What I Wore: January 2017

It’s almost hard to believe that the first month of 2017 is already over, isn’t it? It didn’t bring better tidings than its predecessor, which was all the more reason for me to keep my head down and bury myself in work — not that I had much choice as regards the latter. January started off slow at the office, but it was only the calm before the storm. I’m not complaining, however, since the month was replete with opportunities to see, learn, and do new things. In non-work news, we booked a family vacation to Mexico! You better believe that I’m counting the weeks (and days!) until we hit the beach.

In the meantime, let’s look at some work clothes.

one, two, three
one, two, three

four, five, six
four, five, six

seven, eight, nine
seven, eight, nine

ten, eleven, twelve
ten, eleven, twelve

thirteen, fourteen, fifteen
thirteen, fourteen, fifteen

sixteen, seventeen, eighteen
sixteen, seventeen, eighteen

Last month, I finally caved and downloaded the Stylebook app. I won’t lie; adding my closet, one piece at a time, was a major PITA but it’s 90% done (I’m still working on my outerwear and special occasion dresses). I like the app, but there are things about it that drive me nuts and I wish it had better functionality. For example, there is no way to manipulate the number of wears to reflect the fact that the clothes have been worn before; I have 3 years of data that I cannot incorporate into the stats, which makes all of the calculations done by the app irrelevant. Anyway, my list of gripes goes on, but I would still recommend the app for anyone who wants to get more hands-on with their wardrobe management (and outfit planning), especially anyone who doesn’t already use another system (such as Google Docs) for the same purpose.

Between Stylebook and my new closet, I’ve had cause to think about my wardrobe quite a bit recently. I feel something of an evolution coming on. I know. Again. But that’s the fun part of dressing up, isn’t it? Rediscovering, reinventing. An extra reason to be excited in the morning.

Easy Blue

Sweater, Banana Republic (thrifted); tank, Gap (thrifted); pants, Aritzia (thrifted); shoes, J. Crew (via consignment); bag, Gucci (via consignment); necklace, house of Harlow
Sweater, Banana Republic (thrifted); tank, Gap (thrifted); pants, Aritzia (thrifted); shoes, J. Crew (via consignment); bag, Gucci (via consignment); necklace, house of Harlow

I feel like I need to apologize for this outfit, you guys. Not for wearing it — it’s wholly inoffensive, after all — but perhaps for putting it on the blog. It’s probably not very blog-worthy. Truth is, I loved it. I loved wearing it. I didn’t get compliments or turn any heads (and definitely didn’t set Instagram on fire), but I had a spring in my step all day nonetheless. If I was still chasing that “effortless chic” ideal, this would be my version of it.

hem detail
hem detail
my fave watch
my fave watch

The sweater is a recent thrift find, scored without a label. I bought it because I adore this shade of blue, and the wool blend was incredibly soft and luxurious to the touch. It’s nothing fancy, and the RN number eventually revealed it to be a Banana Republic piece. It will get a lot of wear, assuming it holds up. The pants are my absolute favourite, by T. Babaton. My current obsession is tracking down this (unknown) style so I can buy a back-up pair. I love the cropped length and the slouchy, tapered trouser cut. It feels much more elegant than the Sloans I have worn religiously the last few years. Sadly, I have not had any luck in my quest at the thrift store. I have my eye on a similar style on the Asos website, and it is taking a good amount of self-control not to pull the trigger on it. Looking back at this outfit isn’t helping either. If you guys have recommendations for a good cigarette pant-trouser hybrid unicorn, let me know!

one hand in my pocket
like, Alannis, one hand in my pocket
easiest outfit ever
easiest outfit ever

Plum & Blush

Dress, Club Monaco (thrifted); blazer, H&M (thrifted); shoes, J. Crew; bag, YSL
Dress, Club Monaco (thrifted); blazer, H&M (thrifted); shoes, J. Crew; bag, YSL

I’ve run out of ideas for titles. I mean, that’s obvious, yes? After nearly 7 years, I suppose it’s to be expected. But while I am somewhat burnt out on post titles, I am feeling a renewed zest for outfit making. Going through a style shift usually does it. A big part of my focus has been to really zero in on the pieces I truly love (as opposed to things I feel I ought to love) and choosing them consistently, every day. The result, not surprisingly, is that I am much more consistently pleased with my daily outfits — pleased and full of that “comfortable in my own skin” feeling. More than anything (except perhaps comfort), that’s my benchmark for a successful outfit.

close-up
close-up

None of the pieces here are new, and there is nothing inherently novel about how I put them together. My goal was to balance my love of colour and print with a more streamlined (or stripped down) aesthetic. Finding that balance — not too plain, not too loud, just right — hasn’t come naturally to me, but I am getting better at it. That’s what I tell myself anyway. I liked the result here, both in how I looked in the outfit, and how I felt wearing it. Simple, easy, and hopefully not too boring.

from the back
from the back
pockets!!
pockets!!