Hello, Fall, my Old Frenemy

Having lived in Edmonton for more than 20 years, I really shouldn’t have been surprised by this but and yet – here we go again. Fall came early, and I was agitated by that fact as I always am. Why, oh, WHY do you do this to us, Mother Nature? It’s not fair. Humph! *stomps feet like a toddler who didn’t get a cookie.

The upside is: hello, sweater season! Between now and (roughly) May next year, my outfits will lean heavily on the knit side. Good thing I just thrifted another one – I was fresh out and all that. (No I wasn’t.) I already owned this Sleeping on Snow cardigan in a different colorway, but I got this cream version anyway because it’s very pretty and I have no impulse control when it comes to Anthropologie, clearly. You are not surprised.

I ended up trying it with a few options, all of which turned out quite well, but this one (featuring the mustard yellow Tabitha dress I thrifted earlier this year) was the most striking. I don’t love the silhouette – it doesn’t really fit any of my style personas – but I cannot deny that it looks nice. I guess I’ll settle for that 😉

The Comfort Zone

This is more my speed, you guys. This part-cashmere Vince cardigan is all Grandpa Vibes, the culottes are surely something a Nancy Meyers heroine-of-a-certain-age would wear (so comfy! no fuss!) and did I mention that my necklace is Chico’s? I am menocore, and menocore is me. But here’s the question: is it trendy if a non-Millennial does it? Actually, on second thought, don’t tell me.

Fall Weekend

You know how people get upset with bloggers shilling fall clothes as soon as the calendar moves to September 1? I have the opposite problem of being irrationally upset when people point out that fall doesn’t start until September 21 or some such thing. TELL THAT TO MOTHER NATURE, KAREN! I think that memo got missed here somehow. Mornings are downright chilly these days – high 40s, low 50s (under 10 Celsius) – and I haaaaaate it. Especially because I fell out of the habit of wearing nylons this summer, and now I cannot being myself to go back to that torture.

But aaaaanyway … this outfit. An attempt to get jazzed about fall via layering. I do like a good layered outfit. This one was definitely good, what with a mix of all my fave things (cool print, chunky knit, leather jacket); also, fleece leggings are infinitely preferable to nylons so there’s that.

But still – fall, bah humbug!

Extra, Extra

I mean, come on. This AllSaints shirt is as extra as they come … and it’s fabulous. I knew it was a keeper as soon as I picked it up, without even seeing the label. I love the shape & volume of the neckline with the large rosettes creeping up the shoulder. I don’t typically do ruffles, but I was immediately drawn to the drama here. They don’t look particularly “cute” to me, which is key; I further de-twee-defied the look by adding these boyish cut trousers by COS, which just happen to be my current faves. They’re incredibly comfortable and easy to wear, and I am low-key panicking about finding a replacement pair soon, given my current frequency of wear. I also added my birthday earrings, because why not double down on big statements:

On Repeat/strong>

You guys know how much I love this dress, and here it is again. It’s a funky shape, for sure (you can see that better in this photos) but such a breeze to wear. I paired it with a fun, twisty necklace – it bends into any shape and can double as a fidget toy in a pinch.

Smoky

Not talking about the air quality around here (but also apt) – I’m talking about this Eileen Fisher top.Technically, it’s a wood grain print, but the colour paired with its filmy texture makes me think of swirls of smoke. Kinda badass, which is not necessarily the adjective I’d normally associate with EF. Paired with my trusty (and old) Madewell jeans, Club Monaco turtleneck, and Joe Fresh leather jacket, it added up to the perfect relaxed outfit for a (chilly) evening hanging out with friends.

A Different Take on Leopard

This outfit was a bit of a style risk, but I was not displeased with how it turned out. It was a cold morning, so I needed a jacket for practical reasons, but I was initially stumped for options. Black would have been an easy default, but I didn’t think it would add much to the outfit, nor do justice to the lovely dark green of the (faux) leather skirt. I wanted something that would offer a bit of contrast, but not a bright colour. That’s when I remembered this Zara coat; it’s a subtle take on leopard print (if such a thing exists) and it possesses surprising chameleon-like qualities. Here, it’s practically a neutral, letting the green take center stage. I added some cognac accessories to pick up on the brown and, voila: a slightly mod take on the Bohemian.

Summer Office Vibes

Admittedly, a linen schmatta might be a stretch for the office, but (a) it was a Thursday, (b) it was hot as hell, and (c) I put a blazer on it. I feel like “c” is the answer to every “how to I make this appropriate for work” dilemma. All in all, I think it was a respectable showing. I tend to stay away from super bright colours these days, but I do enjoy pulling out all the stops with this poppy red from time to time. I am the kind of person who considers beige a “power colour”, but there is something quite happy and reinvigorating about a good red, don’t you think?

Detail Oriented

This outfit is all about the details – that blazer, in particular. Marc Cain is a European brand that is starting to get more exposure in Edmonton, thanks to a new store in West Edmonton mall, so I am seeing pieces at the thrifts with greater frequency. This blazer is so wonderful, and in like-new condition. The subtle check pattern and lightweight wool material would be lovely on their own, but the smaller details – like the embroidered bees on the breast pocket, the contrast floral lining on the sleeves (and inside pocket), and the fringe hem – are just incredible. Paired with my COS paperbag waist trousers, which have become my go-to pants, it is an instant “favourite outfit” contender. Just look:

Mermaid Inspired

I mean, not literally; but this shade of pale greenish-grey always makes me think of fabled water creatures. I like this sweater a lot, and it works very well with this newly acquired resin link necklace (thanks, eBay). The necklace was listed as “Anthropologie” but I have my doubts. It feels really light and flimsier than other stuff I’ve bought at Anthro; on the other hand, I do like it a lot, it’s comfortable to wear and I didn’t pay too much for it so … eh. Also working well here? This vintage Jones NY skirt. I am not generally fond of the 90s revival, but I have been enjoying revisiting the maxi skirt trend. After more than a decade of pencil skirts, it feels surprisingly fresh.

Volume Squared

Speaking of sack dresses, I hope you have not forgotted this other recent favourite. I haven’t. The weather has been really funky lately – super hot one minute, cold the next, raining at odd times – which has led to a bunch of unlikely summer outfits. This is a case in point. It was overcast with dropping temps on the day that I wore this, and by the time I came home from my errands, the wind had picked up something fierce. In that context, throwing a sweater over this cotton dress made sense. It’s weird that I have to practically give a weather report every time I post an outfit on IG, but that’s the kind of summer we’ve been having here. Anyway, my errand on this particular day? “Adopting” new plant “pets” for our house. We were a plant-free household until recently, but I have decided that needs to change – here’s hoping my brown thumb has gotten greener since the last time I tried to keep a real plant alive. Since furry animals are out (my husband is allergic) and I am not overly fond of fish or reptiles, I though this was a good compromise for the kids. They’ve already named each one of our new pets – this one is Evelyn Poppy-plant: