Cheryl Shops

As you may have guessed from the title of this post, I'm in a bit of a wardrobe rut at the moment. I'm kind of tired of everything in my closet, and I haven't been shopping recently because of some economic uncertainty (which, thankfully, is now resolved). I'm not exactly tired of summer—the truly warm weather is just getting started here in San Francisco—but I can't enjoy it much at the moment because the air is super smoky due to the wildfires burning all over the freaking state, so we have to stay inside. Again. Alas, the show must go on, so here I am in an outfit that I actually like, although I feel the need to warn you that it's not my most original look. It is, however, one that I feel comfortable and cute in, so that will have to do for now. 

You've seen this Madewell chambray shirt a gazillion times (most recently with flared jeans), and I don't think I'll ever get tired of it, which is a good thing. You know the clothes that don't even make it to your closet once you do laundry, because you can't wait to wear them? This is one of those items. This is their ex-boyfriend fit; it's very generously cut (I'm in a small) and doesn't gape at the chest, which is a big concern for me. It has faded with age, but that makes me love it even more. It's great in colder weather under a jacket, or in summer, I love to roll the sleeves, as I did here. Plus, fun fashion trick: when you roll your sleeves, first fold the cuff all the way to the elbow, then cuff again from the bottom—it stays in place better that way. 

I am a creature of habit, and I own 5 or 6 different versions of this skirt—short and tiered, ideally with a wide smocked waistband. I am probably too old to be dressing this way, but I like what I like, and I don't care. I will wear them with boots or tights when my legs start to get too veiny (as Diahann Carroll says, the legs are the last thing to go), but for the time being, a healthy dose of self-tanner seems to be doing the trick (I like Jergens Natural Glow). Long story short, I love this skirt, and wearing it makes me happy. I try not to feature items that no longer available, and unfortunately this Free People skirt (last seen with white boots) is from last year and long gone. I've linked a very similar one below, though. 

Speaking of things that I own in multiple, Birkenstocks are always a good investment. I will admit, however, that I wear these so often that I'm truly starting to get tired of them, which means I'm almost certain you feel the same way. I can't remember the last time I bought a pair of shoes, which is probably the first time in my life that's happened, and if that's not a sign that I'm in a wardrobe rut, than I don't know what is. That said, there's just something so easy about Birkenstocks (which might be the fact that you can slip them on?) and I love wearing them with more feminine things, like skirts and dresses. These are also pretty-ish, with a subtle pink color and shiny gold buckles, which may explain why I keep going back to them. That, and they're comfy AF. 

OUTFIT DETAILS: Madewell ex-boyfriend chambray shirt | Free People skirt (similar here) | Rattan bag | Birkenstock Arizona Big Buckle sandals