Easy Breezy Summer Workwear

Photos by Alyssa Pizarro

Club Monaco “Janice” jacket – buy online in Canada and US Banana Republic Coco silk tank – on sale in Canada and US R&W Co. pants from Alyssa (similar style in silk here) Classiques Entier ‘Riley’ Pumps – buy here J. Crew ‘Edie’ Bag – buy here

I love the subtle gold accents in this outfit. The gold buttons on the blazer and the gold hardware on the bag add a lot of warmth and depth. I couldn’t believe how much the color of the J. Crew bag popped in these photos. The bag comes in six other gorgeous colors – check out ‘Casablanca blue’. It’s important to offset the slightly casual nature of the pants with a very structured bag and a serious pair of heels. This outfit can easily be a lot more office-formal by switching to a pair of skinny merino wool pants. But as is, it’s a nice and comfortable outfit for easygoing summer days at the office. You know what else it’s great for? Covering up mosquito bites. Vancouver mosquitos must be trying to start their own Mosquitowoman franchise after being inspired by their insect friends because the bites on my legs swelled up so much that the deep discoloration they left behind are over 4cm in diameter. I didn’t even scratch.

Let me tell you how I acquired those pants. I went to Alyssa’s house after work one evening while wearing the grey Banana Republic ankle pants that I wore in this post. They haven’t been fitting properly for a while so after feeling awkward in them all day I decided that Alyssa must try them on. The pants were a PERFECT fit for Alyssa and the length was a lot better for her. Alyssa gave me a pair of her pants that weren’t fitting her well – the ones I’m wearing in this post – so that I didn’t have to drive home in my underwear. No indecent exposure and a new pair of pants? Good trade.