If you’ve been reading here over the last year, this post will hold no surprises for you; but I like to look back at my outfits, pick my favourites in retrospective — hindsight gives a different perspective on things — and observe the themes that emerged over the year. I didn’t break any new ground, sartorially speaking, in 2023; rather, I think it was a year of consolidation. I explored the sources of inspiration that have become most meaningful to me, and became more settled (grounded?) in my current avatars. I experienced a lot of joy from my clothes and my outfits in 2023, which is as it should always be, ideally. I also feel that I have reached a stage where, though I remain open to and excited by new possibilities, I am very content with my closet and FOMO-free.
While I would never say that this is the forever iteration of my personal style and closet — because we always grow and change, no matter how old we are or how much we like our current selves — I do feel very comfortable in this version of it. Looking forward into 2024, I see more of the same.
As always, I tried to organize this post around the themes that emerged from my retrospective, and there is no better way to start it than what I call “Ralph Lauren things”.
The thing I love about Ralph Lauren is that he’s as much a storyteller as a designer. That really appeals to me, because I think clothes should always tell a story. His designs don’t actually change that much over the years; there have been iterations of the East Coast prep/British country/American Southwest aesthetics going back to the 80s, but the quality and attention to details is where he shines. It feels authentic rather than trendy, which I appreciate.
Then, there was the 90s revival:
During the late summer and early fall, I had a great time revisiting the outfits I had most coveted as a teenager and never had the chance to wear the first time around. Did I get it all out of my system? I’m not sure. We’ll find out come spring whether I am ready to say goodbye to the 90s, again, or not.
Skirts were another major trend last year, but when are they not:
There were a lot fewer rainbow moments in 2023, but that’s not to say that I fully abandoned that particular aesthetic — colour always lifts my mood:
While brown was the colour of Fall 2023, blue remained a constant all year round:
Wide leg jeans had a big moment this year, and I still can’t get enough:
I committed to cowboy boots this summer, and prairie boho looks in general made a big comeback:
“Creative layers with a side of pattern mixing” remains one of my fave trends for spring and fall:
And after all that is said and done, there was still a miscellany of cool outfits that mixed and matched various trends:
And all of this still doesn’t account for the last few weeks of the year, when outfits were still going strong. Oh well, there is always next year to talk about more!
This week, we continue the 2023 Favourites recap with a look at my most-loved purchases of the year. This is always a tough exercise for me because I get very attached to my clothes … but that’s a good thing, right? We should care about the things we bring into our life. I had to make some very, very tough decisions in order to get this list down to a manageable (?) 15 pieces. Needless to say, I bought (a lot) more than 15 items; but I also gifted, swapped, and donated a fair amount as well. Keeping things in circulation is always the goal. And, once again, the vast majority of clothing I bought this year was secondhand.
So, without further ado and in no particular order:
Reitmans sweater (thrifted, $10)
This goes to show that, sometimes, the brand of clothing is irrelevant. I haven’t shopped at Reitmans in … well, I don’t remember how long. Maybe ever. But the minute I saw this sweater at the thrift store, I knew I had to have it. I’ve worn it more than a half dozen times, which is no mean feat considering just how many sweaters I already own. This is the one I reach for whenever the occasion calls for a “nice” outfit and I’m in doubt about the level of dressiness involved. It’s not too much; not too little. Just perfect.
Pendleton wool coat (Poshmark, $120)
I adore Pendleton blankets and had dreamt of having a blanket coat of my own for a while before randomly stumbling on the deal of the century year on Poshmark. It’s not only a beautiful design; the colours couldn’t be more up my alley. I know this will be a piece I treasure for years and, hopefully, some day pass along to my daughter.
Charlie Holiday dress ($14, thrift)
This was my perfect “throw it on and go” summer dress. I adore this style – long, tiered, voluminous – and find it so easy to dress up and down.
Ralph Lauren shirt ($5, thrift)
Are you sick of seeing this shirt yet? Who knew that an oversized men’s shirt could be so versatile? Well, I had a good guess, which is why I hunted this one down. The blue and white stripe is a classic for a reason; it really does go with almost anything.
