(ABOVE) I wore this outfit recently to meet a girlfriend for lunch. The sweater looks new, but it’s actually more than 20 years old. Classic pieces truly are timeless.
For YouTube Video & Outfit/Makeup Details Scroll to Bottom of Page
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August 15, 2023 / Video Post Notes
SUMMER SHORT-SKIRT OUTFIT
Red and White Nautical Skirt, White Tee, Red Cardigan and Ferragamo Shoulder Bag
The weather is quite hot now–97 Fahrenheit and very humid–so I have been wearing my cute summer skirts. That means I’m turning to my “Short Skirt Uniform” often, an outfit formula made up of a short skirt, top, sweater, and sandals. Because each of the items is timeless, they can easily be mixed and matched with other classic items in my closet.
This Nautical-Theme Skirt is a side-zip, A-line style in a wonderful canvas material made up of 97% cotton and 3% spandex. It’s so comfortable! It’s also part of a huge sale going on right now, so it’s more than half off of the original price.
My V-Neck Tee Shirt is made of pima cotton and has a slightly longer short sleeve, which I think makes it look just a bit more refined. With the tee I’m wearing a cardigan I bought at Ann Taylor more than 20 years ago. I found similar crewneck red cardigans at Land’s End, Old Navy, and GAP Factory; and a red v-neck cardigan at New York and Company.
I love red mixed with navy, white, grey, or black. You can see the four I found on line pictured down below–along with a photograph of me wearing this cardigan in July 2003, when I was visiting my parents at Hound Ears in North Carolina. You just can’t go wrong with a classic cardigan. It’s the perfect year-round, lady like layering piece.
I’ve had my White Leather Demi-Wedge Sandals for several years and wear them spring through summer. I love a white kitten-heel sandal! These are slightly padded and are so comfortable that I can wear them for walking around a shopping center. The heel is just high enough to elongate and flatter the leg. Whenever I plan to wear white jeans or a trouser, skirt or dress that has white in it–and I want a dressier sandal that’s also easy to walk in–these are one of the pairs I consistently choose.
For photographs of all of these items, as well as the items in my handbag, simply scroll down the page.
I hope you are staying cool wherever you are. Thank you so much for visiting my blog, and I will write again soon.
~ Janis
Janis Lyn Johnson
Classic-Style Lover. Happily Married. Born in 1960. Fan of Understated, Timeless Fashion and Healthy Living.
Editor
JLJBackToClassic
My Previous Posts:
Timeless Fashion: Ferragamo Gancini Mini Crossbody, Ruffle Neck Blouse, Gingham Pants OOTD
Blog Post, YouTube Video
Timeless Fashion: Louis Vuitton New Wave White Multi Pochette Bag, Aqua Linen Top, White Denim Skirt, Slingback Kitten Heels
Blog Post, YouTube Video
Timeless Fashion: 10 Classic Navy Essentials That Never Go Out of Style
Blog Post, YouTube Video
Vlog: SLGs In My Prada 2005 Re -Edition Handbag, Button-Up Shirt, A-Line Skirt OOTD; Lunch Brambles Tea Room, Naples, FL
Blog Post, YouTube Video
Vlog: Kate Spade Wicker Bag, Sweater Set, White Pleated Skirt OOTD; Lunch Jane’s Cafe, Naples, FL
Blog Post, YouTube Video
Vlog: SLG’s in My Louis Vuitton Trouville; Shirtdress OOTD; Lunch Campiello, Naples, FL
Blog Post, YouTube Video
Vlog: Fendi Selleria Mini Peekaboo, Tan Tunic Sweater, White Jeans OOTD; Lunch The 239, Naples, FL
Blog Post, YouTube Video
Vlog: Christian Dior Lady Dior Bag, Leopard Top, Ivory Trousers OOTD; Lunch Ridgway, Naples, FL
Blog Post, YouTube Video
Vlog: Louis Vuitton Vernis Alma BB, Pink Cardigan, Ruffle Blouse, Grey Pants OOTD; Lunch Sante Fe Cafe, Waterside Shops, Naples, FL
Blog Post, YouTube Video
Vlog: Louis Vuitton SLG’s in My Ralph Lauren RL Handbag; Striped Oxford Shirt, Ankle Jeans, Cardigan; Lunch Grain de Cafe, Naples, FL
Blog Post, YouTube Video
Timeless Fashion: 10 Classic Wardrobe Essentials That Never Go Out of Style
Blog Post, YouTube Video
Note: I am 5’8” tall; size XS or 0-2 in most tops (PP at Talbots, XXS at Ann Taylor, J.Crew); size 2 or S in most pants, and size 26 in most jeans; size 9.5-10 in most shoes.
