Details: French Connection top, Judith & Charles jacket, Paul Smith pants (all secondhand)
Thoughts: Is there anything more festive than sequins? As much as I love shiny things all year round, sequins for me are a winter item. I don’t know why. Maybe because it’s easier to rationalize or justify wearing them around the holidays in particular. Not that sequins need an explanation but … it does tend to cut down on the “are you really wearing that?” questions. Yes. Yes, I am. Also, this is Sequins Level 1: Pretty Damn Subtle. So if you’re wanting to dip a toe into sequins, this is my suggestion for easing yourself in.
Details: Tabi sweater, Primavera dress (both thrifted), Zara shoes (retail)
Thoughts: I love how these 2 floral patterns — which, for the record, are not the same — look so well matched. One is roses and the other peonies (I think?) but the colours are almost identical. This sweater continue to delight me every time I wear it.
Details: Gap top (thrifted), Dries Van Noten skirt (Poshmark), Danier x Greta Constantine belt (thrifted), Zara shoes (retail)
Thoughts: I haven’t done a “big fashion moment” outfit in a good while, and felt like it was time to flex those muscles again. This used to be one of my favourite skirts; I say “used to be” not because I don’t love it — I will always love it — but because it doesn’t really align with my current aesthetics, so I don’t wear it as often as I used to. That being said, I can always make an exception for it. I decided to go a bit further on a limb with it this time, pairing it with this Y2K Gap shirt; I thought the pattern mixing would be interesting. I also like the green as a colour pairing with the purple. It doesn’t give me “villain colours” vibes, probably because it’s such a light green — it doesn’t have that same badass energy.
Details: United Colours of Benetton sweater, Babaton skirt, Tignanello bag (all secondhand), Clarks shoes (retail)
Thoughts: Pulled this outfit colour story from the sweater, and I am very happy with how it came together. I’m exploring this outfit formula of big sweater+long skirt which isn’t quite within my comfort zone, but does carry a 90s vibe that I quite enjoy.
Thoughts: The infamous Joie sweater! Is it infamous yet? It is to me. I love wearing. I just found a small hole in the sleeve. This damn sweater, I tell you! Anyway, this is Sequins Level 3: Getting Sequinny. I love sequinned skirts; it’s my favourite way to incorporate sequins into outfits in a way that feels “everyday” to me. Your mileage may vary, of course. Again, try it out around the holidays if you’re not sure — it’s much less likely anyone will bat an eye. Unless they’re Scrooge 😉
Details: Gap sweater, Ralph Lauren vest, Tommy Hilfiger jeans, Office London shoes (all thrifted)
Thoughts: This pattern mix somehow feels more festive to me than wearing sequins. Not mad about it, either. I’ve been wearing this vest a lot as an extra layer under my big winter coat (which isn’t super duper warm on its own); it also works as a topper over a chunky sweater for those rare warmer days. I love this particular plaid, but RL has a bazillion different versions in other colours too. I’m wearing a Large which fits a bit on the smaller side, but is perfect for me to wear over thicker layers (like aforementioned chunky sweater) without adding a lot of bulk itself.
Let’s start the annual review with something practical: the pieces I consider my most versatile purchases. Things I wore again and again this year, which formed the backbone of my closet. Y’all know I love statement pieces, and I do buy a lot of them, but my closet wouldn’t function without the “quiet heroes” — the pieces that are the glue holding my outfits together. So I think it’s worth spending a bit of time talking about these pieces, to break down how and why they are useful, as this may be something others can relate to.
We have a lot to go over, so grab a drink and cozy up.
H&M beige pants ($9.50) / Urban Outfitters black pants($4)
My go-to outfit formula is statement bottom + basic top + topper (sometimes statement, sometimes not). However, when the bottom piece is a pair of pants, the formula usually gets inverted: I tend to use basic pants with statement tops and/or toppers. When I say “basic”, don’t misunderstand. I mean something that serves as a “canvas” for the outfit, something that recedes into the background allowing other pieces to take centre stage but, at the same time, which contributes to the outfit looking good as a whole. That usually means that the pants have to have a nice, interesting structure or shape without being too attention-grabbing. Both of the above pants tick those boxes for me. The paperbag waist beige pants are a shape that feels fresh and modern to me, the colour is a good neutral, and therefore can suit any number of different aesthetics. They elevate any outfit, as they say. Same thing with the black UO pants; it’s a modern cut, neutral colour, go-with-everything sort of style.
Cartonnier pants($8)
You might think these would fall into the “statement” category because of the stripe pattern, but to me, they are more of the “quiet hero” type. The pattern is subtle, and doesn’t call a lot of attention to itself, while quietly elevating the outfit.
Pilcro sweater($4.50)
This sweater became a surprise hit for me because it’s a colour that I didn’t already have in my closet but which works shockingly well with the rest of my palette — especially yellow, brown, and dark purple as shown in these photos. But because it’s plain, it’s also a piece that can complete many different outfits. I am not sure I need to run out and buy a bunch of other lavender pieces; this one is probably enough to add that punch of colour when needed.
Esprit belt($3.50) & Cotton Ginny belt($9)
Belts are one of my favourite outfit-completer pieces, and these 2 belts saw the most action this past year. Compared to some of the other pieces on this list, both belts are more “one trick ponies” in that they really do work best in outfits with a boho/prairie aesthetic. That being said, they have worked with a wide variety of looks within that aesthetic – pretty much my entire summer wardrobe. I like having the option of both black and brown belts, as sometimes one colour works better than the other based on the outfit colour palette. Both have large buckles that communicate the aesthetic; both are silver tone, which is what my boho/prairie jewelry tends to be — and I prefer not to mix metals when it comes to belt/jewelry combos.
