I used to wear a long white Splendid blouse over black bootleg cords. I used to wear pencil skirts with boots. I used to wear lavender, cadet blue, and dance oxfords together. To work.
But this week I took that white blouse, a black pencil skirt and dance loafers out on a spontaneous little outing with my husband.
I also took the opportunity to try my last set from Rocksbox. This time, jewelry similar to my own, but readily available and not-so-expensive. I see why Kendra Scott has become so popular.
The earrings, from Gorjana.
Where’d we go? On Wednesday nights, my suburb hosts an Off the Grid event.
Food trucks from around the San Francisco Bay Area converge on the parking lot of our small train station. Someone sets out folding chairs, and hangs cafe lights.
Families gather, commuters stop for takeout, a duo plays music.
Such a lovely thing, combines the best of the city – diversity, community, street performers, inexpensive food – with the best of the ‘burbs – space, lots of sky, people set free from work. Including me, now that I think of it.
White shirts, pencil skirts, oxfords without socks
Affiliate links may produce commissions. If you try Rocksbox, no compensation to me, but one more signup and I’ll give away a Kendra Scott necklace as you see above. Just use the code skyepealexoxo when you set up your account.
44 Responses
What a marvelous event! Despite the fact that black is falling out of my wardrobe at a rather rapid rate, I find that a black pencil skirt is incredibly versatile, even in retirement. It all just comes down to letting go of old preconceived notions and opening your eyes to possibilities doesn’t it? Anyway my black pencil skirt and a pair of ripped black boyfriend jeans seems to be the most versatile items in my wardrobe, and I’m not sure I would have believed that a year or two ago.
@Mardel, This was the first time I’d tried the black pencil skirt in a casual way – for me the critical piece was finding the right shoes. And they’d been sitting in my closet all this time, so, yes, I had to open my eyes and see the possibilities.
Your date night outfit looks classic and comfortable…and I love the idea of a food truck event every week. No need to cook on Wednesday nights and the bonus id that you can meet up with your neighbours.
The Kendra Scott Druzy necklace is very pretty and I like the stone’s “glitter” paired with the gold chain and setting.
@Bungalow Hostess, No need to cook did not escape my notice:). Thanks!
Great look, Lisa! I’ve recently become aware of Kendra Scott jewelry and love the druzy pieces. Your “off the grid” event sounds like such fun!
@Susan (une femme), Thanks Susan – what is it about druzy? Sparkle, but no big ‘rocks?” Do they have Off the Grid in LA?
I love the idea of that evening — how much fun to have that much food variety with the casual vibe of the trucks but the festivity of the lights, the neighbours mingling. Envious! And you’re perfectly dressed for making a date night out of it. Personally, I really like wearing, and like the look of, skirts, and I’m really hoping I can keep them making sense in retirement. Today, because it’s so hot here (for us, 29 is hot!), I’m in a midi-length cotton skirt — I love the way it catches a breeze in the heat and, to me, it’s much more comfy to wear than shorts.
@Frances/Materfamilias, Although I can wear jeans most days, even in Northern California sometimes we have heat, and I’m experimenting with other options. Shorts just don’t feel right any more. Your skirt sounds perfect.
In retirement, I am enjoying being able to wear short loose dresses, especially in linen for the summer. It’s been in the 90s around here with high humidity and thunderstorms, so loose and light works best for me.
I am also wearing the gold Kenneth Cole Reaction Gizeh lookalikes everywhere, everyday! So comfortable.
Oh, yes, and I love your white Splendid blouse. You look relaxed, comfortable and classic.
@Jane, Thank you! And I’m weird in that short floaty dresses make me nervous, like someone’s going to peek underneath them:). So I’m experimenting with other hot weather options. But loose linen sounds beautiful.
@Jane, Mine are mostly variations on the shirtwaist dress in linen – one of which is a James Perse.
Cute outfit. Love food trucks. Went to a wonderful grouping of them in Portland last year. We currently have some in Boise that are fairly new. Such perfect summer fun. Of course no cooking is a nice treat too!
@Mary Anne, I bet Portland has amazing trucks. Fun to hear that they’re in Boise too.
I love this ensemble on you. And, the smiling photo is wonderful. Have a wonderful weekend!
@Susan, Thank you. You too!
Wonderful photos, and I love your outfit. The oxfords look so chic with the skirt.
We do have lots of food truck “events” in the area of LA where I live, but we don’t go to them in the evening. Not sure why?
@kathy, Oh I was so hoping for a little chic:).
I know you weren’t aiming to look younger, but for some reason, your new haircut makes you look younger.
@Lorri, It’s very strange, but I think you’re right, and I feel the impact in people’s reactions as I walk around.
Food trucks are taking off in Sydney right now. They are such a warm weather treat.
SSG xxx
@Sydney Shop Girl, I can imagine they’d be perfect in Sydney – I hear it’s a lot like SF:).
Love this post: what you wore, what you did… the local charm :)
@Duchesse, Thank you – I don’t often think of my suburb as charming, what with the Silicon Valley swirl and all, but on this night, I agree, it was:).
Tell ya what,,,,,that haircut!!!! YES!
@susie, Thank you! I find that I have to use the straight iron, just on the front part, for it to look polished. But that is not too much work for the result.
I am getting off the net this minute and hauling out my pencil/work skirt that I still love but never wear. What a great idea for an event! Food trucks have long been a feature in the Ottawa Valley… usually selling french fries and hot dogs… we call them “Chip Wagons.” But the more upscale version has been making inroads in the last couple of years. I’m still partial, though, to the “Chip Wagons” in the little towns up and down the valley.
@susan burpee, A hipster version of a Chip Wagon is surely to be found somewhere in SF:). And Chip Wagon would be its name:).
I bet it was lovely. We have food trucks in a local park near us on Friday nights. The food is great, but there are no chairs whatsoever. So no skirts for me. Plus, yesterday it was 100F and never really cooled off.
@AK, Our marine layer, AKA the fog that rolls over the hills most nights, is profoundly climate civilizing:). No chairs, no skirts – ought to have a sign:).
Just found your site and I love your style. Recently visited Milan Expo 2015 and USA’s pavilion is Food Truck Nation.
You look chic, comfortable and happy! I love, love, love the food trucks. They would never venture to my tiny town, but I can visit them every day at lunch.
I am loving the hair!
Thank you!
The hair is still shiny and swingy! Good job…that’s not easy to achieve in heat and humidity (Said after I came home from the salon today with perfectly blown-dry, shiny straight hair, headed down to the beach to meet my girls, and 5 minutes later had a head full of slightly damp ringlets.)
What a fun community!
Our humidity, while higher in recent years, is still so low that on hot days our hair survives:).
The first thing I noticed was your hair swing. Stunning. How are you keeping it so smooth? Love the outfit, too.
Thank you! My hair is reasonably straight by nature, and our low humidity + new ceramic hair straightener used on the front bits for evenings out is all it takes. Glad you like the outfit!
Pinned to my icons board. You’re good, you!
You look great here, and just a bit like a bad ass with your leg muscles! I hope I look anywhere close to as good as you at your age…
Why thank you ma’am!
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