Because, sometimes, I just throw everything together and call it an outfit. Does it work? Not important! In this case, I love all of the individual pieces, and that’s all that matters. So style, much idiosyncratic.
You know who else likes to march pose to the beat of his own drum? My kid. Here is proof that a fashion blogger gene may, in fact, exist.
See, he has even mastered the “look to the side, and smile like you heard something stupendously funny” pose. ‘Atta boy!
In the weeks leading up to my return to work, I allowed myself to wallow in the blues to a somewhat unnecessary extent. I always get a bit sad at the end of summer, and this year that time was more bittersweet than usual. I just hate change, even when it’s the good kind. Bah! But that’s by way of explaining how we ended up taking the kids to Calgary for an impromptu weekend road-trip. Let me back up.
Seven thirty on a Saturday morning found me complaining about my slightly depressive ennui. My husband’s response: “Why don’t we go to Calgary?” We both pondered this for a moment, and decided that it sounded like a terrible idea. So, naturally, we started packing up the car. I was saving this outfit for a tentative brunch date, but I figured I might as well throw it on. It wasn’t the most ridiculous choice I made that morning.
(Quick outfit aside: I know that’s a whole lotta blue, but I just couldn’t resist throwing all these pieces together. I’m a colour addict.)
Predictably, traveling with kids was the opposite of relaxing. Neither of the kids has been acclimatized to long car rides, so the trip to (and from) Calgary was all sorts of interesting. Luckily, the scenery is lovely this time of year.
And there is always a chance of some cool car-spotting.
I know I’ve mentioned this before, but we never make a trip to Calgary without stopping in at the Donut Mill on Gasoline Alley. Even if that means compounding our road-trip problems by getting the kids hopped up on sugar.
The (recent) birthday girl got in on the action too:
But, you know what? We survived the trip, kids and all. There is a lesson in that. Something about embracing chaos, and change.
After yesterday’s post on the transitional piece, Nicole and I have one more fall favourite to tackle: the cool weather accessory. And here, truly, the possibilities are endless. Fall is all about accessories; the temperature is cold enough to justify everything from tights to hats to gloves, but not so cold that style has to completely cede way to practicality. (Rarely do the two meet, at least in my neck of the north.)
For me, though, it’s all about the scarf. I’m not someone who is instinctively drawn to them; I don’t like feeling all bundled up around the neck, but … I love what they bring to an outfit. Namely, colour.
This should not come as a surprise. I’m a colour addict. As much as I have been working on classing up my sartorial predilections (fewer obnoxiously loud prints, for starters), colour is one thing I just can’t quit. The brighter, the better. Scarves offer an easy way to inject a dash of colour into any outfit. What colour? I usually take one of two approaches: pick an accent colour in the same family, or a contrasting one.
Here’s a casual outfit that illustrates the first approach. Yes, it’s the same outfit as yesterday. Yes, I’m that lazy. It’s a cute outfit. Don’t hate me.
And here is a work outfit that illustrates the second approach.
Bright orange and teal are an audacious pairing, but the two neutrals in the mix (black and white) make it look less absurd. I think the kids call this colour-blocking.
When it comes to picking fall scarves, I usually go for lightweight, smooth cotton fabrics and generous yardage – basically, my ideal scarf is one of those fake pashmina thingies you can find in a dozen stores at every mall for under $20. The extra length allows for creative tying techniques (on which, um, I’m still working), and the extra width brings the coziness factor. That type of fabric is also easy to dress up or down, so it can pull double duty at the office and after hours.
What is Nicole’s pick for a cool weather accessory? Click over here to find out. And thanks for checking out our little series – hope you enjoyed it, and maybe picked up some inspiration for your fall style.