This past weekend a friend and I went out east to Greenport, NY to do fun things for her birthday. Greenport is a charming, historic, waterfront village on the south side of the north fork of Long island’s east end.

It was a perfect fall day – cool and blue-skied. I like temps a little on the cool side so I don’t sweat the second I move (ugh). So dressing was easy for me as I didn’t have to try to keep from getting overheated.

I repeated my recently-discovered favorite formula: button-down under boxy-ish pullover, shirttails peeking out, comfy jeans, comfy sneakers. I had my lightweight copper jacket with me but never even needed it.

It would work with a tee shirt as well, but I don’t currently have any that are the right length (they’re mostly too long) or just the right collar. I like when you can JUST see the rim of the tee-shirt collar underneath the pullover collar. Oh, I’m a particular one! But I DO think it makes a big difference. Like this:

The details are not the details, they make the design ~ Charles Eames

Carson Kressley, fashion guru from the original cast of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, frequently referenced “zhuzh” – making slight improvements or accents to a wardrobe or look to make it more interesting or attractive by changing it slightly or adding something to it, like adding a pocket square, teasing one’s hair, or popping a shirt collar.

Graceful like gazelle HA HA HA HA HA

Having a thin line of tee shirt lining a sweater collar, a tiny sliver of cuff peeking out under a sleeve, or pushing your sleeves up slightly for a more casual, less “intentionally perfect” look are all perfect examples of zhuzh…or just those little details that up-level an outfit just that tiny bit to make it seem more…more…more something. Ha. I can’t think of the word but…elevated?

So elevated

Bringing it back full circle to the formula I’ve got here..if this was just a sweater over jeans…it would be fine. But I think the layering and the little details of shirt peeking out at collar, cuffs, and bottom add a little sumthn sumthn.

The true secret of happiness lies in taking a general interest in all the details of daily life ~ William Morris

You can take this concept beyond just fashion and into home decor, art, table setting, gift wrapping, even photography…even relationships. Really anything. Pay attention to the details. Look for them. Add them yourself. It’s not so hard to make anything just a little more special by adding a unique, clever, or lovely detail.

WHAT I’M WEARING

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