His & Hers summer style: White crochet skirt + oxford blue suit

couple outfit_men women dressy cocktail attire

On her: Express crochet skirt 00 + crossback top xs c/o, Celine nano bag

My husband may be a laid-back SoCal boy, but he loves getting dressed up and coordinating with me when we go out (of course he’d never admit it!). We try to avoid matchy-matchy and instead tie in elements like accent colors or patterns across both our outfits – could be as simple as a fresh white shirt + pocket square like Nick’s wearing here. We’ve teamed up with Express for this post on his & hers special occasion dressing, for those of you who shop for both yourself and your other half! They offer “short” inseams for some items, and sizes starting at 00 that may require minimal or no alterations on petite ladies.
summer cocktail party outfits_mens suit white lace
For special occasion outfits, I often default to a dress but also love the idea of a fancier skirt pairing. My skirt actually comes with a coordinating top, but I wanted to mix textures with the thick crochet against a stretchy sweater knit. In addition to a crop top as shown, I can see a dressy skirt worn with a knotted chambray shirt, an off-shoulder tank, or a neutral moto jacket for cooler temps. I’ve also worn this same outfit to brunch, dressed down with my tan espadrille shoes plus a cropped denim jacket.
white lace pencil skirt outfit celine luggage nano bag

This skirt in 00 regular fits true to size for American brands, and measures about 25″ around the waist and is 24″ long. The material is a thick, heavier crochet that looks good quality in-person. I wanted the skirt to sit high up by my natural waistline, so I took the waist in about an inch. The textured outer with a separate lining reminded me of a DIY alteration trick that I demonstrated on a crochet dress in this post. Similarly, with this skirt I stitched two straight lines on the interior of the crochet material (making sure not to touch the lining) to create two waist darts. This results in a visible crease from the interior, but the crochet helps mask everything from the exterior. This is not a proper alteration, but it took about five minutes and worked for me…I never knew I could get the illusion of curves from the derrière!
white crochet dress mens blue suit wedding outfit
Nick has tried on several cuts at Express and his favorite is the Innovator extra slim fit (similar to a regular slim fit in other contemporary brands) – he’s wearing the same suit with a bowtie in this post at the Kentucky Derby. For sizing reference, Nick usually takes a “short” blazer at other brands, but the regular length in his usual size fit best here. This may mean the “short” might work well for guys who typically find even short jackets in other brands to be too long.
express innovator slim suit crochet lace skirt extrapetite
Just as a note, I don’t recommend wearing white to a wedding, but I love a look like this for a night out, cocktail events, or bridal activities if you’re the bride-to-be. Another white piece I tried on is this shirtdress (comes in several other colors) with a slight high-low hem, which was fitted on me throughout in a regular size 0.
express men womens summer party outfit

Thank you to Express for partnering on this post!

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49 Comments

  1. Unknown wrote:

    Beautiful skirt! I just moved to Boston and am curious to find out who your tailor is. Would you mind sharing the link/address?

    Posted 3.23.17 Reply
  2. Rach101601 wrote:

    Hi, Jean!! I've been inspired by this post to explore crop tops as options for high-waisted skirts in the summer. Your top here is sold out online in XS (but I plan to head to a store a few miles away to pick one up)! On that note, I've been searching for similar tops to augment my wardrobe options and came across this gorgeous white linen one with a 3-bow detail in the back http://chloegraceboutique.com/products/concorde-tied-top?variant=17040055876. Sold out on Revolve's site but still available in all sizes from this boutique site (20% site wide today and always 15% off for first-time customers). Thank you for all of your inspiration! I read your blog daily!

    Posted 7.3.16 Reply
  3. Anonymous wrote:

    I've been wondering in the past why you don't post much from Express. It seems like you don't shop there on your own. Aside from the partnership, do you recommend their clothing?

    Posted 5.26.16 Reply
  4. Shopping Diet wrote:

    You guys look great. Such a cute couple! Tanya (www.myshoppingdiet.com)

    Posted 5.22.16 Reply
  5. Catherine Hanley wrote:

    Hi Jean! I love the theme of this post, his and hers. Can you please do more, with attire preferably from Nordstrom? Thanks!

    Posted 5.21.16 Reply
  6. Catherine Hanley wrote:

    Hi Jean! I love the theme of this post, his and hers. Please do more of these! Preferably with attire from Nordstrom. 🙂

    Posted 5.21.16 Reply
  7. Iesha Thompson wrote:

    This is a gorgeous look. The white on white look is great for the petite frame. I love how you wore a crop top to also accentuate your legs and create length. You two look great together. You match without looking exactly the same, which is something that many people don't think to do when taking pictures. They tend to match exactly which makes everything look so unnatural.

    oxo, Iesha (Lesh)
    LivingLesh

    Posted 5.20.16 Reply
  8. Cassandra @ AyeMiLady wrote:

    So chic!!

