Details: Wilfred tank, Talbots skirt, Fluevog shoes (all thrifted), Paloma Picasso bag (Poshmark)

Thoughts: I love this outfit so much. The skirt was a recent thrift find and it has a great 90s vibe; it’s faux wrap and made of linen. Don’t sleep on vintage Talbots, people. The weather is getting trickier by the minute, so I’m glad I had the chance to wear this skirt before the end of the season. The bag is another recent buy; I’ve had my eye on this style for a long time, and patiently waited for a good deal — and finally found it after about a year! I paid about $50 (shipped) and it usually sells for about double that on resale platforms. The design is everything I want in a bag right now in terms of shape, size and functionality, the leather is beautiful, and I love the gold hardware. It’s a Paloma Picasso “signature” element. Last but not least, I love this weird Wilfred tank top that always puzzles people because the image/lettering is mirrored. I flipped the photo on the right so you can see what it actually says. Odd things are my jam.

Details: Revello top (retail), Zara blazer (thrifted), Jessie skirt (thrifted), Dooney bag (Poshmark), Chloe shoes (gift)

Thoughts: Another 90s inspired outfit that I loved. Obsessed with this skirt about as much as the Talbots one above. The material is so soft and flowy, and the black floral is definitely giving me teenage flashbacks. Actually, I think the skirt is a very dark navy, but close enough. This white baby tee is about to get a TON of wear. I bought it from Winners and I have no ragrets because it’s exactly what I need it to be: cropped, tight, and stretchy. The quality is nothing to write home about, but that’s ok. I have so many outfits planned for it.

Details: Emmy Deveaux bodysuit, Issey Miyake skirt, Ralph Lauren jacket, Stuart Weitzman shoes (all thrifted), metal belt (Poshmark)

Thoughts: Taking a page from an old RL runway, this black-with-turquoise-accents outfit has been on my mind for a long time. To make it happen, I’ve been looking for a metal concha-style belt like this for a while. I saw a similar one at Cody & Sioux this summer, but it was $100 and the quality was very meh. I paid $40 for this one on Poshmark and I think the design is nicer too (the quality is so so). I’m happy with it and I think it will come in handy considering my RL obsession is going strong, and Papa Ralph loves a good belt. The original inspo outfit featured a full-length sequin skirt which you best believed that I will recreate come the holiday season; for now, this was a more “subdued” version. This Issey Miyake skirt is always a delight to wear, so no complaints.

Details: Marc Cain top, BCBG skirt, Highline gilet, Kimchi Blue pants, Lena Bernard necklace (all thrifted)

Thoughts: The magpie in me couldn’t resist this sequin BCBG skirt and it was only $3 so I got it even though it’s rather large and also rather too short. Perhaps “even though” isn’t strictly correct because the sizing gave me an idea, and I bought the skirt in order to test it out. Layering! Of course. Sequin skirts are not usually very forgiving, but this one has an elastic waistband and plenty of room in the hips so it went over these pants, no problem. And, surprisingly, it was pretty comfy/easy to wear. I hate fussy layers. I chose this Marc Cain top because I thought the semi-abstract pattern would be a good match for the sequins, and I think I was right. This outfit is a bit Old Skool Adina, but I enjoyed it anyway.

Details: Revello top (retail), LizSport coat, Zara pants, Stuart Weitzman shoes (all thrifted), metal belt (Poshmark)

Thoughts: I called this Sporty Prairie (Spice? lol). I like to take southwestern pieces and mix them with things that have a total different vibe for a sort of “contemporary country” effect. At least, that’s what I call it in my head. I like juxtapositions and weird mash-ups, and I think it keeps things interesting and less likely to veer into costume territory.

Details: Ralph Lauren shirt, Esprit belt (both thrifted), Ralph Lauren skirt (gift), Chie Mihara shoes (swap), Dooney bag (Poshmark), Turquoise necklace (Poshmark)

Thoughts: I cannot get enough of this striped RL men’s shirt — or men’s shirts in general. So nice and breezy to wear in the summer, and wrap-tucking gives it a much more relaxed vibe; literally less buttoned-up, if you know what I mean. As y’all know, I love pairing blue and brown, and this outfit was no exception. I loved it. Again, it has a subtle southwestern vibe, without making me look like I’m ready to go to the rodeo.

