WIW: Casual Layers, Free of Seasonally Confused Footwear

This outfit (picture 1) was inspired by Angie's recent Casual Layers ensemble (picture 2).  Feeling bored with my work outfit routine, I decided to challenge myself by trying out as many Angie ensembles this week as possible.  

So most of you know I live a casual lifestyle in the mountains and work at my family's cafe.  If you live in N. California you might also know we had a big storm on Friday night.  The snow still hasn't melted -- quite unusual for us, our average December temperatures are around 54F.  Night time temps have been in the teens, nothing for you Northerners but our plumbing is not built for hard freezes like this -- we already had one pipe bur$t.  Anyway, I still can't drive to work, I had to walk (picture 3).  Not that it was unpleasant!

So - back to the outfit. It felt good using both the chambray shirt and the color block jacket, they had become orphans.  And I know the leg-shortening snow boots don't look as good as 4" pumps, but they got me to work safely. 

Oops -- I did forget to include the Zara tote in the outfit picture; I have the same one!

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25 Comments

  • Neel replied 10 years ago

    You guys make me all jealous with the snow pics! I have never (ever) seen snow IRL! Its just beautiful. And you look all warm and cozy in those layers. I love how you can go light or heavy weight with the layers in this ensemble. Perfect for our weather. We are in jackets and boots if its 70F :D. So I get you!

  • Debra replied 10 years ago

    You look fantastic, I love your outfit and I want to put my footprints in your snow :)

  • Scarlet replied 10 years ago

    Yes! This looks fantastic. Personally I love duck boots and think they have it going on. Seriously, they are one of those functional classics with their own greatness.

  • MsMary replied 10 years ago

    Wow!  Very Christmasy (the photo, that is!)!  I actually love the boots!  :)

  • rae replied 10 years ago

    Love the boots! I have coveted duck boots for a few seasons but don't really need them with my lifestyle. So cute!

  • E replied 10 years ago

    Oh this looks great! And those boots are awesome, I didn't realise they weren't intended as part of the outfit until I read your text. :) 

  • Caro in Oz replied 10 years ago

    YLF. This is a great look that I wish I could do. So chic casual - I like the boots too - they bookend your hair :)

  • Greyscale replied 10 years ago

    Great combination, and great jacket, and I'm envious of your snow. But I'm very sorry to hear about the burst pipe. It hasn't been cold enough for that in SF of course but it's still a very strange cold snap down here.

    It's so cool to see all this LL Bean type stuff back in style - duck boots, Sorel boots, all that, were my standard clothes as a kid, so lots of nostalgia here.

  • El Cee replied 10 years ago

    You look great… and LOVE your boots! Perfect outfit for your winter wonderland. You have given me inspiration as to what to wear today in our own snow and ice.

  • replied 10 years ago

    Great ensemble, and I think the boots work fine given the context!

  • Sam replied 10 years ago

    Oof, I live in fear of burst pipes myself. It's been below freezing every day for a week in Denver and I'm paranoid about leaving our taps dripping. (First time homeowner, can you tell?)

    Your outfit looks so cozy and weather appropriate! Did you wear it with an overcoat or on its own? 

    Personally, I don't think the boots shorten your legs. Showing the waist/belt of those jeans offsets any length you may have lost through the boots. Plus, I love how tidy your tucked-in layers look. The whole thing looks so, so effortless!

  • Jaime replied 10 years ago

    Great outfit including the boots!

  • Sarah A replied 10 years ago

    I love this with the duck boots! And a lovely bonus pic of your snowfall. I tried a version of the casual layers formula and felt a sloppy disaster, im taking a page from your book and will be trying a tucked demin shirt for the next attempt. You look fantastic beyond words!

  • Suz replied 10 years ago

    Fab outfit, Denise! And the snow boots are just what is needed. Look at that sky! Love the jacket and glad it is out to play again. 

    Aren't burst pipes the worst? Argh!! I hope you will not have to deal with that again. 

  • Aubergine replied 10 years ago

    I think everything looks wonderful, including the boots! I had a pair of duck shoes as a kid and they never looked remotely that stylish.

  • Windchime replied 10 years ago

    Great job, and how satisfying to create it by shopping your own closet!

    Like Sam, I don't find that the boots shorten your leg length. They play well with the chambray shirt. You have an inspirational walk to work!

  • Beth Ann replied 10 years ago

    Ooh, la!  Nothing as fabulous as snow in California!  Hope you enjoy it while it's around without out any serious inconvenience (pipes, I'm talking to you).

    Your creation of Angie's formula has your signature style --- expert layering, scrunched sleeves!  I like the blue with the deeper, moody tones.  And I actually love the duck boots!

  • Janet replied 10 years ago

    This is one of my favorite kind of casual outfit formulas, and you've done it so simply but so well! I actually really like the sporty boots with this look for a kind of rugged outdoorsy vibe. That has always appealed to me, maybe because I love being outdoors so much. Your commute looks beautiful. We're getting a bit of that weather here today (see my pic)!

  • Angie replied 10 years ago

    Killer

    Thanks for keeping your feet warm, which to me is intelligent and sensible and not wimpish. xo

  • JAileen replied 10 years ago

    I really liked the inspiration and I like your interpretation of it. Your boots are really cute!

    We got the same storm and yesterday morning it was 0 degrees F (!!!) at our house with a high in the 20s.

    Here's a picture of our backyard of the birdies feeding in the snow.

  • replied 10 years ago

    You look terrific! Love your twist on the formula.

  • AviaMariah replied 10 years ago

    You look beautiful and so does your snow!  I can't believe N. CA has snow and we haven't seen any yet!!

  • Catnip replied 10 years ago

    You look great in this outfit!  All the pieces go together so well and have a terrific causal vibe.  The boots are perfect... not too casual for the rest of the outfit and they bookend your hair so well.  This is a perfect example of how being practical can also look fabulous!

  • Transcona Shannon replied 10 years ago

    Adore your seasonally appropriate casual outfit Denise.

  • kkards replied 10 years ago

    the duck boots make the outfit! love.

    FYI --a hair dryer can work wonders to help unfreeze pipes before they burst.

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