Sometimes you find a wardrobe item that you know could be awesome, but it also kinda scares you. That is exactly how I felt with this red statement blazer. I knew it had a lot of potential; however, the shoulders seemed a bit more bold and structured than I was accustomed. In the end, I think I found a fun way to balance the formality of the blazer by making this business casual outfit aimed a bit towards casual Friday.
This red blazer is the 1901 brand from Nordstrom, it is no longer available; however they have this similar one. To make the outfit a bit more casual, I paired it with some super comfortable Hudson Skinny Jeans. The dark skinny jeans are a good balance for this statement blazer. Pairing it with dress pants would be a bit more formal than I like (although it could totally work for some personalities and work environments).
For under the blazer, I did a simply black camisole; however, a good basic button down could also work well. I’ve also recently discovered that Target has some awesome necklaces! I picked up this one earlier this summer, and resisted buying the entire department. I love the mixed metal colors and the large statement look, without it being a heavy necklace.
I pretty much live in flat shoes. In 2012, I did a bunch of research about comfortable flats, because I needed more to wear than just tennis shoes and flip-flops after I got out of my walking boot. During this research, I discovered Sam Edelman flats. So many people claimed that they were the most comfortable flats ever. I’ve had these Sam Edelman flats (similar) for a few years and they still get worn pretty often.
This outfit turned out to be one that I really like. I can see myself wearing this throughout the year because the blazer is a good weight that could work in the office for multiple seasons.
Every outfit needs a perfect handbag. Since I take the train to work, I throw my wallet in my backpack as I head out the door. On Fridays, I generally head out to lunch with some coworkers. Since I don’t carry a purse with me, I was looking for a great wallet-on-chain that I could use either as a standard wallet, or pull out the chain for a nice cross-body bag. If you’re looking for a great designer bag, without spending full price, I recommend checking out Fashionphile. They have LOTS of gently used designer wallets, purses, and more!
I’m glad that I took a chance on this statement blazer because in the end it turned into a fun outfit. Have you ever taken a chance on a wardrobe item? How did it turn out?
