Casual Punk

I came up with this while trying to make an outfit around a different skirt:

  Of course, it wasn't school-appropriate, so I changed. But the moment is immortalized here!

Flutter sleeve shirt: Derek Heart (thrifted)

Embroidered skirt: PSSST (v. old)
Navy leather jacket: Laundry by Shelli Segal (gift)
Cap: Nine West (old)

Boots: ALDO (thrifted)

Sage wrap bracelet: Foxy originals

Pewter leaf necklace (H&M in Paris)

  I've had this skirt half my life, now. My friend Diana and I bought the same skirt when we were teenagers at Macy's. Blue cherry blossoms! How could I resist? It was $16.99, which was a little steep for my allowance(!) but I decided to splurge.

  I've not worn it before now because it's tight and short, and I've always been a little self-conscious of my thighs, but I see style bloggers with muscles rocking the short-skirt-boots look, and I really like it. I find it both sexy and strong, so I've decided this combination is not just for the delicate of limb. Are there looks you have decided to try after reading style blogs, or just decided to try as your style evolved?

Fine and Edwardian Dandy

  I figured out something valuable today. If ever you find yourself falling out of your beloved wardrobe, just start adding more layers until something fits and holds everything under it in. Bay Area fashion is all about layering, right?

  I see a lot of style blogger ladies cuffing trousers/jeans over heels. Then they don blazers and smile down and to the side. I never understood this style choice*, but now I do! All sorts of style lessons for me today! I love my Naya Lightning boots and didn't want them covered up. I don't know if anybody cuffs bootcut pinstripe trousers, but if not, it is a thing now.

* I think it's to show delicate ankles. Totally cool. For my personal taste, ankles of steel that can kick through anything up to and including submarine doors. Boots will help with this. Your taste of course may vary.

  I wore the shirt tips/collar tips I featured in a tutorial here. I'm enjoying them a lot. The hardest part about wearing them is figuring out which two flaps of clothing I want to attach them to. I'm also digging this zara basic pinstripe shirt. I last wore it in another Steampunk-ish outfit. It's versatile, so far as Ye Olde outfits go.

  Have you figured out what this outfit has in common with yesterday's outfit yet? ... it's the ribbon from the box of chocolates again! I took it off the dress and made it a skinny tie.

  This reminds me of button bracelets from that time. Maybe I just have a thing for button bracelets in general.
  I hope you all have a fine week. I am linking up to Patti's Visible Monday because if you can't be seen in a Fitzgerald-era Steampunk inventor outfit (my roommate's description) what can you be seen in?
  I also took a picture of myself squatting in a most unladylike fashion so I could mentally hear my long-suffering mother's resigned sigh. It's good to start the week off with a smile. :D

Shirt: zara basic (thrifted)

Vest: FANG (thrifted, size L online)

Collar clips: DIY (tutorial here)

Skinny tie: Recchiuti chocolates box

Hat: Nine West (DSW, old)

Pinstripe trousers: Banana Republic (thrifted)

Boots: Naya Lightning (zappos, old)

Bracelet: CostPlus Word Market (old)