Bold Graphic to the Max

How cool is this Marimekko x H&M skirt? The print has a Marni vibe to it that I adore (or, someone pointed out on IG, maybe Marni has a Marimekko vibe, idk). There are many styling possibilities for it – and I plan to explore them all – but I decided to lean into the maximalist thing, and add MORE colour and MORE patterns to the mix. I loved how it turned out, although having to tuck the sweater into the skirt meant that I had to hike up the waistband pretty darn close to my armpits. I knew I was taking a risk with it, as the skirt is a size 6 and I’m usually closer to a 10 in H&M, but it works *just*! Definitely size up if you end up hunting for this. The plus side? Deeeeeeep pockets. And lots of twirl. I say, go for it!

Goth Jo

I mean, maybe? I’m wearing my velvet “Jo March” waistcoat, and maybe this is an outfit she’d appreciate. Although I’m not sure Jo would have been a tulle fan. I feel like that might be more of an Amy pick. Anyway. Another H&M piece I picked up on Posh (stay tuned later this week for a proper round-up) that was a success. I sized way up because I wanted all the extra tulle goodness. I wanted BIG volume … and I got it. There are many plays to play with so much volume, but I went for perhaps a less obvious route with the waistcoat as an alternative to a belt. I’m mulling another “out of the box” idea for my next outfit.

Colorblocked

Finally! I have been hunting for this Wilfred “Cipriana” dress for so long, and I finally found it for a decent price secondhand. In retrospect, I kinda prefer the sweater version (which I also own, in a different colourway), and would have been happy to have it in this palette as well. As a dress, it’s nice but the silhouette is just okay for me. I probably should have sized way up to get a more tent-like fit, which would have been more interesting to me, but given Aritzia sizing — this is a Medium already, and I haven’t seen larger sizes floating around yet — it might have been an even longer wait. Anyway, I think I can probably wear this as an extra long sweater, or at least I plan on trying that too. I love the colours, and they pair nicely with this Mackage jacket.

Something New

I decided to try out a new photo spot in the house – what do we think? Is it too busy? I enjoy seeing different backdrops in other people’s photos, but I’m not sure if mine doesn’t just look cluttered. But, the outfit. I liked it. It was simple but fun, and I love the cheeky graphic print tee. It had a 80s comic book vibe combined with 90s baby-tee styling. I never would have dared to wear a waistband-skimming cropped tee in the actual 90s (too self-conscious teenager-y of me) but now … why not? Especially when it’s just around the house, haha.

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?