Red satin jabot blouse with oxblood leather shorts

A red satin blouse with the shoulders of a jacket: padded, raised and gathered at the sleeve head, then long fitted sleeves to the wrist. At the neck a high tie collar falls into a cascading jabot ruffle that runs past the waistband. It tucks into high-waisted oxblood leather shorts cut like trousers, with belt loops, a fly front and a pressed seam down each leg.

Two reds that are almost the same and not quite, which is the point. Bright satin on top, darker leather below, nothing else in the palette. It is a warm-day outfit for someone who will not give up leather: a glasshouse at noon, a long lunch, early autumn when the light is still hard. Pointed pumps or a block-heel sandal.

The greenhouse was thirty-five degrees. The leather stayed. I have priorities.