casse-croute: summer gingham

I threw this blue outfit together as a kind of DIY-version of a co-ord/matching set (if head-to-toe blue is good enough for Prince George, it's good enough for me!). The heels will always hold a special spot in my heart because I bought them for my Lands' End interview (which I killed after driving through a snowstorm and surviving a stay in a creepy Dodgeville motel), and the Chinos are timeless, but the gingham shirt is the real star of this show.

Gingham is the "definitive message" of the spring/summer season and wearing the trendy pattern in a classic, boyish silhouette like a button-down shirt (rather than a sweet sundress that conjures up picnic cloth associations) strikes a balance I like. Button-downs can be overly starched, restricting and generally irritating, but this one is super light and a little oversized (see how far down my back the tail hem hangs?!) for an easy feel. I left it casually untucked to balance the more dressed-up look of tailored shorts and pumps. Looking back, it might be a little too messy-Jessie, but I was comfortable, and on a hot night that's what's important.

It was super humid when we shot these photos, making my hair feel like it weighed 10 pounds (and reminding me I need a haircut.. ), but it was fun to get across the river to check out the Soap Factory. The contemporary art exhibition center is focused on innovative and emerging work, but it's known outside of creative circles for hosting a haunted house around Halloween—have you been? It freaks me out that closed-toe shoes are required and contact lenses encouraged (?!)—and I'm just generally not as into that I Know What You Did Last Summer vibe as I was in middle school—so I'm happy sticking to daylight hours to explore this Minneapolis landmark.

I hope your week is running smoothly! I took some much-needed PTO yesterday morning—I haven't had a vacation day since New Year's!—for a long walk and some InStyle in the sun, which did amazing things for my mood. Here's to taking time off when you need it, and actually getting a tan this summer!