Cheryl Shops

It is finally summer here in San Francisco, and while everyone else is starting to think about transitioning to fall clothes, I'm breaking out the sundresses and bare legs. It was in the 90s last week, which is super rare; and even though I don't have air-conditioning, I won't complain. Coincidentally, we tried to shoot a version of this outfit twice before and had to scrap it because I was too hot and sweaty both times. I ended up going with a slightly different T-shirt and skirt than I had originally intended, but I like this version even better—so much so that the cargo skirt became the key piece of this look. Here's how it all came together. 

This BlankNYC cargo skirt is many years old, and even though it's probably too short for a woman my age, I wear it so much that I can't bear to get rid of it. Cargo styling tends to go in and out of fashion, but if you ask me, it's a classic. I'm kind of shocked I've never featured this skirt here on the blog before; it's one of my favorite pieces to take on vacation, and it's super lightweight, which makes it perfect for summer. It's definitely on the more casual side, but I do like to dress it up a bit with a jacket, which is what I did here. I don't think BlankNYC makes this skirt anymore (at least not that I could find) but I've linked a very similar style below. 

I always say that you should always carry a lightweight jacket in San Francisco, and I'm glad I decided to add this one to my outfit, because the temperature dropped literally as we were shooting these photos. I also like how it makes a T-shirt and very casual skirt feel more polished. While I've had this linen blazer for over a year, I'm embarrassed to say that I'd never washed it until recently. Since you last saw it with a linen shirtdress, it actually shrunk a bit in the dryer—and yes, I did that on purpose, since it was always a bit too big. I'm glad I took that risk, because now it fits perfectly and it's even softer than before. Like most Free People items, this blazer runs rather large; I'm in a small. 

And speaking of things I've had forever, this J.Crew vintage cotton tee is one of them—you saw my gray version of this tee with a red blazer, and as I mentioned in that post, I own it in four colors. This tee has a nice slubby variation to the jersey that has only gotten better with age; to be fair, the cotton is getting a little thin, but I like it that way—it clings nicely and breathes really well. Speaking of which, I like wearing white tees in hot weather because I feel like it's harder to see your sweat through them! This one runs true to size; I'm in a small for a more fitted look, but you can always size up if you like your tees a little looser. 

Accessory-wise, I decided to elevate things a bit since the rest of my look was so casual. A statement belt is always a good way to do so, and since I'm showing so much leg in this skirt, I decided to wear a little heel. (You last saw these Hermès sandals with my favorite maxi dress.) Normally I don't recommend wearing two blatant designer logos in the same outfit, but, hey, it's 2020 and wear 'em if you've got 'em, right? Thankfully my bag is a bit more subtle, and I like how the taupe-y color bridges the gap between my brown belt and black-and-white patterned shoes. You last saw this bag—and the belt—with flared jeans, so clearly I like to wear these two together! 

OUTFIT DETAILS: Free People Simply Perfect blazer | J.Crew vintage cotton tee | BlankNYC cargo skirt (similar here) | Gucci belt | Fount Coventry bag (c/o) | Hermès Oasis sandals