Spice It Up :: feathered skirt + burgundy bow tie blouse

Spicing up your life is never a bad thing, right? From taking a new route to work to trying an unfamiliar brunch spot on the weekend, mixing it up can entail a wide range of nuances, big or small. One of MY favorite ways to instigate and embrace change? My wardrobe - duh! 

Let's start with this skirt: I loved this sassy little number when I laid eyes on it, but honestly, I wasn't quite sure I could pull it off. A piece like this is a tad out of my comfort zone (at least it WAS...not anymore), but I decided to go for it anyway in an effort to - you guessed it - spice up my style! Now I'm so glad I have it in my arsenal as it's a WAY fiercer option that just a regular plain black skirt. Adding this one piece to my closet really turned out to be the perfect way to incorporate some pizazz into my fashion choices, and my life ;)

And I mean...who can resist that epic twirl action? LOVE!

Another way to add some new flavor to the pot is to swap your everyday basics for something a bit more colorful and unique. I opted for a bow tie blouse in a bold shade rather than my go-to white button-up for this look. One little change can really make a difference in your personal style! 

I love the romantic vibe of this look. It's a killer date night ensemble, no? But it's not a same-old, same-old date night outfit either, which is why I'm so drawn to it. It has a whimsical flair and airs on the side of daring - not caution.

No simple black pumps for me today! I'm rocking some pointed-toe, ankle-strap kicks for this look, baby! You know the mantra by now, I'm SPICING things up! But seriously, how perfect are these heels? Snag your own pair here! 

No looks is complete without a complimentary bag, and for this outfit, I can't think of a better piece to carry than a sleek, black leather clutch. Its geometric structure balances out the unruliness of my feathered skirt - kind of brilliant! 

In yet another effort to add some seasoning to the mix, I went with cluster statement earrings. They totally fit right in with the romantic feel of this look while completely blowing simple diamond/pearl studs out of the water.

I could have swiped on a bold lip to REALLY spice things up here, but in this case I wanted my blouse to stand out and be the only pop of color. I kept my eyeshadow pretty minimal as well, as I layered shades of brown to create a neutral smokey eye. 

Photos by Ryan Kathleen Greene 

[blouse: Ann Taylor (I also like this one) // skirt: Banana Republic // heels: Sam Edelman // clutch: Hobo (similar here) // earrings: gift (I also like this pair) // gold knot bracelet: Kate Spade // ball cuff: Ted Baker // gold link bracelet: Stella & Dot // amethyst bangle: David Yurman // heart tag bracelet: Tiffany & Co.] 

Style experimentation is super fun - it's one of the reasons I decided to become a fashion blogger. Figuring out fresh ways to style tired things is not only a challenge but it's also an exercise in creativity and self exploration. And while I'm not necessarily doing that with THIS outfit, I did have a lot of fun spicing up my wardrobe by adding an unexpected piece - this wild, feathery skirt - to my collection. 

See, I like to test myself and see how I can style select pieces that may at first intimidate me. It's all a part of embracing transformation and throwing that extra dose of excitement into your life! See? Fashion can be pretty powerful. 

SHOP ::