Blazer, MaxMara (thrifted); sweater, Selected Femme; pants, Aritzia (thrifted); shoes, Jimmy Choo (via eBay); bag, Gucci (via consignment)The title says it all: pretty simple. But I felt so comfortable wearing this, you guys. I felt polished but understated, which is slowly becoming my preferred sartorial “message”. I’ve said this before: separating my love of colours from my personal style has not always been easy. I love colour, and I even love wearing bold colours, but not necessarily in the way that I used to. But after wearing outfits like this one, it’s hard to deny what the heart wants.
The colour here is obviously muted, but can I just mention how much I love the green of this sweater? The label called it “thistle”, which I also love. (I have an odd fondness for thistles.) Though I very rarely buy clothes at regular retail stores, I couldn’t resist this Selected Femme piece at Saks Off Fifth. It’s not a brand I knew before, but it’s something I’d definitely look for at thrift stores in the future. The funnel-like neck (wider than a mock turtleneck) is so chic, and gives it a bit of that effortless Euro appeal I’m always chasing.
green shoes for the win muted paletteSpeaking of colour, a funny story. I recently discovered that I experience Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) — and fell into the, hands down, strangest internet rabbit hole ever, but that’s another story. I have been experiencing ASMR for as long as I can remember, but I had not realized, until that point, that it was a “thing” or that only some people experience it. That got me thinking about other everyday sensory experiences that one might have without realizing that they are unusual. While I am not a synesthete (though I think that would be super cool), I do have really strong emotional/physical reactions to colours. The reactions are very shade-specific; certain reds feel suffocating/oppressive to me, for example, while others are cheerful. Salmon pink makes me feel irritated, while fuchsia makes me feel excited. Some blues are soothing, others are depressing. I am thinking of making of list of the feelings associated with each of my favourite colours, so I can see if I can manipulate my mood by strategically deploying them in my outfits.
Does anyone else associated colours with certain moods or feelings? Any synesthetes in the crowd? I’d love to hear about your experiences.
Dress, Plenty by Tracy Reese (thrifted); hat, Aritzia; shoes, Zara; necklace, J. Crew; bag, Coach (thrifted)
It seems like every year I find a shapeless, potato sack-like summer dress that becomes my go-to for “lazy” weekending. (When I say lazy, I’m referring to the dressing up part, because my weekends are generally anything but chill. My kids love to keep me on my toes, bless them.) Anyone remember this number? This year’s iteration is even better, because it has no waist to speak of. It does have a cool shape, though, which makes it at least look like I made an effort.
Everything else is old, or at least feels like it’s been kicking around in my closet forever. Take the bag, for example. It’s probably only a month old, but I’ve worn it [runs to check her Stylebook app] 13 times already. So it’s fair to call it “old hat”, much like my, erm, actual hat. Ditto for the Zara shoes; I bought them 2 years ago in Vancouver and they are still (a) going strong; (ii) trending. I get compliments on them every time I wear them. Not bad for fast fashion. The necklace is at least 2 years old as well, and it’s a piece I still love for its cool, boho vibe — not your typical J. Crew statement necklace.
So, in summary — everything old is new again, and I’m #sorrynotsorry for a pretty unshoppable post. However, as always, eBay may end up being your best friend if you want to track down any of these pieces. Who doesn’t love a good potato sack?
Top, Rebecca Taylor (thrifted); pants, Cartonnier (thrifted); necklace via consignment: shoes, AGL (thrifted); bag, Marc JacobsI love this outfit, although it is admittedly not the epitome of figure-flattery. More like epitome of pyjama chic. These Cartonnier pants are as comfortable as sweatpants — lightweight, silky sweatpants. I call them my Francesca pants, because they are vaguely similar to a pair of mauve pants that my favourite Master of None character wore in Season 2 of the show. I am hoping to track down the *exact* pair on eBay or locally (secondhand, of course), but I am enjoying this slightly less polished version in the meantime.
The other pieces, save for the necklace, are not exactly new but definitely well-loved. The necklace was a consignment store impulse buy, which I’m counting as a success. Its proportions juuuust narrowly avoid being cartoonish (or, as my husband is wont to say about my other favourite statement necklace, looking like a failed third grader’s art project) but I kinda dig that whole vibe. This whole outfit somehow straddles the line of being the sartorial equivalent of jolie laide and … is that a thing? I think I am tempted to make it a thing.
