Since quarantine started, I’ve taken to shopping  for more lounge and sleepwear as I rarely leave the house now. This changed once fall came around and I found myself styling more outfits even if it is just to go around the corner to pick up something from the supermarket. And I’ll admit that sometimes I over do it, like this time, but its still nice to dress up every once in a while, even if you literally have no special event or place to go. 

The exaggerated puff sleeves were the first thing that drew me to this blouse  which is why it became my first real purchase this season. I’ve since hung it in my closet to wait for the right moment as this is something I would normally wear to the office or  to dinner with friends, even though it would be considered to be a bit more formal than necessary for such occasions. Since I’m not doing either at the moment, for obvious reasons, I figured there was no better time than the present. So did I wear this to my bi-weekly Target run? You bet; makeup and all. It was a major mood booster that I didn’t know I needed and I highly recommend you try this if you find ourself getting into a funk.

As for this outfit, I really like the fact that the button-down front is hidden behind a placket so I don’t have to worry about buttons opening up at my bust and it also allows my accessories to pop a bit more than usual. In this case I went with my Maltese cross brooch that really guided my color choices here, particularly the burgundy panels and pearl. This brooch is actually one I found while Christmas shopping last year that I feel in love with due to its Baroque-inspired design. I’ve only worn it a handful of times but when it came to styling this look, it was one of the accessories that immediately came to mind. I also selected this faux pearl hair pin to accompany it. Together with the sleeves it gave me these mid to late 16-century vibes which made me feel like a Neo-Renaissance royal. (Sorry, not sorry. I’m a historian who is also a nerd.) So I may just end up wearing this again for a socially distant trip to the MET Cloisters, the branch of the Museum devoted to the art and architecture of medieval Europe. But we’ll see.

~Get the look~

Plus Size Tiered Shirred Shirt (2X) |  Forever 21+ *
Kut from the Kloth Skinny Cords (Size 14)  | Dia&Co (similar here and here)
Pearl Hair pin | Flying Tiger Copenhagen (similar here and here)
Baroque-style Cross Broach | SIX (similar here and here)
Top-Handle Cross-body Transparent Handbag | NY&Company (similar here)

*Style note: I highly recommend sizing up in this top if you have large upper arms like I do, just to make sure that the smocked elbows fit properly. 

Have you totally embraced WFH loungewear vibes or are you still styling outfits? Which would you like to see more of here as we start going into the holidays?