Design Esquire’s Wardrobe Essentials

Today’s guest is Christine from Design Esquire. Christine and I commented back and forth on each others’ blogs for a while before we were able to meet in person at a local decorating class this past fall. She posts some gorgeous inspiration photos on her blog that reflect her classy taste. I hope you enjoy getting to know her!

Laura, thank you so much for asking me to participate in your Wardrobe Essential Series! I hope I’m not too boring a guest poster! During the week I work at a very conservative law firm, so I wear suits at least three days a week and can’t really be too trendy with my clothes. I usually stick with black or grey suits because they are so easy to pair with tops, and I don’t have to think too much about matching in the morning! Most of my suits come from Ann Taylor or the Brooks Brother’s outlet, and here’s a good representation on what they look like (minus the cute belt, unfortunately).

anntaylor.com

On days I don’t wear a suit, I usually wear black or gray pants with a colorful sweater. I know, so exciting and cutting edge. To have a little more fun with my outfits during the week, I try to spice things up with jewelry. Here’s a few pieces of my jewelry on display on a little bulletin board that I made to match some chairs I just reupholstered.

The longer gold necklace is from J Crew and the green stone necklace is from Ann Taylor. I love the pop of color I get from the green necklace. The last few years I’ve really embraced costume jewelry, which is much easier on the budget than real jewelry!

Now, to my favorite piece of jewelry, my pearl necklace. I usually wear this with pearl stud earrings when I need to feel/look “extra lawyer-ly”, or when I just need a little pick me up.

This necklace is very special to me, and if you wouldn’t mind indulging me, I’ll explain why. This necklace was my grandmother’s, and was given to me two years ago when she passed away by my uncle Steve. I should add that my father and one of his brother’s passed away thirteen and eleven years ago, respectively, and so my uncle Steve is the last living son of my grandmother (my grandfather passed away before I was born). My brother and I are my grandmother’s only grandchildren. So, when my uncle Steve gave me the necklace he told me the family history behind it (which I had never heard before). When Steve was around 5 years old, he got it in his head that my grandmother needed to have a pearl necklace because she didn’t have one. The only problem, at age 5 he didn’t have any money. My father was 15 years older than him and had money, so my uncle Steve asked him to buy the necklace for their mother. My dad said no, he didn’t think my grandmother needed a pearl necklace. Steve, ever resourceful, cornered my father in the bathroom one morning when he was shaving, and my dad agreed to the purchase. The original pearl necklace has been re-strung to two shorter necklaces, but there is one that I predominately wear just because I like the length better. My grandmother passed away a few months before I was married, so I wore her pearl necklace on my wedding day, and I felt like my father was able to walk me down the aisle, at least in spirit.

I also have a favorite pair of black flats that I wear all the time to work and on the weekends. They are Franco Sarto and look like a Tory Burch knockoff. I bought them on sale at Lord and Taylor for around $40. They took about a week to break in, but now they are the most comfortable shoes.

When I’m not at work, I can’t say that I’m much more adventurous in my clothes. I love, love, love jeans and practically live in them outside the office. Also, depending on the season, I love J. Crew corduroys or their chinos (full length or capri) and their t-shirts and sweaters. While expensive at full price, sometimes J. Crew has crazy sales, and that’s when I go nuts. Usually I can get their pants on sale for around $19.99 or $29.99, and the styles don’t really change year to year, so the end of the season sales are fantastic. For example, check out their sale on their everyday chinos – right now they start at $19.99.

jcrew.com

I also have a few cute dresses and skirts from J. Crew. I feel like that store is trendy enough so I at least look somewhat “with it”, but at age 31, I can’t be too trendy either. You know what I mean?

Laura, thanks again for having me! I hope I didn’t bore people to tears with my wardrobe. Maybe now everyone understands why I crave to do creative things at night and on the weekends – I’m very limited creatively during the week!

Isn’t her jewelry board adorable? I love the geometric fabric. Thanks Christine! Please stop by Design Esquire to say hello.