BEAUTY MUST-HAVES

Fall Color Code – Navy and Brown – Workwear

Fall is officially here in Chicago, and I couldn’t be more psyched about it! I love trench coats, boots, autumn leaves and the light at dusk. And this season, I’m also obsessed with navy blue, brown and all the neutral shades in between them, so get ready to see many more looks in that color palette!

WHY I WORE IT

This outfit is not fancy or original. In fact, I’ve worn several of these things in past posts. What’s important to me about the look is that these pieces translate from summer to fall with just a few tweaks that make it appropriate for the new season, like boots and a coat.

  • I chose the boots as a starting point. They were a gift from my boyfriend’s mom and are made of both cloth and leather – not too heavy and not too light for the temperature – and perfect for a chilly autumn work day.
  • I chose the navy skirt (Banana Republic) next because I was intent on this color combination
  • The brown belt (Club Monaco) was also an obvious choice to match the boots perfectly.
  • The shirt was actually the conundrum of the morning. I didn’t know what to put with the skirt, boots and belt – I need to do laundry! So I went into my boyfriend’s closet for inspiration. He never wears this shirt (Banana Republic), it’s certainly very professional, and I just read in a magazine that light blue is a big color this season. Perfect!
  • Whenever, I wear a men’s shirt like this, I always roll the sleeves up above my elbows. By doing this, it cuts some of the extra bulk in the arms, shoulders and sides – bringing the silhouette back to the feminine side. (The belt helps cinch in the lines, as well). 
  • I chose this necklace because it matched the brassiness of the hardware on the belt, but also because it gave the look a little edge – I didn’t want it to sway towards too boring and corporate.
  • The finishing touches included the trench coat (Kenneth Cole, purchased on MyHabit) for polish and a neutral handbag (Phillip Lim for Target) in the same color palette.

P.S. My favorite part of the look is this bright red lining inside the trench!