Inspiration Board: Eden - Cerise+Ponte

Being bright is always a good thing! :) And Eden demo's a fab way to do it - paired with chic black pants! Let's talk about pants, shall we? Leggings are ubiquitous these days and definitely seem like the new denim. I'm never a fan of them for professional or polished environments, though (and ps I count school as a professional place ;) ). So, let's say you want to up your game a bit, while still staying comfortable. The ponte pant is the answer. The fabric will feel a bit heavier than a legging, with a bit more structure (this Pixie pant by J. Crew is an example) and there will be details like belt loops, back zippers or pockets. I love the slight v-waist of the pair Eden is wearing. Also, a pant will have some space between your leg and the fabric at the ankle, instead of hugging the body all the way down, like a legging. It's these small details that dress the piece up and make it classier, while you still get all the comfort and mobility of your favorite leggings. Cool, huh?
Black is the go-to neutral when you're creating a pairing with bright color, but gray, navy or chocolate are all great options too. What's addictively fabulous about this look is that it's super-simple...ya know, for those days when you got up 20 minutes late, the dog needed to go out and wouldn't get a move on and you needed coffee before your whatever-you're-late-for. Neutral pants, bright top. Done. For brights, this cerise shade is a winner. It's more grown up than neon pink, but with all the same intensity and fun. I've metamorphosized Eden's cropped top to a fuzzy sweater because it's still chilly where I live - definitely not short-sleeves-appropriate yet! ;p - but you can mimic the clean, minimal vibe of this look with a turtleneck, a tee or a tunic just as easily. You can add touches of jewelry in black or metallic..or go wild with a contrast color (I'd love mod lime, or 80's-tinged turquoise). Finish with black shoes of your fav variety: cute flats work, so do heels, especially a comfortable-but-still-fierce kitten-heel ;). Comfy+chic is such a jazz, isn't it? :)