I tend to stick to pretty basic combinations when I’m getting ready for work, especially when I don’t have a lot of time to put an outfit together. Blouse + pencil skirt + shoes usually works pretty well, with a blazer or sweater added for cold weather or overactive air conditioners.

But that’s why I like to buy basics with a twist — a 3/4-length sleeved T-shirt with a necklace built in, a skirt that’s not quite navy, a pair of shoes that remind me of something those girls from the French school in Harry Potter might wear. That way, an outfit can look special without any special effort.

As you may be able to tell from these photos, it rained off and on today, which I guess is San Diego’s version of bad weather. It’s hard to be upset about a little rain when it’s 65 degrees the week before Thanksgiving.

As a side note, I love these shoes — they were a spur-of-the-moment decision because they were on sale, but they turned out to be super comfortable and more neutral than I expected. Don’t you love when that happens?

Top: J.Crew (on sale!), Skirt: Banana Republic (old, similar), Shoes: Anthropologie (old, similar), Bag: J.Crew (on sale)

P.S. Thanks to my friend Isabel for taking these photos for me today!!