Can it be true? An outfit with no orange, and a lot of blue?
Not that that cheesy rhyme was intentional(!), but I really did wear an outfit the other weekend where I abandoned all orange and based what I wore around the pleated midi skirt you see before you. Bought when we had a bit of a warm spell a month or so back (Easter I think), I hadn’t yet unpacked any of my summer clothes so bought the skirt on impulse because I NEEDED something light and floaty.
And although we haven’t had much in the way of summery weather since, there was one warm day when I popped to Ikea (gah I love having one just 20 minutes away so I really CAN just “pop” there and get my reasonably-priced Swedish homewares fix) for some bits.
I have a few pleated midi skirts but most are too small in the waist for me at the moment – that is changing however after having been to the detox retreat again recently and getting my diet and fitness back on track (watch this space for more on that here on the blog) – so I had a new pleated patterned leg-aerator to style.
And weirdly, the blue colour FOXED me. It took me aaaaages to style this.
Disclosure: I was gifted some of these pieces by JD Williams with no obligation to feature (click here for my full disclosure). The post contains affiliate links which means if you click through and buy I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. Any items listed as* were gifted within the last 12 months.
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Thankfully I was recently gifted the stripe linen blazer* from JD Williams so the blue and white worked with the blue and white in the skirt pattern. Plus I treated myself to some Steve Madden sandals in the sale as I am TOTALLY into this flatform style at the moment. Completely flat, super comfy, but they add height to a short-in-the-calf pair of legs like mine.
The pinky-purply-nude colour suggested something (you guessed it!) pinky-purply-nude for the top, so I layered a mauve vest top over a lace-trimmed camisole top… the black lace trim tied into the black of the skirt pattern. A few cool accessories like the white retro-style sunglasses, chunky tortoiseshell earrings and the straw bag* (scroll down for alternatives) completed my Going Shopping ensemble.
So don’t be fooled – this outfit did not come together in an instant. Sometimes I go through loads of different combinations before I come up with the right one; this was one of those times. Give me All The Orange And All The Yellow and I’m fine. Give me It’s Blue So What Do I Do With That and I’m stumped.
However I’m happy with how it came out in the end – a blazer and t-shirt or vest top with a pleated midi skirt is a combination I need to explore more.
How often do YOU get your outfit spot-on first time? Or is it just me who struggles?? Tell me in the comments…!
P.S. Do add your outfits to this week’s link up – and if you’ve added a link to here or my button to your post you may be featured in my bi-monthly Women Who Wear What They Like post!
Blazer: JD Williams [gifted]
Skirt: F&F Clothing (here’s a blue one in a mini skirt version)
Lilac top: Asos (I like this one)
Lace camisole (just seen): New Look (similar)
Shoes: Steve Madden at Asos (on sale!)
Bag: JD Williams [gifted] (similar)
Sunglasses: Asos
Earrings: Asos (similar)
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You look so great! <3 I' m in love with this skirt! It' s just perfect style! ;-))
Author
Thank you so much Marry…!
Thank you Catherine for joining my #chicandstylish #linkup Love this skirt on you, it’s very classic and perfect for summer. Jacqui Mummabstylish
Author
Thank you Jacqui! I hope I can keep up with the linking up…
That’s such a pretty skirt! Sometimes outfits fall together instantly for me and others have me pulling my hair out! I’ve abandoned a planned outfit on many occasion because I can’t get it just right. You’ve done a marvellous job with this outfit. I love the flatform sandals – I have a couple of pairs but they make me slap my feet down in a not very graceful way! I feel a bit like a penguin in them!
Emma xxx
http://www.style-splash.com
Author
Oh good – not just me then Emma!!! 😉 Thanks my lovely – though I’m now thinking about whether I walk like a penguin in my sandals, lol!
such a fun new look for you. Loving the true blue style
Author
Thank you Linda! x
Ooh, I love the pattern mix here and your sunglasses are so adorable! This is such a fun outfit and the colors look marvelous on you…even sans orange!
Shelbee
http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com
Author
Je suis sans orange, Shelbee! C’est incroyable!! 😉 Thank you hon xx
Sometimes the most effortless-looking outfits were the hardest to put together! You look great, Catherine. I love those flatforms!!
Hugs
Suzy xx
Author
Hmm this definitely didn’t come easy, Suzy!! Thank you xx
That blue! I have a pair of shoes in that shade and have no idea what to wear with them. I never thought of a dusky mauve like your top. That is the match!!!!!
Author
They go really well together, don’t they Daenel?! xx
The color and pattern combo is great. I love reading your posts with your fun expressions–the outfit foxed me!! I, too, am into these platform sandals, which are surprisingly comfy, aren’t they? As you say, they help with my short legs.
xx Darlene
Author
Yes they’re vERRRRRRRY comfy, Darlene! Thanks my lovely 😉 x
Love the linen, plus its more sustainable than cotton!
What no orange? You need to sit down girl you may be coming down with something!
Loving those Sandals too!
Have a happy week…
lots of love
Ashley x
Author
Hmm I’m not normally one for linen, Ashley (creasing woes), but this blazer looks right with a few wrinkles somehow. And I know, no orange?!! Don’t know what came over me!! 😉
Thank you hon xo
Very much liking those Steve Madden sandalsCatherine. Flat shoes that will give little me a bit more height! Love how you styled the skirt! xx
Author
Oh they are SO comfy Laurie!! Only a few left if you wanted a pair, they’re on sale 🙂
And thank you x
Catherine, you (almost) managed without a splash of orange… but those nails gave the game away!
I knew you couldn’t resist the pull of the happy hue.
I like this pleated skirt.
I was eyeballing it in Tesco too… might have known you’d snap it up in the sale. :oP
With your teeny tiny waist did you (like me) find the sizes a bit on the roomy side?
My waist is between 26 and 27 inches (depending on how much chocolate I’ve been scoffing) and I needed a size 6 in the red leopard version.
Bonkers.
How did this colourway compare?
XXX
Samantha
Author
I don’t think I got mine in the sale, Samantha – I paid full price because I was so desperate for a skirt, lol 😉
I also don’t have such a teeny tiny waist anymore, mine is a whole 5 inches bigger than yours – I could only JUST get into a 12!! Hence the need for the detox retreat if I want to get into all my size 8 clothes…! Oh and the nails (and toenails) may not look it but they’re pillar box red, I DID resist the temptation of orange! My hair will always be some sort of orange though, haha x
Oh no… I shouldn’t have mentioned the S word!
It’s annoying when we pay full price then it ends up in the sale.
Curses.
(Although it’s best to snap things up when we see them isn’t it or our size might not be there)
5 inches is nothing between friends and your waist LOOKS teeny tiny… maybe it’s your shape OR your styling but you always manage to look like you are petite inside your clothes… if that makes sense?
It’s a skill.
I often find I have a mini spare tyre around my waistband… a micro muffin if you like!
Hahahaha.
XXX
Author
Ohh the prices in Tesco are so good anyway I’m not too upset about having paid full price… I only get annoyed in those situations if I hadn’t yet worn the item and THEN it’s on sale!!
(And yes I know what you mean about looking petite inside my clothes – thank you, it’s the power of clever dressing! – but I’d really love to wear all the beautiful clothes I can’t currently fit in… I’m getting there however!!)
Are you such a Matchy Matchy girl? Me too, a color always has to come back for me. I love pleated skirts, this print looks great!
Author
Thank you, Nancy! x