Details: Ralph Lauren turtleneck & coat, Cotton Ginny belt, Modern Vice shoes (all secondhand), Banana Republic jeans (retail)
Thoughts: I had been meaning to wear this coat much earlier in the season, and various factors conspired against me. But when the opportunity finally came, I’m glad I went with an out-of-the-box pairing because I really like how well the striped turtleneck works here with the southwestern pattern of the coat. Surprisingly well, in fact. Southwestern patterns can sometimes feel a bit challenging to mix (I usually stick to solid colours) but this is a good reminder that they pair well with other geometric prints.
Details: Selected Femme sweater (retail), Escada blazer (thrift), Ralph Lauren skirt (swap), Chie Mihara shoes (thrift)
Thoughts: Remember my “villain colours”, green and purple? Here is a subtle version of that, with navy as a grounding neutral. It still feels badass, without any overt Joker vibes. Black wouldn’t have worked here; it would have “deadened” the other colours, which are relatively muted. Actually, I am wearing black shoes (because I don’t have any navy ones), but they are a relatively minor element here so my point still stands. Short skirt with long jacket is one of my tried-and-true outfit formulas; I enjoy these specific proportions a lot, provided that opaque tights are also involved. I think it’s because the tights helped to elongated the vertical line and, as someone with short legs, I appreciate that.
Details: Ralph Lauren turtleneck, Woolrich vest, Roolee dress, BR belt (all thrifted), Laredo boots (consignment)
Thoughts: Another successful pattern-mixing experiment, if I do say so myself. The vest and the dress were easy choices; in fact, I’m pretty sure I’ve worn them together before. I was initially stumped trying to select the 3rd piece; cream or black seemed too obvious and I wanted something more interesting. Finally, I thought to try the striped turtleneck, mostly because it has the same colours as the vest. And, lo and behold, it worked. Again. This turtleneck is proving to be a revelation.
Details: Toni T dickie, Everlane sweater, Gap jacket, Oak & Fort jeans (all thrifted), Coach bag (swap), Mia shoes (retail)
Thoughts: In some ways, this is a very simple outfit. We might even say it’s minimalist — for me, anyway. But I find it very satisfying despite its simplicity, and I think that’s because of the colour palette. Black and brown has been my favourite combo this season. Denim and a little pop of white add crispness.
Details: Talbots sweater, Malorie Urbanovich skirt (both thrifted), Stella & Dot necklace & bracelet (both Poshmark)
Thoughts: Another very autumnal outfit, and while it’s not my go-to colour palette at all, I enjoyed it a lot. It does get me thinking whether it’s time to part with this skirt, though. Objectively, it’s great. Great texture, great cut, nice details (I love the leather waistband and deep front pockets, plus it has a functional zipper all the way down the back). But the colour is not among my preferred shades of green; I think I look better in brighter, more jewel-toned greens. It might be why I haven’t worn this skirt very often in the last year or two. It’s hard to part with things I still like but not on me because … well, I still do like them. I may need to find this one a home with a friend I know will love it as much as I do.
Details: Mexx shirt, Ralph Lauren belt (both Poshmark), Twik pants (thrift), Chloe shoes (gift)
Thoughts: This outfit turned out to have a somewhat cowboy-esque flavour, and that wasn’t intentional. In retrospect, I should have picked a different belt to avoid that. This goes to show you how much impact a single accessory can have. But I’m not that mad about it., because I still like the outfit regardless. The shirt is the statement piece here, but don’t overlook those pants. They’re shaping up to be a real wardrobe staple. Watch this space and you will be seeing them quite a bit …
I am stunned sometimes by how much i love your style and how much I worry that it won’t work on a petite (5’2), roundish (size 12 with a belly, straight otherwise) frame. Any chance you could do a posting specifically focused on how you think about pattern matching and proportions?
Yes, absolutely! I think a post on pattern matching could have broader application, as my ideas about proportions are generally geared towards my own body shape and preferences (which is what I know best, haha!). Will add it to my list so keep an eye out in the coming months.