This year, I feel like my accessories deserve a “best of” category all of their own. I made no bones about it in my previous post; I bought a lot of things this year, and that includes accessories. But wearing them brought me a measure of joy in an otherwise awful year and for that I am grateful. My jewelry and belt collection, in particular, have grown a good deal and include some spectacular pieces, if I do say so myself.

I am forever a proponent of spending one’s money in ways that maximize enjoyment, and with that precept in mind, I bought a good number of sneakers this year, and almost no other kinds of shoes. The truth is that I just don’t wear heels very often anymore. I am keeping my old ones for my daughter’s benefit down the road (it’s looking like she will have a similar shoe size) but I’m not looking to buy more. When it comes to jewelry, though, there is always room for one more. Of everything 🙂

Turquoise ring ($30)

I love turquoise (as you can see) and this ring has a beautiful natural stone in it of the exact shade I love best. Plus, it was a steal!

Pink quartz ring ($38)

I am usually drawn to brightly coloured or flashy stones (hello, labradorite!) but there is something about this pale pink quartz that keeps me coming back to it. I think the shape is also lovely and somewhat unusual.

BCBG white peplum belt ($48)

Let’s face it, this was my closet MVP this year, wasn’t it? It’s an outfit-maker, and a statement too. While I have wanted a peplum belt for a while, I never thought a white one would be the answer, but it is. So. Versatile. The only downside of this one is that it’s a snug fit, which makes it difficult to wear all day long. But! I recently managed to track it down in a larger size and, yes, I bought it again. I may end up selling the smaller size, but I’m not decided yet.

Lena Bernard necklaces ($46, $40, $6)

I actually have 3 Lena Bernard necklaces; the third is a longer version of the pink quartz station necklace, but with turquoise stones. I have a 4th coming my way from eBay but it hasn’t arrived yet so I figured it couldn’t technically be included here. What I love about these pieces is the aesthetic (if I did metalwork, this is very much the sort of jewelry I would make), the stones, and the fact that they can be worn together and layered. They have a dreamy quality that I love.

Isabel Marant belt ($9)

I’ve wanted this Marant belt for years; in fact, 3 years ago, I DIY-ed my own version. Lo and behold, I finally found the real deal (new with tags!!) at the thrift store. Thank you, thrift gods!

Fluevog shoes ($50)

I paid a lot, thrift-wise, for these Fluevog shoes but I have no regrets. They are one of the few pairs of heels I wore this summer, mostly because they are incredibly comfortable. I also just love the gothic vibe; they’re not dainty shoes but they work so well with all kinds of outfits, including really princessy ones – the juxtaposition is killer.

Anne Marie Chagnon ring ($64)

I fell in love with this ring at first sight. It matches a necklace I got last year, plus it’s such a cool and unusual design. The blue/green part is resin, but it looks like labradorite (my fave stone).

Saint Laurent belt ($9)

Hello, Saint Laurent at the thrifts? Yes, please. Plus this metal-and-leather belt is so versatile; a bit rock ‘n roll, a bit fancy, easy to dress up or down.

Liz Claiborne rainbow plaid bag ($44)

The bag that matches my favourite dress. Enough said.

BCBG harness belt ($54)

It’s probably safe to say that 2021 was a year of belts for me. And every time I am looking for something a little different, BCBG delivers. I had been looking for a harness belt for a bit, and this checked off all the boxes at a price point that I could work with.

Converse x Woolrich plaid sneakers ($106)

Probably my fave pair of sneakers bought this year, and no guesses needed as to why. As soon as I saw the rainbow plaid, I was hooked. These were my birthday present to myself.

Anna Paola bucket bag ($34)

I haven’t bought a new bag in ages, but this little gumball of a bag immediately caught my eye. I’m obsessed with it! It does have a detachable metal long strap, which is a must for me because I like to go hands-free with bags as much as possible.

Finland Lapponia ring ($40)

This was an incredibly cool thrift find — a vintage modernist ring that’s quite a collectable piece. It also happens to be one of my favourite rings to wear; it fits so well on my hand and wears so easily, despite being quite a heavy ring (it’s silver). I love the architectural lines. I am also amused by the fact that the design is named “Isolation”. How apropos!

Indi City feather earrings ($74)

I am obsessed with Indi City earrings, and this was my favourite pair from their recent collection which I managed to snag (they sell out very quickly). These earrings are a bit of a splurge for me, which is why I don’t have a dozen pairs (yet!) but I like being able to support independent and Indigenous designers whenever I can.

Seven Prairie tapestry earrings ($160)

Another major splurge for me, but as a devoted embroidered, I couldn’t resist the appeal of these Tapestry earrings made by a local Edmonton artist.

Ash leather sneakers ($66)

Ash wedge sneakers are my favourite footwear; I have 2 thrifted pairs and this year I noticed that, due to constant use (I mean, CONSTANT) one of them was starting to go. I haven’t managed to make myself get rid of them yet — and I will do doubt wear them until there are holes in the sole — but I did panic-buy a back-up pair which I love. I know some might consider these “heels” but the wedge is incredibly comfortable, and the added height much appreciated.

Next week, stay tuned for my favourite outfits of 2021.

It’s safe to say that 2021 was an all-around awful year for me, and there aren’t many positive things I can say about it. It’s also safe to say that I did a lot of thrifting and Poshmarking as a way to distract myself from the bad stuff I was dealing with. Considering that fashion is one of my main hobbies, I suppose that is to be expected. For all that I spent on it this year, it did bring me a measure of enjoyment that was otherwise hard to come by. And, for that, I am thankful.

