A MacKenzie and Some Stripes

We have a very short season here in NY to go out and about in a wool blazer, so as soon as the weather warms up (but not too much) I try to wear mine out, especially those in spring-y colors (not that I have many). Last Friday I took advantage of a few hours of break from winter temperatures to wear my MacKenzie blazer from last year in the lovely (bronzed? warm?) clay color.

I love this blazer, I really do. I like that it is unstructured and can be easily dressed up and down. That day I had to make a quick change and go from casual to "professionally polished" and it worked very well. Demonstration.

In the morning I went out for errands with my daughter, so I dressed it down with jeans. It was still pretty cold so I wore a cashmere cardigan under it (the cashmere crewneck in rose dust from last Fall) and my pastiche scarf:

After dropoff I had a meeting with the Director of the nursery school (to talk kindergarten applications), so I had to change into something more polished, almost professional. This is as professional as I can get these days (I haven't bought work attire in years but these pinstripe pants from Zara still fit from my pre-baby days, even if they are a little bit tighter than back then). I felt very comfortable and appropriate in this outfit:

After the meeting, I changed into my jeans again to pickup my daughter but instead of the jacket I wore the cardigan open over a Zara striped tee that has the same pink in it. I know, I probably didn't need another striped tee but this one was inexpensive and the colors are quite original:

It also works wonderfully with the blazer, that I tyically wear with a white tee or shirt. Here I was trying an outfit with Zara chino pants and the MacKenzie:

I love these pants. I have been looking for a pair of not-too-dark navy casual pants forever and when I saw these I had to get them (also love the golden button detail, sort of a twist on the classic chinos). They come in an array of saturated colors to play colorblock this spring and I might buy another pair in emerald green or bright blue. They retail for $59.99 in case you are interested.
In the pics above you can't see the real color (they are lighter, almost an admiral blue) but here is another pic with my other staple this spring, the Gap striped breton that I bought around the holidays (better than Saint James, IMO and for only $19):

How do you wear you wool blazers this spring?

Off to die eggs now... Have a great Easter weekend!