Wearing Black Chinos in an Elevated Casual Style

Thank you so much for stopping by Dressed for My Day today. While we may have fewer opportunities right now to dress up a little, I’m still sharing an elevated casual style today. Readers have told me over and over that you are longing for a little normalcy, maybe even some levity. So I’m providing both today. (Wait for it…wait for it…)

At first glance this outfit appears a lot more dressed up than it actually is. That’s because I’ve grouped very basic essentials using neutrals to keep the look pared down and fuss-free. But I’ve also added just a few accessories to elevate this casual style.

Style Tip: To achieve a more elevated look, choose all neutrals for your outfit. Any blend of colors such as grey, white, black, camel, brown or navy will achieve the same effect.

Obviously a classic camel trench coat is going to elevate the look. But I didn’t lose any comfort or ease when I tied it on rather than, say, my denim jacket. My double-breasted trench coat is marked down and I’m wearing a small.

Style tip: Learn how to tie the belt around your trench coat like I did here in this recent post.

But could I have worn my classic denim trucker jacket with this look? You betcha.

Oooh, let’s go ahead and talk jewelry while we’re here. In the photo above, you can see that I wore my favorite brushed gold tear drop earrings. They’re marked down 25% right now, so I just ordered them in rhodium also. Around my neck I’m wearing a pretty layered necklace set I got at Kendra Scott for my birthday. But you can also get it at Nordstrom. Oh, and I’m also wearing my Kendra Scott brown tigers eye necklace, which you’ll see in a minute.

Style Tip: Elevate your look by wearing gold and/or silver toned jewelry. Dainty necklaces will look more expensive than large, chunky ones (even though they aren’t necessarily!) and streamlined pieces will look more sophisticated than complex ones.

Now you can see how really very basic and casual this outfit is. It’s just chinos and a shirt!

My pants are simply relaxed fit black chinos. I have these same pants in about four or five other colors (they’re available in 10 shades!), but the black ones automatically look sharper.

Style Tip: Elevate any look with splashes of black. Whether you choose a black handbag, black blazer, black pullover sweater or whatever, black will raise the level of your look more than any other color.

By the way, my black chinos are from Talbots, where currently you can buy one item at full price and get another for 50% off. You can see more of my favorites from Talbots here.

Again, remembering that this elevated look is really quite casual and comfortable, I topped my chinos with a simple white shirt from Everlane. I have three other similar cotton shirts from different brands – Madewell, Talbots and Chicos – and I like them all. But I love this one. This cotton short-sleeve popover features the highest quality detailing inside and out, feels the softest and is actually the cheapest. But it’s also disappearing. I’m wearing an 8; they run slightly large. I’m seriously considering buying this pretty oxford blue one, too.

Okay, get ready for the levity I promised. Here it comes!

Hahaha! When James showed me the photo above, I cracked up laughing. I’m not sure you can tell looking at the photo on your device, but he lined it up so that the proportions make me look about the size of a mouse! He was quite pleased with himself. LOL. Of course I nixed it from today’s line-up, but when he sent me the edited photos, this one was in the group…I assume as a joke. Well, the joke’s on him because I went ahead and posted it. Hehehe! What a funny photographer I have!

Okay, let’s wrap this up. I finished off my elevated casual style with a couple of interesting and chic accessories: my black leather hobo bag, a black leather belt and my leopard print flats. My bag and belt may be a little pricey, but these leopard flats are a sweet find from Target. Oh, an my bag is 25% off at Nordstrom right now, and available in a pretty light shade for spring.

Style Tip: Elevate your casual style by adding carefully chosen accessories that echo the classic theme you’ve created. They do not have to be expensive, but simply pared down and chic. A splash of animal print is always an elevated choice.

Honestly, it may be a while before we’re wearing outfits like this one again. I definitely hope it’s sooner than later. But at least now we know how simple it is to take the most basic wardrobe essentials and combine them in a way that creates an elevated casual style without sacrificing comfort or ease.

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I hope you enjoyed today’s post. My goal right now is to serve you, my dear readers, in the best way I possibly can. Many of you have requested that I continue to share outfits, and I will. But I’m trying to provide style tips and other take-away value, too, since things are a little different and uncertain right now. I hope we can use these style tips soon!

Have a wonderful day, sweet reader!

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Blessed for My Day

Several years ago I wrote I Bible study on Habakkuk, and I remember learning that the familiar verses in chapter 3, verses 17-19 describe a “from bad to worse” situation. Over time the people had lost things of more and more value to them, beginning with the delicacies of figs and culminating with the animals that provided them nourishment and helped them plow their fields.

As we watch the news from day to day, we may feel something akin to the bad to worse losses experienced in this passage. Or you may have things going on in your personal life that are compounding the national emergency we’re all sharing. That’s why it’s all the more important to notice that three-letter word that Habakkuk pivoted on after rehearsing his woeful scenario: yet. Let’s determine today to declare, “yet….” when our losses start to mount up. “Yet, I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.” It’s a choice.

Though the fig tree should not blossom,
    nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
    and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
    and there be no herd in the stalls,
 yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
    I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
God, the Lord, is my strength;
    he makes my feet like the deer’s;
    he makes me tread on my high places. ~ Habakkuk 3:17-19