90s Reimagined

This burgundy Dynamite piece is actually a vintage dress. I know it’s vintage from the old-school label, the fact it was made in Canada, and because I can’t button it on my hips even though it’s a size 6. Ah, vanity sizing. Anyway, the 90s are back in style and after some initial hesitation, I AM HERE FOR IT. The key for me – as a person who remembers the 90s very well – is to take the retro piece (original or inspired) and put my own 2019 spin on it. So I am wearing this dress as a vest not just because I can’t button it, but because fashion. Okay? That’s my story and I’m sticking with it.

Notes: Equipment blouse (eBay, $50); Dynamite vest (thrifted, $4); Aritzia pants (thrifted, $8); Cole Haan shoes (thrifted, $20).

Romantic Biker Chic

Butterflies make everything a little more romantic, no? I don’t wear this jacket nearly enough considering how awesome it is, and I blame that bottom strap. It’s heavy, always gets twisted out of place, and to add insult to injury, it frequently bangs into some tender part of my side/hip. It’s the jacket’s only design flaw that the strap is attached to the back and cannot be removed. (My Mackage moto jacket has that option and the first thing I did was remove the strap. Heaven.) Anyway, I do still love it and its mix of toughness and softness. I try to mirror that dichotomy with the skirt (soft) and boots (tough). I’m digging the result.

Notes: Moth sweater (thrifted, $7); Club Monaco turtleneck (retail, $32); Aqua jacket (secondhand, $150); Sarah Pacini skirt (thrifted, $6.50); Ecco boots (thrifted, $20).

All The Angles

This outfit has a lot of interesting angles thanks to the sweater – that party in the back! such an Anthro touch, but in the best way possible – and this very long, structured, wool skirt. The skirt is actually an extra long maxi that I hike up and wear like a strapless dress, which contributes to a tent-like effect I like very much in this particular content. It’s like a midi swing-style dress, except not super swingy because of the wool. Anywaaaay, what I’m trying to say is that I enjoy looking like a weird geometry experiment. And red shoes are always fun.

Notes: Moth sweater (thrifted, $8.50); Barbaba Bui skirt (thrifted, $9); J. Crew shoes (retail, $80).

One of my few regrets concerning my 20s is that I didn’t make the most of my opportunities to attend weddings. I used to hate weddings and, if a defence is needed, I will say that I was a perpetually single person for much of that decade. Going to events where you’re alone, don’t know many people, and could feasibly get stuck with not-great tablemates is stressful, especially for introverts. Turns out, attending weddings in your 30s with a partner is a different ballgame. One, I have a newfound appreciation for a free fancy meal and a kid-free evening. Two, a partner is a built-in entertainment system. Three, in your 30s, pretty much the only people who still invite you to their weddings are relatives or close friends so weddings are like fun reunions. The downside is that weddings are now few and far between on my social calendar. Any time they come up, it’s a big deal.

Care to guess what I did last week?

That’s right: it was WEDDING TIME!

The bride is someone I’ve known since I was 15, so this was a very special occasion … but since this isn’t that kind of blog, let’s talk about clothes instead. You’re not surprised to hear that I gave a lot of thought to what I would wear. I have a decent line-up of special occasion dresses and not many special occasions to spare, so the selection process is always a tough one. Recency of acquisition often is a key deciding factor; this summer, I thrifted a lace Tadashi Shoji cocktail dress that, naturally, became the front-runner.

It’s a very nice dress, eminently wedding-appropriate:

But I wasn’t 100% feeling it. First, it’s a smidge looser around the waist than I’d like (this will come in handy at some future date, I’m sure). Second, I wore a similar silhouette 2 (3?) years ago at the last wedding I attended, and I felt in the mood for something different. There was this Tracy Reese dress I thrifted a few years ago and still haven’t had a chance to wear:

Also very nice, a little less classic and more flirty, but still occasion-appropriate. The main caveat is that it felt better suited to a summer wedding than a mid-November wedding.

Let me pause here to say that, Edmonton weather being what it is, I don’t pay a lot of attention to the climate when I decide what to wear to special occasions (unless they happen to take place outside, which is rare). Going to and from the event is not the time to be glamorous, everyone knows that; the trick is to get rid of your parka, boots and other winter accoutrements are quickly as possible, and walk into the venue looking like you simply teleported straight from your house.

