Minimal Chic | Black & White Polka Dots With Pastel Pink and Cherry Red

Black & white polka dot sweatshirt, pastel pink wide legged trousers, black slip on sneakers, cherry red tote
Sometimes minimal chic is the name of the game

Trying to come up with a smart and stylish outfit for the weekend that I didn’t have to think about too much was really all I was interested in.

A basic two-part outfit plus bag and shoes was what I ended up with: black and white polka dot sweatshirt and wide leg pastel pink trousers (both last year) plus my new black slip on sneakers. I was already using my red Brenda Macleod tote and as I’m a big fan of pink and red it was the perfect addition. Nothing really in the way of accessories except for my now-permanent fixture of my  on my wrist (see yesterday’s post for my week of sleep experiment) and a pink nails/black tips manicure. Simple weekend dressing – just the way I like it…!

Are you a fan of simplicity with your dressing every now and then – or perhaps all the time? How do you achieve the minimal chic look, and what are your key pieces? Let me know in the comments!

Pastel pink trousers, black slip on sneakers, cherry red tote
Black & white polka sweatshirt
Black & white polka dots with pastel pink and cherry red
Black & white polka sweatshirt
Sweatshirt: c/o Zalando | Trousers: c/o Front Row Shop | Shoes: Asos | Bag: c/o Brenda MacLeod | Nails: Nails Inc Elizabeth Street and Nails Inc Black Taxi

Catherine x
P.S. Like this outfit? You might also want to see how I styled the same wide leg trousers in September and how I styled the same sweatshirt in June!

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40 Comments

  1. 20 March 2015 / 9:43 am

    Absolutely loving the polkadots! And those trousers are such a gorgeous Spring colour x

    • 23 March 2015 / 5:29 pm

      Gareth thank you! So glad you like it :))

  2. 19 March 2015 / 4:39 am

    Yes this is a "simple" outfit, dearest Catherine…but as usual, you make it so much more interesting with a fun pattern and colour combination!! I think I need more polka-dots in my life!! P.S. Your black-tipped manicure is BEYOND cool; I really wish I could keep my own nails chip-free for longer than 48 hours after I apply polish…but I can't justify all that work for only two days of pretty!! 😉

    http://www.StyleIsMyPudding.blogspot.com

    • 23 March 2015 / 5:28 pm

      Thank you so much lovely Monika!! My tip for making your nail polish REALLY last – I'm talking 7+ days – is to add a really good top coat over the polish AND under the tips. It seals in the varnish and makes it almost impervious to chips. Whenever I do that I've never seen a chip appearing before more than about 6 days, and I quite often have to take the polish off before it's chipped because my nails need to breathe!

      I did the manicure in this post on Saturday before last (14th March) and have only just needed to take it off today. I highly recommend OPI Rapidry Top Coat – it's the business…!!!

  3. 18 March 2015 / 10:34 pm

    Catherine
    Love the casual outfit, the polka dot mix with the light pink pants looks great, along with those cool shoes!!

    thank you for the support and Linking up with Turning Heads Tuesday Link up!
    See you next week! 🙂 xx
    jess
    http://www.elegantlydressedandstylish.com

    • 23 March 2015 / 5:18 pm

      Aww thanks so much Jess, I'm so glad you liked it :))

  4. 18 March 2015 / 4:54 am

    I have been obsessed with blush lately (in fact I am talking about it on the blog today) and love those pants. They look great with the polka dots – such a great relaxed look.

    Alice
    http://www.happinessatmidlife.com

    Hope to see you Thursday for TBT Fashion link up.

    • 18 March 2015 / 9:25 pm

      It really was perfect for the weekend, Alice – without resorting to jeans (again). Thank you sweetie xx

  5. 18 March 2015 / 1:18 am

    Ah, you look so comfortable! In my wardrobe, I always make sure I have a plain white and plain black tshirt. I love the nails too!

