My friend and fellow image consultant from Southern California, Karen Karlsen, recently had two posts on her blog that I found super inspiring. The first was about how she took some Target sweat pants and made them into an outfit that was great for errands and the supermarket — extremely casual but also stylish. Yay! I love that, I live in that, and so do my clients when they can.

The key takeaway for me was Karen’s definition of comfortable: something you’d feel happy sleeping in but could wear out of the house the next day if you wanted or needed. Jeans were ruled out, since they aren’t so comfortable for sleeping in. (Disclosure: I wore red-and-blue stripe pajama bottoms with a white top to a teeny-tiny neighborhood July Fourth parade last year. It felt kind of risky, but of course no one pointed fingers at me and laughed. Not that I noticed, anyway.)

Karen’s second post was a response from a reader about how to style the reader’s new LuluLemon pants. Same idea, basically.

That really inspired me. First I got myself dressed this morning for work in the morning and a kid’s soccer game this afternoon. We might be going out tonight, too — at least, we have a sitter. So I put on cropped black yoga pants, a gray ribbed tank top, a longish dark gray knit tie-front cardigan, new black patent Gizeh Birkenstocks, sparkly headbands from Anthropologie, and a giant Druzy ring. Not what the other moms at the soccer game will be wearing, and a little too dark, but that was sort of my point. (I don’t wear shorts, baseball hats, and running shoes. Ever.)

So here’s what I came up with as three options for a day somewhat like mine. For the first outfit, I love the idea of something that’s as cozy as pajamas but way, way more stylish. (And the fantastic brass Free People necklace with this outfit is just the epitome of insouciant chic.) The second outfit is just a romper — you could wear it to a barbecue, to something boat-related, to a flea market, or around the corner for a latte. The third outfit is just as comfortable, but with a small bag for going out to dinner or a party. I love the T-shirty-ness of it. You can curl up on the sofa at a dinner party and feel as if you’re wearing your sweatpants. Only you’ll look just right for a festive gathering or romantic dinner out.

Let me know what you think — and what your go-to warm-weather casual outfits look like.

Sunday, lazy but stylish by KeturaP featuring By Malene Birger tops