Casual Friday

 It's Casual Friday! (Well, it was Casual Friday)

Parham Elephant Polo shirt: Joules (thrifted)

Shorts: nicole by nicole miller (thrifted)

Socks: Ichiban-kan

Shoes: New Balance

On Fridays, there is a noontime walk/jog around the office park. We get points for participating that we can redeem for company swag. It's one of the activities of the company culture I appreciate. I work with some cool people and I like that we're encouraged to socialize.

Most days I scoot to and from work carrying workout clothes and running shoes, and on alternate Fridays I carry more because I take the train straight to Favourite Joe's part of the Bay. I thought I'd try a Casual Friday outfit to cut down on luggage.

There are so many cool details to this shirt! It might not show up in photos, but the fabric is very heavy. All of the stripes and patches are also thick fabric sewn solidly on, giving the feeling that this shirt really would withstand a fall off a horse. I have always been drawn to patches, and while I hesitated to buy a polo shirt (I wore them all through high school and I've been biased against them ever since) I was sold.

This polo shirt came up in the mens' part of the store when I was thrift shopping with a friend for his new wardrobe. I'd really hoped it would be either his or Favourite Joe's size, but it's clearly a lady shirt. I found a picture on the Internet:

The shirt is clearly pinned in the back on the model. Blah.

I dig the psuedo-laces on the sides of these shorts. They were a great find after a long exasperated attempt to find shorts that weren't either of these two styles:

 Srsly, I have a great relationship with my legs, but I am interested in garments that cover part of them. Just not to the degree that those denim theatre curtains are offering to.

Secret extra preppy with argyle ankle socks

I enjoy branching out and trying different styles, but at the heart of it, shorts, running shoes, and a tank top or t-shirt is the most natural state of the human Aya. If I didn't love playing in my big closet, it would definitely be those things every day for the rest of my life.

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Lastly! Thanks so much for your comments (or not commenting, whichever. thanks for checking out the blog) about my stuff that doesn't work. I buy things that I think look cool, and that feel good when I'm wearing them, but my photos give me a pulled-back look that I don't get even in a full length mirror. I put up outfits made out of borderline items because I need another perspective to decide.

The personal style blogger community is a great positive community, but positive doesn't mean you need to avoid being honest. I really appreciate the feedback (and consigned both shirts in the last post to the donation bin.) Cheers!