What I Wore
Pima Cotton Tee (more colors available)
Red Cardigan, New York and Company
Red and White Nautical A-Line Skirt (currently on sale!)
White Leather Demi-Wedge Sandals (more colors available)
(ABOVE) I like clear-frame sunglasses because they can be worn with anything. These are by Cole Haan and are quite old. See similar Cole Haan Sunglasses on sale.
(ABOVE) Here, I’m wearing my Ann Taylor Red Cardigan in July 2003, along with its matching shell. Standing left to right are my middle brother, me, my mother, my older brother, and my father (who passed away the following spring). Note: I still have and love the Polo Ralph Lauren Blackwatch Plaid bag, along with a matching duffel bag for travel.
My Handbag and What’s Inside
(ABOVE) I bought this Salvatore Ferragamo Gancini Shoulder Bag at our local Ferragamo store in October 2013. The size and shape of this bag make it work well with both casual and dressy outfits. It really is a perfect size. I wish they still made it, because I also love the understated gold gancini hardware. To create a similar look, I found several current handbags that also would work well with this outfit. See them below.
Tiffany and Fred (on sale)
(ABOVE) Here, I’m showing the Leather Zip Card Case/Key Pouch, which I had monogrammed. It has a lobster-claw keyring inside to hold my keys, but I also use it to hold credit cards, cash, and coins.
(ABOVE) Along with my Leather Zip Card Case/Key Pouch, I also carried a Leather Zip Cosmetic Pouch. It comes in this size and a size larger, but I like this one the best because it fits in my smaller handbags, too. Inside my pouch, I stored my Dual-End Lip Brush, 10ML Glass Hand Sanitizer/Perfume Spray Bottle, Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Perfume, Pocket-Size Lint-Removal Sheets, Pink Swiss Army Knife, and 3-Gram BPA-Free Mini Cosmetic Jars that I filled with hand lotion and Triple-Purified Petroleum Jelly.
Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Perfume
3-Gram BPA-Free Mini Cosmetic Jars (set of 25, and are $6.99. Choice of black, blue, pink, lavender, or clear lids)
10ML Glass Hand Sanitizer/Perfume Spray Bottle
Pocket-Size Lint-Removal Sheets
(ABOVE & BELOW) I often use this Prada Saffiano Leather Card Case, because it holds a generous number of cards (six slots), as well as cash and coins in the middle compartment–all in a slim size that’s perfect for small bags.
(ABOVE) I’ve had this White Michele Deco Sport Watch With Silicone Strap for about 8 years and wear it with casual outfits all year long. The square-face style currently is available in this Michele Deco Sport Watch with White Silicone Strap and also this Michele Deco Sport Watch with Lilac Silicone Strap; for more Michele watches, visit Neiman Marcus. The Boucheron Quatre Large, 18K Gold and Diamond Eternity Band Ring was given to me by my hubby two years ago (preloved here).
