When I get the rare chance for a week-night date I take it! Even if that means busting it home from wherever I am and switching gears from day to date in only a few minutes. I often find myself sprucing up a day outfit to make it more date-ready so I though I would share a few of my strategies in today’s Weekend Workshop.
Usually it doesn’t take much for me to feel a little more evening appropriate, a little more fun, and very far from campus. A quick switch of shoes, scarf, and bag and the addition on some jewelry can make all the difference. During the day, the realities of running around campus and carrying a all my daily needs, mean I often opt for flats or boots and a large tote bag (usually my beloved Trubador tote from Crystalyn Kae):
So, to easily take this outfit up a few notches, I slip on my crinkled patten pumps, add a sparkly necklace, and freshen up my make up. I also usually spruce up my hair a bit too.
Finally, I add a pashmina and a swap out the large tote for a sparkly clutch, just big enough for the evening essentials, and I’m ready to go!
Sometimes your daytime activity is just too different from your evening plans to make a these simple switches possible but for a quick transition, swapping and or adding accessories can easily take most ensembles from day to date-ready.
The easiest and most common switch for me is a shoe switch. While I do have a few pairs of go-to heels (and wedges) that I will wear to campus I’m never one to pick heels for a day or errands or for a non-teaching day on campus. I think this makes slipping those heels on in the evening have a greater effect on transitioning my mood to date-ready.
Switching out my scarf is another common swap for me. This is mostly because I have a large scarf collection and it’s an easy way to change the look of a outfit built of simple basics (my usual). For a transition from babysitting to a casual date, I traded my wellies for olive pumps, buttoned up my cardigan, added big earrings, and swapped out a bulky playful scarf for a dressier (but still bright and fun) silk scarf.
I haven’t been on the website in a while so I don’t know if it’s new or not, but A, I LOVE your haircut. LOVE LOVE LOVE.
pasmina is a good trick!i also use it to transform my tourist-outfit for a night out while on a trip!
another thing i do is eye liner and necklaces 2-3 together; i always carry them in my bag!
thx for the tips!
I don’t usually go out in a hurry after work, so I usually have time to do a complete change. Yesterday I had zero minutes to go from casual Saturday to a choir concert so it was knee high boots, an almost knee length boucle wool coat, a cashmere scarf and broach and make up in the car. This was all to disguise jeans and a t shirt and to keep me warm in a cold church for a few hours. Worked okay…
You look incredibly strong, lean, and long in the first picture. What is this you say about not looking like a runner? ;)
Hi,
just a quick remark: The pictures seem to be marked private in Flickr and its sadly not possible to see them on your website right now.
LOVE love love your new hair and your always beautiful variety of scarves. You’ve got great style – - thanks for being an inspiration!