petite fashion challenge #9 - heat wave (plus a little diy)

I'm a shortie, but not the most well-versed when it comes to petite styling.  However, I follow a number of bloggers known to drop some serious science in this department.  So when I came upon Petite Fashion Challenge #9, hosted by Elle at Fast Food and Fast Fashion, I thought it would be fun to give it a whirl.  Mission: to "create an outfit that accounts for the various environmental factors that plague us in the summer.  I want to know how you dress when it's 90 degrees outside and 65 degrees inside...."


65 degrees inside is right.  My window-free office is known to be downright breezy on some days, thanks to an overzealous vent whose air current is directed squarely at my noggin.  


For a foundation, breezy fabrics are mandatory.  I commute by train, and, thankfully, I live just a minute or two from the station.  DC is generally a soupy mess in the summer, though, so dressing ultra-light is still key.  This thrifted silk skirt and lightweight tank have been in heavy rotation this summer:

Thrifted silk skirt/belt/necklace, random old tank, Stuart Weitzman pumps (eBay)

To combat my frigid office conditions, I pulled the unoriginal move of throwing a blazer over the whole thing.  A little tangent to introduce the blazer I paired with this outfit: I've been on a micro-DIY kick lately, making small, easy modifications with relatively big impact.  My most recent obsession has been with leather trim.  So I married a beloved old Uniqlo blazer with a piece of scrap leather via Etsy, hand-sewing the leather around the existing pocket flaps:

This DIY hardly merits a real tutorial, but a few notes: 1) Use fabric glue to secure the leather to the flaps first and then concentrate on refining their shape as you sew the fabric to the back of the flaps.  2) Use a leather needle (hmm...I don't mean a needle made of leather...).


This blazer certainly imparts a fall feeling for me, and I can't wait to wear it in full-on tomboy mode later this year!  But when fall weather is upon us indoors in July, we do what we must.  


In case I was about to forget that navy+white and stripes have nautical connotations, I tossed my fave turtle necklace into the mix.  A little golden nod to marine life never hurt anyone, right?


Looking forward to seeing what the other challenge participants have come up with!