Copycat Style: July 2023

Shorts + Top + Blazer

Happy Day, Reader Dearest!

I’m SO glad it’s that Copycat Style time of the month!

Why?

Because I’m glad to be getting a little break from the great-dress-embarrassment-of-2023.

And I’m needing a little style shakeup.

I think we all do sometimes!

Speaking of shaking up your style, have you seen me throwing myself all over social media to promote the Closet Play Style School? If not, here you go… If it’s not for you, please share the information with a friend who complains she has a closet full of clothes and nothing to wear! Thank you! (PS: The Early Bird Discount expires today (7/15/2023) at noon Eastern.)

But I digress! Back to Copycatting… When Copycat Style began in January of 2020, I had no idea it would take on a life of its own.

I thought, Why not try some different-to-me looks from Pinterest (and elsewhere) and share how to take those ideas and make them work for my body shape, coloring, lifestyle and wardrobe. So I did. And you loved it!

When I copycat looks, the pieces I use come from my own wardrobe. There’s no outfit buying and returning clothing to create these outfits. That feels dishonest. I’m taking inspiration and copying looks from my own wardrobe, with my own hand (or my own take)–hence Copycat Style. I’m not duplicating an outfit or a look.

FYI: It’s PSA time! If you find anything inspirational or just plain practical here on Closet Play Image, or something that you think a friend would like, please share it on social media or save it to your Pinterest boards! It’s good for me and for the blog. Thank you!

This month’s inspo?

What elements bind these looks?

Unmatched Shorts and Blazer, Necklaces, Big Dark Sunnies

What elements do I prefer from each?

I like the idea of pairing something structured or office-y with something more casual like denim cutoffs, so give me the cutoffs from the looks in the middle or on the right. I like the slouchier boyfriend-ish blazers of the left and the middle. (Not my typical style; I usually go for a more cropped and fitted jacket) I like the relaxed pearl necklace vibe from the first image; I’ve got something in mind for that…

What do I not want?

You’d think I’d be into all the white, since I love white for summer, but in this case, I don’t want a cut off at the waist. I’ll also be skipping the belts for the same reason. (I’ll try that sometime next week! Keep an eye on Insta!) The heavy shoes in the middle do nothing for me, nor do the loafers on the right. The lady on the left? In another image of this outfit, she’s wearing slides. Not my thing, either. As for a bag? I’ve got all the choices here: No bag, Mini and Tote. I’ll do my own thing!

What do I own to work with?

This light olive boyfriend blazer I found on Ebay will anchor the outfit; it was one of my Spring/Summer French 5 purchases. It’s so out of my typical style lane that it qualifies as trendy, even if it’s preloved and at least 10 years old! I’m grabbing my frayed denim cutoffs and a lightweight denim shirt for a column of color effect under the jacket.

The shorts and shirt really are similar in color; they simply don’t look it in these photos!

How did it turn out?

YAY! It’s Arctic at the grocery store; the jacket compensates for that but is still loose enough to catch the breezes when walking to and from the car. All in all, perfect for running errands in and out of air-conditioned spaces!

Some of the Deets

This long pearly and stone pendant necklace was a gift from one of my first clients; I love it. It really deserves to see a LOT more wear! The straw trimmed sandals and bag have that not-matched-but-coordinated feeling that makes me happy; it feels feminine and pulled together without being matchy-matchy. (Matchy feels very British royalty.) Rather than the bright lip I’ve been sporting most of the summer, I slicked on a nude lip since the sunnies are standing in for eye makeup. (Yay, sunnies!)

So How About You?

Is a blazer with shorts something you wear or would like to try? Does pairing the casual with the more structured feel too out of sync for your style? (That’s okay if it is! You do you!) What kind of looks are you playing with this summer (Or winter?) Anything out of the box? Do tell… I love to hear from you, and saved some space on the interwebs just for you! XO

Stylishly yours,