Over the Rainbow

I was inspired to thrift this Gap sweater by one of my favourite Instagrammers (@nitrochique) who has some amazing rainbow sweaters in her closet. [Which I want to steal in its entirety, ahem.] I’m not a huge fan of stripes for myself – I know that’s weird, am I even a blogger if I don’t love stripes? – but I could not resist this piece. It’s so playful. I am pretty committed to my Corporate Noir thing, but I do like a bit of playfulness now and then. This was, in other respects, a fairly “safe” outfit – just added some black jeans, and one of my ubiquitous leather jackets. Oh, and I cannot fail to mention by new-to-me Everlane shoes; I have been looking for a pair of simple, black lace-up oxfords for ages, and this pair fits the bill to a T. I am in love!

Notes: Gap sweater (thrifted, $5); BlankNYC jacket (thrifted, $7); Mother jeans (thrifted, $9.5); Everlane shoes (thrifted, $10); Mulberry bag (eBay, $600).

Leather, Pleats

You guys know how much I love (p)leather, so of course this Zara skirt is now a favourite. Last time I wore it, I paired it with a contrast colour (burgundy). This time, I decided to go for a neutral … with a twist. The back of this Moth sweater picks up some of the green of the skirt, and it’s also just a lot of fun. I added the green Jimmy Choo shoes because (a) it’s been far too long since I’ve worn them (and green leopard print deserves more time in the spotlight), and (b) they are also green. Once I go the matchy-matchy route, I tend to double down.

Notes: Moth sweater (thrifted, $8.50); Zara skirt (thrifted, $11); Jimmy Choo shoes (eBay, $130).

Leather Skirt Encore

Speaking of leather skirts, I simply had to get this Club Monaco number. It’s a totally different silhouette, after all. And besides, one cannot have too many leather pieces. Someone on IG commented that this was a very Joan Watson outfit, and I nearly died and went to sartorial heaven. Personally, I just dig all the different textures represented here; they add depth and visual interest, while hewing to a pretty minimalist colour palette.

Notes: Aritzia sweater (retail, $135); Cartonnier jacket (thrifted, $20); Club Monaco skirt (thrifted, $6.50); Tory Burch boots (thrifted, $20); Rebecca Minkoff bag (thrifted; $10).

The Birds

I think I’ve spoken of my inexplicable obsession with crane/heron prints. It all started with a Gucci outfit, years ago. I’ve never seen anything that comes close to replicating the gloriousness of the original, but this Anthropologie tunic is quite lovely. It is, indeed, a dress not a top but because it’s a very fine (unlined) silk, it’s easy enough to tuck in as a top. I still haven’t quite figured out how to wear it as a dress; it’s a little bit sheer, so it needs an underlayer, but it’s also quite snug in the hips so there isn’t a lot of room for maneuvering. It might work with black tights or leggings, but that wouldn’t work for the office so … this will do, for now.

Notes: Anthropologie dress (secondhand, $36); Aritzia pants (thrifted, $8); Cole Haan shoes (thrifted, $10); Kenneth Cole necklace (thrifted, $3.50)

The Iconoclast

Thrifting a piece from a designer you admire or covet is always extra special. Jil Sander, along with Dries Van Noten, Marni and a handful of others, falls into that category for me. So you can imagine my delight in finding not one but two pieces from her label: this beautiful wool-camel blend coat, and the matching maxi skirt. My delight was tempered somewhat by my realization that the skirt was too snug; but the jacket fits like a dream, and I couldn’t leave its pair behind. Hey, miracles do happen, right? Anyway, in honour of the jacket, I wanted to put together a very classic casual outfit. This was the result. Camel always looks so good next to light-wash denim, and I kept the colour palette light by staying away from black (except for the accessories). I loved how this all came together.

Notes: Jil Sander coat, (thrifted, $10); Aritzia sweater (thrifted, $8.50); no name white top (thrifted, $7); AG jeans (thrifted, $9.50); Everlane shoes (thrifted, $10); Rebecca Minkoff bag (thrifted, $10).

11 Comments on What I Wore: April 29-May 10, 2019

  1. I love every single thing about the first outfit–it just makes me happy!

    In other news, I dipped my toe into the thrifting pool for the very first time this weekend. I’ve been wanting to go for years, inspired by your blog, but living in DC without a car and not particularly near any thrift stores has made that challenging. It was a slightly disappointing experience, especially because I expected *something* exciting in the wealthy DC suburb I was in, and the prices on Forever 21, H&M, and the like seemed outrageous. I left empty-handed this time, but I do hope to go again soon (maybe first thing in the morning before the “good stuff” gets picked over? Have you noticed a difference in your success based on the time of day?) Thanks for the inspiration! I love seeing (and coveting) the stuff you find!

    Also, I can’t wait for your post on GOT…if you aren’t too upset to write one. The optimism I held onto all season has finally vanished. Sigh.

    • Going first thing in the morning, if you can, does help a bit. But turnover is constant and the best stuff does get snapped up very quickly. So, sadly, the best way to increase your chances is to go often. Otherwise, you just have to mentally prepare that it could be a bust. I go all the time and I still leave empty handed often. But good luck!!! I hope the next time you go will be better/more fun.

      Re GoT: I was prepared for the episode because the leaks turned out to be 100% true, though I kept hoping against hope that something would change. I’ll probably write about it – not necessarily the show itself but the experience of watching it as a book fan.

    • Lauren, I live in the DC area too, and have gotten all my best thrift finds in the close-in Maryland suburbs (and not the fancy ones!) If you can get short-term access to a car (zipcar, etc, or take Lyft/Uber) it’s worth a trip to the Unique Thrift and Value Village double location on New Hampshire Avenue in Silver Spring. It’s two stores, one stop. I’ve found some great stuff there, like a James Perse dress, multiple Anthropologie blouses, and a no-name but beautiful pleated silk skirt.

      The Value Village in College Park (inside the Beltway) is also very good. And have you tried Frugalista in Mt. Pleasant? I have not been there in several years, but it used to be good and the Yelp reviews are still positive. I’m going to revisit it soon.

  2. That striped sweater is just so cute! I love it both with and without the jacket.

    I also really like how you’ve added your ‘notes’ for each outfit.I am coveting your Cartonnier jacket with the furry top but I do feel that you need short hair to pull it off (or end up with knots in the back of your hair). So yet again, I’ll live vicariously through your fashion!

    • Very true re fur collar. Unless you wear your hair up? But I’ve been thinking about cutting mine again, so this isn’t helping, haha!

  3. That crane print is gorgeous! I like that it’s a larger scale so it feels more like a painting or tapestry than a print. The geometric gold statement necklace works really well with it too.

  4. Love that you’re giving the costs. It’s inspiring to see what’ someone can get in the thrift world for not a lot of money.

    • I thought it might be interesting, especially to see that it’s possible build a professional/biz caz wardrobe through thrifting.