Gauchos: Forever 21 // Cami: Zara (Old, Similar) // Mules: J Crew // Bucket Bag: J Crew // Hat: (Old from Key West, Similar) // Tassel Necklace: J Crew (Old, Similar, Love this one and this one too!) // Chevron Necklace: Forever 21 // Aviators: Ray-Ban

Learning to demonstrate a little restraint when getting dressed has taken me most of my life to figure out! I love fashion acrobatics and clever layerings of pattern and texture but I'm realizing I don't have to reinvent the wheel to pull together a sophisticated and stylish look. Like this outfit... Could a white tank paired with black gauchos be any simpler? Or chicer? It feels a little bit like cheating because it's so obvious a combination, but it looks and feels great! It works for a week day coffee meeting or for a Saturday stroll. I might even throw this on for dinner with the girls. Easy styles are what we live our lives in and I'm happy to celebrate that reality!

I tends to be a bit of a loyalist to J Crew's 'extras'. I love their jewelry (like this tasseled necklace) and their shoes and bags (like these patterned mules and bucket bag). Though simple and unassuming, they add a little interest to my basic clothing.

I watched that old Melanie Griffith movie Working Girl a few nights ago and as awful as Sigourney Weaver's 'Katharine' character is she delivers a wonderful Coco Chanel quote that I've never forgotten. 'Dress shabbily and they notice the dress. Dress immpecably and they notice the woman.' I think about that pearl of wisdom when dressing sometimes and it helps me choose the clothing that let's ME, THE WOMAN, be noticed. Clothing like I'm wearing today...

SHOP THE LOOK

J Crew Downing Bucket Bag and Ray-Ban Aviators

J Crew Marlow Mules and Downing Bucket Bag