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!!

Last time we talked about arty things, I mentioned that I had finally picked up supplies to try needle punching. It’s something I have been wanting to explore for a while for mostly obvious reasons; it’s a form of fiber art closely related to embroidery and I am a big fan of texture – in the past, I’ve used different embroidery stitches to approximate the nubby texture of needle punching. I thought needle punching would allow me to extend my exploration of colour and form in a new medium with – and here I am going to reveal my hubris – minimal downtime. Because of the whole similarity thing? Yeah, I was wrong.

Although both involve needles, the techniques are very different. Different enough, I think, that my skill at embroidery is probably to the detriment of my ability to figure out needle punching. I gave it a good, honest try and it was hard. But more than that … I hated it.

Ok, hate might be a strong word. I just didn’t enjoy the experience. At all.

At first, I thought it was because it was a new skill that was proving more difficult to learn than I had expected. It’s been a while since I’ve tried a new craft and felt totally useless at something; nobody likes that feeling, right? I had no desire to keep going, and that made me mad at myself. I’m not a quitter! What does it say about me, especially at my age, that I am immediately ready to walk away from something just because it’s hard? After all, I have learned over the years that being really good at something – anything! – takes patience and practice.

I spent a few days really beating myself up over this. It might sound silly but it really bothered me that I couldn’t motivate myself enough to continue, to persevere, to get better. I felt bad … but not enough to actually want to do it. What a dilemma, huh? And then, coincidentally, I read something online that helped me shift my perspective. I am going to try to paraphrase it here, as I don’t remember it exactly, but it was something to the effect that while nobody is born a master of a craft – that still takes time and practice – people are inherently more inclined or suited to particular things. In my case, that would be embroidery and beading and painting, but not knitting or weaving or (evidently) needle punching.

It’s not so much that the former “came easy” to me; not in the sense people might think – I wasn’t immediately good at these things (certainly not any better than I was at needle punch right out of the gate). But I enjoyed the learning process. Instead of feeling frustrated about how my first efforts fell short of my goals, I felt energized to keep trying. I was excited to keep going, to experiment, to learn more. It didn’t feel like a chore. It felt fun.

This has been a total lightbulb moment for me. It allowed me to give myself permission to “give up” on needle punching. At least for now. I might try again at some point, but I won’t force myself to do it if it still feels like a joyless struggle. I would rather put time into my embroidery, and continue to improvise and improve my techniques, than into anything that feels like a chore. Art should never feel like that.

I will admit that this has been a challenging mental framework to shift – to stop equating putting something aside with quitting (and all its negative connotations) – but also a really healthy process. In a strange way, a growth-oriented process at that; although I have not grown my skill base, I have gained a new perspective which I believe will help me to grow in other ways over the years.

For fun, here is a look at the results of my needle punching attempts – front and back:

Not horrendous but these brought me no joy to make so it’s time focus on something that does!

Thoughts: More b&w pattern mixing! I found another early 2000s Gap sweater and I’m thrilled. Not only does it fit the b&w theme, but it’s also cool AF. I love that the pattern has that apres-ski vibe that is always a good winter choice, but also kinda looks like a lace doily which suits my cottagecore aesthetic. It’s a thicker lambswool knit, so I probably won’t be able to wear it past March (fingers crossed, anyway!) but I want to try it with my more prairie-ish pieces.

Details: Polo Ralph Lauren dress (Poshmark), upcycled quilted vest via Prairie Trail Goods, Ferragamo shoes (retail, old)

Thoughts: My friend dropped off a bunch of her upcycled goodies for me recently, including this amazing quilt vest. I couldn’t wait to wear it, so I decided to give myself a little preview of summer style by wearing it with the amazing patchwork RL dress I got on Poshmark last year. I adore the over-the-top pattern mix! And it makes me so excited for this spring/summer.

Details: Eddie Bauer sweater, Ines de la Fressange x Uniqlo shirt, Topshop pants, Ferragamo shoes (all thrifted)

Thoughts: This is one of my fave vintage sweaters, and I’m happy to have found its perfect match in these Topshop pants. The windowpane pattern perfectly complements the floral trellis on the sweater, doesn’t it? And the blues are a match too. Gotta love some wardrobe kismet!

Details: Upcycled gilet via Prairie Trail Goods, vintage dress (thrifted), Rafael Alfandary necklace (eBay), Nine West shoes (thrifted)

Thoughts: Here is that upcycled gilet again – it really is an outfit maker. Here, I threw it over a vintage velvet 90s-style tank dress. Love the mix of moody blues. And this is one of those easy-to-wear-looks-fancier-than-it-is outfits that always gives me a mood boost even when I’m just puttering around at home.

Details: Upcycled jacket via Prairie Trail Goods, Zara dress (thrifted), Fluevog shoes (thrifted)

Thoughts: One more piece from my dear friend — how fabulous is that peony print? It started like as a commercial April Cornell quilt. J has an amazing eye for colour and pattern mixes, and that’s on full display with this piece; the choice of teal is especially inspired, imo. This outfit is another little preview of what I’m planning to wear all summer — easy dresses, funky patchwork pieces.