Details: H&M top (Poshmark), Max&Co skirt (thrifted), Zara shoes (retail)

Thoughts: It must be obvious why I got this Max&Co vintage skirt. The colour is fabulous, it’s swishy and long, and high waisted. Extra high waisted because it’s so tiny and the only way it will fit is if I hike it up quite high. I’m not mad about that because I love skirts that show off my waist (and accommodate my ample behind), plus it gives me a chance to wear crop tops like this one. It’s a silhouette I really enjoy at the moment. By the way, don’t sleep on Max&Co — it’s a MaxMara line, and the quality is generally quite good (comparable, IMO, to MaxMara Weekend).

Details: Gai Mattiolo jacket (Poshmark), Roulee dress (thrifted), vintage belt (thrifted), Stuart Weitzman shoes (thrifted)

Thoughts: I fell in love with this funky vintage jacket (by Italian designer ai Mattiolo) on Poshmark and decided that I had to have it for the eccentric, colour-loving side of my personality. The seller had a beautifully curated Poshmark closet with a lot of boho pieces that are are styled really well. We ended up chatting a bit and then connecting on Instagram as she lives in the same area as me. Long story short, I realized that I had seen her not that long before at a local thrift store! I recognized one of her jewelry pieces, which I had admired in person (and she had posted on her IG account). Isn’t it such a small world? This is the second person I’ve met through Poshmark whose style account I now follow for inspo — I love that.

Details: Kate Hewko top (gift), vintage belt (Poshmark), Madewell jeans (thrifted), Barbara Barbieri shoes (thrifted)

Thoughts: I am always hesitant to wear white (hello, klutz here!) but I do love it for summer. Paired with jeans, what could be more classic?

Details: Denim & Supply dress (Poshmark), Ralph Lauren shirt (thrifted), Pelican Cove vest (thrifted), J. Crew shoes (retail), metal belt (thrifted)

Thoughts: Still exploring layering options for this dress I love, but which has the worst bust fit. I’m quite proud of this double-plaid situation here. I think Papa Ralph would approve. [One of my online friends told me she has always called RL “Papa Ralph” to herself for decades, and now I’ve started saying the same, hehe.]

Details: Vince top (thrifted), One Hundred Stars duster (Poshmark), L’Agence jeans (thrifted), Ralph Lauren bag (Poshmark), Rafael Alfandary necklace (eBay), J. Crew shoes (retail)

Thoughts: I love duster-style coats, especially for summer. They are so light and airy, and if there’s a breeze, you can get some real cape action going. I snagged this particular duster on Poshmark, and I am quite happy with it. It’s very comfortable but looks fancy. The brand is from the UK and they have dusters in many, many beautiful prints. This was the only one I’ve been able to find on Posh (so far), and while it wouldn’t have been my first choice, bargain-hunters can’t be choosers — I paid less than a third of the retail price (not even including taxes, customs, and shipping!) and it came NWT. Anyway, this was a simple outfit for running errands and such, but I felt really good in it. Win!

One of my best recent finds was a large lot of vintage fashion magazines, mostly of them from the 1980s — Cosmo, Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, and many others, over 100 in total. I am slowly reading and leafing my way through them, trying to savour the experience as much as possible. Vintage magazines are getting shockingly hard to come by! Last time I found some older Vogue and Vanity Fair magazines at the thrift store (and, keep in mind, these were only from the mid-2000s), they were $5 each. Oof. To say that I regret giving away a large portion of my late 90s and early 2000s magazine collection is an understatement.

I enjoy looking at old magazines for many reasons. One, it’s a window on history … and before you protest, may I remind you that the early 80s are now 40 years go. I know, it took me a while to adjust to that reality too. It’s really interesting to see how society and culture was back then, versus now. Also, and this may be a niche interest on my part, I really like seeing mundane details of daily life back then: how much things cost, what jobs people had, etc.

Two, 80s and 90s magazines are a wealth of style inspo given my current fashion interest in that period. What has surprised me many times is how fresh and contemporary some of the styling still appears today, especially for certain designers in particular. I recently saw an 1983 ad for Calvin Klein that, honestly, would not look out of place in a magazine today. It’s definitely changed my perception of 80s and 90s fashion, even beyond my current interests.

One thing I will say is … interior design in the 80s? Hard pass.

