Upscale Casual Looks

Dressing casually has become almost universal in the last few years, but wearing ultra-casual looks doesn’t spark joy for me. I’ve settled on a relaxed style that allows me to feel authentic. While a thin sweater and faded jeans may start the look, it needs more personality and polish. Adding accessories has always been my favorite part of getting dressed.

When I took Mother for her radiation treatments on Tuesday, I added a large square scarf folded into a triangle. I draped it over my shoulders and tossed the longer side over the opposite shoulder for warmth. Tan is one of the scarf’s colors, so I added a tan belt, bag, and shoes to make the look cohesive.

Later in the day, the weather was much warmer, so I left the scarf at home and untucked the sweater to stand in line for over an hour to cast my early vote. I switched to a different bag because it has a more comfortable handle.

Both jeans shown today are the classic straight (now mostly sold out) from J. Crew last year. The navy sweater is also from last year, but this year’s version (here) is similar. The shoes are on sale now here.

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For Mother’s Wednesday morning treatment, I wore black straight-leg jeans (these are similar), a black tank (here), and a striped sweater (similar here). The shoes are here.

In the afternoon, I visited Ulta to buy more foaming skin cleanser here. Since it was much warmer later in the day, I changed into a cashmere sweater (this year’s version is here).

I tucked in the front of the sweater and added a brown belt to blend with the Dooney & Bourke bag, which is a unique clay color. The animal print pumps are now on sale here. The sunglasses are here.

The image above shows how effortless a front tuck is with a cropped-length sweater. However, achieving a neat partial tuck is tricky when the sweater is long or bulky. Even a suggestion of a waistline gives better proportions.

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At a minimum, I never leave the house without earrings, a watch, and a ring. Sunglasses and a belt with a coordinating bag add the icing on the cake. My shoes are often a wild card that may match my bag, the color of my pants, or perhaps nothing in my look.

When I return home, I remove all my jewelry and other accessories and neatly store them. Bare feet, soft, comfy jeans, and a tee are my perfect attire for relaxing at home. Lots of you have asked what I wear while working or relaxing at home, so this is for you.

At the end of the day, you will often find me in a tee (here) and the same style of jeans, curled up in the sunroom with a book. I’m reading a delightful book recommended by one of you. Thank you! The book is “What the Mountains Remember” by Joy Callaway here.

Whenever the items are still available, I share links to what I show. I’m always happy to help you find similar items if you ask in the comments section. If you use my shopping links to make a purchase, I will earn a small commission at no cost to you, but I never have sponsors, and I don’t accept free products to review.

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