Outfit Of The Day (In The Navy)

Everyone has a certain “easy outfit” equation, don’t they? And nuh no no no, I am not talking about some little hot pink spandex number that your BFF is pretty sure was being sold as a mini skirt but you’ve cleverly decided to ignore her and wear it as a dress instead because you are creative and a total DIY’er, darnit–oh no.  (And if you think I am talking about that, you should probably quickly exit this blog as I haven’t worn anything Spandex-y since I was 25 years old–or roughly 27.34 days after I got married, of course.)

I am talking about an outfit you grab to wear when don’t want to think too hard but you know it will instantly work and look decent.  It also might make you a bit happy to wear it, like cupcake-scented rainbow kittens will fall out of the sky the minute you (wearing said outfit) step outside. Know what I mean?

(And well hey—while cupcake-scented rainbow kittens might not always fall out of the sky when you wear said outfit, at least maybe someone will politely hold the door open for you somewhere. Or say thank you to you when you  hold the door open for them.  Maybe. We can only ask for so much in this world, hm?)

I think it is pretty safe to say that my “easy outfit” equation lately has been a pretty blouse + skirt + pumps.  Or (when I feel really randy and wild, readers!) a pretty blouse + shorts + pumps.  I just really like it.  The over-abundance of sheer, wispy lace and chiffon blouses this season has been a bit of a godsend for me too, since if I am wearing something short on bottom I always like to be a bit more covered up top. The sheer, breathable fabric on these floaty tops makes it so I still look covered-up while not turning into a steamy, sweaty, rumpled hot mess. Genius!
 

Everyone also has a certain color they hate wearing, right?  For me it is definitely cooler-blue colors, like navy.  Something about it screams, “Bland! Start taking yourself seriously, sucker! You’d better take yourself seriously, you bland-y bland serious-y bland person, or else!”

Kind of like this:

Nothing wrong or offensive with ol’ Hills herself, by the way, but I do think she is a great embodiment of why I simply don’t gravitate very often towards the color navy.  It is not as if she is prancing around in her navy suit, smart little kitten heels, and puffed-up hairdo yelling, “Look at me!  I’m all  wild and fashiony!”–she isn’t. Homegirl doesn’t dress for anyone’s fashion critiques; that’s not her job nor is it who she wants to be, point taken. You just keep doing you, girl. 

But at the same time, it’s almost as if navy also doesn’t dress for anyone’s fashion critiques. The color itself doesn’t exactly wow or stun; navy isn’t the part of any holiday decor, it isn’t any child’s favorite color.

In fact, I really do think Crayola should change the crayon named “navy” to “Navy, Brought To You And Sponsored By Hillary Clinton”.  Or since that might not fit on the actual crayon (you do bring up a good point) they can just call it  “Hilly Clinton Blue”.  It’ll even fit nicely in the crayon box, right between “Mac n’ Cheese Orange” and “Oh ‘Cry Me A River’ Cerulean, You Justin Timberlake Hooligan”, ta-ta-ta-da.

Nothing significantly memorable, beautiful, or glamorous has ever happened in navy. Sure, things have happened with the color, but Scarlett O’Hara didn’t descend the staircase in a navy dress (heaven forbid those curtains had been navy or else we’d likely be watching Gone With The Sinned), Marilyn Monroe didn’t stand coquettishly over a windy subway grate in a navy dress, and I certainly didn’t sit here and type up this inane post about how the only great thing a woman has (apparently) accomplished in this crazy world is look pretty in all one million colors of the rainbow except navy WHILE WEARING THE COLOR NAVY MYSELF, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 

Oh but wait–I am.

(See?  Nothing great has ever happened while wearing the color navy–nothing! And my ultra-feminist mom is probably crying right now as she reads this, except she’s an ultra-feminist and I don’t think she cries. So she’s probably…groaning? While trying not to cry?) (And hopefully not wearing the color navy!) (Sorry, ma.)

So let’s get to it. I grabbed the navy blouse that I am wearing below at a huge mega-sale Amazon was having last month for something ridiculous, like $15.  For $15, why not give navy a try–especially since I do appreciate a good challenge in life, to conquer certain fears even if they only come out of my choice of apparel and not by doing something super valiant and brave like kissing a baby, finishing a marathon, or getting over my ungodly fear of fish goldfish.

What, you climbed Mt. Everest?  Yeah, well I AM WEARING THE COLOR NAVY (and made my poor mother cry; and thought about goldfish and hyperventilated a little bit, creepywilliesblaaghhck). IT IS SO TOUGH unnnnh, yeah, sha na na na, I’D GIVE YOU A HI-FIVE but that would be pretty darn foolish because I think everyone knows you can’t hi-five while wearing the color navy (it’s in the US Constitution, I’m sure of it) so a good firm handshake with some Purell after will do nicely instead, yes thanks.

Oh hell, let’s break some rules. Here it is un-accessorized:

{I’m head-tilty mcgee today.  I SAID TILTY.}

And then accessorized a bit, juuuust the way I like it.  What do you know?  I kind of like you, Hillary Clinton Blue; perhaps it is time to call a truce:

Blouse: Patterson J Kincaid (similar style here) (and here) (and here)
Belt: Forever 21 (buy it here)
Skirt: Forever 21 (similar style here) (and here for $19.80) (and here) (and here)
Necklace: Express (similar style here for $14)  (and here for $11) (love this too + take 20% off with rep code “20OFFDISC”)
Cuff: Forever 21 (similar style here)
Pumps: Manolo Blahnik Uliepe Heels (buy them here) (similar style here) (and here under $100)
Bag: Chloe Paraty in Rosewood (similar style here) (and here by Marc Jacobs) (and a fun option here for under $100)

What is your favorite “easy outfit” equation?  Share in the comments!