    Posted 5.20.16 Reply
  9. Julia Mazzucato wrote:

    I love that skirt! You two look amazing together.
    Julia // Little Miss Haute Couture

    Posted 5.19.16 Reply
  10. Tanya wrote:

    I fell in love with these pictures. You two are adorable and I love your outfit!

    http://the-renaissance-of-inner-fashion.blogspot.co.uk

    Posted 5.19.16 Reply
  11. Stephylately wrote:

    You guys look amazing. Loving the outfits.x

    http://www.stephylately.com

    Posted 5.19.16 Reply
  12. Anonymous wrote:

    I like the look!

    However, I don't recommend the Express 1MX shirts at all. When my husband first discovered that they fit well off the rack, he bought several in a fit of ecstasy. Unfortunately, they aren't durable and they don't launder well. Despite the tag, I wouldn't call them machine-washable because they shrink and come out extremely wrinkly. In addition, the fabric develops a separate, subtler crinkly texture, and it’s just more difficult to iron than his other dress shirts. They also seem to take on sweat stains along the collar more stubbornly. After a few washes, he was ready to upgrade, even though he has a pretty high tolerance for these kinds of things since 90% of the time he exists in wrinkled scrubs and white coat stashed in the trunk of his car. If it weren’t for that, they’d have been replaced already. As it is, they’ve been the bane of his wardrobe existence these past 2 years.

    Posted 5.19.16 Reply
  13. affecionada wrote:

    Gorgeous photos! You look so tan!

    Jen | affecionada

    Posted 5.19.16 Reply
  14. mybeautrip wrote:

    That pencil skirt is amazing!
    xx

    http://www.mybeautrip.com

    Posted 5.19.16 Reply
  15. Jean wrote:

    Hi Nata – he's 5'9"

    Posted 5.19.16 Reply
  16. Jean wrote:

    Hi – yes I've been meaning to do a review but wanted to use it for some time first. It has a top zipper and you can get it at Celine or Barneys. I sprayed it thoroughly with a protectant, also it's a thick pebbled leather so I'm not as nervous about it as a softer lambskin-like leather.

    Posted 5.19.16 Reply
  17. Jean wrote:

    Hi Rachel – it's from the Tie Bar company : )

    Posted 5.19.16 Reply
  18. Jean wrote:

    Hello – I sewed in about half an inch on each dart. But you should just try a skirt on your waist and pinch in however much needed to get it to sit where you want it to.

    Posted 5.19.16 Reply
  19. Jean wrote:

    Hi! It has a criss-cross back (see back photo above) so the armholes are roomy and not as defined as a typical tank.

    Posted 5.19.16 Reply
  20. Jean wrote:

    I think my general guidelines haven't changed (ie swapping out sneakers for flats, graphic tees for blouses, putting on a dab of makeup) – I share a lot of casualwear styling posts on here so I'd suggest taking bits and pieces of those and applying what makes sense to your wardrobe! For example in my recent post on dressing up a basic outfit with knit blazer, I shared an alternative to my blazer sold at Target which is affordable. I mix and match high and low end in most posts – some of my favorite more affordable stores are H&M; and LOFT, which always has a sale going on.

    Posted 5.19.16 Reply
  21. Jean wrote:

    Ha it's usually the other way around…the women are comfortably dressed in the warm summer summer whether while the guys are in 3 layers working up a sweat standing still

    Posted 5.19.16 Reply
  22. Jean wrote:

    For regular sizing I think they run pretty true to size for an American brand…for reference the waist on AT or LOFT size 00p bottoms is 25 to 26" in comparison to 25" to express 00 regular

    Posted 5.19.16 Reply
  23. Diane Hoang wrote:

    You two are so cute! You both definitely have a fantastic sense of style <3

    xx, Diane || http://www.dizined.com

    Posted 5.18.16 Reply
  24. Nata wrote:

    How tall is Nick? I'd be interested to know if the regular length blazer would fit my BF!

    Posted 5.18.16 Reply
  25. Maggie Zemanek wrote:

    That skirt is gorgeous!! It's the perfect combination of sexy and professional 🙂

    http://www.maggiealamode.com

    Posted 5.18.16 Reply
  26. Sharan Kaur wrote:

    You guys both look amazing! Love the lace skirt!

    xoxo
    Sharan
    http://www.MyGoldenBeauty.com

    Posted 5.18.16 Reply
  27. Cheyanne Jordan wrote:

    Love the skirt! Great pics!
    -Cheyanne
    http://www.lifeofcheyanne.blogspot.com

    Posted 5.18.16 Reply
  28. Osiarah wrote:

    Great outifits, love the pictures. Nice work there, thanks for sharing.