    • 18 March 2015 / 9:24 pm

      Thanks Marjorie – I think I do the same with brogues, only it has to be one in EVERY colour going! Probably explains why I have about 12-13 pairs ;))

  6. 17 March 2015 / 6:30 pm

    I love a polka dot, only seconded by stripes. Love how your nails match too chick, simple and chic indeed
    Lauren
    livinginaboxx

    • 18 March 2015 / 9:23 pm

      Aww thanks Lauren!! I'm with you on the stripes/polka dots thing ;))

  7. 17 March 2015 / 6:53 am

    Beautiful look 😀

  8. 17 March 2015 / 6:36 am

    I am a fitbit fanatic, love it. I did buy a few extra bracelets in different colours t try and change the look. ( Tory Birch actually has a fitbit bracelet but I just cannot justify that much money LOL) Love the pants

    • 18 March 2015 / 9:23 pm

      I've seen the TB Fitbit bracelet, Linda – I almost died when I saw the price!!!! I can't justify the price either even though I love them! I'd like someone to design a cheaper version, not just in the rubber colours… thanks sweetie x

  9. 17 March 2015 / 12:58 am

    Polka dots paired with blush? I think I just swooned and awoke in a land of my favorite spring trends! Love this look Catherine — you look so beautiful!

    Sed Bona

    • 18 March 2015 / 9:21 pm

      Haha I always love your descriptions, Ashley!! Thank you thank you, you're a sweetheart as always x

  10. 16 March 2015 / 10:52 pm

    Another great combination Catherine. I love that you make minimalism your own and I really like the light pink and red together! 🙂

    Take care,
    Daniella xox

    • 18 March 2015 / 9:20 pm

      Thanks Daniella my lovely! So glad you liked it x

    • 18 March 2015 / 9:20 pm

      They're both cushy AND comfy, Monica…!! Thank you sweetie x

    • 18 March 2015 / 9:20 pm

      Thank you Nomaqhawe – I really should wear them more!

  11. 16 March 2015 / 6:19 pm

    A perfect minimal chic outfit. Love the whole combination and your nails are fab x

  12. 16 March 2015 / 5:34 pm

    The outfit looks great, but the nails are amazing. Love them.

    Anca @ ancaslifestyle | UK

    • 18 March 2015 / 9:19 pm

      Aww thank you Anca, they took ages but I'm really pleased with how they turned out :))

  13. 16 March 2015 / 5:18 pm

    I'm a big fan of pink and red too – they look marvelous together here. xox

    • 18 March 2015 / 9:18 pm

      The pale pink is such a good partner for the bold red, isn't it, Patti? Thank you hun!

  14. 16 March 2015 / 5:03 pm

    Polkadots! Today I bought b& w polkadots socks. Love this outfit, i have a similar pair of trousers for summer and a polkadot blouse but I hadn't thought about combining them. I love a minimalist look, understated we call it ( weird that, we have English words for certain things here that the English wouldn't use… ) c.u, Irmin

    • 18 March 2015 / 9:18 pm

      I think we do say understated, Irmin – though "minimal chic" is definitely an expression. I'm probably not as minimal as true minimalism should be though ;))

      Thanks so much xx

  15. 16 March 2015 / 4:21 pm

    So perfect! I love the soft colored pants with the contrast of the dots! How fun! Peace! Cheryl

  16. 16 March 2015 / 3:57 pm

    You look gorgeous as always. I LOVE your nails!!! Liz (www.whatlizzyloves.com) xxx

    • 18 March 2015 / 9:16 pm

      Aww thanks Liz my lovely! I'd been wanting to do that manicure for months xx

    • 18 March 2015 / 9:15 pm

      Thanks Julia – I'm really glad I picked that colour for wide legs :))

  17. 16 March 2015 / 3:20 pm

    I love a pair of wide legs, yours are fab in that pink colour! Feels very Spring like yet you've got your limbs covered. Let's face it, it isn't feeling like Spring weatherwise – it's only 7 degrees or so here today and is raining so I'm still in winter coat and cosy scarf, and boots to keep my legs dry! x

    • 18 March 2015 / 9:15 pm

      I thought it was quite spring-like too, Porcelina… I guess keeping it all quite pale and going for polka dots rather than tartan AGAIN helped…! ;))
      Thank you hun x

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