Happy Monday, ladies! One of the hardest-working items in my wardrobe is the blazer. Oftentimes, we think of the blazer as a seasonal transition piece. We'll wear them in Spring or Fall. Ok, we'll wear them in Winter. But Summer? Sometimes it's hard to even think of layering when temperatures are sitting in the mid-90s. But the truth is, even in the Summer, we spend much if not most of our time indoors, which means layering can be essential. So, today, I'm talking what to pair a blazer with during Summer.
Other than a denim jacket, the blazer is my go-to layer during Summer. And there are so many ways to wear it:
Blazers come in so many styles; single or multiple buttons; fitted or relaxed. No matter what your style, there's a blazer for you.
Today's featured item is a Parke blazer from J.Crew
The blazer is modeled, and I pulled together 2 alternates
The blazer is shoppable via a text or image widget
Each alternate is shoppable via a text widget
At the end of the post, I'm featuring 5 of my favorite items to pair a blazer with during Summer
Today, I'm pairing this black parke blazer from J.Crew with white Bermuda shorts from Banana Republic. I've stuck with a neutral palette to highlight the modern silhouette of the shorts. The shorts are super comfy and perfect for the blazin' hot weather we've had in Georgia this Summer.
Style tip: If you want to highlight an interesting silhouette, cut, or style of a particular piece of clothing, stick with a neutral palette.
White Bermuda shorts (Banana Republic regular and petite) | Drop shoulder top (Norma Kamali at Evereve, four colors) Slingbacks (Open Edit at Nordstrom,four colors) | Black blazer (J.Crew, three colors regular, petite and tall)
White Bermuda shorts (Banana Republic regular and petite) | Drop shoulder top (Norma Kamali at Evereve, four colors) Slingbacks (Open Edit at Nordstrom,four colors) | Black blazer (J.Crew, three colors regular, petite and tall)
I'm layering my blazer with this drop shoulder top from Norma Kamali. I love the asymmetrical look of the top, which gives the outfit an even more modern feel when paired with the Bermuda shorts.
I could easily see pairing this top with a pair of dark wash, skinny jeans, heels, and a clutch for an evening out---super versatile, which is what I want in my wardrobe.
White Bermuda shorts (Banana Republic regular and petite) | Drop shoulder top (Norma Kamali at Evereve, four colors) Slingbacks (Open Edit at Nordstrom,four colors) | Black blazer (J.Crew, three colors regular, petite and tall)
Left Board: Caylia Loafer (Sam Edelman at Nordstrom) | The Leather Pouch Clutch (Madewell) | Button Cuff Tee (Talbots) | Skyline Skinny Jeans (PAIGE, Nordstrom) Right Board: Valentina Tiered Maxi Skirt (Faherty, Nordstrom) | Render Leather Hobo Bag (HOBO, Nordstrom) | Geana Wedge Sandal (Sam Edelman, Nordstrom) | Drop Shoulder V-Neck Tee (Talbots)
for a boho-chic look
for a prepster look
for a timeless classic look
for a modern silohouette
for a statement look
The 2022 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is coming up, and we've prepared a guide to help you navigate it. Click the title or image below to read the primer.
we’re halfway through the week and continuing on with our summer retrospective. today’s repost is your favorite one from July: how to wear matching separates. this is one of my favorites posts from the summer, because, as we all know, there’s a bit of a fashion taboo surrounding matchy-matchy. totally understandable, but we’re all about breaking fashion rules over here at style at a certain age. below, we’ve rounded up a collection of some of our favorite matching separates from the summer. they’re mostly similars to the outfits we’re featuring below, but i think you’re going to like them.
while i am on my quest for the perfect summer top, i decided to head to the archives to find a few of my favorite matching separates. as you’ve seen here before, i love to pair matching separates together. you get more bang for your buck when it comes to outfit combinations because you can easily create the look of a dress, romper or a jumpsuit. i know many of you avoid jumpsuits and rompers due to the extra time spent in the bathroom. but pairing matching separates together is a perfect way to create the look without the hassle. here’s how to wear matching separates.
if you love bold, bright colors with a splash of pattern, then you are gonna love today’s post! ‘cuz summer is all about FUN. and pops of color just brighten your mood. i know, i know, neutrals can’t be beaten when it comes to versatility or that chic factor. but i’ve always thought fashion should be fun. and what’s funner (okay that’s not a word) that a bold and bright outfit?
matching top 1 | matching bottom 1 || matching top 2 | matching bottom 2 || matching top 3 | matching bottom 3 || matching top 4 | matching bottom 4
what i particularly like about a matching skirt and top is that they act as a dress for a no-fuss-no-muss look. but when pulled apart they are independent separates that can be mixed and matched with your wardrobe. that’s a win/win in my book.
