Verdant

Sweater: Hey Girl cardigan by Bonnie Marie Burns; Wollmeise Merino DK in Fruhling, my notes and modifications for "Atlantic Pacific"
Top: Elie Tahari silk shell, similar styles by Reiss and Kate Spade
Skirt: Brooks Brothers wool skirt, similar style at Loft
Shoes: Manolo Blahnik, similar color, same style in black, for people who think I spend too much on shoes
Lipstick: Makeup Forever Rouge Artist Natural in N31 Soft Fushia (sic)

Story: I got these shoes on ebay 10 or so years ago because I couldn't resist the idea of chartreuse, patent leather, mary janes. Also, they were likely 1/5 retail. Since the idea of chartreuse, patent leather mary janes is so patently ridiculous, I try to wear them a lot. They add a lot of fun to the simplest outfit and are surprisingly versatile (though not with brown). They also make other people happy because they're acceptably outrageous.

I would never have made myself a chartreuse cardigan, however, until I saw this post by Blair Eadie last year at which point I couldn't not make myself a chartreuse cardigan. I did not make the cardigan to match the shoes. In fact, I'm pretty sure this is the first time I've worn them together. I still hate the buttons on this cardigan because they aren't the right color. They are the second set of buttons this cardigan has had, and the third set might never go on the cardigan because they're not quite right either. I hate selecting buttons for cardigans while, simultaneously being adamant that for my style, the buttons need to blend, not stand out.

The top is a bit of a departure for me. I don't tend to wear a-line tops because I like highlighting my waist. Similarly, I don't own many Nehru-style collars because they tend not to flatter the busty. I'll admit that this top is a hand-me-down and I wear it and a similar navy one in an attempt to broaden my horizons. I don't know if I would buy this style myself, but as a something different in the closet that I didn't have to buy, it can stay in the rotation.