Casual On Purpose
There's casual and then there's intentional casual...and they are not the same thing. This outfit is very intentional…I didn’t just throw something on!
Wide leg jeans from Citizens of Humanity, a white crewneck tee, and a fabulous band jacket. That's the foundation. But then there's the red Tory Burch bag…the leopard platform sandals(not the obvious choice), and the French Kande jewelry layered just so...and suddenly casual becomes a whole very intentional look…a little casual but definitely a statement.
The red bag is doing more work than it looks like. It's the thing that pulls your eye, adds warmth, and gives the whole outfit more interest (along with the shoes). Without it, this is a great outfit. With it, it's memorable. A pop of color can transform a whole look effortlessly. This bag is seasonless, lends itself to many different styles and I wear it more than I thought I would when I bought it!
Now let's talk about the band jacket…also called a Napoleon jacket, it's a classic jacket style that’s having a major spring 2026 comeback and for good reason. There's something about the structured silhouette, the button detail, the slightly military edge that feels both current and completely timeless. It's showing up everywhere from the runways to the street, and it works because it adds personality to a white tee and jeans and the look becomes a whole aesthetic the second you throw one on.
My style has no rules and that’s how I like it! This week, full boho energy with a band jacket, wide leg jeans and leopard platforms…and next week, it could be a lady like tweed jacket styled with white jeans…you just never know. It’s not inconsistency…some days I wake up and want structure and color and other days I want to feel like I'm floating through a Parisian flea market. I dress for the mood I'm in...and I think that's exactly how it should be. Getting dressed should feel like creative freedom!
So if you’re going to be casual, do it on purpose!
I've linked everything you see here and more in the boutique below...the jeans, similar jackets, the bag, the shoes, and some great jewelry options too.
Two more specific things about this look. The jeans are long intentionally. I like to have a few pairs that I can wear with really high heels and I want them to come almost to the ground so my legs look long…it’s a look I love! Also, I’m short waisted so when i wear high waisted jeans, I don’t usually tuck anything in…instead, I wear a cropped tee or shirt so that it hits right at the waist. It keeps the flow without cutting me off in the middle. I’ve found that this works for my body type so I have a drawer full of cropped, or shorter tees that I can tuck ever so slightly or just wear as is. I also love the different lengths of the two necklaces that draw your eye down and elongate even more.
In the fall, I would style this jacket with a longer boho shirt (maybe a lacy one with longer sleeves that would hang from the jacket sleeves), skinny jeans and tall flat boots for an entirely different look…it’s all about the proportions especially when you’re short and or petite.
This look is perfect for now and would go right into fall!
Thanks so much for reading…can you believe it’s already Wednesday!
~XOXO Suzanne