while this Vince Camuto top is from last year, J.Crew and Nordstrom offer great options this season.
it’s hard to believe that summer is coming to a close. in some ways, this has been the slowest summer on record, for obvious reasons; but almost paradoxically it’s been one of the quickest. it’s hard to put into words everything that’s transpired over the past six months, so i won’t even try. all i will say is this: back in the spring, we promised style at a certain age would be fashion distraction, and we remain committed to that more than ever.
as absolutely bizarre as this summer has been, there have been a few bright spots. without even going to a movie theater, i found my favorite summer movie: Palm Springs with Andy Samberg. so smart. so funny. has anyone else seen it? if you’ve seen it too, let me know what you think of it in the comments.
with all that being said, usually at the end of the month, we round up our top 5 reader’s picks for that month. we’re going to do things a little differently. all this week, we’re going to repost our reader’s favorites from the months of May, June, July, and August. we’ve done our best to refresh all links, and in the cases where the items are sold out, we’ve provided you with similars. so without further ado, here’s your favorite post from May: a day in the life | my living room refresh.
throughout this year, we’ve introduced our a day in the life series where we give you regular updates and tours of my home. we’ve walked you through everything from my kitchen to my downstairs basement. we love interior design and decorating over here on the blog, and given how much time i’ve had at home lately, i decided to tweak my living and dining room. i’m a big believer in change and mixing things up. and an easy way to implement change is to start at home and rearrange things a bit. it feels good, i promise. so join us today and take a tour of my living room refresh.
today’s OOTD is perfect for spring or summer—indoors or out. i’ve got a pair of clean, riveria pants from Loft, i’m loving this floral ruffle shell, also from Loft. i love floral for spring and summer and have featured it extensively over the years. it never goes out of style, and it’s so easy to integrate into your wardrobe. whether through a pair of floral pants, floral dress, or a ruffle shell like the one i have on today, nothing says seasonal transition quite like floral.
ruffle shell | riveria pants | shoes
i’m always tinkering with my home. i’m constantly moving furniture around and rearranging placement of everything from my art to lamps, vases, and plants. it’s amazing how even the most subtle changes to our living spaces can impact our mood for the better. a few months ago, i gave you all a tour of my living room. over the past few months, i’ve been playing around with things a bit and making a few tweaks that i wanted to share with you.
table lamp | floor lamp | coffee table | leather sectional | floral pillows |
the biggest change i made was rearranging the furniture, and boy has it opened things up. things feel so much more open now, and i’m really enjoying what feels like extra space. i’ve also invested in a new dining room chandelier, which i’m loving. it gives the room a new feel, which amazes me. hard to believe sometimes how a little change can have such an effect.
table lamp | floor lamp | coffee table | leather sectional | fig tree | boat painting | black & white boxes
chairs | table | chandelier | sideboard | sideboard lamps
bookcase | cane wingback chair | louis XVI footstool | chandelier
sideboard | olive tree | lamp | heron painting | ginger jars
i hope you enjoyed a glimpse of my living room update. in case you’re new to the blog or missed some of our entries into a day in the life series, make sure to check all of them out below.
on thursdays, we hit the archives for our weekly roundup. today is no different: it’s been a summer of color pops and patterns over here on the blog. so, i’ve gathered my favorite patterns of the entire summer. it’s hard to believe August is already halfway over—where has the summer gone anyway? but it’s not quite done yet, and as we all know, many of our summer outfits can be retooled for fall. with that in mind, here are my favorite three pattern-centric outfits from this past summer. you may have seen these outfits once or twice before, but that’s just cause they’re so darn cute.
today, i’ve got a pink blazer in stretch linen from J.Crew. i think J.Crew has knocked it out of the park with their summer line this year, and i’ve gotten a lot of use out of this blazer. we’ve talked how to wear blazers a lot this summer. they’re a great layering option, and depending on where you live and what you do, that could definitely be something to consider. i’ve paired the blazer with a puff sleeve tee this palm print pencil skirt also from J.Crew. floral and fauna patterns are in this year, and i’ve worn them liberally.
blazer | slingback sandals | pencil skirt | puff sleeve tee | similar bag | similar bag 2
today, i’m pulling in this puff sleeve open yellow jacket from Ann Taylor over this lightweight cotton pullover. to beat the heat, i’m pairing the jacket with these absolutely fun paper bag shorts. anyone who has been following me any length of time knows i don’t shy away from a good pair of shorts. this pair, also from Ann Taylor, is comfortable and airy—a perfect pairing with the jacket.
