basic

Blazer - 2nd hand

Top&Necklace - Primark

Earrings - Gift from my godmother

Trousers - KappAhl

Shoes - Citymarket (?)

These are old pictures (see: hair length). But even though this was something I'd often wear to work, it's still something I wear quite often (just not to work anymore). I'm sure that at the time of buying these trousers (years ago!) I mentioned how I intended them for job interviews and then hopefully for work as "smarter" wear. I finally got to wear them for work last spring and summer, but as I was working in Finland (and not in the UK like I thought I would) there was no dress code for work anyway. Dress codes can feel restrictive for those who have them, but honestly I'd prefer them to some degree. This is still fairly casual with the top and necklace, but even so this would basically be as "smart" as anyone would look at my old work place. I.e. I was pretty much the only one dressing "smart" and more formal. Mostly I just find it practical: trousers and blazers like this have good pockets for carrying around your keys, phone, pens, and other bits&bobs. But it also makes me feel more professional and productive. Maybe I'd feel differently after working in an office for years or a decade. For now, I'm back at partaking in uni life and not having to think about what is work-appropriate to wear. Which I needn't have worried about in the first place. Work-appropriate or not, working or not, this is an outfit that may have been seen on me a few times after spring/summer 2016, because I am, evidently, a basic.