Look of the Day — Checkered Patterns, Tropical Flower Prints, and Plenty of Brights

For the first time in months, we had a gorgeous, sunny, warm weekend in New York City — and I was ready to hit the park, stroll leisurely through the streets, visit local farmer’s markets and basically do absolutely anything that involved being outside and having the sun shine down on me. On Friday, the first day when it actually hit 70 degrees, I decided it was time to break out this amazing printed shirt from Topshop that I’d been dying to flaunt. The short-sleeved shirt features a ribbed neckline in a black shade and an all-over collage print that juxtaposes checkered bands in shades of bright orange and black or, alternatively, in white and cobalt blue, with a tropical blossom print featuring white Chinese hibiscus flowers with orange or green interiors set against lush leaves in a near psychedelic shade of green. I immediately knew which shoes to pair with the shirt: a pair of vintage Miu Miu pumps I scored on Ebay back in 2001. The shoes have a low V-shaped vamp and they feature leather uppers in a checkered white, black, gray and fluorescent orange pattern, plus they feature wide fabric straps right below the ankle, running from one side of the shoe to the next.

But what bottoms would I pair with the shirt? Well, seeing as I had a lot of errands to do and I was a bit incredulous regarding the forecast, I went the safe route with a pair of jeans. But not just any jeans: a pair of really dark DL1961 jeans that feature four-way stretch and make everything appear a bit more compact while giving you total freedom of movement. Given that the blouse is loose-fitting, I wanted to accentuate my figure via my choice of jeans and these did the trick perfectly.

In terms of jewelry, I piled on an Amrita Singh bangle set with orange stones and enamel accents, and I opted for the futuristic, oval-shaped, open-centered Mixology NYC Double Circle Earrings in Hawaiian Blue. My hair was curly and big, so you can’t see the earrings in many of the pictures but, if you look closely, you can get a feel for them in the second shot above. Since I tend to carry my whole house in my purse, I favor roomy handbags and, this time, chose a color-blocked Rebecca Minkoff tote with cobalt blue nylon and black leather at its base. To shield my eyes from the sun, I reached for my Grey Ant sunnies, featuring clear-colored frames.

And, of course, I made sure to rock a statement lip — in this case, I dared to rock a fluorescent orange pout by applying the new Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Matte Lip Tar in Kimber.

Let’s hope it stays sunny and warm — it’s the basis for great fashion!