As this is the first outfit post for October, and for me October is all about exploring costumes and alter-egos, I thought I would put together a rather un-me outfit.

I usually wear quite a lot of colour.  I’m not afraid of brights or wild prints and it’s unusual to see me in blacks and neutrals.  If I do wear black, it’s usually with a pop of colour on top of it.  But not today…

I am wearing:

– Black merino wool jumper from Cue

– Black maxi skirt from Target

– Black cotton tights from Target

– Black brogues from Rubi shoes

– Floral burst hair slide (gift from my friend Adam)

I do need to apologise for how grainy these pictures turned out. I’m still experimenting to find the best place in my flat to take outfit photos.

I decided to go with a very minimalist outfit today.  I love the combination of this jumper and the long skirt.  I was worried that they’d look a bit conservative together, but the overall effect is pleasing.  The form-fitting shape of the skirt and the fine knit helps the outfit to look sophisticated and chic rather than Amish.

To offset the starkness of my outfit, I added a little bit of bling in my hair and a swipe of red lipstick.  Defined brows and polished skin finished off the look.

This jumper was a gift from my grandmother.  She bought it for herself a while back, and when she gave it to me the original tags were still on it.  It’s a beautiful fine knit, and the price was more than I paid for the entire contents of my knitwear drawer.  It’s such a gorgeous addition to my wardrobe, and I imagine that I’ll be getting a lot of wear out of it.

Although I love my heels, I have quite a collection of flats as well.  I like finding flats that are cute and fun, and these brogues are one of my favourite pairs.  They were really cheap and they go with everything.  Every girl should have a pair of sweet man-style shoes, I think.

Today, I challenge you to wear something that you wouldn’t normally wear.  If you’re normally a pants person, try a dress for a change.  Experiment with a colour or a print that doesn’t usually find it’s way into your outfits.  Wear an incredible piece of jewellery that you’ve been saving for a special occasion. Go on, try something different.  I dare you!