What I Wore: August 2021, part 1

Birthday Girl

I had big plans for my 40th birthday party last year, which of course fell victim to the Big Pandemonium. I was looking forward to a chance at a do-over in 2021, but it wasn’t meant to be. This year, my birthday came and went largely uncelebrated; depression and grief do not make for a festive mood. I had planned to wear the outfit above, even if for nothing more extravagant than a simple backyard family do; I am a big believer, after all, in the magic of clothes — their ability to create the right atmosphere, to cheer up, to fire the imagination, no matter the surroundings. But when the day came, I couldn’t muster the energy. I couldn’t do it. Instead, I eventually talked myself into something simpler, keeping only the one special item I had been saving for the occasion: the vintage embellished bustier top. It didn’t bring me the joy I had hoped it would, but I am glad that I wore it because it deserves to be seen. Some day soon, I hope I’ll get to wear it again, with my whole heart behind it.

Rainbow Parade

One of my favourite ways to get extra mileage out of dresses is by wearing them as skirts. This particular dress lends itself to many layering possibilities, and this was only my first attempt. I kept it summery (by necessity, it’s still quite hot here) with a light cotton top, but just wait until I can bring my full arsenal to the table. The game will be properly on!

Mom Jeans, Circa 2021

I’ve been looking for a pair of “mom jeans” for a while, and my search wasn’t made easier by the lack of changing rooms in thrift stores these days. It’s hard to gauge how pants/jeans will fit, beyond the sizing itself, without trying them on. Luckily, these Oak & Fort jeans are pretty darn good. They’ve got the pegged leg that I wanted, plus some subtle pleating in the front, plus a sufficiently high rise (that still accommodates my bum). Because I am petite-sized (on my bottom half) and a pear shape, mom jeans can be tricky to style in ways that are conventionally “flattering” aka don’t make me look stumpy; I find that emphasizing the waist and wearing some sort of small heel helps. That’s what I tried to do here (plus added some contrast patterns on top for visual interest). That being said, I am not too worried about figure flattery in general, and I like playing with proportions and silhouettes, so these pants should be a fun addition to my closet.

Letting the Inner Weirdo Out

I mean … sometimes you just gotta wear things that make you smile, even if no one else is amused. My brain is tickled by the fact that all these pieces are random except for being monochromatic yet somehow they all work together in a Lydia Deetz kind of way; it’s chaotic but with some method in the madness. Would that make it “lawful chaotic”? Anyway, my favourite part may be all the different textures happening here on top of the pattern play. I’ve been missing all my sweaters, so I took advantage of a cooler morning to sneak in a cardigan, and it was a solid choice.