dress is cut straight, in a lightweight fabric, with few bells and whistles, and it's just my style. It's a great summer dress because of its airy, breathable fabric, and because it can read dressy or casual based on what you wear with it. The print makes it a little more unexpected than a solid color, but it has chic details like smocking at the waist and low-dipped sides (which you can't see here) that give it a little something extra. I found this exact dress on eBay but linked a more recent version below also; I'm wearing a 40 in this one, because I've found IRO to run a tad small. 

As I've said over and over and over again, a good black blazer is worth the investment, and since my old go-to was starting to fray at the edges (don't fret, it was at least 10 years old and had a good run), I decided to treat myself to this one from Frame. I am a huge fan of Frame's jeans—their Le High Straight is my go-to fit—and turns out they can cut a damn good blazer too. I love this one because the fabric is a bit lighter, so you can wear it all year, with dresses and tees in summer, and with shirts and even thin sweaters in winter. A good-fitting blazer makes anything look good, but especially here, it adds a layer of polish to the more relaxed cut of this dress. Expect to see this blazer a lot in the future; for reference, it runs true to size (I'm in my usual 6). 

Ok, if I were actually going to work, I would have grabbed a bigger, more practical tote bag—which reminds me, I bought one in Paris back in March, and I have yet to feature it here! Anyway, you last saw this Jerome Dreyfuss bag with a blazer and jeans, which just goes to show how versatile it is. And, hey, this could be a work outfit, it could be a date-night outfit, or it could be both! 

You last saw my white leather ankle boots from Calla with white jeans, and the good news is they look just as good (if not better) with skirts and dresses. As much as I love to wear sandals in summer, my feet tend to freeze in air-conditioning, so I prefer to wear closed-toe shoes to work. These boots have a very streamlined, polished shape, but the unexpected color makes them a little punk-rock too. They hit at a flattering point on your leg, so go ahead and wear them with bare legs! Also, they are ridiculously comfortable, made of incredibly soft leather, and specially crafted for people with bunions (that's me). They run true to size; I'm in a 38.5, but pay careful attention to the measurements on Calla's website, and tell them I sent you! 

OUTFIT DETAILS: Frame blazer | IRO dress (also here; and here; similar here) | Jerome Dreyfuss Bobi bag | Calla Camila boots (c/o)