One of the regrets of my sartorial life is that I have few real opportunities to get properly dressed up. Weddings come up in my social calendar once every few years, and I don’t attend a lot of galas, cocktail receptions and the like. Forget red carpets. Currently, my one chance to get fancy is New Year’s Eve; for the second year in a row, my husband and I will be attending a NYE party, sans kids, where the dress code is, well, flexibly formal. Which is to say, you can get as glitzy as you want.

As you can imagine, picking what to wear for such an event is an Important Decision in my world; I have a lot of “special occasion” dresses hanging in my overflow closet, waiting for their moment in the spotlight. This year, the struggle feels especially real, as there is no clear “front runner”. One decision that was easily made, however, was my choice of shoes. If you watch my IG Stories, you will have heard by now about my Cinderella moment at Goodwill – where I found a pair of like-new Manolo Blahnik “Sedaraby” pumps for a magical $12.50. In my size. In just the colour (black) and with the right amount of sparkle to go with pretty much any of my dress options. So, I had to get serious about the whole dress-picking thing.

I had two new (to me) dresses in the line-up this year, so I started there. With important occasions like this, I like to “test-drive” my options in advance and see how I feel about them – both whilst wearing them, and in photos. In some cases, outfits can truly look better in person than on camera, but for the most part, I find photos to be a really valuable tool in evaluating how a particular outfit works. For purposes of this exercise, and the photos below, I threw on some accessories, but they’re not necessarily reflective of how I would ultimately style these dresses (shoes excepted).

First up, this absolutely beautiful Armani Collezioni dress I thrifted in Phoenix this past May.

Pros: It’s comfortable (stretchy) and flattering; does not require Spanx; it’s over-the-top glittery and makes me feel like a fairy, shedding sparkles wherever I go (umm, literally). Did I mention the twirl factor?

Cons: It’s fairly conservatives (glitter aside) so I could wear this to more toned-down events (possibly even some work-related functions); it’s stretchy and loose, so will probably fit for the next few years – no rush on having to wear it; accessorizing can be tricky (potential for accessories to clash with glitter).

Second, this Tadashi Shoji number I thrifted in Calgary last November (I think).

Pros: It’s slinky, flattering and still fits (may or may not in a few years); the purplish colour is gorgeous though hard to capture in photos; the neckline is surprisingly comfortable, even with a strapless bra; easy to accessorize.

Cons: Would probably benefit from some Spanx; while lovely, it doesn’t feel particularly glitzy – feels more like a wedding party dress than a NYE dress.

After looking at these photos, I am leaning towards the Shoji dress as my first choice, but am not entirely sold yet. I’ve been looking through photos from parties past, and I find myself yearning for the bigger drama factor of some of my other dresses. Remember these:

Well, I can’t wear the one on the right because I wore it to the same NYE event last year, but the other two? Definitely in the running. Ugh, why is this so hard, you guys?

Are you attending any fancy events this holiday season? How do you go about picking what you’re going to wear?

I always feel more cheerful once November is over. Apologies to all whose birth month it is. As a non-American, November doesn’t have a lot going for it. It’s long, and cold, and dark. December is festive, at least. And January … well, January is still The Worst, but November is a close second. But, hey, it’s over now!

A year ago, I took a break from the blog and while it was absolutely the best decision at the time, my traffic has never recovered. Whenever I feel uninspired these days, the temptation to walk away (again) is all the greater. In the past year, I’ve ditched most forms of social media in favour of Instagram, which more and more is hitting that sweet spot of “easy and convenient” and “meaningful interaction”. I think that Instagram still lags old-fashioned blogs on the latter front, but it’s quickly catching up. For example, as I have started posting Stories more frequently, I’ve been getting a lot more DMs – which are not that different from blog comments.

This isn’t a preamble to a farewell post, by the way. As much as I sometimes ponder ditching the blog in favour of IG, I like having my own platform (domain) and I do occasionally feel the need to navel-gaze in extended format which is much easier to do here. The main thing is that I am learning to pace myself. Conventional blogging wisdom says that posting frequently and consistently is the key to building an audience. And that’s not untrue, but I have to remind myself: why does that matter? I like having all of you to “chat” with – the more, the merrier. But at the end of the day, I’m not here to sell you anything, so whether you click on my website every day, or once a week, does it really matter? Meaningful engagement comes from authentic, interesting content and, frankly, that takes a lot of energy to create. I don’t always have it in me. The fear, of course, is that by blogging only when the mood strikes, I will be left behind, forgotten. Such is the nature of blogging these days. And while I’m not directly competing with anyone else, there are so many other blogs competing for your attention. But, like I said, I’ve come to realize that I can’t get hung up on that. It is what it is, and I’ll be here chugging along. Thank you, by the way, to everyone who reads and comments and makes me feel like less of a weirdo for taking photos of my clothes all the time.