Having a blog, one gets into the tradition of recapping things at year end, and I am nothing if not a creature of habit; but I am far less interested now in statistics than I’ve been in the past. Though I still keep track of my purchases, I won’t bother you with the minutiae of the numbers. I will say that, between Poshmark and rising thrift prices, my spending has increased over previous years. But, hey, inflation is everywhere these days! Some of my spending has been offset by my selling things from my closet that no longer work for me; apart from the monetary aspect, doing so is important to me from a sustainability/circularity aspect. All of my clothing purchases (apart from undergarments) this year were secondhand, and I try to take care of my clothes so that they can continue to have a useful life after they leave my closet.

Anyway, let’s use this as an excuse to look at some photos – here are my 21 favourite purchases of 2021.

Handmade patch work cardigan ($26)

2021 was the year I fully embraced colour again, perhaps as an antidote to sadness. This cardigan was a good example of the kind of clothing that sparked joy for me this year.

Kimchi Blue culottes ($9.50)

Not perhaps an exciting item, but these ponte knit culottes have been so versatile and useful. One of my most worn pairs of pants. I love the cut, the size zipper, and the comfort level.

Topshop dress ($64)

I searched for this dress for a long time, and when I finally found it, it totally lived up to all my expectations. I love the unusual pinafore style, the way it fits, and the mixed patterns.

Everlane black jeans ($9.50)

Another pair of pants that fit well and got tons of wear.

Tabi skirt ($13)

I have many skirts in my closet, and many favourites. It’s not easy to make it to the top of that list, but this skirt climbed up surprisingly high this year. It’s my favourite style and length, and I love the Plaid.

Liz Claiborne dress ($20)

Favourite dress, period.

Atlantic Pacific x Halogen skirt ($70)

I fell in love with this skirt last year after seeing it on a friend’s IG page, and eventually I tracked it down for myself. It’s so much fun! My kids call it the cupcake skirt.

Wilfred sweater dress ($35)

I first fell in love with this sweater dress back in 2015 or 2016, when it was in stores. But I couldn’t pay full price, and hunted it secondhand for years. I’ve previously bought another colourway, but I finally found the original this year!

Everlane jeans (free/swap)

I got these jeans at my annual clothing swap and it’s pretty much the only pair I wear now. I really like the way Everlane fits me (but size up!)

Lanvin x H&M dress ($75)

Could there be a more fun dress? Honestly, no.

MaxMara sweater ($54)

This sweater was love at first sight. It’s perfect. I mean, those cats!! I am now hunting for more pieces from the same collection, but they’re proving elusive. Fingers crossed.

Elena Wong coat ($13)

I bought a bunch of great coats this year, but this unique one might just be the best of the bunch.

Rachel Comey skirt ($210)

This skirt was another love at first sight affair. It was my most expensive purchase of the year as well, but I think it was worth it. I adore the abstract painterly pattern, it’s so unique and cool.

MaxMara sweater #2 ($73)

I’ve been looking for a Fair Isle type sweater for a while, and this MaxMara one checked off all the boxes. I love the colour palette and the pattern mixing (the back is a different pattern).

London Fog coat ($26)

This coat is the most beautiful colour. It helps to brighten up those grey winter days.

Frame blazer ($8) and H&M skirt ($33)

I love the dark green velvet blazer; it’s well cut and the colour is stunning. I don’t wear blazers often anymore, but I will make an exception for this one. The skirt is one I had before, but was too small for me. Upsizing was a very smart decision; I love wearing this skirt now that I fits well.

Jenni Max skirt ($7)

By now, it should be no surprise why I love this skirt: it’s the style and length I love, plus velvet! The colour is very unique also; a kind of mushroom grey with ice blue iridescence. I think it’s an intriguing shade that will work well with many other colours.

Twinset maxi dress ($83)

Definitely a close runner-up in the favourite dress category. I adore the colour and the Pre-Raphaelite vibe, and it’s the most comfortable thing ever.

MICHAEL Michael Kors skirt ($12)

I couldn’t not include this incredible sequin skirt – it looks like molten metal when I move. Plus, elastic waistband for the win!

Favourite accessories coming next week!

Poncho Time

Technically, it was still November when I wore this but what the heck. I loved this outfit so I am including it here. This was a happy accident. The poncho and the skirt were hanging near each other after being steamed, and they looked … kinda nice together. So I gave it a try. And … they looked nice. And an outfit was born. I have to say, I really like the juxtaposition of textures with velvet and wool. I’ll have to remember that for future reference. The skirt is a vintage (?) thrift find — label is Jenni Max, with which I am not familiar. The poncho is something even more random (Debew) but I liked its muted colour palette. Both are thrifted, natch.

Magenta + Turquoise

I’ve been dying to try a pink+turquoise combo, so much so that I ended up thrifting this magenta cashmere cardigan and wearing it backwards because I got tired of waiting to find a sweater in the right shade. Plus, you can’t go wrong with <$10 cashmere, you know? Thank the thrift gods. Still loving this Markantoine x Icone skirt, which you can see better here than in the previous post. The ruching detail is cool.

Pattern Blend, part 1

I’ve been waiting to try my Delirium (Rachel Comey) skirt with this H&M top, and I was right — they look great together. It’s too bad the skirt kinda fades into the background of this photos because of the books. What I especially like is the mirroring effect between the black straps on the top, and the black stripe going down the front of the skirt. It helps to tie together and ground the outfit. Plus the black cardigan which was functional as well as aesthetic; winter has fully arrived and even the house is feeling a wee bit chilly these days.

Pattern Blend, part 2

I picked this Phillip Lim x Target blazer to go with this Gorman dress because the pattern fit right in; the colours are similar, and it looks like it could be a larger scale version of one of the dotty prints on the dress. This dress always makes me happy with its many zany prints. I just love how unique it is, not to mention cheerful. Always a plus on a grey winter day.