No- Fail Uniform + The Perfect Dupe

leopard cardigan

leopard cardigan

chloe dupes

leopard cardigan

rebecca minkoff moto hobo

Anyone have a go-to uniform? I sure do, and it’s the simplest to recreate. 

Black leggings, a black tank and a cardigan. My favorite everyday leggings are these by Zella and for a dressier look, these by Spanx. These from Express are the other pair I keep on rotation. Let’s dive into a little more detail, shall we?

I wear my Zella leggings (styled here) nearly everyday. They’re high wasted and they actually stay up! I’ve had my first pair for two years, but an ash from the fire pit popped onto one of the knees and caused a small hole. I still wear them, but I did buy another pair to replace them. They are by far my favorite! I wash and dry them inside out, and two years later (aside from the small hole), they still look fit for public. That’s really good for black leggings! They fit TTS, I wear a small. 

I save my Spanx faux leather leggings (styled above) for events, nights out, or to add a little edge to a more casual, everyday look. I’m not sure why they call them faux leather, as they really just have more of a textured sheen to them. Details aside, they super comfortable and I constantly get complements on them. They are definately the “middle of the road” legging for me. Fit wise, I’m wearing a small, but wish I’d have purchased the medium. It’s an act of congress to get into these things! 

Moving on to the Express faux leather legging. I purchased my first pair of these four years ago and wore them constantly. They look like actual leather but feel more like a cotton material. To me, they’re more of a night out option, but I live in suburban Alabama, so I’m clearly not wearing these to PTA night at school. I originally purchased an XS because I was a lot thinner four years ago, but recently purchased the petite medium (styled here). As you can see, they are slightly baggy, so I’ve since exchanged them for a petite small. They fit TTS. 

I’d like to touch on the versatility of this cami. It can be worn alone or as a layering piece. It’s marketed as the perfect addition to an office suit, as you can easily shed the blazer and meet for drinks. By nature, it has a soft wrinkle to it. I didn’t realize this when I spent what felt like forever trying to steam it. I mean, how convenient is that? It’s the perfect item for girls and mommas on the go, or for those of us who are just lazy and hate to iron. 

To touch on the leopard long line cardigan, that was one of the things I kept from Shein (see this post). I do find it somewhat narrow, but the fabric is very easy to manipulate, which is why I kept it. I wore this exact ensemble for NYE, and fun fact: two out of three girls with us said they almost wore the same thing. The kicker? They purchased it for almost $90.00 at a local boutique. I paid less than $30.00 at Shein. 

Let’s get to these boots. I’ve wanted the Chloe Susanna boots for forever. When I say forever, I mean since Pinterest was born! Naturally, when any designer piece gains fame, many replicas are made. I’ve always been very Carrie Bradshaw in “I’d rather wait for the real thing” way of thinking. Once I hit adulthood, I came to terms with the fact that I’d never spend that much money on one item. Like, ever. Never. No damn way. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure they’re worth it. But I’d loose sleep! I found these on Amazon, took a chance, and they’re perfect! I ordered the off white pair as well. It was suggested to size up, so I did by a half size. I don’t suggest that. Order your true size, as I’m wearing mine with thick socks to make them work. 

Thanks for reading! I hope y’all have a great week!

Photography by Ryan Sherrod

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