Speaking of which:

First, let me say that I am quite satisfied with this line-up, and each individual outfit. On a few occasions, a pre-planned outfit turned out to be a “meh” once I looked at the photos, but rather than wearing it anyway, I changed it. Wearing an outfit I like makes a surprisingly big difference in my mood, so this was a worthwhile investment of a few extra minutes.

I did think this would be a more colorful collection than it’s turned out to be. I did stick with my pre-determined palette or blue, green, black and grey, but the colours were muted in some cases (I have mostly dark greens) so the vibe was fairly dark overall. Given my recent turn towards the goth side, this wasn’t an issue for me, though it might not make for particularly inspiring blog fodder. Alas.

Next month’s palette is going to be warmer – I’m looking at reds, pinks and purples (and black, of course!) – in line with the season, so the next round-up might be a little brighter. No promises, though, because Goth Adina is still going strong.

Lastly, I think that I’m getting better at consistently nailing my aesthetic (remember the Prince, the Artists, the Adventurer, and the Bohemian?) which is good.

So that’s about it for November. What have you been up to last month?

This post was inspired by a request I received in an Instagram DM to talk about styling 5 basic work staples. My first reaction was “hmm, but my staples would be so boring”; to which, the response was “yeah, but that’s the point: how do you make those interesting?” And that is a good question. I don’t know if I do manage to make my outfits interesting, but for the purposes of this post, let’s assume that I do. Cool?

The other necessary caveat to this post is a quick line about context. Obviously, my 5 staple pieces (as well as the ways in which I wear them) are influenced by my lifestyle and personal sartorial preferences. This isn’t intended to be a “one list fits all” type of exercise. One of my pet peeves is the recommendation of white button-up shirts as a working wardrobe staple; for a variety of reasons they do not work for me, yet they always seem to turn up on every “classic items you MUST own” list ever written FOR THE LOVE OF GOD WHYYYYY. Don’t get me started on wrap dresses. Anyway, I hope my post won’t trigger the response in you … it’s a mileage may vary situation all the way.

Work Staple #1: Black Trousers

Look, I told you this list would be boring. I am only delivering on my promise. In all seriousness, I seem to spend almost half my working life in trousers, and they are usually black. I have tried both solid coloured (non-black) and patterned pants, but I always end up going back to black as my first preference and default. This is simply a function of my preferred outfit formula; I prefer colourful tops and/or toppers paired with neutral (i.e. black) bottoms.

I used to love the super skinny, ankle crop pant silhouette made popular by styles such as the Sloan from Banana Republic, or the Minnie from J. Crew.

As my style has shifted, I have come to prefer a slightly looser (though still slim cut and cropped) silhouette in a less stretchy fabric (crepe vs. ponte). My favourite pair is from Aritzia, and while I don’t know the specific name (it’s probably an older, discontinued style), I think they currently have a few versions in stores that would work for me, should I need to replace mine.

At the risk of stating the plainly obvious, you can do a lot with black pants, styling-wise. My typical outfit formulas are black pants + top + blazer and black pants + sweater

Nothing groundbreaking here. Visual interest comes from the “add on” pieces (tops, blazers, sweaters). In the first example above, the blazer has really unique sleeves; it’s also impeccably tailored, which immediately elevates any outfit. In the second example, the sweater has interesting lines and movement to it. I often play around with different textures, especially if I am doing a monochromatic outfit.

As a sidenote, with any outfit, I always consider my accessories. I have moved away from colourful shoes (which is always an easy and fun way to inject personality into an outfit), but I do still wear jewelry most days. I have pared down a lot in this category, though, so most of the time, I pick one item – and make it a statement. So, for example, large statement earrings. Or a stack of bracelets. Or a chunky necklace. I rarely wear two accessories, unless they are both very subtle. And sometimes, I don’t wear anything at all, if I am aiming for a truly stark, minimalist look. It comes down to intention. I assess the outfit in the mirror, and think about what feeling/mood/message I want to convey with it. Accessories are the final piece (whether present or intentionally absent) that tie it all together.

In addition to the above formulas for wearing trousers, one of my emerging favourites involves layering. This is a theme you will notice elsewhere in this post. To wit:

Obviously, the focal point with these outfits is NOT the pants, but they do provide the supporting foundation. These types of looks are definitely on the non-conventional side, so they are not for everyone, but they represent the avant-garde edge of my personal aesthetic. I am still exploring that territory for myself, so I don’t have any “how to’s” per se, but the point here is to encourage you to experiment for yourself, and explore the possibilities of traditional pieces used in non-traditional ways.