Michele Deco Sport Watch with White Silicone Strap (more Neiman Marcus)
Michele Deco Sport Watch with Lilac Strap (more Neiman Marcus)
Boucheron Quatre Large, 18k gold, diamonds (preloved here)
My Makeup
(ABOVE) My mother gave me the pink sapphire and diamond necklace for Valentine’s day years ago; see a similar Necklace with garnet. See similar Garnet Earrings. For all the makeup products I’m wearing, see below.
Garnet and 14KT Gold Bar Necklace (similar to my pink sapphire necklace)
Mineral Fusion Powder Foundation, Warm 3 (Amazon, Walmart)
RMS Beauty Lip2Cheek Lip and Cheek Color, Beloved, on my cheeks and lips),
Gold Dual-Ended Retractable Lip Brush, for lining and filling-in lips with lip color
Honest Beauty Get It Together Eyeshadow Palette, Burnt Mocha (brown) shade wetted, used as liner above and under lashes (Ulta, Target)
Sigma E21 Smudge Brush, to smudge liner on lid and under lower eyelashes (Neiman Marcus)
RMS Beauty Un-Powder Powder, for setting eyeliner (Nordstrom, Amazon)
Honest Beauty Extreme Length Mascara + Lash Primer in One (Ulta, Amazon, Target)
Set of Four Portable Eyelash Combs, Pink, to comb out mascara
Vaseline Triple Purified, 100% Pure Petroleum Jelly, applied to cheeks and cheekbones as highlighter (Amazon)
Nourish Organic Shea Butter, I rotate this with petroleum jelly (Amazon)
1-Ounce Glass Jars (Set of 6), for storing Petroleum Jelly, Shea Butter, Etc. (Amazon)
Pink Makeup Brush Set & Case (12 synthetic, soft face, eye, and lip brushes, a makeup sponge, and faux-leather case)
YouTube Video
(ABOVE) If you are seeing this message, then I have published the video and it should be appearing above. However, if for some reason the video isn’t appearing above–and you have refreshed your page and cleared your cache–you also can view the video at my JLJ Back To Classic Channel on YouTube.
Hi Janis,
Great video! I love your outfit; especially your skirt. The combination of red and white is lovely and so classic. What a great photo of your beautiful family. Your mom is so elegant! Much like you! It’s been very hot and humid in Boston. Very cloudy and rainy. Not pleasant at all! I’m one of those people that are very affected by it not being sunny! Too many dreary days this summer! How are you and hubby doing? Are you enjoying your summer? It must be summer most of the year in Naples! My hubby would love that! Please take good care and stay safe. Love and light, Sarah❤☀ P.S. I have a kitty, too. Yes, she is my baby!😻
Hi, Sarah! Oh, I’m so sorry to hear it’s hot and humid there, too–and cloudy. That is no fun. We have sunny days at least. It is warm here year-round now. Years ago, we had freeze warnings during the winter. I remember having ice on our birdbath. Not any more. The winters are much warmer now. I can understand how constant cloudy days could feel quite gloomy. Hopefully it will clear up soon. Hubby and I are well, thankfully. All is pretty quiet. You take care, too, and stay safe. Thank you so much for your note. I so look forward to hearing from you! Give your sweet kitty a big hug for me, please 🙂 Love and light back to you ~ Janis
I have lots of cardigans and wear them frequently. However, I always have a hard time getting my t shirts adjusted around the neckline. Do you have any tips? Yours looks like it is laying neatly and flat against your skin. Mine tine to bulk up around the neckline. I love this pic of you with your family. What was the occasion? I cherish my family pictures but have very few with all the family in them.
Hi, Lynne. I have found that, when wearing a tee under a cardigan or pullover, the tee-shirt will not bunch up if it is slimmer fitting. It also helps if it is a pima cotton, because pima cotton lays more smoothly against the skin than regular cotton, which has a rougher texture (Hanes tee, for example). The T-shirt I am wearing here is pima cotton. I also pull the tee-shirt body and arms down tightly, inside the sweater. I hope that answers your question.
