Oct
2021

What I Wore: October 2021, part 3

categories: Uncategorized

Red & Blue

Red and aqua blue is one of my favourite colour combos. Actually, almost any blue and red works well, but I am partial to aqua as you know. There really isn’t much more to say about this outfit. It’s simple — only 2 pieces (2 of my faves, at that). But sometimes simple is more than enough.

2015 Revisited

I recently thrifted this Ted Baker dress out of pure nostalgia. Back in 2015, I remember going to the newly-opened Nordstrom in Calgary, and trying on an almost identical dress. It was very much my style at the time, and I fell in love with it, but I couldn’t justify the retail price at the time. My style has, of course, evolved since that time, but I guess I still have a soft spot for Ted Baker. When I saw this dress (in my current size, which is rare because a lot of TB is so so tiny), I decided to get it. It’s just long enough to suit my current style, though it’s definitely a bit more body-con than I am usually comfortable with. Still, can’t go wrong with a pretty floral frock. And Ted Baker florals are always lovely.

The Delirium Skirt

No, really: that’s what this Rachel Comey skirt is called. Somehow, it seems very appropriate in this year of our Lord 2021. Anyway, what drew me to it was the length and cut, along with that fabulous abstract print; it reminds me of an art canvas. The skirt was a major splurge for me (on Poshmark, naturally) but I hope it will be a worthwhile one. It has room to spare, plus an elasticated waist, which should come in handy in case of weight fluctuations; this is something I consider whenever I’m looking at a more expensive purchase. I styled it with my Oak & Fort “yin & yang” sweater first, but I have so many more ideas for future outfits — especially some fun pattern mixing.

Rainbow Coat

I got the dress and the bag this summer, and now I have the coat. THE coat. The rainbow coat! Thanks to an IG pal, who spotted this at a Goodwill in Calgary and kindly offered to buy it for me, I am the proud owner of a fabulous rainbow rain jacket. It’s North Face, of all things. It’s perfect for rainy days, actually; that’s when you really need all the colour you can get. I kept the rest of the outfit simple, but couldn’t resist adding a little more colour with my new aqua (!) L’Intervalle leather sneakers. I have fully embraced the sneaker life, by the way. Boots, Birks, and sneakers … who am I even?


Oct
2021

What I Wore: October 2021, part 2

categories: Uncategorized

Moss Witch is Back!

One of my fave coats, paired with my fave “moss witch” skirt, and the result was just too too good. This is why I love fall, friends. I love me some hot summer, but my style is all crisp mornings, cool days, and golden leaves. Apart from the necklace, this outfit was thrifted from top to bottom — I always feel like I unlocked an extra achievement when that happens. 99% of my wardrobe is secondhand at this point, but quite a few things are now Poshmarked; this is fine, but it does seem like a bit of a cheat, somehow — it’s so much easier to find exactly what you’re looking for, as compared to thrifting where it’s all blind luck. Speaking of which, I am always reminded of how lucky I was to find these Stuart Weitzman boots every time I wear them. They’re the perfect slouchy OTK pair. I am starting to worry about what I’m going to do when they wear out. As luck would have it, Poshmark hasn’t come through with a back-up yet. One day, hopefully.

Black and White All Over

I loved this outfit a lot too. As much as I love colour, I also appreciate the possibilities of a black and white outfit. It’s always a crisp combination, and when you add some bold pattern mixing, it really takes it to another level. I’m glad I held on to this F21 top; it had fallen out of favour last year, but now I’m rediscovering its potential, especially for layering. And those sleeves still get me, every time.

Butterfly Instinct

I remember looking at these Elevenses culottes years ago, during my Anthro-obsessed phase. It must have been nostalgia that pushed me to impulse-buy them on Poshmark one night recently; that, and the bargain price ($30 shipped). I always loved the print but otherwise, on paper, these were a bad idea. The size was extremely aspirational and no measurements were included in the listing (what was I thinking?), and the length looked shorter than my current preference. I had half-hoped the seller would forget to ship these, so I could cancel the order, but to my initial disappointment and later pleasant surprise, it didn’t happen. Turns out, the fit is great (sizing is way off, clearly) and the material is lovely (silk, with pockets!). The culottes *are* shorter than I would prefer, but I am learning to live with that. I like how this outfit came together — I built it around the pairing of pants and vest, which offered a fun pattern contrast.

Arts & Crafts

I have been seeing Morris & Co v HM pieces at the thrifts for the last year or so, but hadn’t been fully sold on a pattern until I saw this dress. It’s odd, because I love William Morris prints, but the ones chosen for this collab felt a bit meh to me. I was drawn to this one because of the colours; the sky blue against the soft yellows and browns really spoke to me. And I had had had to pair it with my sky blue coatigan because … well, match made in cozy fall heaven.


Oct
2021

What I Wore: October 2021, part 1

categories: Uncategorized

Return of Coat Season

Thanks to thrifting, I became a “coat person” over the last few years. Coats used to be a big investment for me, back in my retail shopping days, so my focus used to be on practical functionality only. Living in Alberta, that still needs to be accounted for in my coat collection, but thrifting has allowed me to expand into new territory. Coats as a fashion statement? Oh my. But they can be, and it’s one of the reasons why fall is my favourite season for style. This is a good example; I paid up (relatively speaking) for this L.A.M.B. coat — I think it was $25 — but it was still a great find and super fabulous. Instant outfit elevation. But let’s also take a moment to appreciate these rainbow plaid Converse — my 41st birthday present to myself. They are so fun! AND practical too! Because, let’s face it, outside of outfit photos, I am mostly living in sneakers and flats these days.

Butterflies on the Grid

A very simple outfit, but the pattern mixing was so satisfying that I didn’t feel the need to add anything else to it. Red and blue is one of my favourite colour combinations, and this sky blue one of the best shades for it (along with aqua blue). I like how the grid-like pattern of the skirt complements the stripes of the sweater. The butterflies become my accessories – almost like brooches.

Summer’s Last Hurrah

I am a fan of wearing “summer” clothing year-round, but this was probably the last bare-leg outing for this Roolee dress. Next time, fleece tights and extra layers will likely be in order (unless I wear it solely indoors). But here, I had fun pairing the buffalo plaid with my patchwork cardigan; a good pattern mix with some extra pops of colour.

Fluffy Flouff

This Zara tulle top was a sorta-impulse buy on Poshmark but that neck ruffle proved irresistible. The top is verrrrry cropped, which I usually don’t mind except in this case it’s basically a bra with ruffles attached. Still, gonna make that tulle-exploding-from-my-torso thing work for me because … I never don’t love a good tulle explosion. The blue colour is fun too; it’s been a while since I’ve worn it.