    Camy xx

    http://www.osiarah.com

    Posted 5.18.16 Reply
  29. Petite&amp;Minimal wrote:

    Lovely! I always like it when you blog about your couple outfits since I can then show my guy too, heehee!

    Annie |Petite&Minimal;

    Posted 5.18.16 Reply
  30. Liz | Shopping My Closet wrote:

    Beautiful pictures!

    Liz @ ShoppingMyCloset.com

    Posted 5.18.16 Reply
  31. Anonymous wrote:

    Hi Jean your bag is too cute , does it have a top zipper? how can you keep it looking to pristine with white color like that ? can you do a review on it and where to get it ? thanks

    Posted 5.18.16 Reply
  32. Rachel wrote:

    I love the looks! Where did Nick's tie bar come from? I'm having trouble finding a decent one for my husband!

    Posted 5.18.16 Reply
  33. Susan Yang wrote:

    Thanks for the tip about the darts! I am the same size as you, just a bit taller at 5'4". Can I ask how many inches you sewed the darts?

    Posted 5.18.16 Reply
  34. Monika Wlodarczyk wrote:
    Posted 5.18.16 Reply
  35. Irene Papadopoulou wrote:

    you both look amazing! love the lace skirt
    Irene
    http://www.thedailylace.com

    Posted 5.18.16 Reply
  36. fabi Aguilar wrote:

    Lovely pictures!!

    http://www.lacaleya.com

    Posted 5.18.16 Reply
  37. Sritarini R wrote:

    How did you find the armholes to be on this top? I'm similarly sized and have found many Express sleeveless tops to have awkwardly large armholes.

    Posted 5.18.16 Reply
  38. Anonymous wrote:

    Hi! I've been a fan of your blog for some time now and love your style! However im a college student and am nowhere near the financial means to even attempt most of your outfits. That being said I also rarely wear business attire. Is it possible for you to do a affordable casual wear series? It's increasingly hard for me, being petite like you, to look my age. I'm a senior in college and people always think im an incoming freshman. I just need some everyday style tips for what to avoid, wardrobe essentials etc. I've seen your old post about looking older but do you have any new/current tips? I'd like to go to school and run errands without people wondering where's my parent.
    Thanks
    Tiffany

    Posted 5.18.16 Reply
  39. Laura Larghetti wrote:

    you both look amazing!
    lovely style!
    Agoprime – More than a fashion blog

    Posted 5.18.16 Reply
  40. Trang Do wrote:

    Love your skirt so much! You both looks so beautiful!
    Xoxo,
    Love from http://www.trangscorner.com {a lifestyle, fashion, beauty, and food blog}

    Posted 5.18.16 Reply
  41. cristina dinescu wrote:

    Never quite understood how a shirt and jacket on a man matches a summer top or strapless dress on a woman warmth wise. It seems the poor woman always needs to risk pneumonia in order to look pretty, while the man's chest is protected by a layer of cotton and a jacket. Love the skirt though

    Posted 5.18.16 Reply
  42. Doreen's Style Diary wrote:

    I love wearing white outfits for Summer. Your crochet skirt is gorgeous.
    http://doreensstylediary.com

    Posted 5.17.16 Reply
  43. Genevive n wrote:

    Love that skirt!! You look so gorgeous in all these photos!

    xx Genevive
    http://www.genevivelaurenn.com

    Posted 5.17.16 Reply
  44. Maria Abad wrote:

    Love the back of the top and how subtle your skirt is and Nick looks flawless with that suit, I may need to get Will to try one, xx Maria http://mariaonpoint.com/

    Posted 5.17.16 Reply
  45. Deasy Noel wrote:

    You guys look stunning, like models!!! Nick seriously dresses so well, and I love that he puts the effort into coordinating with you 🙂

    http://www.deasynoel.com

    Posted 5.17.16 Reply
  46. Jennifer Palumbo wrote:

    I was curious to see what you would say about express sizing since I have NEVER been able to find anything from there that has fit off the rack as a fellow petite. Sounds like you also couldn't fit in off the rack sizing as well. Unfortunately they run so big it seems!

    Posted 5.17.16 Reply
  47. Jubetanya LeSar wrote:

    Love it!! Just purchased the skirt!

    Posted 5.17.16 Reply
  48. Avanti Garde wrote:

    Great images! Love what you are both wearing.

    Avanti
    xxx
    avantigarde.wordpress.com

    Posted 5.17.16 Reply
  49. THE NEON FACTOR | Diana wrote:

    So chic and cute.
    || D I A N A ||
    http://www.TheNeonFactor.com

    Posted 5.17.16 Reply

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