Blazer, MaxMara (thrifted); sweater, Selected Femme; pants, Aritzia (thrifted); shoes, Jimmy Choo (via eBay); bag, Gucci (via consignment)
Blazer, MaxMara (thrifted); sweater, Selected Femme; pants, Aritzia (thrifted); shoes, Jimmy Choo (via eBay); bag, Gucci (via consignment)
The title says it all: pretty simple. But I felt so comfortable wearing this, you guys. I felt polished but understated, which is slowly becoming my preferred sartorial “message”. I’ve said this before: separating my love of colours from my personal style has not always been easy. I love colour, and I even love wearing bold colours, but not necessarily in the way that I used to. But after wearing outfits like this one, it’s hard to deny what the heart wants.

The colour here is obviously muted, but can I just mention how much I love the green of this sweater? The label called it “thistle”, which I also love. (I have an odd fondness for thistles.) Though I very rarely buy clothes at regular retail stores, I couldn’t resist this Selected Femme piece at Saks Off Fifth. It’s not a brand I knew before, but it’s something I’d definitely look for at thrift stores in the future. The funnel-like neck (wider than a mock turtleneck) is so chic, and gives it a bit of that effortless Euro appeal I’m always chasing.

green shoes for the win
green shoes for the win

muted palette
muted palette
Speaking of colour, a funny story. I recently discovered that I experience Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) — and fell into the, hands down, strangest internet rabbit hole ever, but that’s another story. I have been experiencing ASMR for as long as I can remember, but I had not realized, until that point, that it was a “thing” or that only some people experience it. That got me thinking about other everyday sensory experiences that one might have without realizing that they are unusual. While I am not a synesthete (though I think that would be super cool), I do have really strong emotional/physical reactions to colours. The reactions are very shade-specific; certain reds feel suffocating/oppressive to me, for example, while others are cheerful. Salmon pink makes me feel irritated, while fuchsia makes me feel excited. Some blues are soothing, others are depressing. I am thinking of making of list of the feelings associated with each of my favourite colours, so I can see if I can manipulate my mood by strategically deploying them in my outfits.

Does anyone else associated colours with certain moods or feelings? Any synesthetes in the crowd? I’d love to hear about your experiences.

simple but effective
simple but effective

relaxed business
relaxed business

8 Comments on Pretty Simple

    • I’m still trying to figure out all of the things that trigger ASMR for me. I know I have experienced it most often at the hair salon and getting my make-up done. I think it’s interesting that different people are triggered by different things …

  1. I haven’t discovered any ASMR in my life, but I find it fascinating. I had a roommate who had ordinal personification synesthesia – so numbers had personalities. That was a super fun one.

    • That’s fascinating! It reminds of a cartoon my kids used to watch when they were little – Charlie and the Numbers. Each number had a personality. I wonder if the creator of that cartoon also experienced ordinal personification synesthesia. In any case, it’s amazing how our brains work.

  2. Wow, I had no idea it had a name. My brother has it with soft typing sounds, though he never fully described the sensation. I’ve just realized that I also experience it, but with different triggers. Getting my hair cut is one. I’ll have to start paying attention to when it happens.

    When I was around 5-6, I experienced Alice in Wonderland Syndrome. Upon waking I’d have a sense of velocity that was incredibly uncomfortable. Everything around me was moving much faster than normal and any movement I made heightened the sensation. I’d just lay there, as still as possible, waiting for it to go away. I never said anything to anyone and only found out that it is a “thing” within the last few years.

    I also have an interactive relationship with color. My house definitely reflects this. What I like to live with and what I like to wear aren’t necessarily the same. I have a particular loathing for flesh-toned items, like band-aids. Makes me shudder.

    I wonder what other, undiscovered, quirks my brain has!

    • My most common experiences with ASMR are also at the hair salon. I think some of my triggers are the sound of hairspray spritzing, and light touching of my hair.

      I have never heard of Alice in Wonderland Syndrome — that’s very cool, although I can imagine it being super uncomfortable.

  3. I have grapheme synesthesia, I strongly associate numbers and letters with colours. If I’m a bit tired I can also “see” sounds and “hear” colours and light, but I think maybe everyone gets that.

  4. I’d never heard of ASMR before. I have strong likes/dislikes of certain color shades, but think that may just be me being opinionated, haha!
    I also love the ‘thistle’ color of your sweater. I have a sweater in a similar shade and am always on the lookout for more clothing items in that range.