Rare Denim

It’s true, I rarely wear jeans these days; WFH has meant the demise of Casual Friday … or, rather, changed what that means in terms my outfits. Some weeks, I don’t actually get dressed up on Friday (hello, adult onesie); some weeks, I do but then I wear whatever I feel like – not necessarily jeans. Anyway, one weekend I randomly decided I wanted to wear this graphic tee, and jeans seemed like a good pairing. Then I threw the blazer on top, not because it was called for, but because I thought it would look *chef’s kiss* with the top. And it did. Glad I took a photo of the outfit before I put the blazer back in the closet.

View From the Back

Let’s face it: the best view of this jacket is the one from the back, where you can see that really cool pleat detail. For some reason, I think of it as a “peacock tail” even though it’s, umm, not nearly that impressive or large. But I digress. I love this knit jacket, but it’s always tricky to style; it has so much personality, and that personality always seems to want to clash with anything else I wear. I feel like this skirt is probably the best match I’ve made so far. The colours definitely work. But still … I feel like the jacket maybe needs a more over-the-top silhouette on the bottom to balance it out. Back to the drawing board, I go.

Not a Chore (Jacket)

Or is it? A chore jacket, that is? I think it’s a cross between a wrap and a jacket. Anyway, I love it. I think it would look great with jeans, but also with a dress – such as here. This ended up having a sort of art teacher/boho moss witch vibe that I loved. I like wearing stuff like this when I want to feel inspired/creative. I guess it’s what might be called “wardrobe magic” – using clothes to influence or guide one’s mood.

Black and White

Look, ma, I didn’t add any red this time! Black, white and red is one of my default colour combinations, but I exercised restraint this time and went with a fully monochromatic look for once. This jacket is such a great re-discovery; it’s been in my closet for ages but hasn’t seen a lot of wear. It’s perfect for WFH. It’s soft and stretchy but still has a very cool, structured look to it; plus, the fact that it’s white isn’t as big of a concern, seeing as how I can easily whip it off when it comes time to eat lunch (or really, any time that I’m not in a Zoom call).

The beginning of a new year is usually a time of reflection and taking stock. I don’t believe in resolutions but if I did, when it comes to fashion, they would be familiar ones: buy (and sell) secondhand, wear what I love, have fun with it. I would like to go back to doing more thrifting and less Poshmarking, but that’s partially out of my hands – it will depend on how the next few months unfold in terms of the pandemic. Because of that uncertainty, and the likelihood that online “thrifting” will continue to play a big part of my fashion life in 2021, I decided to put together for myself a list of personal trends to guide my future shopping decisions. Basically, these are the things that I’m currently into and would like to add to my closet.

I also did a quick check for items I need to buy or replace. The list, as you may imagine, is very short. I do need a new pair of black tights, some new underwear, and possibly to replace the faux leather leggings that my husband kinda ruined by spilling hand sanitizer on them. However, the damage is not SUPER noticeable, and I don’t really feel like spending $100+ on a replacement pair so … I probably won’t.

As for the rest … here are some of the things I’m loving lately:

Midi hemlines – of course, this is no surprise. Whether we are talking skirts or dresses, slim silhouettes or voluminous ones, midi is the length for me. Technically, it can be anywhere from mid-calf to ankle-length; it’s all good.

Voluminous tiers – I really enjoy a tiered design (see my purple Zara skirt) combined with lots of volume. I like being able to play around with the shape by either belting the volume or wearing it loose. This is a type of design I love for skirts, but especially dresses.

Interesting sleeves – I’m cautiously playing around with puffy sleeves, but they can be tricky because I already have broad shoulders. One type of sleeve, however, that I am really loving lately is the bishop’s sleeve (see my London Skye sweater).

