What I Wore: October 2024, part four

Details: Bozzolo top (retail), Pelican Cover shirt, Jil Sander coat, Emmanuel belt, Ralph Lauren skirt, Storey’s shoes (all thrifted), Dooney bag (Poshmark)

Thoughts: Trying out olive green paired with camel, and I think I’m a fan. Layered outfits like this one represent my favourite styling approach for cool weather dressing. A relatively lightweight cashmere jacket can be sufficiently warm when paired with 2-3 thinner layers (cotton and wool, ideally). I will go to any lengths to minimize the amount of time I need to spend swaddled in my heavy-duty coats … and layering doesn’t require me to take too drastic measures. Plus, it allows me to wear more of my clothes, which is a bonus because I have a lot of clothes to wear 😉

Details: French Connection sweater, DKNY blazer, Gap belt, Calvin Klein jeans, vintage bag (all thrifted), Mia shoes (retail)

Thoughts: This might seem a relatively basic outfit — minimal layering involved, simple colour palette — but I loved how beautifully all the individual pieces came together. The wood bead necklace and the bag tie everything together, and also provide visual interest. Something for the eye to pause upon and delight in. Which is the only way I can embrace any semblance of minimalism.

Details: Ralph Lauren sweater & trench, Do+Be skirt, Storey’s shoes (all thrifted)

Thoughts: Still rocking this leopard print skirt and having fun exploring its styling possibilities. This time, I paired it with brown-and-cream stripes. I’m trying to stay away from using too much black in these outfits, because I want to dial back the contrast. (A black bag was my sole exception, and a special one at that as this is one of my mom’s old bags.) To create depth and richness, I mixed different shades in the same colour family: dark brown and camel; cream and beige.

Details: J. Crew shirt, Lord & Taylor sweater, Gap jacket, Fossil belt, Eddie Bauer pants (all thrifted)

Thoughts: The idea behind this outfit was pretty simple: brown and blue (one of my fave combos) and textural contrast. Again, you’ll notice that I mixed 2 different shades: light blue and cerulean; chocolate brown and whiskey brown. I think this helps make the outfit “pop” more than sticking to a strictly binary colour scheme, but still creates the impression of a harmonious minimalist palette.

Details: Jeanne Pierre sweater, DKNY blazer, Dolce & Gabbana skirt (all thrifted), Manolo Blahnik shoes (eBay)

Thoughts: I don’t buy (or wear) knee-length pencil skirts these days, but I had to make an exception for this one because I could not resist that beautiful tulip pattern. (It was an exception in more ways than one, because I also don’t usually buy or support D&G as a brand. I have mixed feelings about making that exception, but ultimately decided to go ahead since I was not directly putting money into the brand’s hands.) I paired it with a vintage longline blazer and sleeveless turtleneck for a look that, to me, feels very “Y2K corporate chic”. I have a nostalgic appreciation for it, but I am not sure if it feels very “me”. Next time, I think I’m going to try adjusting the proportions of the skirt, probably by rolling the waistband a little bit so the hem comes up above the knee. I don’t want to permanently commit to making it a mini skirt, however; it’s possible that I’ll come back around to knee-length skirts again in the future, or else I may pass it on to someone who prefers it as-is.

Details: Club Monaco turtleneck (retail), Danier vest, Kate Hewko skirt, Ermo bag, Ann Marino shoes (all thrifted

Thoughts: Here is another red and navy pairing, with plum picking up a minor supporting role. That would be the turtleneck, which I assure you is not black, though it may look like it is. In fact, the only black to be found in this outfit is on my feet; these shoes are black and navy, which is a handy combination for footwear (much like brown and black) because it allows one to wear the said footwear with either colour as the base neutral. The star attraction, however, is that fabulous vintage suede vest (featuring my new favourite shade of red) and that no less fabulous velvet bag (ditto).

Details: vintage sweater, Danier jacket, Donna Karan belt (all thrifted), Banana Republic pants (retail)

Thoughts: More vintage suede! I love the cut of this jacket — it’s serving some Jackie O vibes, I think. I didn’t want to go full “first lady” mode with this outfit, so I paired the jacket with pieces that have a more casual vibe thanks to their fabrics (corduroy and chenille). The palette is, once again, mostly brown — in different shades, natch, to keep things interesting as well as cohesive. That cream belt came in clutch, and not for the first time — nor last, I should imagine.