Work Staple #2: Black Midi/Maxi Skirt

I used to be a devoted fan of pencil skirts, but have abandoned that silhouette in favour of the midi/maxi – purely for aesthetic reasons, don’t yell at me. Again, black is my default here as well. I have a few iterations: some with pleats, some with side slits, some knit, some cotton, you get the idea. In my experience, styling these is a different matter than styling a pencil skirt. The waist is the focal point when wearing a pencil skirt; for me, the midi is all about the vertical line. I have a couple of formulas I alternate between:

Work Staple #3: Black Turtleneck

I think we have established that black is the backbone neutral of my wardrobe, but why a turtleneck? Answer: I live in climate where the air hurts my face for about 6 months out of the year. Turtlenecks are eminently practical. They keep me warm, and they extend the life of other pieces in my closet – dresses in particular. To be clear, I actually have 2 staple “black turtlenecks” in my closet: a double ply cashmere one (worn on its own), and a thin, cotton-blend version (used primarily for layering). Both are slim fitting, and I emphasize that because finding the right turtleneck is key, and not as obvious as it may sound.

Worn on its own, a black turtleneck is a great aesthetic choice if your sartorial preferences lean towards the “wannabe architect” side of the spectrum, as mine do. I have a relatively small bust, so the neckline works just fine for me; if you’re more well-endowed, I’ve heard that your mileage may vary on that. Again, I do think that finding the right weight fabric can make a big difference. I personally don’t like chunky and/or ribbed turtlenecks, even though I love chunky knits in general – but in turtleneck form, I find them suffocating.

As a layering piece, there is nothing I haven’t tried sneaking a turtleneck under or over. (If layered OVER something, you will need a heavier-weight turtleneck, obviously. That’s why you probably need at least 2 in your closet. If you’re into turtlenecks, that is.) To wit:

Let me also take a moment to sing the praises of the black turtleneck maxi dress. I have two of these, and I love them. I actually don’t like black dresses in general, and rarely wear them … except for this particular kind. It’s basically a combination of two of my favourite staples: the long slim skirt, and the turtleneck. It’s a no brainer! These dresses are wonderful canvases for all your craziest layering experiments (again, if you’re into that sort of thing).

Work Staple #4: Statement Topper

As long-time readers know, I have a bazillion blazers. Some are plain/basic/classic/insert-your-preferred-nomenclature pieces whose purpose is to complete an outfit without drawing attention to themselves. You need those to balance out other statement items in your closet, be they tops, dresses, skirts, etc. [Sidenote: doing head-to-toe statement pieces is certainly a “lewk” but I think it’s very much an Advance Fashion move that is probably outside most people’s realm of day to day style. Hence my preceding statement.] But a good chunk of my blazers are what you might call attention-getters. This works for me for the following reasons: I live in a cold climate and work in an AC-ed office, so I typically need an extra layer; adding a topper is a more “business-y” way of accomplishing that goal, and I personally prefer wearing blazers over other types of toppers (such as cardigans).

But whether we are talking about blazers or some other kind of topper, having a few pieces that can add visual interest to an outfit is an easy way to give some extra oomph to your outfit. The bonus is that you have the option to de-oomphasize your outfit at a moment’s notice – just take off the topper.

Lately, in addition to blazers, I have started to explore the possibilities of the Long Sleeveless Topper. I know we are treading “niche style” territory here, but I’ve personally found these to be very versatile.

This leather Sarah Pacini vest is one of my current faves:

I also have a more blazer-like version from Zara:

And I recently picked up a knit version (also Sarah Pacini):

Because they’re kinda unexpected, these toppers don’t have to be fancy; the statement comes from the lack of sleeves, and the overall proportions. I like to throw them over anything and everything – pants, skirts, dresses, you name it.

Work Staple #5: Denim

I’m actually not a huge fan of wearing jeans to work, but it’s become a fairly conventional option given the popularity of casual Fridays. As potentially un-edifying as the rest of this post might be, please note: I have absolutely nothing groundbreaking to tell you about wearing jeans to work. I prefer to wear them with blazers, if only because I can then control my level of warmth AND formality throughout the day as needed. If I want to be extra fancy, I might throw on a vest, like so:

In dressing up jeans, if you are looking for an alternative to a blazer, you might want to consider a scarf, especially if worn with/over a sweater.

A word on scarves. I typically don’t mess with silk ones because (1) they’re slippery and hard to keep in place (unless you’re a scarf ninja in which case, more power to you); and (2) they can be tricky to style. Blanket-type wool scarves tend to read as too casual, so I would discount them from this particular conversation. Personally, if I want to “fancy up” an outfit, I go with a fine knit, long, rectangular scarf with some (but not too much) volume – something like a pashmina. I would choose a print over a solid colour, because you can get away with a less expensive (lower quality) material in the former case – prints are more forgiving in that sense. I have been known to pin brooches on my scarves, but I wouldn’t do it if I was wearing jeans; the brooches would be too “fussy” for my current taste in that scenario.

So there you have it: my current work staples. I toyed with the idea of including the Sack Dress into the mix, but decided not to push my luck (and your patience). But, honestly, Sack Dresses are the bomb.

Pic

Let’s debate in the comments