Lynne, I realized I forgot to answer your question about the occasion for the photo. My parents had a summer home in North Carolina at the time. That evening we were all having dinner at their club, which is called Hound Ears. We were celebrating my older brother’s and my birthday. We both have birthdays in the summer.🎂
Its such a nice picture! I hope you have it framed.
Lynne
Hi Janis!
So many things made me smile on your video.. first of all I have that Talbot skirt and I love that you wore it with a sweater that is 30 years old and the whole outfit looks band box new! Genuinely the meaning of classic.
Also love that you included that wonderful picture of your family.. truly precious.
I also have my daily “uniform” and it makes choosing clothes so easy. Just swap a piece here an swap a piece there and one always looks put together.
Thanks for posting.. I truly enjoyed your video as always.
Still on the hunt for the Boucheron band..
Hi, Claudia! Isn’t it a great skirt? About the “uniform”, I so agree…just swap a piece here and swap a piece there and you have a whole new outfit. It is so much easier. Hope you find your size in the ring ☺️🌸
Good evening, Janis!
It’s always a delight to see your email notifications and see what’s new with you. I just love your red and white skirt with the red cardigan, and the fact that your sweater is 30 years old really drives home the point that the classics are always timeless!
It also goes to show that even in the hottest weather, a person can look cool and refreshed. I’m in the upper Midwest and our temps have been quite hot and humid as well, but these nautical shades of summer can keep a girl looking cool and crisp…..perfect for lunch with friends!
I’m happy to see that you are well and you look as beautiful as ever……I enjoyed your video and the lovely photo of you and your family from 2003…..so sweet!
I still keep you in my prayers and I’m sending you lots of loving good vibes and look forward to more photos and videos!
Enjoy a blessed week!
DeeDee
Dee Dee, thank you so much for your kind prayers and health wishes. And yes, I so agree that it is possible to stay cool and fresh-looking, even in the heat, with classic, timeless pieces. We are so lucky to have air conditioning, so we can get out of the heat. Can you imagine what it must’ve been like 100 years ago, before air conditioning? Oh, my goodness…
Dear Janis,
Discovered your latest post yesterday… brilliant and uplifting as usual. It was an extra treat to see a wonderful picture of you and your family from 10 years ago.. just a tinge of sadness looking at your Dad and reading what you wrote – that he died the following year.. My sympathy for your family’s loss.
I love your look in that photo. Your style then and now resembles my own, which is why I so enjoy the outfits you put together.
Good friends of mine (we met while living in Germany) moved to Naples about 25 years ago and love it there. .
Janis, I wish you continued success for your business, and health and happiness for you and your whole family. Cris
Crystel, thank you so much for discovering my blog and for taking the time to also leave your comment. I especially appreciate you mentioning my family photo. It means a lot to me. I mistakenly said it was from 10 years ago (I just now corrected that in my post), but actually the photo was taken in July 2003. I don’t know where those 20 years went, because it feels like five years ago. I am grateful that I at least had my father for as long as I did. He was 82 when he passed away. I’m so glad your friends love Naples. If they have been here 25 years, than they have seen how greatly the town has changed. Thank you for your good wishes. I so appreciate it. Wishing you and your family good wishes as well.
I discovered your blog yesterday and coincidentally wore this skirt with a nice navy tee and dressy white flip flops to the office for casual Friday! Love your style and so happy to have found your blog!
Dani, I’m so happy you discovered my blog! Thank you for letting me know! Isn’t that a cute skirt? I love The idea of wearing it with a navy tee and white flip-flops to the office for casual Friday. What a great outfit. Hope you are having a great start to your week.
Janis, I forgot to tell you that I found lovely shoe clips for the clip that you lost. I was on Amazon and clicked on shoe clips. Low and behold they had a great variety! One set looked very much like the clip you lost. Checked it out; you never know! You probably have found a replacement by this time, but, it’s worth a shot. Your friend in Boston, Sarah😍😻