Details: Club Monaco shirt, Kenzo x H&M skirt, Ralph Lauren blazer (all thrifted)

Thoughts: I don’t love short skirts with bare legs on me, but this outfit is A+ otherwise. I think the patterned shirt keeps it from being too “classic preppy” and gives it a nice twist. A busy pattern right against another pattern might seem like a lot, but the consistent colour palette ties it together in a way that doesn’t make the outfit look too busy.

Details: Charlie Holiday dress, Denim & Supply jacket (both thrifted), Zara shoes (retail), Rafael Alfandary necklace (eBay)

Thoughts: This dress has become, in no time at all, my fallback summer outfit. When in doubt, I pop it on, add a topper and/or some accessories — preferably something chunky like one of my Rafael pieces — and I’m set. It’s cool, it’s comfy, it looks casual or dressy depending on the surroundings. Now if I could only find it in white … ahhhhhhh.

Details: Anna Sui top, Tabitha jacket, Cotton Ginny belt (all thrifted), Lucca Couture skirt (Poshmark)

Thoughts: This outfit had an Edwardian vibe to it for me — blame the lace — but also feels very summery. It’s perfect for lounging on a shaded patio with a cold drink and a nice book. Sadly, I had to work that day instead. The inspiration was one of Ralph Lauren’s summer collections (I forget the year) when he did a lot of lacy and beaded dresses in white, paired with southwestern accessories. This was my take using pieces from my closet.

Details: Ralph Lauren shirt, Max & Co skirt, Banana Republic necklace (all thrifted)

Thoughts: I love doing the wrap-tuck as an alternative to wearing button-up shirts, well, buttoned up. The key is to get a way oversized shirt (men’s works in a pinch) so there is lots of extra fabric for the wrap part. I pair this with a high-waisted bottom to make the tuck part easier. It’s such a cool, breezy way to wear a classic shirt in the summer. A big necklace or scarf tucked inside the collar is a nice touch too.

Details: Gap dress, Ralph Lauren turtleneck, Ports International blazer, Free People belt (all thrifted)

Thoughts: I love wearing this dress with a corduroy or tweedy blazer – the juxtaposition is just *chef’s kiss* to me. I ended up doing a bit of layering, Papa Ralph style. I prefer mixing my southwestern pieces (clothes and accessories) with preppier ones so I avoid a full-on cowgirl aesthetic, which isn’t really my vibe. I think this is the direction I am going to explore more this summer.

Details: Liz Claiborne dress (thrifted), Prairie Trail Good vest

Thoughts: I took advantage of the suddenly-hot weather to pull out my fave summer dress from hibernation. Fully leaning into the rainbow thing with this outfit, and I loved it. It’s been a while since I wore something so unabashedly colourful in public (blame winter) and I did have a moment of hesitation — would I stick out like a sore thumb? That’s the thing about owning your style; it takes practice being “brave”. I put that in quotes because I actually hate it when people say they’re not “brave enough” to wear something other than neutrals in public. You don’t need courage; you need practice. Sure enough, after 5 minutes, I felt at ease. It might take a bit longer if you’ve never done it before, but try it! Wear something that makes your heart sing even if it feels a bit risky.

Details: Mackage jacket, Twik tee, Zara boots (all thrifted), Gap skirt (swap)

Thoughts: Still loving this skirt! It’s forcing me to be a little more adventurous with my outfits, a little bit more streetstyle. It’s always good to push the boundaries of your comfort zone a little bit; it can lead to the opening up of new horizons and living in discovery is my motto. My fave part of this outfit is the bright magenta tights — such a fun element!

Details: Ines de la Fressange x Uniqlo shirt, Ralph Lauren vest, Topshop pants, Ferragamo shoes (all thrifted)

Thoughts: This was inspired by a Ralph Lauren-styled outfit in a recent Vogue magazine; it was the brooch-on-vest styling that intrigued me. The original inspo also involved a men’s tie, which I loved but found difficult to replicate. The ties I tried (from my husband’s collection) were all rather too long to tuck in without looking bulky. Alas. This worked really well too; I enjoyed this outfit a lot.

