Cheryl Shops

Have you ever meticulously packed for a trip, only to arrive and experience a sudden change in weather? That's what happened to me last week. I had been checking the forecast for a week and having lived on the East Coast for years, knew I was in for humid, mid-80s temperatures with lots of sunshine. Except I forgot the biggest rule of East Coast summertime weather, which is that it can change at any minute, and that's exactly what happened, whoops. Thankfully I did bring layers and a few warmer things, so while this outfit didn't turn out quite like how I had planned it—in fact, it shares over half of its elements with what I wore in this recent post—I'm still pretty happy with it. Here's how it all came together.

La DoubleJ simple skirt and Isabel Marant Lecce belt

I've been obsessed with La DoubleJ after seeing its founder's apartment in Architectural Digest last year—it's dopamine dressing to the core, and while I've never been a big floral person, I am now. One of my old department-store coworkers always used to say "prints are personal," and that is so true. This one spoke to me especially; the colors remind me of my childhood in the best possible way. The fabric of this skirt is silky yet substantial; it kind of feels like a swimsuit, strangely. The weight was perfect for the in-between weather we were experiencing, but it's still light enough for hotter temperatures. I love that it has pockets, and while I appreciate the elastic waistband after a big meal, I'm not the biggest fan of how it looks. Thankfully it's easy enough to cover up with a belt, like my trusty Isabel Marant Lecce. 

H&M blazer and Aerie boyfriend tee

I am clearly having a hot pink moment right now, and this blazer has been my go-to piece so far this year. (You last saw it with Birkenstocks.) I had planned on wearing a black bodysuit with this skirt, but it wasn't working, so I went with a basic white tee and a blazer. Normally I would have tried to balance out the volume of the skirt with something more fitted on top, but the elastic waist was creating some midsection lumps, so I decided to break the rules and go for oversized over loose. A little tucking was necessary, but the belt helped break things up too. The blazer doesn't match the colors in the skirt exactly, but it's kind of between the two shades of pink, and since it makes me so happy, I just went with it. This particular style—a Jacquemus dupe—has been sold out for months, but I listed a few alternatives below. And as for the T-shirt I'm wearing, it's super soft and a little on the thicker side, plus it runs rather large—I suggest sizing down. 

A.P.C. sac demi-lune and Birkenstock Arizona EVA sandals

Back when I actually lived in NYC, I only wore Birkenstocks to Fire Island, but a lot has changed in the last several years, so I happily trotted around all over town in my tried and true EVA Arizona sandals. I like that they make the skirt look a little cooler, even, and together, all of the black accessories give a little edge to this otherwise very feminine color scheme. I'm so glad I brought this purse, too, because I found my MetroCard inside, and it had $18 on it from my trip last fall—clearly it's my go-to NYC bag! 

OUTFIT DETAILS: H&M blazer (similar here) | Aerie boyfriend tee | La DoubleJ simple skirt | Isabel Marant Lecce belt | A.P.C. sac demi-lune | Birkenstock Arizona EVA sandals (also here) 

This is my very first NYC apartment—I lived on the 5th floor!