open jacket | paper bag short | cotton pullover | wrap espadrille | slingback flat | ballet flat | similar bag | similar bag 2 | similar bag 3
love, love, love the matching blouse and pants from Halogen x Atlantic Pacific. can you say adorable? but the best part about separates is that you can mix and match the pieces with other items in your closet. the blouse will look fantastic with a white skirt. and the bold patterned pants will look terrific with a casual wrap cardigan and white camisole. the mixing and matching are endless.
happy friday gang! this week has been all about what to wear on a beach vacation. we have really enjoyed our time on Tybee Island this week; i hope you’ve enjoyed the sights with us in this week’s posts. today i have an outfit that would be perfect at home, or on a beach vacation! a refreshing red wine spritz is our cocktail today, and we have an easy riff on lasagna with a fun zucchini lasagna appetizer.
when it comes to fresh and flirty skirts for summer, J.Crew is my first stop. this white eyelet peasant-style midi skirt has a blue embroidered elastic waistband and adorable blue pompons bordering the ruffle hem. this skirt is flirty, fresh and fun!
pairing it with a simple button down keeps the focus on the details of the skirt, while also lending a little sophistication to the ensemble. tying my button down at the waist keeps it from being too stuffy with the boho flirtiness of the skirt.
button down | peasant skirt | similar metallic sandals
this ootd is not at all fussy. the extra details on the waistband, hem, and the flower eyelets on the skirt add just the right amount of fresh and flirty for summer. while the crisp button-down grounds the outfit.
what shoes to pair with this outfit? why, metallic flats of course! these metallic flats have been on style repeat all summer, as i’m sure you’ve noticed! they really have been my go-to sandals this summer. similar metallic sandals here, here, here.
button down | peasant skirt | similar metallic sandals
zucchini subbing in for noodles is something we are all familiar with. we’ve done zoodles and lasagna roll-ups here before and today we’re taking the idea to an appetizer format with lasagna zucchini cups.
Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a baking sheet with cooking spray or olive oil.
In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add ground beef, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon. cook until the beef is no longer pink, around 6 minutes. Drain fat. Add tomato sauce and bring mixture to a simmer. Cook for 5 minutes then stir in ricotta and remove from heat.
Cut zucchini crosswise into 2"-3" pieces. Using a half teaspoon, scoop out zucchini flesh to create wells. Transfer to prepared baking sheet and fill with meat mixture. Top with mozzarella and Parmesan and bake until the cheese has melted and the zucchini is tender, 20 to 25 minutes.
i prefer red wine over white and this red wine cocktail is a refreshing way to enjoy red wine in the heat of the day. frozen blueberries are a fresh and cool addition to the wine and berry-flavored soda water.
Add frozen berries to bottom of glass and smash with the back of a wooden spoon. Add ice, pour wine, then sparkling water and give it a little stir.
all right, gang, before we say goodbye today i wanted to share that while i have been enjoying my vacation on Tybee Island several readers have alerted me that there are Instagram accounts and Google Hangouts impersonating Style at a Certain Age and or Beth Djalali. there is only one official @styleatacertainage Instagram account so please be wary and report the fake accounts if you come across them. this account never has nor will ever in the future solicit $$. that is all.
we’ve come to the end of another fridays with oscar. and we close a week of beachy vacation outfits. i hope you’ve enjoyed this week with us on Tybee Island. i have to say it was a much-needed respite after what has seemed like the longest year in history. stay tuned to the blog as we wind down the last weeks of summer and begin preparations for fall. with new home decor, new fall fashion and so much more! oscar, ollie and i wish all of you a wonderful weekend!
as we enter the dog days of summer, i wanted to go back through the archives to highlight some of my favorite summertime looks. one thing i noticed is that most of my favorite laid back summer outfits all incorporate at least one wardrobe basic. it just goes to show that some wardrobe staples outlast the trends year after year. this is classic style. the three summer basics i selected for today’s retrospective are: the mighty blazer, the classic button up and summer-friendly denim. if you peruse the blog going back to the beginning, you will regularly see these items styled in new ways season after season. so sit back, and enjoy my summer basics in white retrospective.
this linen blazer was last seen here, but it has and will be on repeat all summer long. this blazer is the perfect weight for hot summer temps. and it’s white, which goes with everything. like this cute summer top in my favorite color – pink.
while this post was originally about J.Crew summer tops, the white blazer is a basic that just pulls a summer outfit together with ease and panache. a white blazer in linen or cotton is my go-to when i need to add a bit of sophistication to any outfit.
