5 Years Later: Chambray All Day, Every Day
Every month this year, I’m picking an outfit that I first wore and blogged back in 2016 (a whole five years ago, if you can believe it!) and recreating it using the same (or very similar) pieces! I actually could have started this series in 2020 or even 2019, but 2016 is the first full year I used a DSLR for blog photos, and no one needs to be reminded of the photos I took with the camera prior to that (lol).
My goals with this series are to put together updated versions of some of my favorite past outfits, see how much my style has changed over the years (if at all), highlight the items that are still in my closet five or more years later, determine if it’s time to pass on some of my older items, inspire you to evaluate the longevity in your own wardrobe, and most importantly, remind you (and myself) that it’s cool to rewear your favorite outfits/items!
I’m excited to share the first 5 years later outfit of fall with you. Let’s dive in!
CHAMBRAY ALL DAY, EVERY DAY — 2021 vs. 2016
I sort of cheated with this outfit a little bit. I actually wore the original Chambray all day, every day outfit in early September 2016 (to a Carrie Underwood concert!) and it was technically a summer outfit. It was my favorite outfit from the month (and the one I could most easily re-create), so I decided to fall-ify it for this challenge! In 2016, I wore a Madewell shirt, LOFT jeans, Target flats, vintage Coach bag, and Moorea Seal sunglasses. I still own everything but the LOFT jeans and included three of them in the new 2021 version. I also added a couple of things to make it more fall!
The star of this outfit is the sleeveless chambray shirt by Madewell. I purchased it in summer 2016 and have adored it ever since! I originally purchased the shirt in size XXS because that was the only size available (it was a sale rack find), and while it fit, I knew an XS would be a little more comfortable, and I found one on Poshmark this summer. Woo! I’m thrilled that I can keep it in the rotation. J.Crew Factory actually released a near-identical version this past summer but it’s now sold out, so fingers crossed they bring it back next year!
A few years ago, I got really into vintage Coach bags and searching for reasonably-priced bags on secondhand sites like Etsy and eBay. I ended up with two bags; I got into a bidding war on eBay for this Coach City bag in British tan! It’s a gorgeous color that matches all of my cognac brown shoes, and it’s been a staple in my wardrobe. Even though I’m a closet maximalist overall, when it comes to bags, I’m more of a minimalist! I don’t buy them that often and the few bags I do have are neutrals that go with a large portion of my wardrobe.
I also wore the same Target embellished sandals that I wore in the 2016 look! I used to own two different cognac-colored pairs of sandals but ended up selling the other pair because I liked these the best. The embellishments are so fun! They’ve held up quite well since I added them to my wardrobe in spring 2015. (Franish sent this pair to me when I couldn’t find them at my store!) I contemplated switching the sandals out for a pair of boots in the spirit of this new version being a fall outfit, but I kept the sandals as a nod to the outfits you wear when it’s cool in the morning and warm in the afternoon—a typical early fall occurrence!
I no longer own the jeans I wore in the original 2016 outfit, but I do still own the Moorea Seal sunglasses. I’m not entirely sure where those sunglasses are at the moment since I haven’t worn them in quite a while so I opted for one of my current favorites pairs. My go-to/signature sunglasses are the Air Heart cat eye sunglasses by Le Specs. I love ‘em sooo much!
I sold the skinny jeans from the original outfit because, like with my August 5 years later outfit, I’m no longer a fan of rises that hit below my belly button. I have officially converted to the dark (high rise) side, and it is so much more comfortable! I missed having a pair of white skinny jeans, and my bone kick crop jeans don’t currently fit, so I recently added a new pair to my wardrobe: the curvy authentic stretch high-rise skinny jeans by Everlane! The curvy fit is a game changer, and I ended up going up one from my pre-pandemic size and they’re perfect. (They’re currently on sale and available in most sizes!)
To make this outfit more fall instead of summer, I added the cashmere cardigan and floppy hat in various shades of brown. Both items are old but have become wardrobe staples, especially in the cooler months. The cardigan is a light yet warm layer that goes with pretty much everything and is so cozy for the chilly mornings we’ve been having. The hat adds some dimension, matches the sandals to bookend the look, and serves as a true “nod” to fall! (Get it? Hahaha.)
Are you feeling the new 2021 version (fall) or do you prefer the 2016 original (summer)? This outfit has some of the most significant changes/additions out of all outfits in the 5 years later series so far!
OUTFIT DETAILS
Grana cardigan / old; similar by Madewell
Madewell shirt / old; similar from Bloomingdale's
Everlane jeans / exact (review here)
Target sandals / old; similar from Amazon, Steve Madden, or Macy's
Phase 3 hat / old; similar
Coach bag / vintage; similar by Marc Jacobs
Le Specs sunglasses / exact via Shopbop, Nordstrom, or Net-A-Porter
Dior Lip Glow in rosewood / exact