I love this muted colour palette and find it very soothing. It’s the sage green paired with plum that’s so pleasing, especially with the other warm colour accents. This was also a very comfortable outfit to wear — lots of warm, soft and/or stretchy knits. This poncho is proving to be a real closet MVP; it’s perfect for keeping warm at home during the cold snap, but it also adds a surprisingly amount of polish to each outfit. Sometimes, it’s these no-name, unassuming pieces that will surprise you.
Mesmerizing
There is something about this combination of black and white patterns that’s kind of hypnotizing, isn’t it? It ought to be an eyeball-buster, but somehow my eyes don’t find it offensive at all. But maybe that’s just me. I can never get enough of these monochromatic pattern mixes, and I’m surprised that I hadn’t thought of this one before. I’m glad I decided to keep this Charlie & Robin cardigan; I had originally marked it for sale, but there were no takers and I had second thoughts. As it turns out, it’s the kind of kooky piece that works so well with my current style.
Art School Vibes
Chico’s isn’t one of my go-to brands, but I thrifted this top because the pattern and texture reminded me a bit of Issey Miyake. It’s quite large, so it’s perfect as a top layer over other things. I was originally going to wear it with a black skirt, but that felt a bit blah. Substituting this face-print Zara skirt was just the ticket. There is a lot more “energy” in the outfit this way. Pattern mixing for the win!
Can I say how much I love this blue-and-green palette? It’s very cool, and while I have been leaning towards more balanced colour palettes lately, this is … well, cool. The coat is one of my new obsessions. It’s the same brand as my pink wool coat (Amaryllis) and it’s a vibrant cobalt colour of which I can’t get enough. The culottes (Vero Moda) are also new and, while I don’t love the quality, I thrifted them for the colour and the style. Cropped culottes have become my go-to pants. I want them in every colour, and I’m well on my way to getting the rainbow.
Technicolour Dream
Speaking of the rainbow, this duster was a dream come true. One of the IG accounts I follow is a local textile upcycler who takes vintage fabrics, including crochet blankets, and re-fashions them into new pieces. I’ve been wanting a granny square blanket coat for a while, and recently I found the perfect material for it — this vintage blanket:
Prairie Trail Goods made it over into this amazing duster-style coat. I am so in love! It’s cozy and colourful and it sparks so much joy. I’ve been wearing it non-stop around the house during these colder days.
Christmas Shine
This was a very subdued Christmas for my family, but we did follow our long-standing tradition of going to my parents’ house for Christmas Day dinner. Although it was bittersweet (we all missed my mom more than words can say), I did want to make an effort for my dad and the kids. So I threw together a low-key festive outfit: a jewel-collar sweater and a velvet skirt, nothing over-the-top but still a little fancy.
Orange to the Max
I guess I became an orange-lover this year. Orange was one of my least favourite colours, for years, and now it seems to be one of the fastest growing categories in my closet. I blame a lot of that on this Zara skirt; it’s a great skirt, and now I keep buying things that “will look so good with it” because, well, one has to. Like this Marimekko x Uniqlo top. Such a fun pairing between the graphic floral print and the oversized houndstooth.
Layers Upon Layers
I would say ’tis the season for layers but, let’s face it, it’s always layering season in my world. I love changing up the proportions of certain clothes by adding layers. Like a pair of culottes under a short(ish) dress. I love this Tory Burch tunic, but it’s quite a bit shorter than my current preference; adding the pants instantly transforms it. Adding the mesh turtleneck also adds a certain je ne sais quoi to the outfit. I almost prefer the neckline modified in this way than the original. It’s funkier and more unusual.
Tulle Makeover
Speaking of transformations by layer, this old Anthro dress — also too short for me now — got its own by the addition of a tulle skirt over it. I couldn’t put it under because the skirt portion of the dress is too tight for that. But this works even better. My favourite part of the dress was always the top, anyway. I could have it altered into a top by a tailor but this “fix” is much cheaper (aka free) and easier.
A Last Hurrah
Don’t get me wrong, this skirt isn’t going anywhere. But it was a last chance to wear it in 2021, as it’s been quite neglected this year. I’ve been adding a bit more magenta to my closet recently, so it was a good time to bring it out and try a new combination. The turquoise accessories really make this outfit for me; I love the combination of blue and pink.
Hope you all enjoyed a nice holiday break, and here’s to having a pleasant start to the year.
I almost forgot about this vintage Gap sweater, which is a shame because it’s so good. I got it for my son (I think it’s a kid’s size, it’s marked XL but is very small) last year, and instantly nabbed it for myself. Don’t worry; he wasn’t devastated or anything. But I do need to give it justice and wear it more often. I love how well it pairs with this Zara skirt; the pattern mix and the colours are excellent together. I already miss our early November weather, before the snow hit (because of course it did). It’s such a good time of year, sartorially speaking. You can wear sweaters (I love sweaters ) AND skirts (I love skirts) AND cute non-parka coats (I love those too) which is definitely a very nice trifecta.
Warm and Cool
I’m talking about the colour palette here, not the weather. Historically, I have always favoured cool colours over warm ones. I think it’s because I have a “warm” (i.e. pink and ginger) complexion, and I always feel like cool colours suit me better. But! I have been re-discovering warm colours lately, and enjoying them a lot, especially paired with one contrasting shade from the opposite side of the spectrum. Here, the blue YSL bag (my old favourite!) provides that contrast. I stuck with muted tones in both sides of the spectrum, so they would look cohesive, and I am very pleased with the result.
Geometric Mix
This might be my favourite way to wear this Carven skirt, which is saying a lot because I have enjoyed all my previous outfits very much. I just love the way the oversized polka dots match up with the irregular stripes in the skirt. Again, the colour palette is very cohesive, which is pleasing to my eye. But it’s the pattern mix that elevates this, imo. Is that predictable of me these days? Quite possibly. But hey, I’m all about leaning into your of-the-moment feelings.
Victorian Goth
Speaking of favourite ways to wear things, ditto for this Giambattista Valli x H&M dress. The way the dress is cut makes it a tad revealing in the bust for everyday wear, and this mesh turtleneck is my best (so far) solution. It looks like it belongs with this dress — like, if you told me it was a built-in mesh, I would believe it. I will say that this turtleneck has been one of those unexpected closet superstars in the sense that it has an uncanny ability to transform outfits. It’s just a cheapie one, too — nothing fancy. But if you enjoy a goth/dark romance type of aesthetic, I recommend looking into something like this, especially if you live in a cold climate where layering is de rigueur.
