Gray Tones

Happy Friday, friends!

Sometimes it’s nice to take a break from thinking about getting ready in the morning. This is especially the case when it’s Friday and you know you’ve got dinner plans right after work. What’s a girl to do? Enter monochromatic pieces and a structured vest. Simple, yet chic.

Monochromatic ensembles have a way of looking sophisticated without actually requiring too much effort. And the best part is, you really can’t go wrong. Sticking to one color group couldn’t be easier. It removes the extra variable of color, while still enabling your personality and creativity to show through the textures and details you pair together. In a sense, monochromatic outfits have a way of showcasing your style in a way that color just can’t.

My favorite part of this outfit is how easily it transitions from work to dinner out on the town. Just swap your flats for these cute sandals and your briefcase (my overstuffed backpack) for a clutch, and you are ready for the night!

And this gray clutch goes with just about everything. Investing in neutral pieces that can pair with countless outfits is my saving grace as a poor graduate student.

As you may have noticed here, I like pairing professional and structured pieces with more casual elements. Like this skirt, which I wear frequently to work, paired with a cotton v-neck tee. Separately they create completely different looks–one more suited for business and the other more for errands on the weekend. But put them together, and somehow they create a look I like to call casual chic. It really is the best of both worlds in my opinion.

To keep with the monochromatic theme, I paired this outfit with all silver jewelry to accent the lighter gray elements and black sandals to accent the darker charcoal items. To make a more polished look, I added a vest. There’s just something so simple, yet sophisticated about vests.  They really have a way of pulling an outfit together, don’t they?

What about you? What are your secrets for transitioning from work to play in the evenings?

Photos by Outside Ourselves

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Get the Look…

Top: Target | Skirt: J. Crew Factory (last seen here in chartreuse) | Vest: Urban Outfitters (similar here, here) | Shoes: J. Crew Factory | Purse: Francesca’s (similar) | Necklace: Premier Jewelry | Bracelet: Francesca’s | Watch: Manovo (from Switzerland) | Rings: Aggie Ring, KD Ring gifted