Details: Reitmans sweater, Banana Republic belt, Issey Miyake skirt, Arnold Churgin boots (all thrifted)

Thoughts: I don’t normally thrift Reitmans stuff, but this sweater was an insta-purchase. It reminds me of a vintage (80s) Ralph Lauren sweater that I have been coveting for ages; since my chances of ever finding the original — or even an RL reissue (if one exists) — are slim to none, this version will do just fine. And I love everything about this outfit. It’s been a while since I’ve done all-black, and edgy goth vibes are not my current jam, but this romantic version has got me all shook up. I loved it so much, I wore it twice: once for brunch with friends, and once for a (grown up) birthday party.

Details: Ines de la Fressange x Uniqlo shirt, Lord & Taylor sweater, Ralph Lauren skirt, Ports International blazer, J. Crew shoes (all thrifted)

Thoughts: I’ve been loving this shade of brown a lot lately, but this is the most “all in” I’ve gone with it so far. I was worried that it might be too much brown, but I think the cool-toned yellow and blue help to temper the overall brownness. I also really, really love this silhouette — I have several versions of this style of skirt, and I never get tired of it. I am actually wearing this skirt back-to-front because having the slit in front makes it. It’s classic but sexy at the same time.

Details: Gucci blouse, Debew poncho (both thrifted), Banana Republic pants (retail)

Thoughts: It’s hard to capture the colour of these pants — they’re a sort of reddish brown like cherry wood. I’m convinced that blue is its ideal complement, and I’m searching for the perfect shade of blue to go with it. This light blue is not a bad start. I wanted to bring out the pattern of the blouse as much as possible, so I added a poncho for warmth instead of a jacket.

Details: Wilfred dress, Jones NY jacket (both thrifted), Zara shoes (retail)

Thoughts: Wednesday Addams meets 90s grunge. I got these faux-silver cuffs on Etsy because I’m obsessed with the Elsa Perretti Tiffany bone cuffs and wanted to try out a similar look. The originals are $4,000CAD+ for the pair, so I’m not sure they’re ever going to happen, but with these dupes, I get to figure out if they would be worth it. I have to say that I do really like the aesthetic, especially with more minimalist outfits like this one.

Details: Tahari shirt, American Eagle vest, Second Female cardigan, vintage skirt, Fluevog shoes (all thrifted)

Thoughts: I’m calling this one Prairie Dandy. I’m always tickled to find colour matches, and this cardigan and skirt are almost identical shades of blue. Perhaps I should have tried a different colour of shirt, to break up the blue-ness a bit. Overall, though, I like the proportions here, especially the long cardigan-vest combo. Definitely one to try again!

I am not on TikTok, which ought to tell you a few things about me, some more obvious than others. Or, perhaps, all of them obvious. I am not Gen-Z, for example. Duh. I am not au courant with the latest trends in makeup (something called “crying makeup”??). I do not worship at the altar of Hailey Bieber (who seems like a generally inoffensive person). And I am usually pretty oblivious to whatever aesthetic is currently blowing up on social media.

This is probably a good thing, on the whole, as I find that social media aesthetics have a tendency to trigger my old-man-yelling-at-the-clouds reflex. Case in point: the “vanilla girl”.

I only heard about “vanilla girl” at a relatively early stage — i.e. while it is currently trending — due to commentary from some social media peeps I follow on IG and articles from the likes of Refinery29 pointing out the lack of inclusivity inherent in this trend. It’s an important discussion and you should definitely engage with it if you haven’t already. As a white woman, I don’t know that I have anything relevant to add to it. My rant today is about a far less significant issue, but one which simply won’t stop worming its way into my thoughts far more often than it should.

Why do people love beige clothing so much????

When I say that I think about this way more than I should, it’s because my general philosophy in life is to not think about other people’s aesthetic choices or their discretionary spending. Not my monkeys, not my budget. I totally understand that different people like different things. I get that. I do.

But why beige?

Why so much beige, everywhere?

It’s not just clothes, it’s houses too. Then there is the whole “sad beige parenting” thing. Beige is all over everything that’s an object of curation on social media. Do you know how hard I have to work to keep my Instagram feed from looking like a bowl of oatmeal?

Here’s why I don’t understand the seemingly unassailable dominance of beige.

One, beige clothing has a tendency to look dingy unless the materials are better than average and maintained carefully. Visually, it needs texture to make it look interesting, and texture mixing is not unlike pattern mixing: not everyone knows how to do it well.

