The Secret is in the Point

In a pretty stark contrast with my outfit in the previous post, this outfit is all about the structure. The cut of the jacket, the fit of the skirt - they all balance each other out both in color tones - dark vs. light - as well as a rounded cut of the jacket with a pretty streamlined pencil skirt.

I went off the neutral play on this outfit once again - neutrals juxtaposed against a nice, solid black is so sharp this season, and it's a great way to adopt some summer into your wardrobe. I had a neutral-toned boxy top that I found in my mother's closet with a fun paint splatter design across the front in pastel colors. The colors on the blouse are light enough to not throw off the balance of the rest of the outfit. The jacket hits right below the waist with a rounded finish on the bottom, as you can see. It's an interesting cut, because the rounded cut offsets the slightly structured shoulders. The business air of the jacket seems to necessitate heels - I opted for a pair of pointy-toed shoes, but a pair of round-toe pumps would work just as well.

Pointy-toed shoes take a while to adjust to - not in the fit but rather in the idea. It took me to longest time before I was brave enough to go for a pair of pointy-toes. They just seemed so severe. They definitely mean business; you wouldn't really wear pointy-toed shoes to a dinner party (unless they were a slightly taller heel and slingbacks, possibly in patent leather. Then we could talk.) As I've come to own multiple pairs of such heels, I've come to appreciate them. Not only are they crisp (almost violently so, at times), they also help to visually elongate the leg with its shape, making you look taller. When you try pointy-toed shoes for the first time, though, be aware that they do extend a bit further than a normal round-toe should would: hence, the "pointy-toe." I definitely had some "toe-and-wall" contact a couple of times before I could better estimate the slight extension on my toes. Pointy-toed shoes can be great with trousers if done correctly - and don't be afraid to stray from black! A nude pointy-toed shoe can be one of the most flattering pieces for your legs.

Jacket: AnnTaylorLoft | Blouse: hand-me-down (mother's) | Skirt: AnnTaylor | Shoes: Ralph Lauren