9 September 2010 – Workhorses, originally uploaded by academichic.
Sources:
- Grey (and black and light grey) Pencil Skirt – Banana Republic
- Grey Tee – J Crew
- Belt – Old Navy
- Scarf – Echo
- Shoes – Banana Republic
Endnotes:
It’s days like today I find myself wishing I lived with a professional photographer or had the time to grab a friend to act as photographer and find a cool location. I really loved this outfit and felt great in it all day, but couldn’t capture it on camera the way I wanted to. Rainy mornings and an early call time on campus don’t make for good photography days, but with the help of a good wardrobe workhorse I can still pull together a great professional ensemble on these mornings and confidently head out for a long rainy day on campus.
This is actually the blog premier of this specific skirt, but I own this skirt in two other colors and wear all three of them all the time! These Banana Republic “classic pencil skirts” are made of a mix of cotton, viscose, and spandex, giving them a just the right mix of stretch and structure. I’ve had the black version the longest and have worn it in all weather – with tights and boots and with a tank and espadrilles. I have worn it for a huge range of occasions including my first day of school last week, an engagement party earlier this summer, and even a funeral (not pictured). I love that I can wear it high around the smallest part of my waist with a pair of killer heals or slung low with a pair of flats.
I’ve been scouring the Earth for a good navy pencil skirt with zero success… I hope the Banana Republic Wonder comes through, as the other versions look great on you and are obviously so versatile!
I have that same skirt in black and it never lets me down. I wish I had the foresight to have bought it in other colors too!
Buying the same piece in multiple colors? Oh! YES! I’ve done this in more than one occasion. Whenever I’ve bought a piece that fits and feels perfect I try to get it in every color available – so long the color is flattering to my skin tone, of course!
That skirt is so cute. I wish it came in my size. I always buy multiples of things I love. If I try on something and it fits and it’s comfortable and it’s the kind of thing I would wear a lot (like a basic jersey dress I can dress up or down in infinite ways), I buy every color, pretty much.
I think my closet is full of various incarnations of jersey dresses. It is pretty much all I wear now, so I guess those are my wardrobe workhorses!
Ditto the multiples – can’t have too much (or too many colors!) of a good thing. And I love your grey on grey plus teal. It’s one of my all-time favorite color combos!
I can see why you felt great in this outfit! I love the grey-purpley neutrals as a base with the brighter, coordinated scarf and belt. I have a few pencil skirts I like (2 colors of the same one, actually) but they can’t be worn high and low, so I’m jealous of your skirt’s versatility.
I absolutely buy multiples of the same thing, especially with staples. In fact, every pair of trousers I wear are the same, just with different fabrics. Once I find something that fits perfectly, my search for that type of item ends!
I have that skirt in dark gray and it is truly a winner.
Wow! The outfit is awesome, especially with the colorful scarf to give it some life. However, I really love the photo collages! That’s some good stuff! Evidence that this skirt is truly amazing on you. Definitely deserving of the workhorse status.
Speaking of that, since workhorse items are really noble pieces, don’t they deserve a better term than workhorse? I’m trying to think of one, and the fact that I’m can’t has metaphysically frightening implications.
I believe I have the same (or anyway a similar) skirt from BR in three colors myself!
You look so fab in dusky jewel tones.
Great skirt! I’ve been looking for one like that myself… is yours lined? (if it isn’t, it would probably end riding up on my legs when wearing it with tights)
Thanks!
I have that skirt in black and I am not sure that it’s perfect on my body type. When you wear a high-waisted shirt with a short torso, it ends up cutting up your proportions in odd ways. I love the fabric and the feel…
But I recently purchase Banana Republic’s “Martin Fit” trouser in dark grey and navy to add to the black pair I’ve loved for a year. Definitely the workhorses of my wardrobe! I have no problem wearing the same “cut” in different colors – people won’t notice that it’s the same style, they’ll just remember that you look great!
I love how you wear your scarf. It would be awesome to see a tutorial on how to wear scarves…I am hopelessly lost when it comes to this skill. Those shoes rock, too!
I love this color combo you have going on! I need to search for one of those belts at ON. And those shoes are fabulous!
I have always heard if you find a piece (espescially if its a basic) that flatters you feel good in, to get it in several colors. That way, even when you have no time or motivation, you can throw on what is handy and know you still look pulled together.
Glad I am not the only one who does this!
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