Then and Now

In 2012, I was working at an office in Washington, D.C. I commuted via the Metro and every day walking to the Farragut North station, I'd pass an Ann Taylor store. That spring, I saw a chiffon maxi skirt in the window that drew me in.

I had absolutely no need for such a skirt; I worked in Corporate America, where my peers wore chinos, sweater sets, and commuter-friendly footwear. But I couldn't resist the beautiful swishy layers of delicate blush pink chiffon.

My size wasn't in stock; I figured a size larger and a non-petite option would be fine, and bought it. That skirt's grosgrain waistband kept growing and growing with each wear, the skirt needing to be safety pinned smaller, the heels higher to prevent it from dragging on the ground.

I eventually destroyed that skirt. It snagged on concrete, and those strategically placed safety pins ruined the silhouette. A tailor quoted me a price to shorten it and narrow the waist, and it was more than the skirt cost me, so I let it go. I never stopped thinking about it.

A few weeks ago, I was perusing the Ann Taylor site and saw this skirt. Oh my goodness, is it the same skirt? I ordered a size 14, my smaller of two skirt sizes. While petite wasn't available, this skirt looked shorter on the model, and I figured it would be ankle length on me.

The skirt arrived and is the same fabric, the color a bit more mauve, the chiffon not quite as full, but it gives the same effect. The skirt is so feminine; to feel more “me,” I knew I had to toughen it up.

Back in 2012 and 2013, I styled this skirt with my infamous Miss Sixty peeptoe stiletto booties. In 2025, I chose sneakers (these New Balances, to be specific). And I tried this gray sweatshirt I already owned (also Ann Taylor, size L) and I loved the juxtaposition.

As I checked out my reflection in the mirror, my husband entered the room. “Didn't you own this outfit before?” I went to search my blog archives, and sure enough, I had styled almost the same exact look over a decade ago!

I have changed a lot since 2012, but the core is still the same. Finding myself full-circle with an outfit like this (though modified with more comfortable of shoes) is a good reminder that the key to personal style is the person.

And while we grow and change and the world around us grows and changes, we are still at our core the same. And my core loves mixing delicate with tough, dressy with sporty, and swishing around in pretty skirts!