Inspiration Board: Nikki - Pencils & Print

Nikki brought a really cool twist to this look via her shoes. Which, of course, is of no interest to me whatsoever. *hears word "shoes", comes sprinting in from far distant spot and screeches to a halt in front of whoever said "shoes" with expectant grin and slight smell of burning rubber* :) Pencil skirts are a forever classic, definitely worth adding to your wardrobe. They're sleek, polished and feminine. The knee length Nikki has chosen is a versatile one and the best starting point for a collection. I would recommend going with either a traditional neutral, or  your signature color. Nikki went with a beautiful lapis shade that's a touch brighter than standard navy, but just as practical. She topped hers with a flawlessly tailored lace statement blazer. If you have one of those, by all means, break it out! As an alternative, I metamorphosized that element into a more affordable - and find-able! :) - lace cardigan. A crocheted piece will work too. Slip a matching cami underneath. And now, the exciting part: SHOOOOOOOES.  Nikki spiced this look up by going with boldly striped pumps. The playful print offsets the refined quality of her skirt and the delicacy of the lace. The navy ankle straps shown here are a perfect example of coordinating without matching - the navy shade echoes the cobalt, without being an exact duplicate. Stripes are having a moment right now, but mosaic or other geometric prints are sportive options, as are florals - don't be afraid of incorporating footwear with multiple colors! I'm especially loving the summery pop of orange with the blue - even a tiny bit (echoed via a bold ring) carries a big punch. Yellow would work similarly, as would classic cherry red. This is also an outfit where flats are completely do-able. If you have a pair of fresh n' funky ones, try them out with this look :). Tiny stud earrings carry the color upwards. Hope this inspires you to try a pencil skirt with a printed shoe (there's that word again :)) sometime soon, loves! Happy fashioning!