Details: Zara shirt (thrifted), vintage vest (thrifted), Atlantic Pacific x Halogen skirt (Poshmark)

Thoughts: This outfit was a happy accident. My original plan was to try wrap tucking this shirt, which is currently my favourite way to wear button up shirts. What is that, you ask? It’s basically wrapping the shirt fronts (unbuttoned) the same way you would a wrap dress, then tucking in the tails into your pants or skirt. This shirt is oversized — which is a must for wrap tucking — but not enough. Time for Plan B. I was playing around with it, and became intrigued with the idea of layering it over a crop top and leaving it open, then adding a vest on top. Anyway, long story short, this outfit was born. I love the way it plays with proportions and volume. It’s not my usual outfit formula/silhoutte, but it’s something I’d like to try again.

Details: AllSaints top (thrifted), Clover Canyon crop top (Poshmark), Greta Constantine x Danier belt (thrifted), Issey Miyake skirt (thrifted)

Thoughts: Speaking of creative layering, I was very pleased with myself for coming up with this shirt + crop top combo; these 2 pieces go together so well. To cover the gap between the bottom of the crop top and the skirt waistband, I added a wide belt; I didn’t want the white shirt to show, visually cutting up the vertical line. This way, the cropped top/high waist bottom silhouette is maintained.

Details: Eddie Bauer sweater, Topshop pants, J. Crew shoes (all secondhand)

Thoughts: I’m kind of obsessed with this sweater, which I’m pretty sure is from the 90s. It’s laidback prep with some nautical vibes. I love that it’s cotton; cotton sweaters are the best. Never itchy, not too sweaty in warm weather, nice and toasty in cold weather.

Details: Topshop dress, Elizabeth & James vest (both thrifted), Anna Paola bag (consignment), Zara shoes (retail)

Thoughts: Every year, I “rediscover” this long vest and remember how versatile it is. Can you believe I’ve had it for 6 years? Time flies. Anyway, it’s a good neutral pairing for this busy pattern dress, and the length works well too, elongating the vertical line. The dress fabric is, unfortunately, crappy polyester so it helps to have an extra layer because if there’s even a hint of a breeze in the air, this dress offers zero protection.

Details: For Cynthia top (retail), J. Crew vest (thrifted), Urban Outfitters pants (thrifted)

Thoughts: I’ve been wanting to experiment with ties, and finally found an outfit that was apropos. Nothing too complicated, but it feels wearable for me as opposed to costume-y, which is how I tend to feel whenever I try to wear ties.

Details: Ralph Lauren top, Mexx skirt, BR belt, Ash sneakers (all thrifted), Ralph Lauren scarf (gift)

Thoughts: Leaned into the Papa Ralph vibe ALL the way with this one. The top is a Polo team shirt from 1996, which is kind of neat. I was going to wear it with my khaki pants, but decided to switch it up and go with a skirt. I could have sworn I’d seen something similar to this in an RL runway collection, but now I can’t find it. I guess I’ll just take the credit for being original. LOL!

Cast your mind back three years ago. Like many (most?) others, I was trying to fill my pandemic lockdown schedule with “keep busy” projects; one of the most dubious was probably at-home haircuts. First, I gave myself bangs. Then, not put off by the unimpressive results of that effort, I decided to ask my husband to cut my hair. My husband, bless him, is a man who tries to please me and who is also generally optimistic. The foolishness of my request wasn’t immediately apparent to him – I wanted a blunt, short bob, “just cut it straight across, babe”, what could go wrong – but it became painfully obvious 5 minutes in. I have fine hair … but a LOT of it. An hour and a half later, we called it a day – not because my haircut was truly finished (or even) but because my husband’s nerves gave in.

It was … fine. I mean, nobody was going anywhere or seeing anyone, so it was fine. But, almost immediately, I began to regret cutting it and decided that I wanted to grow it out. All the way. This was not exactly out of character. I’ve always been the person who changed her hairstyle every year or two. What was different this time was that … I just kept growing it. In the past, I’ve usually swung from pixie cut to shoulder-length bob and back again. The last time I had hair that went past my shoulders was 2015 or so (and 2006 before that). As soon as my hair starts kissing my shoulders, I get the itch to cut it. This time, it was different. By Christmas 2020, my hair was nearing shoulder-length and I felt … nothing. No haircut itch. A lot of that had to do with the pandemic; I was burnt out (weren’t we all) and in the middle of another lockdown, there was no opportunity to try to find a new hairstylist even if I wanted to. And so, I kept going and growing. And growing and going. By November 2021, my hair went past my shoulders and was long enough to allow me to try a middle part, which was A Thing that The Youths were doing at the time. I got a few compliments on it and that was apparently enough for me to DOUBLE DOWN again.

