Culotte Chic

I have been getting more and more interested in vintage clothing, especially stuff from the late 80s and 90s. A lot of it is coming back in style/trending right now, and the quality is far superior to what you can find at trendy retailers like Zara and Simmons. Take these high waisted culottes. The tailoring is wonderful – the pleating, front and back, is truly a work of art. They are made out of mid-weight wool that has structure to it but doesn’t feel stiff. They were made in Canada by a brand called Aljean; my guess is sometime in the 80s. They have held up so, so well and fit my current aesthetic perfectly. I tend to wear pants less frequently these days, unless it’s pants that look like skirts. The high waisted silhouette goes well with a cropped jacket, like this ruffled Tabitha number. Overall, this is a simple outfit, but it’s the special details that make it, well, fun.

Notes: Floreat top (thrifted, $6); Tabitha jacket (thrifted, $7); Aljean pants (thrifted, $6.50); Poppy Barley shoes (thrifted, $25); Rafael Canada necklace (eBay, $60).

Rethinking Gingham

I know I said I don’t wear pants very often these days — literally above — but last week was an exception, okay? I am loving the pleating details of this Deletta top at the moment. I usually find gingham too “sweet”, but this black and white version doesn’t strike me as such. To match its avante-garde(ish) vibe, I paired it with this softly structured boucle Derek Lam jacket. The top also inspired the choice of colour palette: black, white and red. Not cutting edge but always a reliable standby.

Notes: Deletta top (consignment, $11); Derek Lam jacket (thrifted, $12); Aritzia pants (thrifted $8); J. Crew shoes (retail, $80).

Weekend Wear Woes

I have to admit to struggling lately with my weekend wear. I used to rock casual looks the last couple of winters, but since I’ve stopped wearing jeans as often, I feel like I’ve fallen into a rut. I can certainly layer up dresses and skirts to make them weather appropriate for my needs (I am rarely outside for very long), but I find it difficult to make them look interesting; at the end of the day, all you can really see is the massive coat on top. Blogger problems, y’all. Anyway, this outfit was clearly me giving up on that task and embracing what I know well: a fun outfit with jeans.

Notes: Monogram sweater (thrifted, $7); AG jeans (thrifted, $9.50); Amaryllis coat (retail, $36); Nordstrom Rack earrings (retail, $30); Arnold Churgin boots (thrifted, $20).

8 Comments on What I Wore: November 12-17, 2019

  1. I love, love, LOVE your first outfit! Those culottes! And the icy blue colors of your top & blazer! Perfection!

  2. I’ve tried on a couple of black and white gingham shirts at the Goodwill in the past month or two. I passed on both. After seeing this styled with the white jacket and red shoes, I wish I would of snatched one of them up.

    • I think there’s something about the scale of the print too that makes it work better for me than most gingham – like, it’s a larger print than typical. I dunno. But it’s making me re-think gingham.

  3. This is a random comment for this entry, but connects to earlier ones! This fabulous blog entry https://www.secretlifeofaseamstress.com/blog?month=08-2018

    has an interesting take on the issue of avatars – not exactly “who are you today” but “who do you need to be today”. I have had a hard time getting in touch with my avatars, which is interesting since I always know what I want to wear, but her take on it is a little easier for me to access. I’m getting there with avatars though; one is definitely hippie girl, and one is High Counselor … and we’ll see what else is in there!

  4. Just sitting over here, APPLAUDING, Adinaj!!
    Well done times THREE!!!

    Love that you’re finding appreciation and inspiration from more-recent vintage clothes: couldn’t agree more that the quality (both in fabric and workmanship) is eons better than what we are served with today.

    Merci!