Open, soft jackets – I am trying to avoid the use of the term “kimono” due to its cultural significance, but I still haven’t figured out a good alternative way to describe the type of garment I mean. Plus, there are several iterations I’m interested in, from something more closely resembling a chore jacket to something more like an oversize shrug/wrap (see my Jean Claude Poitras topper). I find these types of jackets really great for my current WFH life; sometimes, I need or want an extra layer, but I don’t necessarily feel like wearing a structured blazer. Plus, these types of jackets can usually be dressed up or down easily.

Large stone rings – I think I have reached that stage of life where I start wearing a ring on every finger. I love big, bold, silver pieces with natural semi-precious stones. My favourites are labradorite, moonstone, turquoise, crysophrase … actually, the list goes on and on.

Patterns – 2019 was all about corporate noir, but in 2020, I started to embrace colour again and I think that will continue in 2021. I am, once more, obsessed with prints. In particular, I love large, graphic prints and mixed patterns. Anything unusual and a little bit kooky. Think Marni, Dries Van Noten, Marimekko.  

Mermaid blue – this deserves its own entry on the list. It used to be my favourite colour back in the day, and I have fallen in love with it all over again. It’s blue with a lot of green in it, and with a certain translucence to it – not pastel, but not super saturated either.

I have also updated my avatar inspo for the new year – here are the Prince, the Artist, the Adventurer, and the Bohemian in 2021:

Still the same DNA, but with slightly modified silhouettes and vibes. I am especially intrigued to play around with the “pirate queen” version of the Adventurer, although I’m not sure how often I’ll have the chance to do so, lockdowns considered. Ah, but it’s nice to dream!

What is on your “love it” list for 2021?

Wrap It Up

Whew, can you believe 2021 is only a couple of weeks old? To say that there has been a lot happening is an understatement. Writing here has been the last thing on my mind; I’ve been glued to my phone reading news updates, trying to wrap my head around what is happening around the world. I’m not sure if anyone still reads blogs in 2021, but if you’re here – first of all, thanks, and second, I’ll keep this short and sweet so we can all go back to more important business. And if you’re on IG, I encourage you to connect with me there because I not only post more frequently (content that I never seem to find the time to develop into longform blog posts) but also on a broader range of topics.

Anyway, this was my first work outfit of 2021 and it was a perfect encapsulation of my WFH style: comfortable but cute. The dress is a Maria Cornejo number I picked up on Poshmark, and it’s made from velour but feels like a bath robe. A fancy bathrobe! I added a belt to make it so, hah.

Mermaid Blue

Pantone picked its colours for 2021, but this aqua blue is mine. I am officially calling it “mermaid blue”. I’m obsessed. This used to be my favourite colour 20 years ago, and then I sort of moved on from it … why? I don’t remember, but whatever the reason was, it couldn’t have been a good one. I mean, just look how beautiful and soothing it is. We all need something soothing this year, no?

A New Grandma’s Floral Couch

Some of you may remember the original Grandma’s Couch floral pants; don’t worry, I still have them. Wouldn’t part with those for the world. I love them so much, even after 6+ years, that I immediately picked up this new version I spotted at the thrifts. I like the faded red-backed floral – a somewhat unusual choice – and I especially love it paired with the other warm colours in this outfit. I generally prefer the cool end of the spectrum, but this is a strong argument in favour of keeping my wardrobe more balanced.

Gucci Gang

I had to finally take this thrifted Gucci blouse for a spin, so to speak. Did I feel extra fancy that day? Maybe, possibly. Honestly, what I felt was mostly worried … worried that I would spill something on myself, or somehow manage to rip the fabric. I don’t know what it is about silk shirts in particular, but I am extra klutzy when I wear them. Had I paid retail for this particular shirt, I don’t know I would actually be able to wear it anywhere. I might have had to get it framed instead 😉

The New Stripes

This continues to be one of my fave skirts; I love how it makes even a simple outfit like this look special. I think the necklace also ties everything nicely together, reflecting the same colours that are found on the skirt. Mostly, I just love this silhouette; a long column, body-skimming but not tight at all. I’ve starting sizing up in most of my bottoms (skirts, mostly) in order to get that extra little bit of wiggle room, and it’s been the best decision.