Colourblocked

I love this Wilfred sweater so much. It’s like being wrapped in a fluffy cloud. I “fancied” it up with a pencil skirt (and chose a leather one why because why not add some textural contrast), but it was definitely my favourite part of the outfit. Eight months into the pandemic, I am past the point where I want to wear pyjamas everyday, but this sweater is making me reconsider. Except, I’m not sure even my pyjamas are that soft. Maybe what I really want is to just go back to bed, hah!

Purple Waves

This Zara skirt is exuberant and so much fun, but the purple is taking some getting used to. Don’t get me wrong; it’s a lovely shade. I’m simply not used to it, and more importantly, still trying to figure out what colours work well with it. Black is always safe, but you can’t wear something as bold as this skirt and always play it safe. When I thrifted this Barbara Bui jacket, I was really taken with the sleeve and lapel contrast lining. Looking at the orange-brown colours, I thought “hmmm, I wonder if this would pop next to purple?” And you know what? It does. I also like how the long line of the blazer works with cut and length of the skirt – it’s a different silhouette from my usual.

Whimsical Friday

These days, by the time I get to Friday, I am mentally spent. Last week, to inject some fun into my day, I decided to wear this ridiculous Moschino tee I thrifted a while back. 2020 has been a bonker balls year, and it’s started to affect my sartorial preferences. Surreal, ridiculous, kitschy stuff? Sign me up. Working from home has its ups and downs, but at least I can look in the mirror and see a teddy bear in a hard hat staring back at me, and smile.

Purple Reign

This Zara skirt was a late-night impulse buy on Poshmark (a category that seems to be growing every week) and, boy, I’m glad it’s one I DIDN’T talk myself out of. Not something you can say about every impulse buy, for sure. But I love the lines of this skirt so much, and the colour is so wonderfully punchy. It’s probably an “inspired” design – as most of Zara’s output tends to be – but I have no idea which designer originated it. Regardless, I approve. It can definitely skew boho (with a touch of flamenco flair), but I wanted to see if I could go in a different direction with it too. Something more minimalist and architectural. Paired with my cropped faux leather Zara top, plus a simple geometric necklace, it definitely has an edge. And yet, it can be transformed immediately by adding just one extra piece – like this Ted Baker floral wrap.

Detail Oriented

This is a deceptively simple outfit: shirt, pants, belt. But the details … ahhh, the details make all the difference. This shirt is a Yohji Yamamoto piece I scored last year from a fellow thrifter in the US via Instagram (thanks, Morgan!) It’s anything but a basic button-up. There is an asymmetrical peplum/train detail, plus a cool vent on the back below the collar. I decided to add a wrap belt to further emphasize the tailored cut of the shirt. The softly draped pants quietly complement the more severe lines on the top. And, luckily, they still fit * insert crying-laughing-but-mostly-crying face here*

Playing Around

I wanted to “punk up” this Mickey shirt and I’m pretty happy with this resulting outfit, though again, probably not very punk at all. I wish the details of the skirt translated better to photos; it has a neat draping detail in the front that gives the whole outfit some added visual interest. I would have loved to try this look with a black tulle skirt instead – maybe something with tiers, for added shape/angles – but alas, that is an item that Poshmark hasn’t (yet?) delivered.

Saved The Best For Last

Um, that the title says. I scored this Acne skirt on eBay a couple of months ago (it was a steal of a deal!) and it took this long to get it from Australia. But, boy, was she worth the wait! I am in love with the colour, the textures, the shape. Someone on IG called this a “mermaid” skirt, and I am obsessed. I am maybe definitely hunting for more aqua coloured pieces on Poshmark (and the thrift store) and contemplating a whole new category in my style inspo files called “mermaid chic”.

Fall Feels

This Thanksgiving, I was thankful for many things, including the fact that it hasn’t snowed. Yet. More than I remember of previous years, I am finding this brief fall season to be charming. The leaves are beautiful shades of yellow, red and orange which look fetching even on gray days. Gray days have their own charm too – on weekends, I love going for walks in our neighbourhood, then coming home to read or paint in my cozy space. All of that to say: this is what I wore for Thanksgiving dinner at my parents’ house. It was a good outfit, even if my son thought I was overdressed.

Notes: Rick Owens dress (thrifted, $10); Skies Are Blue vest (thrifted, $5); Zara shoes (retail, $80).

Stormy Seas

I love this colour palette; it reminds me of stormy seas. There are 3 different shades here: slate blue (the top), grey (the blazer), and dark green but they harmonize nicely. This Helmut Lang blazer was part of an epic haul in September, and has really good lines. I am not usually a fan of very sharp (padded) shoulders on blazers, because mine are already broad, but here the detail works somehow. Also working? This Rafael necklace. In all fairness, it works with pretty much everything I wear. Someone once commented that it looks like a necklace that holds a few spells and I love it all the more for it. Pieces with a little bit of mystery are my favourite.

Notes: Babaton top (thrifted, $12); Helmut Lang blazer (thrifted, $8); Zara skirt (thrifted, $11); Cole Haan shoes (thrifted, $20); Rafael necklace (eBay, $80).

Achievement Unlocked

At the Wardrobe Exchange event back in September, I fell in love with an outfit. This incredibly stylish woman was wearing a black sweater (with leather pocket accents), a chartreuse green satin midi skirt, and black ankle boots. It doesn’t sound like much, but it was perfection. I was especially taken with the skirt. Through the magic of social media, I was connected with its stylish owner and discovered that it came from a Dorothee Schumacher trunk show. [Sidebar: Dorothee Schumacher is one of those lesser known designers whose stuff I really like. Have yet to find pieces at the thrift store, but this was a good reminder to check eBay more often.]

Needless to say, I knew my chance of finding the exact same skirt were slim to none, so I started looking for alternatives – first on eBay, and then retail. Somewhat surprisingly, none of the usual suspects (Zara, ASOS, Topshop) had nothing to offer me. I needed something very specific: the colour (chartreuse) AND the style (midi) AND the material (silky satin). I was more or less resigned to putting my search on the back burner when – lo! – I stumbled across the exact thing I wanted at Nordstrom Rack. It’s a random brand and fast fashion quality, but I think it will work as a statement piece and I can’t wait to wear it. For its inaugural outfit, I chose something that was a hat-tip to the original inspiration.

Notes: Jones NY sweater (thrifted, $8.50); Sarah Pacini vest (consignment, $85); Code x Mode skirt (retail, $34); Tory Burch boots (thrifted, $20).