I’ll admit it… I’ve never really been a jeans and tee shirt kind of girl.  I’ve always enjoyed dresses and skirts and being a little bit “extra” in my everyday life.

As I’ve gotten older (hello, early 30’s!), I’ve started to embrace a slightly more casual aesthetic.  I think this has a lot to do with being more comfortable and confident in my own skin and not feeling the need to “dress to impress” all the time.  I also value comfort more than ever.

Blazer:  Here | Tee:  Here | Jeans:  Here (RWN by Rawan via Gwynnie Bee)

Regardless of whether I’m wearing a fancy dress or a comfy tee, I want to look put together and more importantly FEEL good in what I’m wearing.  That’s why when Universal Standard reached out to me about trying a couple items from their line, I KNEW I had to go for some of their popular “elevated” basics.

What I love about Universal Standard is that they tackle the notion that plus size women won’t invest in quality clothing items head on.  I have been personally guilty of refraining from investing in quality (long lasting) clothing items because of my fluctuating size.  In the past I was always planning or hoping to lose weight, so I didn’t want to accept that I’d be in my current size long enough to NEED clothing to last.

Universal Standard’s Fit Liberty program is a game changer for women who feel the way I’ve felt.  If you buy something from the brand’s core collection and need a new size within one year of the purchase, you get it.  For free.  This program eliminates the hurdle many of us face when considering whether to invest in a higher priced, higher quality piece.

I’ll be honest, when I first saw the price range of the  pieces, I had a bit of sticker shock.  I’ve only recently begun investing more into higher quality items and I’m still getting used to it.  I’d heard enough about the brand and its quality to know that you really do get what you pay for, so I was excited to go for it!

I picked out three items from the brand:

The V-Rex Tee in Slate

The Corbelle Black Pullover 

The Carver Top in Black

While I love all the pieces, I find myself wearing the V-Rex tee ALL the time!  The fabric is so soft and comfy and you can wear a v-neck tee 100 different ways.  I’ve rounded up my favorite ways I’ve worn the tee so far.

Five ways to wear a classic v-neck tee:

With a cute denim skirt

I’m obsessed with this skirt from Eloquii.  It’s currently sold out on the Eloquii site but you can still get it here at Draper James.  I’d wear this look pretty much anywhere!  Running errands, to brunch with a friend, on a casual date with my hubby.

 

Tee:  Here | Skirt:  Here

To Yoga

I’ve grown very fond of yoga over the past six months and really enjoy attending a class in our area.  I like to pair a loose tee with my capris or yoga pants for class.  This tee shirt almost feels TOO nice to wear when exercising but given its durability and comfort, I wear it in as many different scenarios as possible.

 

Tee:  Here | Yoga Capris (Similar):  Here

To A Sporting Event

This is the first look I think of when I think classic tee.  There’s nothing better than sliding on some comfy jeans and sneakers.  The baseball cap is an added bonus because that means no hair styling is necessary!

I love sports and attending games in person is my fave.  I love the atmosphere and the energy… way more exciting than watching on TV.  When I was in New York, I gathered Yankees AND Mets gear because I cheer for both teams.  Now that we’re in the Cincinnati area, I guess I’ll need to add some Reds gear into the rotation!

If you’re a baseball mom, it would be really fun to wear your kiddo’s team hat with this look.

 

Yankees Hat (Similar):  Here | Tee:  Here | Jeans:  Here (RWN by Rawan via Gwynnie Bee) | Sneakers (Similar):  Here

On Travel Day

If you follow me on Instagram, you already know that I travel a LOT.  I like to be comfy while flying,  and I wear layers to accommodate for fluctuating temperatures.  I love pairing the tee with the pullover from Universal Standard when I need an extra layer.  Ponte leggings and comfy shoes are also a go-to for travel day.

 

Leggings (Similar):  Here |  Tee:   Here  | Pullover:  Here |  Shoes:  Here

Casual Friday

This is my favorite of all the looks!  What’s not to love about a hot pink blazer?  I like that it adds a pop of color and some spunk to the look.  If I still worked in an office, I’d love this for casual Friday!

 

Blazer:  Here | Tee:  Here | Jeans:  Here (RWN by Rawan via Gwynnie Bee)

OK, tell me.  Which of these looks is your favorite and how else would you rock this tee?

 

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XOXO, Miranda