Last week, we talked about fall fashion inspo. This week, I’m taking stock of my closet and figuring out what pieces I might want to add to help me bring my fashion board vision to life this season.

White baby tee

If I am going to commit to a 90s revival, I realized that this one is a must. Last month, I thrifted a satin slip dress and that unlocked a core memory for me. I have at least one other dress of a slip type (and it’s plaid!) to make this a mini-trend for my fall wardrobe. I was fully planning to thrift this, but ended up stumbling across the perfect white baby tee at Winners — it must be a sign that the 90s revival has reached full market penetration — and getting it immediately rather than waiting and taking my chances. I know, I know. I really do try to buy secondhand first, but this piece was a top priority for me and I knew, from experience, that thrifting something to meet my specifications (tight-fitting, cropped, cap sleeves, unyellowed) might take a while. I didn’t want a repeat of my white dress saga — still ongoing, by the way.

Black floral slip dress

This goes along with the white tee, but also other outfit formulas I have in mind. It’s something I’ve been low-key looking for since last year. I have some Ralph Lauren inspo saved that features chiffon, spaghetti-strapped, maxi slip dresses, and that’s the vibe I would ideally like to achieve, but I am open to alternatives. I want something vintage ideally, so thrift and Poshmark is where I am looking. I could buy a current iteration of this trend but I would prefer not to. How is this different from the white tee? Well, vintage white tees are hard to come by in good used condition. Quality also matters less to me, to be honest, with a tee; as long as it’s cotton, I’m not too fussy. With a dress, I definitely appreciate the higher quality of vintage pieces over their contemporary versions. Plus, I just like the idea of using an item original to the era when I am reinterpreting and updating that era’s vibes.

Vintage Coach bag

Yep, this is still on my list. I haven’t put a lot of effort into stalking these on eBay or Poshmark because, while they’re easy to find, the prices are ridiculously high these days. I am pinning my hopes on the thrift gods deigning to bless me again. It might be a faint hope, but you never know; one of my friends recently thrifted a 90s Coach bag. The leather ones would be great accessories for both my Historian and Artist outfits. I would love a black, navy, cream or brown one, but I’ll take anything and everything I can get.

Mary Janes

This is not a high priority because I still have my platform loafers that work with the 90s revival vibe, but it’s something I would pick up if the right pair popped up at the right price. The right pair would be black with a chunky sole.

Ralph Lauren teddy bear sweater

Still on the list from last winter. Still looking.

RL fair isle sweater vests

I have a couple of Ralph Lauren fair isle sweater vests but I would love one or two more in different colour palettes. I love sweater vests. This fall, I want to branch out and experiment with pairing them with skirts rather than pants. You know, that Molly Goddard vibe.

Black or grey tiered tulle skirt

This is something I have carefully considered. I have a couple of tulle skirts I like a lot but don’t wear very often. Does adding another one to my closet make sense? I’ve decided it does, although it’s not a top priority item nor something I want to spend a lot of money on. But I think it’s worthwhile as it would serve a few of my avatars, and serve me well with any witchy outfits I might put together this winter. I initially thought black would be the best option, but I am now leaning more towards (warm) grey instead as I think it would be more versatile (i.e. cover a wider range of aesthetics more easily than black).

Full velvet skirt

I think a full skirt in a dark jewel tone velvet offers intriguing possibilities for the Historian and Bohemian avatars. For what I have in mind, it would almost certainly have to be a vintage number. It’s a silhouette I have in a few flavours already but in summer fabrics (cotton and silk) so what I want is a winter version. I’m pretty flexible, though, so I’m putting out this idea into the universe and seeing what is manifested.

What’s on your shopping list this fall?

