Putting an Outfit together is something that has always come naturally to me, hence one of the many reasons I write this blog—and hopefully it's something that you, dear readers, find helpful. However, I occasionally get stumped by certain items. Rockport sent me this delightful (and very comfortable) pair of hot pink suede sandals, and I truly couldn't figure out what to wear with them. They looked too matchy-matchy with pink or printed dresses, and they just looked wrong with jeans. I was at a loss. Thankfully, we all get by with a little help from our friends, and when I saw Nancy's post on her last summer outfit, all of a sudden I knew what to do: pair them with a soft green cargo pant and classic white shirt.
I am a firm believer in the classic look and feel of a cargo pant. If you've followed my OOTD stories on Instagram, you know that I wear these Ulla Johnson Pants in real life all the time, however this is the first time I've ever built an outfit with them here on the blog. They have a cargo-safari vibe but are feminine and refined, without the bulky pockets; they're almost a paperbag-cargo pant hybrid. They are also quite comfy, both in terms of the adjustable waistline (food-baby friendly) and the softness of the fabric. They are sadly several seasons old, but I've linked several very similar pairs below.
I was kind of wah-wah on this Madewell Shirt the last time I featured it (with a slip skirt), and while it's not perfect, it's pretty darn good as far as white shirts go, and it's getting more softly broken-in the more that I wash and wear it. I hadn't thought to pair it with these pants, and I was pleased with how classic and easy they looked together.
But back to the shoes. When Rockport first reached out to me, I'll admit that the brand stirred up certain connotations, but once I saw these, I knew I had to try them. The heel is study and the insole is soft yet supportive, but more importantly, the color is cheerful and unexpected. Who knew comfort shoes could be so much fun? I have worn these all day to work, then out at night, and my feet have been comfy the entire time. And—this is important with slides—they stay on your foot in such a way that you don't feel like you have to clench or grip them. And they run true to size; I'm in my usual 8.5.
To play up the eco-safari vibe of this outfit, I accessorized with my current-favorite faux tortoise hoop earrings from Target and a rattan purse that was gifted to me. I impulse-bought the earrings one morning when I was buying dental floss, and let me tell you, it's nice to be able to wear jewelry that just speaks to you. (My last job was with an accessory company, and it was definitely frowned upon to accessorize with jewelry from other brands.) The bag is perfect for summer (although I know that's almost over) and/or a tropical vacation; it will come in handy for both at some point in the future.
You may recognize the setting of this shoot—we shot this transitional look there in April—but it just felt so right for the theme of this accidentally millennial outfit. We noticed while we were shooting there that the building was still for sale, but on further investigation, it looks like now they're trying to sell it as three separate tenancy-in-common units. Um, good luck with that (although I'd love to have you as a neighbor)!
OUTFIT DETAILS: Madewell shirt | Ulla Johnson pants (similar here; budget version here) | Rockport Total Motion slides (c/o and on MAJOR sale) | Similar rattan bag | A New Day tortoise hoops | Miansai screw cuff
