Being quintessential fashion bloggers, naturally we started off by photographing each other. I love being photographed by Andrea. She makes me comfortable in front of the lens like no other photographer can. We headed over to Cafe Ba Ba Reeba to dine on tapas and celebrate new friendships after the quick photo shoot along a tree-lined street in Lincoln Park.

My outfit was inspired by the idea of French casual chic. Hanging out with other fashion bloggers places a lot of pressure on me to look good. The stakes are high! I challenged myself to move outside of my comfort zone of sportier looks. I decided to venture into “girly” territory.

The starting point for my look was the Rodarte x Opening Ceremony skirt. This is the first beige colored garment I’ve invested in, ever. I am not a fan of neutrals but I really liked the cut and drape. The design is super flattering and the fabric provides an interesting texture.

I also broke away from my streak of flowing, dolman sleeved tops. This shirt is much better suited to layering than on its own for obvious reasons, although the fabric has a divine stretch to it. And is there anything more French than ballet flats? I needed one predictable piece!

For jewelry, how cute is the Cynthia Rowley ribbon ring? At only $8 its an easy and adorable way to spice up any outfit with a dash of color. I love that it references that old-fashioned habit of tying a red string around one’s finger as a reminder. I’ve also been rocking my new charm necklace a lot lately. Look at how similar it is to the shape of my Olympus PEN camera! I picked up this adorable piece of jewelry while shooting street-style for Refinery29 at Pitchfork.

GET THE LOOK:

Skirt: Rodarte x Opening Ceremony, reverse pleated skirt, $161

Shirt: James Perse, casual tee, $50

Shoes: Barney’s Co-Op ballerina flats

Ring: Cynthia Rowley, ribbon ring, $8 (1653 N Damen)

Sunglasses: Alexander Wang for Linda Farrow, cat-eye sunglasses, $355

Necklace: Ornamental Things from Austin, Texas (purchased at Pitchfork)