similar light rinse jeans | white linen blazer | similar pink top
anyone else notice the days are getting shorter? this past week when i was walking with oscar, it hit me that summer is fleeting. it was around eight o’clock in the evening and the skies were beginning to turn gray. it’s almost imperceptible from day to day, but the sun is now distinctly lower in the sky come evening. if time is fleeting, then i’m pulling out the summer neutrals while i can. and nothing beats monochromatic white with tan thrown in for good measure. there is something so crisp and clean about white.
you no doubt know the value of a crisp white button up in your closet. it’s something i talk about often on the blog. it’s such a versatile basic. i could pair these shorts with a different style of white shirt, but the classic button up really makes this whole outfit chic and sophisticated.
white shirt | white bermuda shorts | similar white sandals
this time of year it’s all about transitioning from summer to fall. what better way to do that than with a year-round go-to: white denim. looser fitting boyfriend jeans are perfect for hot summer days. i tend to cuff my boyfriend jeans a tad higher – it just works. with a casual chic outfit. a simple white tee keeps the look fresh and summery.
white denim is such a pop of brightness on these august days. i love to mix white and khaki in the summer. and if i lose the jacket, i have another monochromatic white ensemble. there’s just something so easy breezy with an all white outfit.
similar white jeans | white tee | similar khaki jacket | two tone sandals
summer basics are best in neutral tones. white basics for summer are a no-brainer in my book. consistently on stye-repeat, basics in classic white will be your trusty go-to in all seasons, but perhaps feel most refreshing in these last weeks of summer. today’s post highlights three examples that perfectly illustrate my five tips on how to look effortlessly chic and elegant. we posted a video on this very subject yesterday, check it out!
friday is here again, and so are we for fridays with oscar. this week closes with a smart skirt ensemble; a colorful print perfect for summer. this week we talked all things skirts and this one definitely appeals to my preppy aesthetic. our appetizer today is light and easy. and our cocktail is a blackberry bourbon smash, full of refreshing flavor – which makes it an easy convert to a mocktail.
for all of my regular readers, you know i love to mix patterns and stripes. a fine blue striped sleeveless button up blouse pairs perfectly with my tropical fruit and floral print skirt. i love the colors in this skirt! bright orange and pink mixes so well with contrasting blues and minty green. nothing like bright pops of color to lighten everything up! all of today’s items are from Talbots.
the woven strap slide sandals really bring the contrasting colors to a perfect point, as they mix orange and pink with blue.
my white belt adds another touch of contrasting pattern with its raffia triangle trim.
Vietnamese summer rolls are a refreshing and light summer appetizer or light meal. they are simple to make and you can put what you like in them, to riff on it in your own way.
these have shrimp, purple cabbage, cilantro, arugula, carrots, mung bean sprouts and cucumber. the rice paper wrappers are pretty easy to use provided you don’t overstuff the roll. it definitely gets easier and better as you make a few of them.
there isn’t much of a recipe. you simply prep your veggies and soak one rice sheet at a time in water until it’s soft. then you lay it flat on a surface, smoothing out any wrinkles. layer in your veggies and protein.
then take the side closest to you and fold it over the veggies. then take one end and fold it over, take the other end and fold it over so you have something like an envelope. then, take the side closest to you, wrap your hands around the top of the roll and gently pull it toward you to help with the cylindrical shape. begin to roll it away from you.
usually summer rolls come with peanut dipping sauce but i wanted something different so i chose to do a simple tahini dipping sauce.
mix all ingredients in a bowl. whisk until smooth. if needed, add more water incrementally to get desired consistency
this cocktail is great mocktail, just omit the bourbon and replace it with two ounces of plain water. the mint makes this so refreshing. if you don’t care for bourbon, you could try vodka or a herbaceous gin, like Hendricks.
in a cocktail shaker, muddle blackberries, honey and mint until blended.
add ice, lemon juice and bourbon, shake to mix.
strain into ice filled glasses, top with seltzer. garnish with blackberries.
well gang, we’re at the end of another week, and another fridays with oscar. i hope you have enjoyed this closeup look at skirts on the blog. a preppy skirt for summer is the perfect way to close the week. in case you need to catch up on skirt week, you can find a gorgeous sequin pencil skirt styled with a casual linen top. or a white safari-chic button up pencil skirt. and don’t miss my latest fashion flash video – devoted to all the skirts this week! oscar, ollie and i wish all of you a wonderful weekend!
well ladies, we made it to another friday. i don’t know about you, but i am ready for the weekend. we’ve been on a roll over here at the blog this week. and today we are ready to unwind a bit. this week we’ve been celebrating the comforts of home and family. and so today, the gang’s all here!
