What I Wore In Charleston

Hello! It’s wonderful you’re here for my inaugural post on Style At A Certain Age! I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to share what I wore during my recent trip to Charleston, South Carolina.  Packing for this trip was challenging for me for a couple of reasons: the forecast called for rain and cooler temps; plus, I haven’t done much sightseeing in the last few years which translates to I haven’t been wearing “going out” shoes for extended periods.   This all amounted to packing for comfort, style, and possible rainy weather. Fortunately, our hotel was centrally located!  So, I wanted to show you some of my best vacation outfits from the trip.

Evening Out

My husband Alex and I chose one of our three nights for a special dinner out. We chose a very highly recommended restaurant called 167 Raw. It’s a wonderful seafood restaurant, with super fresh seafood preparations, raw oysters, and chic cocktails. If you’re in Charleston, I highly recommend you make a stop at 167 Raw.

Little Black Suit

This ensemble is not a suit per se, as the blazer and the pants are not exact matches. But it works!  A black blazer is a wardrobe staple. I get a ton of use out of this blazer; it’s perfect for dressing up a pair of jeans and it works perfectly over a dress or with a skirt. 

Parke Blazer | Regent Blazer (similar) | Unstructured Blazer (similar) | Pintuck Camisole (similar) | Shirred Top (alternative) | Drapey Top (similar) | Cameron Slim Crop Pant in 4 Season Stretch |  Cameron Pant in Bi-Stretch Cotton (similar) | Vince Camuto Enella Sandal | Vince Camuto Saprenda Sandal (similar) |  Nine West Sandals (similar) | TSATSAS Tape Bag | Hobo Waver Wristlet (similar) | Hobo Brave Leather Clutch (similar) 

With a classic little black suit, you can get creative with your choice of top. A strappy camisole is a perfect option. Another great option to achieve this look is with a drapey top, tucked in.  I went with this top by Frame, from Nordstrom. It’s no longer available, but there is a similar version still available. 

Straight-leg cropped pants in a heavenly four-season stretch fabric from J.Crew are a dream to wear. These pants are so versatile. They dress up beautifully, but they also look great with a t-shirt and denim jacket. The straight leg cropped fit is perfect for a petite frame and J.Crew’s Cameron Slim Crop Pant fits true to size. 

My favorite shoe to wear with a little black suit is a strappy sandal, with a little bit of a heel. These Vince Camuto heels are super comfortable and easy to walk in for blocks! 

For a classic neutral outfit, you can go with almost any color handbag you like. For this special evening out, I decided to go with the quietly elegant black Tape Bag by TSATSAS. 

Shop the outfit (click below)

Sightseeing in Beautiful Charleston

Fortunately, we did end up with a sunny day to stroll around the historic Broad Street neighborhoods of Charleston. You can’t help but be immersed in the history of Charleston and our nation, as you walk the cobblestone streets amongst the 18th and 19th-century architecture. 

My favorite places to tour are the cemeteries and graveyards. This has a lot to do with the fact that cemeteries are quiet places; one can contemplate and get lost in imaginations of times long passed. The south has some of the most beautiful cemeteries; the spring flowers add color and the Live Oak trees draped in Spanish Moss really set the tone. 

Walking tour

For our self-guided walking tour, we had beautiful sunny skies and warm spring temperatures. It was the perfect day to wear a skirt! Spring is my favorite time of year, especially for fashion. There are so many options with skirts, dresses, shorts, and jeans – you can mix them up with a variety of shirt styles to create fun, colorful, bright looks. 

We started in the morning, so I have a denim jacket, which is my favorite go-to light jacket for Spring. I haven’t yet come across an outfit that doesn’t work well with a denim jacket! 

Madewell Denim Jacket | Gap Denim Jacket (similar) | J.Crew Factory Button-up | J.Crew Factory Skirt | Quay Aviator Sunglasses (similar) | Whirlpool Aviator Sunglasses (similar) |  Kingston Aviator Sunglasses (similar) | Puffy Crisscross Sandals (similar) | Crisscross Slide Sandals (similar) | Similar Olive-Colored Slides (similar) | Sydney Crossbody Bag | Transport Crossbody Bag (similar) | Transport Saddlebag (similar)  

Gingham is one of my favorite prints all year long. But somehow as soon as Spring arrives, gingham comes to the forefront of my mind. This olive and white gingham button-up feels especially appropriate for the shoulder seasons, the color is just perfect for Spring.

This linen-cotton pull-on skirt from J.Crew Factory is a no-brainer for me. I have this skirt style in a few colors and this cream-color version is by far my favorite. As a neutral, the cream color will work with nearly every top in my closet. It’s lined and so comfortable – plus it has pockets! You will definitely see this skirt on repeat all Spring and Summer long. 

These Vehla Dixie sunglasses are my new favorites. I love the lightweight tortoise frames. I especially love the lightly tinted, sage-colored lenses. 

I haven’t walked for miles in closed shoes since the pandemic, so my feet have become more sensitive to shoes (anyone else have this issue?). So I went for an ultra-comfy pair of crisscross sandals.

These olive green sandals are from last summer, but I’ve given you similar styles.

My Favorite Crossbody Everyday Bag

A crossbody or shoulder bag is a must for a day seeing the sights. My favorite, most-used bags are all from Madewell. I absolutely love their leather goods, they make well-priced, quality bags, shoes, and belts that last for ages.

This is the Sydney Crossbody Bag. It has a removable shoulder strap for versatility. Its rounded, structured hobo shape is updated for this year, and its classic styling will be a go-to for years to come. 

Shop the outfit (click below)

In case you missed it

Those were some of my best vacation outfits from Charleston.  If you’re looking for more fashion inspiration, make sure to check out Beth’s 5 ways to wear white sneakers this Spring.  

And remember, Thursdays are a two-post day.  Make sure to check out the one piece of Spring clothing Beth can’t live without.

About The Author

Kelly Djalali

Kelly is our 40s+ fashion & food contributor. She posts a Daily Look on Tuesdays, writes about Fashion on Thursdays, joins Beth for Fridays with Oscar and shares a new recipe on Sunday.

She’s 48, 5’0, and a petite 0/XS.

Kelly also has a food blog called Djalali Cooks, which you can find by clicking the world icon below.

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