This past February, you might remember that hubby and I took a trip to Stowe, Vermont that ended after 40 hours when I got sick…well, 40 hours gave me enough time to do a bit of shopping, and this white poplin shirt was one of my treasures…it is by Frank and Eileen, a very cool company named after the founder’s grandparents…the fabrics are absolutely beautiful, all milled in Italy, then the shirts themselves are made in California…not cheap, but worth every penny – this is a timeless shirt that I expect to be wearing for the next twenty years (yeah, when I’m 80!)…

They call it the ‘Barry’ shirt (probably named after a family member), featuring feminine tailoring of a men’s classic shirt…wear it with jeans, shorts, skirts, casually or dressed up, it can go anywhere!

I often wear blazers to work, yet on this dreary Friday in May I opted for a more relaxed look and paired it with a metallic pleated skirt and leather riding boots…

Comfortable, casual chic, yet still perfectly professional…

Under the shirt is a lace trimmed black cami, then I added the choker of wooden beads and a belt found at Anthropologie many moons ago…with these bold accessories at my neck and waist I kept earrings and bracelet more simple/serious for the office setting…

For a touch of color I went for a bright lip…Lipstick by Laura Mercier is Coral VIF, a rich orange that works well with earth tones and an olive complexion…as for hair, you may notice a subtle difference in the color…supposedly it is more ‘ash’. While dimension and highlights are pretty on brunettes, over time I find they can get brassy or too light. My hairdresser found the perfect balance with a glaze and toned down highlights. (Thank you Robert!)

And what to wear for outerwear with showers in the forecast? This lightweight raincoat by Jane Post fit the bill and adds another element of fun.

Happy Friday everyone! Hoping for a sunny weekend!