Cheryl Shops

The title of this post is a bit of a misnomer; while I had intended to show everything I wore at Car Week, we were having so much fun, we kind of forgot to shoot it all. Alas, I'm only featuring one outfit in this post, and it's what I wore on our last morning in Carmel-by-the-Sea. We decided not to go to the Concours d'Elegance, which is kind of the main event that ends Car Week, because we were worried about crowds, and I'm glad we didn't go, because our friends who did said they felt a little overwhelmed and unsafe, and they left pretty quickly. That said, we were happy to be back at Car Week (it was canceled last year). We saw a bunch of friends and cars, of course, and I will never turn down a getaway to Carmel. So here's what I wore on the last day of our trip.

I was served an Instagram ad for this tweed blazer, and while I'm not sure I've ever purchased anything at Ann Taylor before, I was pleasantly surprised by its quality. I had missed out on a similar blazer during Zara's summer sale, but I think I like this style even more than the one that got away. I chose to bring this one to Car Week because it has an elevated, Chanel-y look, and it's also very warm for a blazer, which is key in Carmel, which can be a little cold and foggy in the morning (or most of the day in summer). I also just love the color, which is definitely brighter than what I usually wear, but in a good way—I'm trying new things! This exact blazer was sold out the last time I checked, but if you're lucky to snag one, I suggest sizing down (I'm wearing a 4), as it runs a bit large. I've also linked a very similar and very affordable blazer below. 

I normally don't wear more than one color at a time, but again, I'm trying new things. You last saw a hint of this tee in my Memorial Day sales post, but it wasn't on sale, nor did I tell you what it was. It's by Free People, and I am a fan—so much so that I may order it in a few more colors. It has a very low scoop neckline, which may or may not be your cup of tea, but I think it's pretty flattering (just make sure you wear a demi bra underneath). The sleeves are more fitted and the body is kind of loose, neither of which you can really see in these photos; hopefully you can see how light and airy (and slightly sheer) it is. It runs true to size, and I'm in my usual small.

I featured these Mott & Bow jeans around the same time last year, and I stand by my assertion that they're very comfy and flattering, and ideal for when you've gained weight, which is certainly the case for me and my pandemic 5 lbs. that don't seem to want to go away. I was recently at a bar (outdoors!) with a bunch of friends and realized that everyone in our group—we're around 40, give or take a few years—was wearing skinny jeans, whereas all the younger Gen Z ladies were wearing super high-waisted, straight-leg mom jeans. These are called a mom jean, but that name is not entirely accurate; they're more of a slim-straight leg, less skintight than a skinny but not quite the full-on '90s look that's so popular with those of you in your teens and 20s (not that anyone that young is reading this—they probably think blogs are "cheugy"). Anyway, I've found myself reaching for these jeans more and more, especially when I'm traveling. They run true to size (I'm in my usual 28) and are very reasonably priced for the quality. 

So you may be wondering why I'm wearing such a colorful outfit, and the truth is that I planned my Car Week looks around these shoes. If you subscribe to my newsletter, you got a sneak peek a few weeks back, and if you don't subscribe to my newsletter, you should! Anyway, these incredibly adorable sneakers are a collaboration between my favorite department store in the world, Liberty of London, and Vans. When they arrived, my first thought was, "Dear god, what am I going to wear with them?" And then I realized that there's so much color, they kind of go with everything. I even wore them with stripes one night and you know what? It worked! Anyway, they kind of inspired me to wear more color, hence the blue blazer and green tee. Now, the bad news: this exact print is sold out, but, good news, Shopbop has the other floral pattern from the collaboration (I've linked to both below), and even better news, they're on sale. I recommend sizing down at least half a size, as Vans tend to run a bit large (I normally wear an 8.5 and have an 8 in these). But back to the other print—I'm thinking of ordering that too, since I love these so much. Think I should? 

OUTFIT DETAILS: Ann Taylor blazer (similar here) | Free People Betty tee | Mott & Bow mom jeans | A.P.C. sac demi-lune | Vans x Liberty Old Skool sneakers (also here)