Details: Ralph Lauren jacket, Nocona belt, Margaret Godfrey skirt, Canadienne boots (all thrifted)

Thoughts: I’m taking another styling tip from Papa Ralph and experimenting with using scarves as a visual layer, specifically in place of a turtleneck or shirt collar. A pop of contrast colour at the neck — thanks to a small, light scarf — adds extra depth to the outfit. I loved how this tip elevated this outfit, and I’m planning a few more experiments in this line.

Details: Wilfred top, Ralph Lauren skirt (both thrifted), Steve Madden shoes (retail), Warren Steven Scott earrings

Thoughts: I REALLY loved this outfit! I went with a different approach to proportions and was surprised by how much I loved it. The pattern mix was my jam too. Layering my white dickie collar under this short-sleeve top totally changed the latter’s vibe – it suddenly feels almost schoolgirlish (but, like, in a good way). I am still getting used to these double platform shoes. It’s a bit of a love/hate relationship. I like the colour a lot; I find it versatile and it usually puts an unexpected spin on an outfit. But these shoes scuff like crazy. I’ve been able to clean it off (the trick is to wipe the scuffs with a cotton pad soaked in alcohol as soon as possible before the scuff “settles” into the faux leather) but it’s annoying. I’m also struggling with the height of the platform; it feels a bit too exaggerated. I’m getting more used to it, but I’m still not sure I love it. I definitely prefer the platform loafers I got last year. This pair has been a borderline “fail” so far, but maybe they will continue to grow on me. Just being transparent with y’all: we all make mistakes sometimes.

Details: Ines de la Fressange x Uniqlo shirt, J. Crew vest & blazer, Issey Miyake skirt (all thrifted), turquoise necklace (Poshmark)

Thoughts: This was right up my alley, mixing academichic and southwestern vibes. I’ve “rediscovered” this skirt this year and can’t get enough. The length and cut is versatile enough to blend with the various facets of my current aesthetic, and the details (like the beautiful pleating) elevate it above “just another black skirt”. I can easily dress it up and down, and did I mention it has an elastic waist? It’s one of my most treasured thrift finds because how else am I going to have a little piece of Issey in my life?

Details: Toni T dickie, Everlane sweater (both thrifted), Gap skirt (swap), Mia shoes, BlankNYC jacket (both retail)

Thoughts: Here is that vintage Gap skirt I mentioned in my last post — how perfectly on trend, isn’t it? And look — my fave loafers are back! Best part of spring, hands down, LOL! I love these shoes so much. They’re comfortable and they go with everything. People compliment them every time. Ditto for this faux leather jacket studded with dragonflies. They’re both Nordstrom Rack purchases — rare retail buys in the past couple of years. This is my obligatory RIP Nordstrom Rack mention; Nordstrom is closing its stores in Canada, including the Rack. It was never as good as its US stores (same thing that happened with Target here) but there were occasionally some great pieces to pick up.

Details: Tse sweater, Jil Sander coat, Everlane shoes (all thrifted), Paul Smith pants (Poshmark)

Thoughts: I like camel as a neutral for moody blues and greens; I think it works better than black in many cases. I’ve been playing around lately with scarves as accessories; in recent years, I’ve mostly stuck with large blanket scarves in the winter, but I want to expand my styling and embrace some of the other, lighter (and smaller) scarves I’ve added to my collection. Scarves are a great way to add subtle pattern and texture contrast. I’m loving the look of long scarves under a blazer.

Thoughts: Like that song goes: short skirt and a long jacket. I pulled colours from the jacket to create the palette for the outfit and I’m most proud of the tights, tbh. It’s one of the pairs I bought in Montreal. I think they make the outfit shine.

Details: Tabitha jacket, Salgado Fenwick top, Margaret Godfrey skirt, Zara shoes, Emmanuel belt (all thrifted)

Thoughts: This is what I wore for (Orthodox) Easter; I was going to go with something traditional like florals or pastels, and then I found this hipster bunny tee and, well, it was too good an opportunity to pass up. I thrifted the skirt on the same day too, and it’s wonderful. It’s vintage but feels modern because of the high slits. It’s got volume but the denim fabric is soft not stiff, so it has nice movement. It’s a nice alternative silhouette for a denim skirt, complementing the Gap one. They will be great for the spring/summer for days when I want to wear denim but don’t feel like wearing jeans.