Details: Alfred Sung blouse, Ralph Lauren skirt, Rebecca Minkoff belt

Thoughts: Guys, I am obsessed with this vintage Alfred Sung blouse! No, but for real. It’s so good! Look at that mixed floral/plaid pattern. Look at those rich jewel tone colours. And it’s silk! Of course, my reflex was to pair it with my favourite plaid skirt and, of course, it looked great. I’ve been saving this blouse all summer and patiently waiting for fall because the colour palette feels so autumnal to me. I managed to get to the end of August until my patience ran out. Can you blame me though?

Details: Eddie Bauer sweater, Banana Republic Factory jeans, J. Crew shoes, Coach bag

Thoughts: Another one of my favourite things at the moment is this nautical sweater. I keep telling people not to sleep on vintage Eddie Bauer, sweaters especially. I love the cotton ones because they’re great for transitional weather; you can wear them when it’s 15-18 degrees (Celsius) and they’re the right weight — warm but not too warm. And Eddie Bauer had some great patterns/designs, like this one. I decided to stick with the classic colour palette, and added jeans and a matching bag. I got quite a few compliments on this outfit, even though it’s incredibly basic.

Details: ElevenParis tee, YSL skirt, Blank NYC jacket, Marc by Marc Jacobs bag, Ash sneakers

Thoughts: I was amused by this image — Saint Kate? LOL! — and for $5, I decided to indulge myself even though I don’t buy graphic tees a lot anymore. For this outfit, I played up a vaguely grungy vibe with a plaid skirt and leather jacket.

Details: Ardene tee, Wilfred dress, Ralph Lauren shirt, Pelican Cove vest, Fluevog shoes

Thoughts: I guess I am now fully committed to a 90s revival. Finding this silk satin slip dress sealed the deal. [Unintentional tongue twister, sorry!] The next logical step was to get a white baby tee and … voila! I’ve joked before that my 90s obsession is a way of healing my adolescent fashion trauma; my family was poor when I was a teenager, and I could not afford to wear all the cool things back then. Now, I can buy to my heart’s content, the second time around. But there is another dimension to this: body image trauma. I was deeply insecure about my body growing up; my relationship with my body was so deeply toxic that it ended up in body dysmorphia and an eating disorder. There were certain things — like cropped tees and slip dresses — that I could never have worn back then, even if I could afford them. It has taken decades of self-work and healing, but I am now at a point where I feel comfortable enough in my own body to wear anything I like. It is ironic, I suppose, that this inner freedom came at a time when, by society’s standards, my body is past its “peak” of physical beauty or whatever. But, at the same time, I see it as a hopeful thing. It’s never too late to reclaim your own power.

Details: Wilfred top, vintage skirt, J. Crew shoes

Thoughts: Rainbow brite aesthetic fully engaged! For me, colour is like a shot of adrenaline straight into the happiness-receptor of the heart. Listen, I just made that up and there is a reason I never attempted med school. What I’m saying is, colour is an instant mood-lifter and some days we need all the help we can get and it’s perfectly okay.

Details: AllSaints blouse, Roksanda skirt, Rebecca Minkoff belt, Manolo Blahnik shoes

Thoughts: This is such a great skirt and I’m still chuffed to have found it. The thrift gods still smile upon me from time to time. Well, I’m not complaining. This entire outfit is thrifted and while it’s taken me years to assemble it (the shoes are the oldest, from 2014), it’s been worth the wait. And the journey was fun. Thrifting is always fun. Having a wardrobe that 20-year-old me couldn’t have even fathomed? Priceless.

Details: Wilfred top, Toni T dickie, Gap pants, Manolo Blahnik shoes

Thoughts: More of my black-and-white pattern extravaganza nonsense. At this point, I just enjoy pulling out b&w pieces from my closet and throwing them together in ever-wilder combinations. Like, I think I need to keep a separate corner reserved just for this. I don’t pull these outfits out often, but at least once a month, one has to happen. They’re very much the opposite of my rainbow outfits, but equally fun.

Details: Ralph Lauren shirt, Mexx vest, Ines de la Fressange x Uniqlo pants, J. Crew shoes

Thoughts: It can’t be an outfit round-up without at least one Ralph Lauren-inspired fit, right? Well, here you are. Fin!