Leather Sneaker Style at the DC Cherry Blossoms

I’m working on a full post recapping our Washington D.C. visit, but here’s a few favorite photos from the trip! We got lucky and timed our visit just right with cherry blossom peak bloom days. Walking around the Tidal Basin reservoir under sweeping branches dripping with blossoms was magical, especially with historic national monuments peeking through. It got super crowded there during the day, but our hotel was just a 10 minute walk away, so it was easy to stroll over during more peaceful morning hours!

This is an outfit thrown together out of practicality, since we had several miles of walking on the agenda each day. I typically would not reach for sneakers with a midi skirt, but ended up loving the look as something different from my usual! I wore a nursing tank top underneath, and knotted a tee shirt over it to “dress down” my pleated skirt. See below for some more affordable alternatives to my woven sneakers that range from $60 to $140 (most start in sz 5):

This Express faux leather moto jacket was the perfect topper for carrying through a casual chic vibe from the platform sneakers. I’ve been wearing it on repeat, so keep an eye out for more photos coming soon! I absolutely love the fit of this jacket, everywhere except for sleeve length. It’s a slim, shrunken fit style and hits me at a great spot by my waist. I have the excess sleeve length folded under in these photos, and will have my tailor shorten them my next visit. I also tried on the black color in this jacket which is a classic, while the light gray is more soft and feminine.

A little backstory on this beautiful scene ~ In 1910, Japan sent the United States a gift of 2,000 cherry blossom trees. But upon arrival, it was discovered that the trees had an insect infestation and all had to be burned! Two years later, Japan gifted another 3,000 trees, many of which were planted around the D.C. Tidal Basin and bloom for the annual cherry blossom festival there today.