Three, and on a related note, these magazines are providing me a whole education on vintage fashion. I’m discovering (or rediscovering) brands and designers that were popular back then, which informs my hunt for vintage pieces at the thrift stores (and on Poshmark). It’s interesting to see how some brands, which have since “come down” in the fashion world, used to be considered quite fancy — Anne Klein, for example. It’s also nostalgic to see names that I hadn’t thought about in years, like Byblos, Krizia and Agnes B.

Here are some of the images I have saved in my “inspiration” folder so far (all from Harper’s Bazaar):

To be continued …

Details: Gap dress (Poshmark), Lena Bernard necklace (Poshmark), Old Navy shoes (Poshmark)

Details: I love this dress so, so much. Apart from the fact that it perfectly encapsulates my summer 2022 style, it fits and wears like a dream. I also plan to wear it open, as a duster. It’s pre-2000 vintage Gap; back in the day, the quality of Gap was really good. This dress is in great condition, even after all these years.

Details: indie maker corset, Zara duster (thrifted), Ines de la Fressange x Uniqlo pants (thrifted), J. Crew shoes (retail)

Thoughts: I’m loving the look of crop tops and high waisted bottoms, and this was a slightly more risque take on that formula. The older I get, the less f*cks I have to give about wearing clothing that some people might think is inappropriate for my age. That being said, this is definitely more of a house outfit, though not for the reasons you might think. The fringe on the duster coat is awesome, but it has a tendency to get in the way, and I am worried that if I attempt to wear it outside, it will snag on something or get caught in my car door or something. Maybe I just need to take that risk anyway …

Details: Vince top (thrifted), Golden by TNA jacket (thrifted), Madewell jeans (thrifted), Chico’s belt (thrifted), Birkenstock shoes (thrifted)

Thoughts: A casual outfit that felt “elevated” thanks to the drapey knit tank top and the belt. Chico’s accessories are really underrated in my opinion, by the way. This belt is a cool, funky take on southwestern style.

Details: Lord & Taylor dress (thrifted), Gap shirt (thrifted), Sweet Grass vest (thrifted), vintage belt (thrifted), Fluevog shoes (thrifted)

Thoughts: Speaking of southwestern flair, I really leaned in that direction for this outfit. Not sure if it’s quite me, but it was fun to try. I was inspired by this amazing belt which combines my love of turquoise and my love of corset-style belts. The vest is something I got last year on a whim, and I’m still not sure if it’s my vibe; gonna have to see if I reach for it again this summer, and then decide whether to keep it or not. I did add some goth shoes to balance things out.

Details: Ralph Lauren top (gift), Anthro pants (thrifted), vintage jacket (thrifted), J. Crew shoes (retail)

Thoughts: Just an easy casual outfit — perfect for school drop-offs and errand-running.

Details: indie maker corset, BCBG skirt (thrifted), Tabitha jacket (thrifted), Lena Bernard necklace (ebay)

Thoughts: Same corset as before, different vibe. I couldn’t resist getting this skirt because it’s my favourite colour, and the material is a lovely, gauzy, floaty fabric. I have another skirt in almost the exact same colour, though a slightly different style and different fabric, and now I am trying to decide whether to keep both or not. This BCBG number is definitely a keeper, though.

Details: Tabi skirt (thrifted), Vince top (thrifted), Denim & Supply jacket (thrifted), Holt Renfrew belt (retail), Old Navy shoes (Poshmark)

Thoughts: I had been wanting a denim maxi skirt for a while, and I thought I had hit the jackpot with this Tabi number. It buttons down the front and is a full style, both exactly what I wanted. But the fabric is a really stiff denim, and after wearing it, I realized that I didn’t like that at all. I prefer skirts that are more drapey and floaty. Sad this didn’t work out.

Details: Talula tank (Poshmark), DKNY shirt (thrifted), Adriano Goldschmied jeans (thrifted), Chico’s belt (thrifted), Ash sneakers (thrifted).

Thoughts: I was very happy to find this vintage DKNY oversized shirt – it works so well as a duster. The fabric is a lovely washed silk that floats like a dream. Very lightweight and perfect for summer. It did have a couple of small grease stains that I couldn’t wash out, but they aren’t super noticeable and my plan is to eventually try dyeing it. I’ve never dyed anything before, so I am a little scared and in no rush, haha. I really like its current colour and the fact that it isn’t quite in perfect shape makes it easier to wear as a casual piece — I can throw it and go, without worrying about ruining it with sunscreen, etc.