Roksanda Ilincic skirt ($8, thrift)
I didn’t see as much designer stuff at the thrifts this year as in the past, but this was one piece that caught my eye immediately. I don’t tend to buy things solely for the brand anymore, but this skirt checks off all my boxes. The silhouette, in particular, is absolutely My Thing.
Banana Republic jeans ($35, retail)
I bought a small number of items at retail this year, and this pair of jeans is one of the purchases I definitely don’t regret. The style and fit are great! Not gonna lie; this made me start paying attention to Banana Republic again. I’ve resisted falling into retail shopping habits again, but I’ve been keeping an eye on BR’s new collections, particularly as it comes to pants and jeans. They know what they’re doing.
Laredo boots ($77, consignment)
I got these boots as a “granny boot” adjacent option in the spring and, boy, did they ever prove to be a wonderful purchase come fall. I’ve worn them nonstop since September. I love that they can be paired with pants and jeans, as well as dresses and skirts for a bit of a goth/grunge vibe. And they’re comfy AF.
Paloma Picasso bag ($48, Poshmark)
This was a bag I had my eye on for over a year before I pulled the trigger. Which I did after catching a great price on Poshmark. I love the size, style and signature “X” hardware – the latter is eye-catchy, without being too logo-centric. This is my current go-to everyday black bag.
DKNY skirt ($56, Poshmark)
We all remember the story of this skirt, and how it was a lucky Poshmark find during my search for a very specific style of skirt (black, stretchy, with a sheer panel). Well, I love it. It’s another piece I know I will have for years, and one that will serve me through any number of style evolutions.
Ralph Lauren blazer ($56, Poshmark)
By now, it is surely no secret how much I love vintage Ralph Lauren pieces. I had been patiently waiting to find a wool tweed blazer for months, so when this beauty popped up on Poshmark for a song (do you sense a theme here?), I snapped it up immediately. The colours are perfect for my fall wardrobe, and it’s a classic style that will never go out of fashion for me.
Cowboy boots ($25, thrift)
Are you surprised to see cowboy boots on this list? So am I! But these boots were a real revelation. I am only sad that I didn’t find them earlier in the summer, because oh, all the outfits that we could have created together! But it’s all good; next summer, I’ll be ready.
Prairie Trail Goods jacket ($105, retail)
Y’all know that I have a few handmade and upcycled pieces from my friend Josh, the genius behind Prairie Trail Goods. I love and treasure them all, and I couldn’t resist adding this darling little number to my collection. The quilt pattern and contrast sleeves are so “me”. I am patiently waiting for warm seasons to come round again so I can wear it. In the meantime, it’s hanging in pride of place in my closet so I can look at it whenever I need a little boost of joy.
Coach bags ($0, swap; $130, Poshmark)
Technically, the whiskey brown bag was a swap not a purchase, but I had to include it here because it had been on my wishlist for ages. The mahogany brown one was another lucky Poshmark find; the colour is unusual and lovely, the condition is quite good, and the price was pretty reasonable given the current market for vintage Coach. These two join my beloved red Coach bag in what I hope to be a growing collection.
Ralph Lauren jacket ($100, FB Marketplace)
I don’t use FB for social media, so I always forget that Marketplace exists. I’m glad I remember from time to time, though, because I’ll randomly stumble on something amazing there like this vintage RL southwestern print coat. It has those wonderful Pendleton vibes, but it’s a completely different colour palette than my Pendleton coat which makes it a fab addition to my coat collection.
Ralph Lauren skirt ($103, eBay)
Let me come clean: I came across this skirt while looking for a different vintage floral RL skirt on eBay. The listing for that skirt was higher than my budget, but this one just about squeaked under it so I went for it. It might seem like a bad idea to buy something simply because it’s cheaper but, of course, there’s more to it than that. I fell in love with this skirt on its own merits; the patchwork style, in particular, really appealed to me, as did the colour palette. And, at the end of the day, one can never have enough RL skirts 😊
Details: Ralph Lauren vest & shirt, J. Crew blazer, H&M pants, Fossil belt, Ferragamo shoes (all thrifted)
Thoughts: I loved this outfit so much and it kinda bummed me out that it didn’t get more love on Insta. Generally speaking, I don’t pay any mind to IG stats because I know the algorithm can’t be trusted to show my photos to my followers, so nothing counts as actual “feedback”. Still, when I’m excited about an outfit and, like, 5 people see it, it sucks. I love sharing the excitement of something cool, you know? Anyway, here it is, for posterity. I felt really good in this; the shirt-vest-pants-belt combo in particular hit the “effortless style” benchmark for me. And I think Papa Ralph would approve.
