Details: Gap dress, Ralph Lauren turtleneck, Ports International blazer, Free People belt (all thrifted)
Thoughts: I love wearing this dress with a corduroy or tweedy blazer – the juxtaposition is just *chef’s kiss* to me. I ended up doing a bit of layering, Papa Ralph style. I prefer mixing my southwestern pieces (clothes and accessories) with preppier ones so I avoid a full-on cowgirl aesthetic, which isn’t really my vibe. I think this is the direction I am going to explore more this summer.
Details: Liz Claiborne dress (thrifted), Prairie Trail Good vest
Thoughts: I took advantage of the suddenly-hot weather to pull out my fave summer dress from hibernation. Fully leaning into the rainbow thing with this outfit, and I loved it. It’s been a while since I wore something so unabashedly colourful in public (blame winter) and I did have a moment of hesitation — would I stick out like a sore thumb? That’s the thing about owning your style; it takes practice being “brave”. I put that in quotes because I actually hate it when people say they’re not “brave enough” to wear something other than neutrals in public. You don’t need courage; you need practice. Sure enough, after 5 minutes, I felt at ease. It might take a bit longer if you’ve never done it before, but try it! Wear something that makes your heart sing even if it feels a bit risky.
Details: Mackage jacket, Twik tee, Zara boots (all thrifted), Gap skirt (swap)
Thoughts: Still loving this skirt! It’s forcing me to be a little more adventurous with my outfits, a little bit more streetstyle. It’s always good to push the boundaries of your comfort zone a little bit; it can lead to the opening up of new horizons and living in discovery is my motto. My fave part of this outfit is the bright magenta tights — such a fun element!
Details: Ines de la Fressange x Uniqlo shirt, Ralph Lauren vest, Topshop pants, Ferragamo shoes (all thrifted)
Thoughts: This was inspired by a Ralph Lauren-styled outfit in a recent Vogue magazine; it was the brooch-on-vest styling that intrigued me. The original inspo also involved a men’s tie, which I loved but found difficult to replicate. The ties I tried (from my husband’s collection) were all rather too long to tuck in without looking bulky. Alas. This worked really well too; I enjoyed this outfit a lot.
Details: Ralph Lauren jacket, Nocona belt, Margaret Godfrey skirt, Canadienne boots (all thrifted)
Thoughts: I’m taking another styling tip from Papa Ralph and experimenting with using scarves as a visual layer, specifically in place of a turtleneck or shirt collar. A pop of contrast colour at the neck — thanks to a small, light scarf — adds extra depth to the outfit. I loved how this tip elevated this outfit, and I’m planning a few more experiments in this line.