I’ve run out of ideas for titles. I mean, that’s obvious, yes? After nearly 7 years, I suppose it’s to be expected. But while I am somewhat burnt out on post titles, I am feeling a renewed zest for outfit making. Going through a style shift usually does it. A big part of my focus has been to really zero in on the pieces I truly love (as opposed to things I feel I ought to love) and choosing them consistently, every day. The result, not surprisingly, is that I am much more consistently pleased with my daily outfits — pleased and full of that “comfortable in my own skin” feeling. More than anything (except perhaps comfort), that’s my benchmark for a successful outfit.

None of the pieces here are new, and there is nothing inherently novel about how I put them together. My goal was to balance my love of colour and print with a more streamlined (or stripped down) aesthetic. Finding that balance — not too plain, not too loud, just right — hasn’t come naturally to me, but I am getting better at it. That’s what I tell myself anyway. I liked the result here, both in how I looked in the outfit, and how I felt wearing it. Simple, easy, and hopefully not too boring.

I think it’s no secret that I love butterfly prints. This blog has seen its fair share of butterfly-embellished pieces, some more successful than others. Butterfly prints are tough; they can too easily veer into whimsy, which is not the look I’m currently pursuing. Worse, they can sometimes be rather, well, garish. From the first glimpse, I could tell that this Equipment blouse avoided both pitfalls. The only fly in the ointment (pun intended) was the price. I was determined to stalk this blouse on eBay until I could find a good deal. My opportunity came with an auction that was set to end of Christmas Day. I was the only bidder, and I figured that I had a decent chance at not being sniped at the last minute. And so it was. I think I ended up paying about $40 with shipping, which is a steal on a silk shirt this pretty. Thanks, Santa!

The cargo jeggings are also new, courtesy of the Calgary Goodwill. I didn’t know (a) that cargo jeggings were a thing, or (b) that Joie makes denim. These are very soft and stretchy, which are my main criteria for casual pants. The colour is an interesting mix of blush and light brown — a sort of faded, muddy rose. You know my newfound love of muted colours; I simply had to add this pair to my growing rainbow of skinny jeans. It complemented the muted blue of the shirt perfectly — a match made in low contrast heaven.