Favourite Purchases of the Summer

I thought it might be fun to do a little recap/lookback at pieces that I added to my closet this summer that proved to be “superstars”. Overall, I think I am getting better at choosing more “wins” than “fails” (even when it comes to pieces that are calculated risks, aka style experiments); that is definitely the case for Poshmark purchases, likely because I tend to sit with those decisions longer than my thrift ones. By its nature, thrifting does tend to encourage snap decisions, which is ones of its downsides. The mantra I’ve been repeating a lot lately is “if it’s not a Hell Yeah, it’s a No”.

Let’s look at some Hell Yeahs.

Gap Dress

I got this because I have a thing for early 2000s Gap, and the pattern (rose floral on a blue background) is catnip to me. Turns out, this dress is probably pre-2000 — even better!– and fits so much better than I could have imagined. The material is light and airy, perfect for hot summer days.

Patchwork jacket

For once, my obsessions overlap with current trends — I have been wanting a quilt patchwork jacket for ages, and finally got one courtesy of my very talented friend. It’s made from upcycled thrifted textiles, which is even better. The vibe fits perfectly into my Jo-March-on-the-prairies summer aesthetic. Although it might not look it, it’s super lightweight and the balloon sleeves allow for good ventilation, making it one of the few toppers appropriate for the warm August weather.

Lace skirt 

I “sat” on this Poshmark purchases for ages and ages, unsure if it was going to look nice in real life (the listing photos were poor). I’m glad I took a risk with it — thanks to a tempting price — because it’s absolutely perfect for my summer style. It allowed me to finally bring to life some outfits I had been dreaming about for a long time, influenced by (who else) some of my fave Ralph Lauren runway collections.

Max & Co magenta skirt

High waisted full skirts are my jam, and this one was extra special because of that gorgeous colour. I also thrifted a similar one in dark turquoise silk, but I think this one has the edge because of its material; I love the swishiness and feel of silk, but I prefer the more hard-wearing cotton fabric. High waisted skirts paired with crop tops has been one of my go-to outfit formulas this summer, and I think there is potential there to explore come fall as well.

Esprit belt + Turquoise belt 

I have been finding SO MANY amazing belts this summer, and they’ve become one of my favourite accessory. Almost all my outfits now include a belt — have you noticed that? Anyway, it was hard to pick which ones I like best, but I eventually narrowed it down to these two. The Esprit belt (left) is one of the most versatile; the brown colour works well with my summer clothes (better than black in most cases) and the buckle is just the right balance of versatile and statement. The vintage belt (right) was chosen as a sentimental favourite — I am obsessed with turquoise and silverwork.

Adriano Goldschmied jeans

I finally found the perfect pair of not-too-tight-not-too-loose broken-in boyfriend jeans … and found them in the light wash that best fits it with my summer aesthetic. They’re so soft and comfortable! I’ve barely worn any other jeans this summer.

Old Navy sandals

I really questioned my decision to buy Old Navy sandals on Poshmark, but I am so glad that I did. They’ve proven as versatile as I had hoped (you can spot them in a few of these photos, they’re the plain brown pair) and I’ve gotten lots of wear out of them. And I *still* haven’t seen a similar pair at the thrifts all season! If I had waited to thrift them, I would have been SOL.

Capelli bag

This was definitely a more frivolous purchase, but it brings me so much joy. It’s such a well-made bag, and the flowers are a lovely touch — not to mention, they pull in some of my favourite colours.

Max & Co green dress 

I got this dress fairly early in the season, and knew immediately that it was Peak Aesthetic. And so it was. It’s got that prairie/cottagecore vibe, plus it’s long and airy — two of my must-haves. I don’t love the feel of the material (it’s a kind of rough, synthetic crepe) or the quality (meh), but the style is perfection. I also think this will transition to fall easily — just imagine it with a velvet blazer.

Suttles vest

You guys know how much I love vests — they’re the perfect “third piece” for summer outfits — and this vintage patchwork number (see above) is the best one I thrifted this season. Plus, you guessed it: it’s gonna rock for fall too!

And there you have it: 10 recent purchases that have jazzed up my outfits this season. Speaking of which, next week let’s talk about the summer aesthetic and how that “journey” panned out.