[FWIW, my hands-down most versatile belt is a plain, wide, black leather belt with a simple buckle. I didn’t buy it this year, so I am not including it in this list, but I have worn it with a million different outfits, from gothic to preppy to boho, and everything in between.]
Adriano Goldschmied ($9) & Tommy Hilfiger jeans($10)
The first pair was my go-to summer denim; the second has been my go-to fall and winter denim. They have different cuts, but both are what I consider relatively current styles which helps to keep my outfits fresh (especially when I am wearing a fair bit of vintage). Both are light wash denim, which I really like at the moment, is fairly trendy, and works well as a “neutral” with my wardrobe colour palette. Light wash denim tends to read as more casual, so it suits my relaxed summer boho looks, while also creating a fun juxtaposition with my more preppy (RL inspired) fall and winter looks.
Pilcro tank top($6)
This is the very definition of a basic, foundational piece. It’s a super useful layering piece but has little details that elevate into a “proper” top (not just something to be worn under things and not seen). The little cut-out in the neckline is really genius. I have a couple of other coloured tank tops in frequent rotation, but this cream one is the most versatile for me.
Toni T dickie($7)
Finding this dickie was a life-changer. It allows me to create layered looks without dealing with extra bulk (or warmth) when I don’t need it. I am actively looking to add another dickie to my collection (in a darker colour) but this white one is incredibly versatile. It’s the perfect finishing touch to my sweater+blazer+bottom outfits, which is one of my staple formulas for fall and winter.
Ralph Lauren sweater($10)
I’ve written about my love of black (cashmere) turtlenecks before, so I will not repeat the paean here. I use them constantly during the fall and winter and they are truly a foundational piece in every sense of the word.
Old Navy sandals ($30 for 2 pairs)
Remember how much I agonized over whether buying Old Navy shoes on Poshmark was worth it? Well, it was … 100% worth it. I love this style of sandal (in both brown and black) and they work with almost anything I might wear in the summer — skirts, dresses, pants, you name it.
Mia shoes (gift) & Office London boots($33)
While I consider both of these pairs to be trendy shoes, neither is especially “statement”. They don’t draw your eye immediately, but they do immediately update the outfit by virtue of their trendiness. I wrote a post about my theory of trendy shoes, and I stand by it.
Ralph Lauren blazer($15)
This is something of a borderline statement piece for me, although I probably see it as such because I love it so much that I tend to focus on it first. However, to others, it probably doesn’t stand out per se — it just makes any outfit look good.
Mexx skirt($11)
I think of this as the skirt version of those H&M pants I started with. It’s a blank canvas for outfit-building, but it has little details that make it special (like those large pockets and crossed belt loops).
With the exception of the Mia platform loafers, all of these pieces were purchased secondhand. This is par for the course, as it has been my habit to buy 99% of my clothing and accessories secondhand over the last 5 years. In fact, I only bought 4 items at retail in 2022 — 2 clutches and 2 pairs of shoes, including those loafers (and, technically, 2 of the 4 items were gifts). I try not to be preachy about the Gospel of Secondhand, but I do want to normalize secondhand buying in all its various forms, from thrifting to consignment to Poshmark to FB Marketplace and other online platforms.
Details: Toni T dickie, Pilcro sweater, Nanette Lepore jacket, Cartonnier pants, Emmanuel belt, Manolo Blahnik shoes (all secondhand)
Thoughts: I love purple and yellow together almost as much as purple and green (what I call my villain colours). I think you can almost see the subtle pattern mix happening here; I’m obsessed. Adding this touch of lavender to my wardrobe has suddenly opened up so many possibilities when it comes to colour combinations.
Thoughts: It’s been a while since I wore this skirt. It’s a forever favourite, although it has more of a “cool girl” vibe than my current aesthetic. Some pieces have their own strong aesthetic, and there is no point trying to fit them into a different mould. So I pull out this skirt when I feel like going with its flow, rather than vice versa. Here, I made black the accent colour; very happy with the results.
Details: Massimo Dutti sweater, J. Crew shirt, Ralph Lauren skirt, Free People belt (all thrifted)
Thoughts: This is more my usual speed these days; quite a simple formula, but ever so effective. It has a bit of a vintage flair, but I don’t think it looks … gasp … dated. (Not that I would care unduly if it did, to be honest.) That said, there is a difference between not looking dated and looking trendy, and this is not trendy. Does that mean it’s, dare I say it, timeless? I don’t like to use that term because nothing is, strictly speaking, timeless; and I also don’t like the word “classic” because it’s too vague. An outfit like this is, to me, neither trendy (aka a trend of this moment) nor dated (aka the trend of a past moment) but rather floats somewhere in the ether between. Clear as mud? Maybe it should be called trendless …
Details: Vero Moda tunic (swap), H&M skirt (Poshmark), Debew poncho (thrifted), Fluevog shoes (thrifted), Michelle Ross long necklace, Lena Bernard short necklace (both Poshmark)
Thoughts: Speaking of outfits that are trendless … I present you this outfit which I call my High Priestess chic. Something about the silhouette and proportions of this outfit are incredibly appealing to me. I have a love-hate relationship with this terracotta colour; sometimes I love it, sometimes I feel overwhelmed by it. But I think it works here because of the layering of textures.
Details: Wilfred tunic (Poshmark), Zara scarf (retail), Anna Paola bag (consignment), Tommy Hilfiger jeans, Office London shoes (both thrifted)
Thoughts: I was obsessed with this sweater dress for years because I finally snagged it on Poshmark. That was a couple of years ago, and now to be honest, I am less enamoured of it. It doesn’t align all that well with any of my current aesthetics, so I never seem to reach for it. But I still like the colours and colourblocked effect, and it’s very cozy; so for a super casual outfit like this, it works — especially worn as a very oversized sweater, rather than a dress.
