Details: Lord & Taylor sweater, Toni T dickie, Nanette Lepore blazer, Maeve skirt (all secondhand)

Thoughts: I am convinced that everyone has a “comfort zone” when it comes to wearing sequins for day (aka outside of cocktail parties and such). For me, that’s sequin skirts. I love pairing them with very classic combos like this sweater + collared shirt + jacket fit. The colours here make me really happy; this yellow is a wonderful complement to the colours of the skirt — it matches the brightness of the skirt but isn’t too loud (which would overwhelm the outfit, I think).

Details: Selected Femme sweater (retail, old), Maison 500 blazer, UO pants, Emmanuel belt (all thrifted)

Thoughts: I am that basic b*tch who loves wearing red and green plaid around the holidays. Maybe it’s not fashion forward but I don’t care. I think choosing this sage-leaning green, rather than something more pine-y, gives it a bit of a twist. I am pretty happy with this blazer; I’ve been wanting to add a few plaid ones to my closet and actually had this very same one on my Poshmark watch list for a while before I found it at the thrifts. It has some metallic thread woven through, so it has that extra festive vibe.

Details: Jacob vest, no label skirt, Pam Hiran necklace, Stella & Dot necklace (all thrifted)

Thoughts:

Details: Ralph Lauren turtleneck, Jessie jumpsuit, Fluevog shoes, Rafael Alfandary necklace (all thrifted)

Thoughts: Not much to say about this one — using my “turtleneck hack” to winterize a summer jumpsuit except it’s really too obvious and simple to qualify as a hack, to be honest. If I were going to wear this outside, I would also add some fleece-lined tights under the jumpsuit and knee-high boots; the nice thing about culottes-style pants is that they are wide enough to accommodate extra layers and winter footgear.

Details: Club Monaco turtleneck (retail, old), Marni shirt, H&M skirt (both Poshmark), Zara boots (retail), selfmade necklace

Thoughts: Ok, stay with me. I know this is not everyone’s everyday look. I love it. I wanted to wear this skirt in funky/maximalist way, rather than leaning into the “elegant mermaid” thing. The Marni shirt, worn open like a jacket, was just the ticket — it’s cut like a (silk) shacket. I was going to choose plain black pumps at first, but didn’t feel quite right for this outfit. So I swapped in chunky platform boots and loved how they bookend the turtleneck.

Details: Driftwood dress, Babaton turtleneck, Denim & Supply jacket, BR belt, Eileen Fisher shoes (all thrifted)

Thoughts: I thrifted this denim dress without trying it out because the silhouette seemed promising. I wasn’t sold on it once I got it home, but these pictures are maybe changing my mind? It looks quite nice, especially belted — the fit around the waist feels a bit off to me and the belt helps to camouflage that. I am not sure this is a keeper for me, but I am going to give it another try or two before I decide.

Last week, I talked about my most versatile purchases of the year. This week, let’s talk about the good stuff. Just kidding, they are all good. But, yes, I can’t help being partial to the fun stuff – the statement pieces. I am definitely a magpie/peacock at heart when it comes to clothing, so I get the most excited about statement clothing. Still, remember what I wrote last week: never underestimate the important of the “quiet heroes” that hold your outfits together. Statement pieces are fine, but a well-balanced outfit they do not make … not without some help.

Since this list is all about things I love, there really aren’t any broader principles to dissect here. The only takeaway? Statement pieces are meant to spark joy, to put a smile on your face and oomph in your step. If a piece doesn’t do that, and isn’t a “quiet hero” either, I always push myself on the question: why am I buying this? It’s usually a sign to put the thing down and move on.  

St. John top

I love this top so much. I mean, what’s not to love? It’s decorated with giant chains – no jewelry needed.

Ralph Lauren wrap skirt

I love colourful plaids, but this one is a real statement even though – or maybe because – it’s black and white. So bold and graphic, I am obsessed.

Tabi sweater

I love floral/graphic pattern mixes, and this sweater does all the work for me. Bonus points for being (mostly) black and white, a combo I am especially fond of this year.

Patchwork jacket

This piece means so much to me, not only because it perfectly encapsulates my summer aesthetic, but also because it was made by a friend. [Technically, this was a gift not a purchase but I think it deserves to be highlighted here anyway.]

Suttles & Seawinds dress

I adore old fashioned floral patterns set against a blue background, so this dress was an immediate “YES” for me. Plus, the silhouette suits both my body type and my style preferences.

Gap dress

Basically, same as above.

Patchwork skirt

I love clothing that looks like patchwork quilts (or is made from them) so this skirt was something I had been hoping to find for a while. The colours! The silhouette! All of it is 100% me.

Nanette Lepore blazer

Honestly, this is so versatile, it’s almost a closet staple. But! It’s also a total attention-grabber with that eye-catching colour combo of chartreuse and purple.

Paul Smith pants

I did mention how much I love plaid, no? The ring tab waist belt (which is detachable, for extra versatility) is a nice touch too.

Laura Ashley skirt, Max &Co skirt

Similar style of skirt – my favourite! – but different kinds of statement. One is a bold pattern, one is a bold colour. Love them both!

Joie sweater

It pains me to include anything Joie in my favourites list, but here we are. There is no denying this color blocked sweater is an outfit maker.

Ralph Lauren tank top

It might be a tank, but it’s anything but basic. It’s a key element to the academia-inspired Historian aesthetic.

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.

Details: Joie sweater, H&M skirt (both secondhand), J. Crew shoes (retail)

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.