Details: Orvis shirt, Maison 500 blazer, Issey Miyake skirt, Rebecca Minkoff belt (all thrifted)
Thoughts: I wore this to the office when I went in — for the last time in 2023 — for our team’s holiday lunch. I did feel a bit like a Christmas tree, but I have such a short window every year to wear this fun blazer that I HAVE to make the most of it. What better time to look like a Christmas tree? I like to think that my colleagues appreciated it, LOL!
Details: Club Monaco turtleneck (retail), Eddie Bauer sweater, Ports International blazer, BDG pants, Fossil belt, Office London shoes (all thrifted), Coach bag (Poshmark)
Thoughts: This was a “sleeper hit” in my books: I surprised myself by how much I loved it. Something about this green/grey/brown palette is just *chef’s kiss* to me. Also, yes, I’m hard launching the newest addition to my Coach collection 2.0. I’m re-building said collection after I made the dumb decision to sell most of my vintage Coach bags in the mid-2010s when I was getting into high-end designer bags. The joke was on me. I never wear all those high-end designer bags these days, and vintage Coach has soared in price. But I’ve been lucky this year, and I’ve been able to score a couple of beautiful pieces (in addition to the red bag that my mom held on to for me). One came from a blog follower via a trade, and this mahogany one was a lucky Posh find. I think the whiskey coloured bag suits my summer and fall palette better, whereas this darker brown works really well with stuff I’m wearing these days. I love them both so much!
Details: The Fifth Label shirt, LizSport vest, Frame blazer, Cotton Ginny belt (all thrifted), Banana Republic jeans (retail)
Thoughts: Plaid and velvet for the holidays? Groundbreaking. I’m sure Anna Wintour is somewhere rolling her eyes, but I love plaid and I love velvet, and this time of year is perfect for both. So I’m gonna make the most of my opportunities.
Details: Club Monaco turtleneck (retail), MaxMara sweater (Poshmark), Escada blazer (thrift), Banana Republic pants (retail), Coach bag (Poshmark)
Thoughts: I am also making the most of the opportunities that the weather is giving me this year, and dressing like it’s still kinda fall. The key is wearing all the cozy layers. Here, I am wearing a cotton tank top (which you can’t see); a merino blend, thin turtleneck; a thicker wool sweater; and a thick cashmere blazer … and no bulky coat needed! I loved the mahogany + navy combo too, and I gotta remember to wear it again. (I will say that, as much as I love the warmer weather, it also really freaks me out. Climate change is scary. If this is a harbinger of even more wildfires and drought next year, we are screwed.)
Details: Nine West jacket, Ralph Lauren sweater, Gap belt & jeans, Coach bag (all secondhand)
Thoughts: Guys, I might have saved the best for last. I am obsessed with this distressed leather jacket!! I had been thinking about a piece like this for some time. I’ve seen a few influencers with masculine-leaning, distressed leather jackets and I liked the vibe (especially paired with hyper femme pieces for contrast), but I wasn’t sure if it was a trend for me as I don’t love very oversized jackets on me — they tend to make me look like a linebacker. When I found this jacket (Nine West of all things!), it was an immediate “yes”. It has that sort of “tough” edge, but while it is a boxy cut, it’s not too oversized. I’m pretty sure it’s an older style — possibly even vintage — and it was new-with-tags. While it’s leather, it feels a bit fragile so I don’t know how well it will wear long-term. The fact that it came to me unworn, at least, buys me some time. I love that it has a cotton lining on the body (the sleeve lining is poly) because it makes the jacket extra warm somehow. Perfect for this brown winter!
