Category: style

Fake It Till You Make It

Blazer, J. Crew (via consignment); top, J. Crew Factory (thrifted); pants, AE; shoes, Stuart Weitzman
Blazer, J. Crew (via consignment); top, J. Crew Factory (thrifted); pants, AE; shoes, Stuart Weitzman

You know when you’re sick as a dog, but it’s Saturday, and nobody cares that you’d rather be buried in 3 feet of bedcovers? The first thing to do is ask, rhetorically and loudly, why the universe hates you so much. Assuming that garners you the type of response I get at my house, the next thing to do is put on a cute outfit, and fake it till you make it, baby.* Fake being a marginally healthy (and only marginally grumpy) person while you run the umpteen random errands you’ve been putting off all week.

creeping on the neighbour's lilac bush
creeping on the neighbour’s lilac bush

I would not recommend high heels for this … unless you’re going to be spending a lot of time in the car, in which case, they can’t hurt. Literally or figuratively.

no red nose here!
no red nose here!

* And don’t forget to douse yourself in cold medication and concealer. You don’t want that red nose to give you away, natch.

Summer Neon

Dress, J. Crew Collection (via consignment); blazer, Topshop (via eBay); shoes, Stuart Weitzman; necklace, J. Crew Factory; bag. Mulberry (via eBay)
Dress, J. Crew Collection (via consignment); blazer, Topshop (via eBay); shoes, Stuart Weitzman; necklace, J. Crew Factory; bag. Mulberry (via eBay)

Let’s ignore the blush atrocity happening here, and focus on my outfit, ok? It’s pretty cute, right? I was not 100% sold on this J. Crew Collection dress when I bought it, but got swayed by the deal ($40, new with tags at consignment). It may not be the most versatile thing I own, but I’m still glad I bought it. The colours and fabric weight are perfect for summer (at least in an air-conditioned office), and the cut is very office-friendly. The above-the-knee hemline is nicely balanced out by a high neck (perfect for statement necklaces), and there is enough coverage on the shoulders that I can wear it in my office without a topper.

bright 'n summery
bright ‘n summery

Speaking of which, this Topshop blazer is another new addition to my closet, and another great summer piece. I wasn’t able to find it in stores (sold out everywhere – sad face), but I did manage to grab it on eBay for about $40. I like the look of it a lot, but I don’t think the quality is worth more. I don’t have a lot of experience with Topshop, but if this blazer is a good indicator of their general quality, I think I may stick with J. Crew (outlet or consignment) in the future. If you’ve got thoughts/feedback on Topshop, hit me up in the comments!

blazered up for work
blazered up for work

Four Eyes

Dress, Sweet Chemise (thrifted); shoes, Stuart Weitzman; bag, Louis Vuitton
Dress, Sweet Chemise (thrifted); shoes, Stuart Weitzman; bag, Louis Vuitton

You saw this dress not too long ago, and the styling here is, well, pretty much non-existent, so the real reason I’m posting these photos is becauseĀ I got new glasses, see?

frames, Orla Kiely via Costco
frames, Orla Kiely via Costco

I’ve had glasses for as long as I can remember, and because I grew up in the 80s, they were big-ass glasses. Fellow Gen X-ers will know what I’m talking about. Unsurprisingly, I got teased a lot for my glasses, and developed an early and abiding hatred of them … which explains why, for most of the past decade or so, I’ve worn contacts almost exclusively. So, these glasses were an interesting development. Chalk it up to wanting to try new things. I think … I like them. I certainly enjoy the Miss Moneypenny-ish vibe happening with this outfit.

black on black
black on black

My bag is an old Louis Vuitton limited edition I scored for a song on Kijiji years ago. I really should use it more often because it’s such a lovely bag, even with the monogram overload. The silver “lace” filigree work is so beautiful and unusual. This is actually the bag that ignited by love affair with designer bags, and started my collection. So … thanks, bag!

all the black
all the black