Two, beige is not an shortcut to chic-ness. Sure, we have all seen amazingly sharp beige outfits on Insta or magazines, but those reflect only the most successful efforts of stylists and fashionistas. Throwing on a bunch of beige clothing without paying attention to shades, proportions, textures, volume, silhouette, etc. etc. doesn’t guarantee a good outfit. It guarantees beigeness. I get that some people don’t feel comfortable with colour, or don’t like colour, or don’t know how to wear colour but, like … black exists, yeah? Mediocre black clothing will always look 110% sharper than mediocre beige clothing — and I am not throwing shade here, most of us can’t afford significantly better than mediocre clothing, and that’s ok — and black requires a lot less consideration to pull together as an outfit. Black is less work and more error-proof.

Three, beige is not a universally flattering colour. Neither is black, but if I am going to look like a consumptive Victorian ghost, I think I am better off in black; it looks intentional that way.

Four, we haven’t even talked about laundry care, but see point one above. And don’t get me started on the upkeep of beige houses.

I’ve fallen into the rabbit hole of asking the internet why people like to wear beige, and have found many answers. The symbolism of beige features prominently in most of these, and once you scratch the surface of that, undertones of classism and racism (colour being strongly associated with non-white cultures) are unmistakable, bringing us back full circle to the discussion of inclusivity. What I haven’t really found are full-chested praises of beige at the purely aesthetic level. I understand that individual people might have beige as their favourite colour — people are infinitely weird in all sorts of wonderful and wacky ways — but on a mass population scale? No. Beige — the very definition of a nothingburger colour — does not have the necessary inherent qualities to visually seduce an entire generation. So I am left with the conclusion that nobody* actually likes beige as a colour, as opposed to liking beige as an idea. Change my mind!** And if flexing your bougieness is that idea, there are a multitude other means so I beg you: no more beige clothes.

(*at a statistically significant level)

(** actually, don’t. I will not be moved on this point. sorry!)

Details: Ines de la Fressance x Uniqlo shirt, Jones NY blazer, BR belt, Issey Miyake skirt (all thrifted), Zara shoes (retail)

Thoughts: One of my absolute favourite outfits all winter. I went back to the RL inspo well for this, of course. I especially love that it’s a monochromatic, fairly classic outfit only with a southwestern twist. I tried a similar formula this summer, once, and loved it then too. I don’t know why it’s taken me this long to do it again. It’s the perfect for days when I want to go with a southwestern/prairie vibe but not in a very boho or colourful way. This feels a bit more restrained but still quite romantic. Having the chance to wear my treasured turquoise jewelry makes this extra special.

Details: Toni T dickie, Everlane sweater, Judith & Charles jacket, Gap skirt (all thrifted), Zara shoes (retail)

Thoughts: Went back to a short skirt for a hot minute. This jacket has been a dark horse of versatility. I have a weird relationship with bright red, as it’s not a colour that I normally gravitate to, but as an accent in the right outfit, it’s fabulous. This is one of those outfits. I think the restrained colour palette creates a good background for the red to really pop.

Details: Tabi sweater, Gap pants (both thrifted), Zara shoes (retail)

Thoughts: Don’t mind me, just doing some more b&w pattern mixing. I had been looking for a pair of graphic pattern pants for a while, and this one showed the most promise. Although they’re not wide leg, which is my preference these days, they do have that kick flare silhouette that I quite like in my Tommy Hilfiger jeans, so I thought it was worth trying. I do like how they fit, and I think the checkerboard pattern (I was really hoping for an oversized houndstooth but I’ll take this) will be an interesting one to mix and match.

Details: Vince dress, Holding Horses tunic, Fluevog shoes (all thrifted), BCBG harness belt (Poshmark)

Thoughts: I loved the proportions created by this layering combo. There is nice volume and movement, and the harness belt brings structure so there’s a juxtaposition of fluidity and rigidity. Brown and blue (and black) is a combination that I’ve always loved.

Details: Massimo Dutti sweater, Gap jeans, Josef belt (all thrifted), Prairie Trail Goods tote

Thoughts: I finally found a pair of denim that’s a contender for the palazzo jean hole in my closet. I’m not sure if these Gap jeans are “it” but I am giving them a try. They do have a lot of the elements I am looking for, though I wish the pant leg was slightly wider from the top down. On the downside, they are a bit long and I am concerned that by hemming them, I will lose both the shape of the leg and the drama of the silhouette as a whole. So I may just need to invest in a really tall pair of platforms for spring. Something walkable but with a few extra inches. We shall see. Meanwhile, please admire this gorgeous tote that my friend J made from a thrifted pillow sham, Levi’s belt, and waxed canvas. The inside lining is the classic Ralph Lauren teddy pattern (the RL teddy bear in various outfits against a striped background) — it’s part of a thrifted bedsheet. So ingenious!!