My Favorite Shorts and a New Linen Blazer

So I shared the Talbots Friends & Family sale and spotlighted their leopard linen blazer.  Talbots was kind enough to send me the blazer and it's just as fab as I imagined.  I received it after coming home from a weekend away at a music festival, much of my wardrobe in the laundry and the rest just felt too stifling for this heat and humidity.  And I thought… does a blazer have to be with pants?  Why not shorts?  These are my absolute favorite shorts and I decided to simplify the rest of the look to let the blazer take the spotlight.

blazer | tee | shorts | shoes | necklace | earrings | sunglasses | bag

Blazer: Leopard Print Long Linen-Blend Blazer c/o Talbots (14P) | Shorts: Banana Republic (14P and on sale!) | Tee: Foundation Crew c/o Universal Standard (XS) | Shoes: River Island | Bag: Clare V. (same bag in other colors, similar orange bag on Etsy) | Sunglasses: Ray-Ban | Necklace: Etsy | Earrings: Monogram Hoops c/o Jenny Bird

This blazer would look fabulous with a white graphic tee and jeans, with ivory linen trousers and a black silk cami, with cream jeans and a statement color tank, and so much more.  However, for this steamy day I chose a lightweight fitted black tee (the Universal Standard Foundation collection is a fave – it's super stretchy, super lightweight, opaque, and accomplishes the effect of a bodysuit without being painted on or causing a wedgie; you can see the tee again here and here) and these shorts from Banana Republic. I was worried linen would look rumpled, but it's lined and structured and has a cotton/linen feel that can be worn three seasons out of the year (four if you live further south). Talbots suiting fits me quite well; unlike other brands, I can wear it right off the rack (or right out of the shipping box) without visiting the tailor. And the silhouette is classic yet modern so it looks stylish now and will still look stylish seasons from now.  It's a fabric that can mix with other textiles nicely; these shorts are similar to the fabric of many work pants, it can work with linen, silk, denim, twill, and more.

I just bought these shorts this year, but this isn't my first pair of these very shorts from Banana.  I have them in an orange-red up in my attic (I need to get them down they'll likely fit) and had them before in black (they ended up being washed with a dog bed and were permanently misshapen and linty). They used to be called the “Ryan” and now they're just called shorts. They're not too tight, the pockets don't bow out, they're a good length on my short legs (5″) – long enough to prevent chub rub but short enough to not make me look squatter. They are stretchy like work trousers, don't bag, don't sag, and can go in the washer and dryer.  I have solid thighs and many shorts are too fitted on them; these have flow, looking nice and also feeling way cooler on a hot summer day.

The necklace I've worn several times before on the blog.  I know the style is very popular and found at many places.  When I see jewelry on a stranger or on TV, the first place I go is Etsy where I can usually find it, at a reasonable price, and usually from a small business. Most of my necklaces are from Etsy; it's also my favorite place to go for rings larger than a size 7.  As for the shoes… I didn't want to wear such high heels.  I've been spending all summer struggling to find some low-contrast not bulky sandals that are wide and don't cut my pinky toes in half but it's been a struggle.  I just ordered these from ASOS but they're not really what I'm looking for but they're better than nothing.  I hope they work. After this shoot, I put on my black LISSOM flats and the effect wasn't nearly as good as a shoe that blends in.  I tried my blush flats, my Rothy's Points in orange and black, my blush loafers, my blue loafers, my silver Birkenstocks, my white Birkenstocks, my orange Native sandals… all of it was just wrong wrong wrong.  Fingers crossed those strappy sandals from ASOS fit and corral my short pinky toes; if they do I'll be sure to share them in a near future outfit post!

The bag, I've shared before.  Unfortunately, they no longer have it in orange but they have other colors.  Above I linked to the Clare V. site, but they also have it in blue at Anthro. It's a very simple bag; only one pocket inside and it's a little one for keys and your lip balm.  The interior is not lined, the long straps are basic fabric webbing.  However, I just LOVE it.  It's super durable, thick leather and a color that seems to look cooler with a few scratches.  The straps are super sturdy and the bag is a good size to carry a few purse basics or load up with my laptop, notebook, and water bottle for a day at The Wing or a cafe. And well, orange is my favorite color!

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