Fast forward to now. My hair is well past boob-length (which had been my goal at one time) and inching closer to the small of my back (a new goal?). I sometimes look at photos from my “cute bob” years and I love the look … but, still, I feel no desire to get the chop. I am way overdue for a trim, but laziness (and a lack of split ends) is conspiring against me even on that front. “I really need to do something about a trim” is something I tell myself every month. And every month, my hair gets longer.

Ok, but enough about my hair growing journey; this post isn’t about that. Hah! Sorry! Are you still reading?

Here’s what I wanted to say: hair is one of the most overlooked and underrated elements of personal style. Maybe that’s just me overlooking and underrating, though. I’ve always thought of hair as a key factor in the context of “personal appearance” but never in connection with what I wear. Recently, it struck me how well my current hairstyle complements what I enjoy wearing these days – which is quite different than, say, 3-4 years ago – and I was struck by a chicken-and-egg question.

Have I been growing out my hair because (subconsciously) I wanted it to line up with the vision of my current style? Or has my current style evolved in a certain direction aligned with the evolution of my hairstyle? Honestly … I don’t know. A bit of both, perhaps. When I started to grow out my hair, my love affair with Ralph Lauren – the prairie and the preppy – was still a long way in the future. Certainly now, however, I am less inclined to consider changing up the hair because it does suit my current aesthetic so well.

I think it helps to see some visual evidence, because that’s what got me thinking about this. Let’s start with Asymmetrical Pixie Cut Adina. Most of my outfit photos from that era unfortunately don’t show my face, but these are pretty representative.

And here is Mermaid Hair Adina:

Quite different, eh? Here’s another example, this one from my Short Blunt Bob era. Can you imagine this outfit with long hair?

Or this one with a short, blunt bob?

It just wouldn’t have the same impact.

Becoming conscious of the impact of my hairstyle feels like unlocking another tool in my outfit-building toolbox, which is nice. There are ways that I can style my long hair to either accentuate its “boho” vibe (those mermaid waves, for example) or to make it a little more “edgy” (a funky ponytail). But even my most edgy outfits these days hit different than in the past — there is a softer, more romantic, less architectural side to them. Which, in my current era, I’m perfectly happy with.

Details: Club Monaco shirt, Kenzo x H&M skirt, Ralph Lauren blazer (all thrifted)

Thoughts: I don’t love short skirts with bare legs on me, but this outfit is A+ otherwise. I think the patterned shirt keeps it from being too “classic preppy” and gives it a nice twist. A busy pattern right against another pattern might seem like a lot, but the consistent colour palette ties it together in a way that doesn’t make the outfit look too busy.

Details: Charlie Holiday dress, Denim & Supply jacket (both thrifted), Zara shoes (retail), Rafael Alfandary necklace (eBay)

Thoughts: This dress has become, in no time at all, my fallback summer outfit. When in doubt, I pop it on, add a topper and/or some accessories — preferably something chunky like one of my Rafael pieces — and I’m set. It’s cool, it’s comfy, it looks casual or dressy depending on the surroundings. Now if I could only find it in white … ahhhhhhh.

Details: Anna Sui top, Tabitha jacket, Cotton Ginny belt (all thrifted), Lucca Couture skirt (Poshmark)

Thoughts: This outfit had an Edwardian vibe to it for me — blame the lace — but also feels very summery. It’s perfect for lounging on a shaded patio with a cold drink and a nice book. Sadly, I had to work that day instead. The inspiration was one of Ralph Lauren’s summer collections (I forget the year) when he did a lot of lacy and beaded dresses in white, paired with southwestern accessories. This was my take using pieces from my closet.

Details: Ralph Lauren shirt, Max & Co skirt, Banana Republic necklace (all thrifted)

Thoughts: I love doing the wrap-tuck as an alternative to wearing button-up shirts, well, buttoned up. The key is to get a way oversized shirt (men’s works in a pinch) so there is lots of extra fabric for the wrap part. I pair this with a high-waisted bottom to make the tuck part easier. It’s such a cool, breezy way to wear a classic shirt in the summer. A big necklace or scarf tucked inside the collar is a nice touch too.