Last week, I talked about my most versatile purchases of the year. This week, let’s talk about the good stuff. Just kidding, they are all good. But, yes, I can’t help being partial to the fun stuff – the statement pieces. I am definitely a magpie/peacock at heart when it comes to clothing, so I get the most excited about statement clothing. Still, remember what I wrote last week: never underestimate the important of the “quiet heroes” that hold your outfits together. Statement pieces are fine, but a well-balanced outfit they do not make … not without some help.

Since this list is all about things I love, there really aren’t any broader principles to dissect here. The only takeaway? Statement pieces are meant to spark joy, to put a smile on your face and oomph in your step. If a piece doesn’t do that, and isn’t a “quiet hero” either, I always push myself on the question: why am I buying this? It’s usually a sign to put the thing down and move on.  

St. John top

I love this top so much. I mean, what’s not to love? It’s decorated with giant chains – no jewelry needed.

Ralph Lauren wrap skirt

I love colourful plaids, but this one is a real statement even though – or maybe because – it’s black and white. So bold and graphic, I am obsessed.

Tabi sweater

I love floral/graphic pattern mixes, and this sweater does all the work for me. Bonus points for being (mostly) black and white, a combo I am especially fond of this year.

Patchwork jacket

This piece means so much to me, not only because it perfectly encapsulates my summer aesthetic, but also because it was made by a friend. [Technically, this was a gift not a purchase but I think it deserves to be highlighted here anyway.]

Suttles & Seawinds dress

I adore old fashioned floral patterns set against a blue background, so this dress was an immediate “YES” for me. Plus, the silhouette suits both my body type and my style preferences.

Gap dress

Basically, same as above.

Patchwork skirt

I love clothing that looks like patchwork quilts (or is made from them) so this skirt was something I had been hoping to find for a while. The colours! The silhouette! All of it is 100% me.

Nanette Lepore blazer

Honestly, this is so versatile, it’s almost a closet staple. But! It’s also a total attention-grabber with that eye-catching colour combo of chartreuse and purple.

Paul Smith pants

I did mention how much I love plaid, no? The ring tab waist belt (which is detachable, for extra versatility) is a nice touch too.

Laura Ashley skirt, Max &Co skirt

Similar style of skirt – my favourite! – but different kinds of statement. One is a bold pattern, one is a bold colour. Love them both!

Joie sweater

It pains me to include anything Joie in my favourites list, but here we are. There is no denying this color blocked sweater is an outfit maker.

Ralph Lauren tank top

It might be a tank, but it’s anything but basic. It’s a key element to the academia-inspired Historian aesthetic.

Details: French Connection top, Judith & Charles jacket, Paul Smith pants (all secondhand)

Thoughts: Is there anything more festive than sequins? As much as I love shiny things all year round, sequins for me are a winter item. I don’t know why. Maybe because it’s easier to rationalize or justify wearing them around the holidays in particular. Not that sequins need an explanation but … it does tend to cut down on the “are you really wearing that?” questions. Yes. Yes, I am. Also, this is Sequins Level 1: Pretty Damn Subtle. So if you’re wanting to dip a toe into sequins, this is my suggestion for easing yourself in.

Details: Tabi sweater, Primavera dress (both thrifted), Zara shoes (retail)

Thoughts: I love how these 2 floral patterns — which, for the record, are not the same — look so well matched. One is roses and the other peonies (I think?) but the colours are almost identical. This sweater continue to delight me every time I wear it.

Details: Gap top (thrifted), Dries Van Noten skirt (Poshmark), Danier x Greta Constantine belt (thrifted), Zara shoes (retail)

Thoughts: I haven’t done a “big fashion moment” outfit in a good while, and felt like it was time to flex those muscles again. This used to be one of my favourite skirts; I say “used to be” not because I don’t love it — I will always love it — but because it doesn’t really align with my current aesthetics, so I don’t wear it as often as I used to. That being said, I can always make an exception for it. I decided to go a bit further on a limb with it this time, pairing it with this Y2K Gap shirt; I thought the pattern mixing would be interesting. I also like the green as a colour pairing with the purple. It doesn’t give me “villain colours” vibes, probably because it’s such a light green — it doesn’t have that same badass energy.