today’s outfit is all about summer comfort. and what’s more comfortable in the summer heat than light and airy fabrics? gorgeous coral colored shorts pair perfectly with a white camisole (similar here, here). and to add a little more romance to my outfit, a lovely kimono from Anthropologie.
a kimono is such a fun piece to have for summer. it’s a chic cover up when you’re going between air conditioning and the heat outside. not to mention, a kimono adds a touch or boho glam to any summertime ootd.
i have had metallic sandals on style repeat all summer long. these flat slides go with literally every outfit i reach for this summer. truly, a must have in your closet. with so many great styles to choose from this summer, you can’t go wrong! check out some similar styles here, here and here.
todays recipe is a fun appetizer or small plate. it’s basically a deconstructed cheeseburger, without a bun! to make it even easier, i started off with frozen meatballs. since everything is on a skewer, it’s easy to customize with whatever burger topping you like.
simply cook the meatballs to the package directions and then add a slice of cheese just before they’re out of the oven. melt the cheese and then assemble your skewers.
i have American cheese, a dill pickle chip, a red lettuce leaf, and a cherry tomato.
personally, i think nothing goes better with burgers than beer. and for a lighter beer option (perfectly refreshing for a hot day) we are making a beer shandy. a shandy is simply a 50/50 mix of beer and lemonade. lighter, pilsner beers work the best. so we are using my favorite beer, Stella Artois.
last week, many of you asked about ollie. she hadn’t been making many appearances lately. and that’s because junior style usually brings his puppy pax along on fridays to play with oscar. it took ollie a while to warm up to a new puppy in her home, preferring the solitude of her cat tower during pax’s play dates. but after pax’s extended stay with us a couple weeks ago, ollie has softened toward him.
oscar and pax have so much fun together! they run and chase. by the end of our shoot both dogs are pooped!
this wraps another fridays with oscar. i hope everyone is staying cool and managing to spend some time outside this summer. while this summer has been very different for all of us, it’s important to get out in the fresh air. we have been celebrating the comforts of home this week with a tour of my YouTube studio and our fourth of july family bbq. we will keep bringing you content that is uplifting, relevant and that hopefully brings a welcome distraction. ollie, oscar and i wish all you a lovely weekend.
hey gang! another friday is upon us. as my quest for the perfect summer top wraps up on the blog, i want to close the week with a casual sleeveless tank. we’re all about friday cool this week, but this isn’t your plain ol’ casual sleeveless top… we also have a delicious soup which can be served hot or cold – perfect for these hot summer days. and a slushy-style cocktail, minus the blender! it’s all here today, on fridays with oscar.
i’ve been loving these tie waist seaside pants from J.Crew lately. so perfect for a casual day. they’re a very light cotton, and in the chambray color, they’re a great substitute for denim.
to round out summer tops week, today i have another great Anthropologie find. a colorful sleeveless tank with gorgeous embroidery. the deep saturated color you get from embroidery, versus a print really adds something special to this top.
metallic toe ring sandals from Banana Republic complete my friday cool look today. metallic sandals add panache to a casual outfit. any metallic sandal will go with everything, so they are a must-have and a go-to!
this soup is a fresh and healthy way to start a meal on a hot summer day. serve it as a starter, or have it as a main course. its bright green color is so appetizing!
Melt butter in a large heavy pot over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring often, until softened but not browned, 6–8 minutes. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 2 cups water, stir to combine, and bring to a boil. Add peas and cook, stirring occasionally, until just tender, about 2 minutes.
Remove pot from heat and stir in yogurt. Purée soup in a blender or in the pot using an immersion blender, thinning with water if soup is too thick, until smooth. Season with salt and pepper and let cool to room temperature. Transfer to a resealable container, cover, and chill at least 2 hours or up to overnight.
Divide soup among bowls and top each with a swirl of Herbed Olive Oil.
an immersion blender makes this recipe a one pot dish. but a blender will work too. you just might have to blend it in batches.
this cocktail is so light, cool and refreshing. the frozen sgroppino has the consistency of a blended cocktail without needing a blender and ice. this drink calls for lemon sorbet to get the smoothness of a blended cocktail.
mix all ingredients in a bowl, mix with a whisk until smooth. garnish with a lemon wheel
well, gang this wraps another fridays with oscar. we’re also wrapping up summer tops week on the blog. all week i featured my favorite summer tops so far this summer. we started the week my favorite summer tops. i featured a fun sequin top worn two ways. yesterday i rounded up my favorite ways to wear matching separates. stay tuned all summer as i continue my quest for the perfect summer outfits! oscar, ollie and i wish all of you a wonderful weekend.
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