Details: Alfred Sung blouse, Ralph Lauren skirt, Rebecca Minkoff belt
Thoughts: Guys, I am obsessed with this vintage Alfred Sung blouse! No, but for real. It’s so good! Look at that mixed floral/plaid pattern. Look at those rich jewel tone colours. And it’s silk! Of course, my reflex was to pair it with my favourite plaid skirt and, of course, it looked great. I’ve been saving this blouse all summer and patiently waiting for fall because the colour palette feels so autumnal to me. I managed to get to the end of August until my patience ran out. Can you blame me though?
Details: Eddie Bauer sweater, Banana Republic Factory jeans, J. Crew shoes, Coach bag
Thoughts: Another one of my favourite things at the moment is this nautical sweater. I keep telling people not to sleep on vintage Eddie Bauer, sweaters especially. I love the cotton ones because they’re great for transitional weather; you can wear them when it’s 15-18 degrees (Celsius) and they’re the right weight — warm but not too warm. And Eddie Bauer had some great patterns/designs, like this one. I decided to stick with the classic colour palette, and added jeans and a matching bag. I got quite a few compliments on this outfit, even though it’s incredibly basic.
Details: ElevenParis tee, YSL skirt, Blank NYC jacket, Marc by Marc Jacobs bag, Ash sneakers
Thoughts: I was amused by this image — Saint Kate? LOL! — and for $5, I decided to indulge myself even though I don’t buy graphic tees a lot anymore. For this outfit, I played up a vaguely grungy vibe with a plaid skirt and leather jacket.
Details: Ardene tee, Wilfred dress, Ralph Lauren shirt, Pelican Cove vest, Fluevog shoes
Thoughts: I guess I am now fully committed to a 90s revival. Finding this silk satin slip dress sealed the deal. [Unintentional tongue twister, sorry!] The next logical step was to get a white baby tee and … voila! I’ve joked before that my 90s obsession is a way of healing my adolescent fashion trauma; my family was poor when I was a teenager, and I could not afford to wear all the cool things back then. Now, I can buy to my heart’s content, the second time around. But there is another dimension to this: body image trauma. I was deeply insecure about my body growing up; my relationship with my body was so deeply toxic that it ended up in body dysmorphia and an eating disorder. There were certain things — like cropped tees and slip dresses — that I could never have worn back then, even if I could afford them. It has taken decades of self-work and healing, but I am now at a point where I feel comfortable enough in my own body to wear anything I like. It is ironic, I suppose, that this inner freedom came at a time when, by society’s standards, my body is past its “peak” of physical beauty or whatever. But, at the same time, I see it as a hopeful thing. It’s never too late to reclaim your own power.
Details: Wilfred top, vintage skirt, J. Crew shoes
Thoughts: Rainbow brite aesthetic fully engaged! For me, colour is like a shot of adrenaline straight into the happiness-receptor of the heart. Listen, I just made that up and there is a reason I never attempted med school. What I’m saying is, colour is an instant mood-lifter and some days we need all the help we can get and it’s perfectly okay.
Details: AllSaints blouse, Roksanda skirt, Rebecca Minkoff belt, Manolo Blahnik shoes
Thoughts: This is such a great skirt and I’m still chuffed to have found it. The thrift gods still smile upon me from time to time. Well, I’m not complaining. This entire outfit is thrifted and while it’s taken me years to assemble it (the shoes are the oldest, from 2014), it’s been worth the wait. And the journey was fun. Thrifting is always fun. Having a wardrobe that 20-year-old me couldn’t have even fathomed? Priceless.
Details: Wilfred top, Toni T dickie, Gap pants, Manolo Blahnik shoes
Thoughts: More of my black-and-white pattern extravaganza nonsense. At this point, I just enjoy pulling out b&w pieces from my closet and throwing them together in ever-wilder combinations. Like, I think I need to keep a separate corner reserved just for this. I don’t pull these outfits out often, but at least once a month, one has to happen. They’re very much the opposite of my rainbow outfits, but equally fun.
Details: Ralph Lauren shirt, Mexx vest, Ines de la Fressange x Uniqlo pants, J. Crew shoes
Thoughts: It can’t be an outfit round-up without at least one Ralph Lauren-inspired fit, right? Well, here you are. Fin!
Some wonderful pieces and great combinations – as usual for you! That Alfred Sung top is _amazing_! Not sure I would have been able to hold off that long 🙂 And I still think that Roksana skirt is so cool – love how the patterns there play off the ruffles on the top you wore with it. Thanks again for so much inspiration!
Thank you, Bekah!