Details: United Colours of Benetton sweater, Babaton skirt, Tignanello bag (all secondhand), Clarks shoes (retail)

Thoughts: Pulled this outfit colour story from the sweater, and I am very happy with how it came together. I’m exploring this outfit formula of big sweater+long skirt which isn’t quite within my comfort zone, but does carry a 90s vibe that I quite enjoy.

Details: Joie sweater, H&M skirt (both secondhand), J. Crew shoes (retail)

Thoughts: The infamous Joie sweater! Is it infamous yet? It is to me. I love wearing. I just found a small hole in the sleeve. This damn sweater, I tell you! Anyway, this is Sequins Level 3: Getting Sequinny. I love sequinned skirts; it’s my favourite way to incorporate sequins into outfits in a way that feels “everyday” to me. Your mileage may vary, of course. Again, try it out around the holidays if you’re not sure — it’s much less likely anyone will bat an eye. Unless they’re Scrooge 😉

Details: Gap sweater, Ralph Lauren vest, Tommy Hilfiger jeans, Office London shoes (all thrifted)

Thoughts: This pattern mix somehow feels more festive to me than wearing sequins. Not mad about it, either. I’ve been wearing this vest a lot as an extra layer under my big winter coat (which isn’t super duper warm on its own); it also works as a topper over a chunky sweater for those rare warmer days. I love this particular plaid, but RL has a bazillion different versions in other colours too. I’m wearing a Large which fits a bit on the smaller side, but is perfect for me to wear over thicker layers (like aforementioned chunky sweater) without adding a lot of bulk itself.

Let’s start the annual review with something practical: the pieces I consider my most versatile purchases. Things I wore again and again this year, which formed the backbone of my closet. Y’all know I love statement pieces, and I do buy a lot of them, but my closet wouldn’t function without the “quiet heroes” — the pieces that are the glue holding my outfits together. So I think it’s worth spending a bit of time talking about these pieces, to break down how and why they are useful, as this may be something others can relate to.

We have a lot to go over, so grab a drink and cozy up.

H&M beige pants ($9.50) / Urban Outfitters black pants ($4)

My go-to outfit formula is statement bottom + basic top + topper (sometimes statement, sometimes not). However, when the bottom piece is a pair of pants, the formula usually gets inverted: I tend to use basic pants with statement tops and/or toppers. When I say “basic”, don’t misunderstand. I mean something that serves as a “canvas” for the outfit, something that recedes into the background allowing other pieces to take centre stage but, at the same time, which contributes to the outfit looking good as a whole. That usually means that the pants have to have a nice, interesting structure or shape without being too attention-grabbing. Both of the above pants tick those boxes for me. The paperbag waist beige pants are a shape that feels fresh and modern to me, the colour is a good neutral, and therefore can suit any number of different aesthetics. They elevate any outfit, as they say. Same thing with the black UO pants; it’s a modern cut, neutral colour, go-with-everything sort of style.

Cartonnier pants ($8)

You might think these would fall into the “statement” category because of the stripe pattern, but to me, they are more of the “quiet hero” type. The pattern is subtle, and doesn’t call a lot of attention to itself, while quietly elevating the outfit.

Pilcro sweater ($4.50)

This sweater became a surprise hit for me because it’s a colour that I didn’t already have in my closet but which works shockingly well with the rest of my palette — especially yellow, brown, and dark purple as shown in these photos. But because it’s plain, it’s also a piece that can complete many different outfits. I am not sure I need to run out and buy a bunch of other lavender pieces; this one is probably enough to add that punch of colour when needed.

