I love this skirt. A lot. As a bonus, it still fits, even though I bought it two years and a lot of pounds ago. Yay for A-lines.

But.

It’s a pain in the butt to accessorize. Matching is basically impossible. This pinky mauvey colour is a chameleon; every time I think I’ve found a match for it, it morphs into something different. Finding a complementary colour has proven difficult too. I don’t know why, but it stumps me every time. I usually wear it with black, so this time I tried my “new black”: burgundy. ‘S alright. I think it would work better with a more purple-leaning burgundy.

This necklace was my only retail purchase over the Black Friday weekend, and I love it. The length is adjustable (by a lot), which makes it really versatile. And it fits right in with my current burgundy obsession.

This top used to be a dress. It was a nice dress, but not the greatest silhouette for me. For a dress that fitted to work, I need it to be made out of something … more Spanx-esque. Cotton, though comfortable, doesn’t quite cut it. For that reason, I haven’t worn this dress much lately. Well, not just that reason. It was also a very casual dress; I have a lot of other casual dresses I like better. So. What to do?

Initially, I was going to try to sell it. But, honestly, a $30 dress is hardly worth selling (especially Target quality, which is already showing its wear after 6 months). I like the print a lot, and the cotton material is very comfortable. So, I did what is starting to become a habit … a major alteration. But also a simple one (or so my grandmother tells me). I had the dress made into a top. And here we are.

Speaking of old things, I bought these earrings in a long-defunct boutique in Kits, back when I started dating my husband (who was then living in Vancouver). It’s hard to believe that was almost 7 years ago. I don’t wear them very often, but it’s always a special occasion when I do.

And speaking of more old things … my trusty Stuart Weitzman pumps are going on 5 years, and still looking pretty darn good. But the prize for longevity has to go to my Blake bag; though still relatively new-to-me, this bag is almost a decade old. At the risk of beating an old horse: splurging on bags and shoes is where it’s at, you guys.

One of my favourite things about plaid is that it’s so easy to accessorize with all sorts of colour, yet looks more sedate than other multi-colour prints. Which makes it doubly sad that I have to part with this skirt … but the high waist + front pleats combo leaves me no choice. Although it fits my hips perfectly, the waist is just too fitted for my (longish) days at the office; by the afternoon, I’m just about ready for sweatpants and their forgiving elastic waistbands. Anyway, you know what this means: the hunt for a plaid skirt is back on. eBay, bring it!

In the meantime, let’s take a moment to look over the little details: