The Elements

Sweater:  J.Crew (old, similar here, liking this owl sweater for only $15!), Top:  J.Crew, Skirt:  Topshop (sold out, great option here), Coat:  Forever 21 (old, similar here), Shoes:  Zara (similar here), Bag:  3.1 Phillip Lim, Sunnies:  Ray-Ban, Tights:  Hue 

While the weather elements are still working against us East Coast fashionistas, today I decided to deconstruct the elements of picking the perfect outfit.

The daily dilemma -- what to wear to work -- is one that we all face. Some, who are much more organized than I, may find themselves faced with this quandary only once a week. I prefer to live on the edge, assembling an ensemble each and every morning, and scrambling to slip on my stilettos as I run out the door.

So where do I begin? I first refer to the weather app on my iPhone. If  rain or heavy snow is predicted, I can immediately rule out all things suede and most pieces that are predominately leather. On dry days, I immediately reach for the aforementioned items as I know their usage is limited.

Once I have assessed the weather restrictions, I seek out a piece I haven't worn in a while and build my outfit around that. For the outfit in the pictures above, I started with my French Hen sweater. 

Next, I try to remember back to the last time I wore this sweater as I try to change up the outfit as much as possible. 

Then comes my favorite part -- the color scheme. I like to do 'matchy-matchy' without looking too 'matchy-matchy'. Clearly, I chose cobalt as my accent color and the plaid paired so perfectly that I just couldn't resist. 

I kept the rest of the look neutral and chose a grunge glam quilted leather skirt to offset the preppiness of the plaid and graphic sweater. Topping the look off with a classic military coat and my cobalt satchel, I was ready to face the day.

Work, eat, sleep, repeat.

Happy Monday!