After some more digging around my overflow closet, I remember another thing I thrifted some time ago: a vintage, floor-length, fully-beaded skirt. It is a “look” but one that struck me as full of potential. The tricky part was figuring out what to pair it with – something that looked evening-appropriate but not dated. I nixed a black satin camisole on the latter grounds (too much of a 90s feel) and a jewel-collar cotton shirt on the former (too business casual). I was going to resort to the safe bet – a black cashmere turtleneck – when I had a stroke of inspiration.

A leather crop top, why not? I’ve worn this Zara top for so many other occasions (including work) that it’s pretty much its own wardrobe category at this point. In this case, I think it adds a bit of edge to this classic, vintage skirt and also creates a cool, modern silhouette.

The other nice thing about this outfit was that, due to the skirt length, I had to go with a pair of low heeled shoes. I am always tempted to bring out my sadly neglected Louboutins for “fancy” occasions, but the truth is that they’re not particularly comfortable and it’s a bit of a chore to commit to them, especially when there’s dancing involved; here, the decision was made for me and while I wish I had a dressier pair of low heels, these Cole Haans worked just fine.

Black and White

This outfit had a little bit of everything. Geometric print. Leather. Draping details. Interesting angles. I added a mesh turtleneck because it’s what transitional dressing sometimes requires. Strangely enough, it does add some legit warmth. I am quite pleased with this Oska skirt; it has a front faux-wrap/origami-style pleated detail that’s similar to my Crea Concept skirt (except more dramatic), but it’s made from wool not silk. I think it’s what some retailers call “tropical wool” and use in suiting. I had not heard of this brand before, but the quality seems quite good. And I just love a funky skirt.

Notes: Sarah Pacini vest (consignment, $85); Deletta top (consignment, $12); Rebel Sugar turtleneck (gift); Oska skirt (thrifted, $10); Poppy Barley shoes (thrifted, $25).

Butterscotch & Blue

Orange and blue is a very striking and underrated combination. This is a mellow take on it – both shades are somewhat muted – and I am here for it. I’m calling this yellow shade “butterscotch” by the way; it reminds me of the colour of pudding packs sold under that description, and also it’s a more pleasant name than “mustard”. The blue I am calling “slate” because it has strong grey undertones. The top and jacket are quite a close colour match, which pleases my latent matchy-matchy instincts. Plus it makes for a nice colour-blocking outfit.

Notes: Babaton top (thrifted, $12); Tabitha jacket (retail, $60ish? It was, like, 7 years ago, I don’t remember); Anthropologie pants (gift); Rafael necklace (gift); Chelsea Crew shoes (thrifted, $7.50).

Still Mad For Plaid

How many plaid skirts is too many? I think the only possible answer is “n +1”, “n” being the current number in my closet. That being the case, you see why I had to pick up this Uniqlo skirt. It’s so fun! There are so many styling possibilities! The funny thing is, I was at West Edmonton Mall recently – for the first time in about 6 months – and was astounded to see that we now have a local Uniqlo store. How did I not know about this? Well, my excitement quickly gave way to disappointment. I’ve heard people sing the praises of Uniqlo, but I found the selection in the store underwhelming. A lot of clothes felt cheaper than Old Navy, and the stuff that seemed nicer was quite expensive. Plus, nothing jumped out at me as Something I Had to Have. The funny part of the story is that I have been impressed with the few Uniqlo pieces I’ve found at the thrift store recently – this skirt and a Lemaire x Uniqlo collab dress. Maybe Uniqlo is like Aritzia: I can never find anything I like in the store, but the stuff I thrift is excellent.

Notes: Artizia sweater (thrifted, $8.50); JW Anderson x Uniqlo skirt (thrifted, $8); Mackage jacket (thrifted, $50); Stuart Weitzman boots (thrifted, $20).

Wear Your Brights

This time of year, I feel like “wear our brights” is an imperative much like “eat your greens”. It’s one line of defence against the cold weather doldrums. And boy, is this outfit bright. This coat remains one of my favourite Winners finds from back in the day (when I used to shop there a LOT); I get tons of compliments on it every time I wear it, and it’s holding up really well both in terms of style and quality. Also a compliment-magnet? This Gap sweater. I have been fully converted to the power of a rainbow coloured sweater. Highly recommend.

Notes: Gap sweater (thrifted, $5); Madewell jeans (consignment, $26); Amaryllis coat (retail, $36); Arnold Churgin boots (thrifted, $20).