Here we are: the final “best of” post for the year. I promise. These posts may not be what y’all are dying to see, but they’re probably better than another gift guide you don’t need, so let’s look on the bright side. Plus, collages are fun, aren’t they? Let’s look at some:

I can’t tell you how pleased I am with how this one turned out; there is nice cohesion amidst all the chaos of colour and patterns.

This is slightly less cohesive, but I loved these outfits too and had to make sure they got featured.

Let’s have a closer look now.

Long hemlines, interesting patterns, texture galore.

Long column skirts, again. A trend you will see over and over. Despite all of the upheavals in my life this year, my closet was strangely not a battleground. There were no sartorial identity crises. I bought and wore things that brought me joy without overthinking any of it too much; it’s funny how consistent my tastes proved to be. Which, in retrospect, was probably not a coincidence. Through everything that happened this year, I have never felt more confident in knowing who I am.

This length of skirts is also, clearly, acceptable.

Layered looks, especially with pants, were also my jam.

More maxi skirts and dresses. Hey, look, my favourite belt!

2021 was the year of colour. My brain craved colour. I still do. In my art and in my clothes, colour makes me happy.

Which is not to say that I don’t enjoy a monochromatic look; though, in 2021, that meant black and white, rather than pure black. I especially like mixing patterns and textures in a B&W palette. Very contrast-y and fun.

But I also had some softer neutral outfits that I quite enjoyed.

Big fan of plaids of all stripes (no pun intended).

Aqua blue, in its various shades, was a big closet trend for me this year.

I had some good “casual” outfits too. Didn’t wear jeans a lot this year (pants, in general, are not my go-to) but I did enjoy culottes of varying descriptions.

These are a bit more of a mish-mash of outfits, but on the whole, pretty reflective of my style this year. Prints and colours ruled supreme.

Last but not least, tulle. Tulle is a great cheerer-upper (not a word, don’t care).

I haven’t tried to analyze my outfits too much in relation to my style avatars, but I think that if I were to do that, they would align quite well. On the whole, because I feel like I have a very good handle on my style, I don’t think about my avatars as often as I used to; I do find it helpful to revisit them once or twice a year, while looking at the seasonal runway collections, in order to get new ideas for colour, silhouette, and pattern combinations. Otherwise, they’re at the back of my mind, but not front and centre if you know what I mean.

I do find that, as the year closes, my closet is in need of some editing. There has been a lot of accumulation lately, and I’m running out of room. The problem is … I like everything. Deciding what to keep and what to let go is harder than in the past. But … that’s a 2022 problem 😉

Happy holidays and a wonderful New Year!

Cozy Reds

I really loved this outfit, even though the colour palette is warmer than my usual. In the past, I’ve tended to stick with blue-toned reds, or poppy red; this brickish shade is a recent discovery. It pairs really well with other warm colours. The outfit is a bit “thrown together” but it’s the colours that pull it all together and make it seem like I made an effort. I love that for this time of year – minimal effort is my only speed right now.

A Little Bit of Nostalgia

The kids call this Twinset fur collar my “lady beard”. It is a name that has stuck (my husband has adopted it) and will likely never go away. Oh well. I still like it. And it seemed like a good match for this Pulp Fiction sweatshirt I thrifted a while back. Now, if I could only find a Moulin Rouge sweatshirt, to go along with this one and the Romeo+Juliet one, my 90s movie nostalgia collection will be complete.

Cat’s Meow

I love doing low-key festive looks, but this is probably more on-the-nose than most. Is there anything more Christmassy than red and green? It’s a combination I usually avoid for that reason, but this pairing is solid. I think it’s because the greens in the skirt are darker shades. Plus, cats! The fact that it appears as though one of the kitties is playing with my sparkly necklace (one of my Xmas presents last year) is just *chef’s kiss*.

Clowning Around

I hate clowns. Hate them. But apparently, I enjoy dressing like one. I was going to suggest that this discovery may lead me to reevaluate my feelings about clowns but … nah. Clowns are creepy forever. But this dress is super fun, even if I can’t quite zip it all the way up. I will have to figure out clever ways to wear this without the back showing. Never fear, I have some ideas.

Lanvin Love

I keep meaning to wear this dress and putting it off because it seems like it would be a production, when in reality … it’s not. It’s easy enough to wear as long as you get used to the enhanced dimensions; it’s kind of like wearing a crinoline, I imagine. You just have to navigate doors more carefully to avoid getting snagged on things. But is it ever a lovely dress! I added pants because it’s cold and because I like that layered look, and it was such a fun outfit.

Sequins to the Max(i)

I can’t say that MICHAEL Michael Kors clothing is usually my jam, but this skirt was a definite “yes” for obvious reasons. Sequins. And not just any sequins. Sequins that look like molten metal when they move, which is extra cool. Plus, it’s a jersey knit skirt with an elastic waist which means that while it looks fancy AF, it’s actually a glorified pyjama sack. Love that for me.

Velvet to the Max(i) Too

Velvet is my other current obsession, and this skirt is everything I love in, well, skirts. It’s long, and column-like, and has a sexy (but not inconvenient) slit. It also goes with so many things! Like this alpaca wool cottagecore cardigan. I couldn’t resist getting it because I liked the sweet floral pattern, and the wool felt nice and substantial (it’s so heavy!), but I am not a dedicated lover of cottagecore. Trying to figure out how to style it for me, I hit upon the idea of pairing with velvet, and it was just the ticket. It’s a traditional pairing — skirt and cardigan — but feels unexpectedly fresh to me in this iteration.

Low Key Festive

Someone laughed (virtually) when I wrote on IG that this was my version of low key festive — because, hello, we are talking about sequins here — but it’s true. For me, this IS low key. The colours are subdued and there is only one pattern. What made it “me” is the mix of textures and the silhouette. I used my H&M maxi dress, unbuttoned, as a duster-style coat and I am quite pleased with the result.

That’s a Wrap!

I gave up on wrap dresses years ago; the silhouette isn’t my style, and I found them difficult to wear because the front would often gape on me. Still, I decided to pick up with DVF wrap dress at the thrifts recently for 2 reasons: one, I liked the colours and pattern; two, it’s sweater wrap dress. I was intrigued. I think it fits me fairly well, and while I don’t adore this length on me as a general rule (I like longer), I don’t hate it either. With tights and a mesh turtleneck underneath, it’s quite transformed. The colour palette is divine, especially paired with a blue (the necklace), so I will be thinking of other ways to mix it up.