Esprit belt ($3.50) & Cotton Ginny belt ($9)

Belts are one of my favourite outfit-completer pieces, and these 2 belts saw the most action this past year. Compared to some of the other pieces on this list, both belts are more “one trick ponies” in that they really do work best in outfits with a boho/prairie aesthetic. That being said, they have worked with a wide variety of looks within that aesthetic – pretty much my entire summer wardrobe. I like having the option of both black and brown belts, as sometimes one colour works better than the other based on the outfit colour palette. Both have large buckles that communicate the aesthetic; both are silver tone, which is what my boho/prairie jewelry tends to be — and I prefer not to mix metals when it comes to belt/jewelry combos.

[FWIW, my hands-down most versatile belt is a plain, wide, black leather belt with a simple buckle. I didn’t buy it this year, so I am not including it in this list, but I have worn it with a million different outfits, from gothic to preppy to boho, and everything in between.]

Adriano Goldschmied ($9) & Tommy Hilfiger jeans ($10)

The first pair was my go-to summer denim; the second has been my go-to fall and winter denim. They have different cuts, but both are what I consider relatively current styles which helps to keep my outfits fresh (especially when I am wearing a fair bit of vintage). Both are light wash denim, which I really like at the moment, is fairly trendy, and works well as a “neutral” with my wardrobe colour palette. Light wash denim tends to read as more casual, so it suits my relaxed summer boho looks, while also creating a fun juxtaposition with my more preppy (RL inspired) fall and winter looks.

Pilcro tank top ($6)

This is the very definition of a basic, foundational piece. It’s a super useful layering piece but has little details that elevate into a “proper” top (not just something to be worn under things and not seen). The little cut-out in the neckline is really genius. I have a couple of other coloured tank tops in frequent rotation, but this cream one is the most versatile for me.

Toni T dickie ($7)

Finding this dickie was a life-changer. It allows me to create layered looks without dealing with extra bulk (or warmth) when I don’t need it. I am actively looking to add another dickie to my collection (in a darker colour) but this white one is incredibly versatile. It’s the perfect finishing touch to my sweater+blazer+bottom outfits, which is one of my staple formulas for fall and winter.

Ralph Lauren sweater ($10)

I’ve written about my love of black (cashmere) turtlenecks before, so I will not repeat the paean here. I use them constantly during the fall and winter and they are truly a foundational piece in every sense of the word.

Old Navy sandals ($30 for 2 pairs)

Remember how much I agonized over whether buying Old Navy shoes on Poshmark was worth it? Well, it was … 100% worth it. I love this style of sandal (in both brown and black) and they work with almost anything I might wear in the summer — skirts, dresses, pants, you name it.

Mia shoes (gift) & Office London boots ($33)

While I consider both of these pairs to be trendy shoes, neither is especially “statement”. They don’t draw your eye immediately, but they do immediately update the outfit by virtue of their trendiness. I wrote a post about my theory of trendy shoes, and I stand by it.

Ralph Lauren blazer ($15)

This is something of a borderline statement piece for me, although I probably see it as such because I love it so much that I tend to focus on it first. However, to others, it probably doesn’t stand out per se — it just makes any outfit look good.

Mexx skirt ($11)

I think of this as the skirt version of those H&M pants I started with. It’s a blank canvas for outfit-building, but it has little details that make it special (like those large pockets and crossed belt loops).

With the exception of the Mia platform loafers, all of these pieces were purchased secondhand. This is par for the course, as it has been my habit to buy 99% of my clothing and accessories secondhand over the last 5 years. In fact, I only bought 4 items at retail in 2022 — 2 clutches and 2 pairs of shoes, including those loafers (and, technically, 2 of the 4 items were gifts). I try not to be preachy about the Gospel of Secondhand, but I do want to normalize secondhand buying in all its various forms, from thrifting to consignment to Poshmark to FB Marketplace and other online platforms.