Friday, December 31, 2010

Black Swan Dress


Minus the boots, the outfit that I wore today is an "old" outfit; I think that I wore it last about two years ago.  (I remember wearing it on a trip to Chicago, coat, bag and all!  There was also a woollen shawl, which I remember being thankful for, as the city turned out to be cold and windy, living up to its nickname.)  Originally, I had thought about wearing cavalry pants with a wool mock neck, but the rise in temperature would have made that outfit a tad too warm, so I pulled out this old standby (when I wore it, I wore it a lot!).


Because I have been "under the weather" pretty much since after Christmas, I am going to ring in the new year in a very quiet way.  No party dress for me tonight!  Whatever you do to ring in the new year, I hope that you have a happy one and that all your dreams come true!  And thanks so much for stopping by once in a while!


I am wearing a vintage Zara dress with a vintage fleece hooded wrap cardigan, a vintage Gap quilted vest, vintage Lululemon leggings, vintage H&M socks and riding boots by JCrew.  My coat is vintage Gap and my bag is vintage Jacob Connection.

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Misty Minty Sweater


Because of the rise in temperature today (I assume), it was "misty" outside.  I sort of liked it.  The rise in temperature today also meant that I was able to hang up the Canada Goose parka.  I more than "sort of" liked that!

I am wearing a vintage flannel shirt restyled by Urban Renewal from Urban Outfitters, a wool sweater by JCrew, vintage Lands End jeans with a vintage H&M belt, old wool work socks are old from an off-price store and boots by BDG from Urban Outfitters.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Woodland Stroll Pants


Yesterday, I did say that, sometimes, I look like the "Michelin Man".  Today was a good example of my "Michelin Man" look.  The thing is (and I said this yesterday):  I don't really care that I look like the "Michelin Man".


I suspect that my choice of outfit today had a lot to do with my having watched two thirds of season six (?) of Foyle's War yesterday.  Originally, I had thought that I would wear jeans.  (Sound familiar?)  Then I changed my mind and opted for these wool trousers instead.  It is actually my first time wearing them since I acquired them about a year or so ago.  (As an aside, remember how I said that I want to make some changes in my "wardrobe habits" in 2011?  Well, one of the things that I want to change is how soon after I acquire something "new" I wear it.  I have this habit of not wearing my acquisitions until many months (and, sometimes, years) after acquiring them.)  Should I try for jeans again tomorrow?



Oddly, I have "pants outfits" planned for the next few days.  I am not sure what has come over me all of a sudden.


I am wearing a vintage flannel shirt restyled by Urban Renewal from Urban Outfitters with a silver pin from El Mundo, vintage LLBean wool trousers with vintage LLBean suspenders, a vintage Gap vest and a cardigan by Preloved.  My socks are old by Hue and my boots are vintage Fluevogs.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Warm, Warmer, Warmest



This morning, I thought, for a moment, that I might wear jeans today.  This thought, of wearing jeans, flowed from my thinking that I shouldn't wear un-sweatpants.  Try as I did, I couldn't convince myself that I would be comfortable in jeans.  Still thinking that I shouldn't wear un-sweatpants, I then moved on to trying to create an outfit centred around black fleece lined leggings.  I am not sure how leggings differ from un-sweatpants, but, in my mind, this morning, they did.  I reviewed my collection of black sweaters suitable to be worn with the leggings.  It was this activity which led me to wearing what I did wear today.  How?  Some of the pieces of today's outfit were in close proximity to my collection of black sweaters.  Odd as it may seem for some, I find a long sweater dress much more comfortable than jeans and as comfortable as un-sweatpants and as warm, if not warmer, than fleece lined leggings.



I know that I have said this before:  Layering clothing is the only way that I manage to survive the Winter where I live.  Sometimes I believe that my home city is encased in a bubble.  All around it, places are being hit with snowstorms, yet it has somehow managed to escape such storms (so far).  The cold, however, my home city never manages to escape.  So I have to find a way to cope.  Layering is the solution that I have come up.  I don't even care if I look like the "Michelin Man" (and I know that I do sometimes)!


I am wearing a vintage flannel shirt restyled by Urban Renewal from Urban Outfitters with a silver pin from El Mundo, a vintage Zara sweater dress, a vintage H&M button-up wool turtleneck, a vintage belt and a vintage Zara wool vest.  My socks are old from an off-price store and my boots are vintage Fluevog.

Monday, December 27, 2010

Baby It's Cold Outside


As the end of 2010 draws near, I am starting to think about changes that I would like to bring about in 2011.


Having this blog has taught me a lot about my "wardrobe habits".  There is something about keeping a photo log of what you wear that really helps to evaluate how you are dressing yourself, what you are keeping in your closet, what you are purchasing.  It's funny:  Keeping a "diary" is one of those things that "experts" always advise you to do whenever you want to change or learn about an area of your life (what you eat and how much you spend are examples).  I guess it would make sense, then, that keeping a clothing diary could help one to learn about and/or change one's clothing habits.  Some of the changes that I want to bring about in 2011 definitely have to do with my "wardrobe habits".


I am wearing a vintage flannel shirt restyled by Urban Renewal from Urban Outfitters with a vintage pin, a vintage Old Navy sweater dress, a quilted vest by JCrew, vintage H&M tights with vintage CK socks layered on top and vintage LLBean boots.

Sunday, December 26, 2010

The Beginning Of A New Tradition?


I couldn't be bothered with trying to find a clothing or shoe bargain this Boxing Day.  I used to love scouting for clothing and shoe bargains on Boxing Day.  But, this year, I just couldn't bear facing the crowds.  So, instead of getting up early to hit the shops for clothing and/or shoes, I got up early to go to yoga practice.  Afterwards, I had a pleasant time in a coffee shop with my tea, tea biscuit and book.  Then, I went to my all-time favourite bargain store and purchased on oil filled portable heater, which I have been meaning to do for weeks now.  I feel very satisfied with my one purchase today.  I have checked yet another item off my "home to do" list.  I also feel very tranquil, the result, no doubt, of avoiding the Boxing Day crowds.  Today might just have been the start of a new Boxing Day tradition:  No wardrobe shopping!


I am wearing a vintage flannel shirt restyled by Urban Renewal from Urban Outfitters with a tie from Urban Outfitters, a jumper dress with belt by Zara, a wool cardigan by JCrew, un-sweatpants by Roots, vintage LLBean socks and boots by LLBean.

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Itchy And Scratchy


It's funny how, sometimes, what looks to be the most touchable thing turns out to be least comfortable thing next to your skin.  A case in point:  this grey cardigan.  It looks like it would be soft and cuddly.  In actuality, it is itchy and scratchy against the skin.  I won't suffer for fashion, though.  If it weren't for the long sleeve cotton tshirt that I am wearing underneath the cardigan saving me from its itchiness and scratchiness, I wouldn't be wearing the cardigan ... as much as I love it.



The button scarf, on the other hand, is soft against the skin, although I can't say for certain that it looks like it would be that way.  It is also toasty warm ... and cosy.  I have heard it said that if you keep your head and neck covered (i.e., you keep body heat from escaping through your head and neck), you can more easily keep the rest of you warm.  I can attest to the fact that the button scarf is keeping more than just my neck warm.  The wool beret?  I am sure it is helping to keep me warm also.


I am wearing a cardigan by LLBean (Signature) layered over top an old tshirt from Old Navy, a vintage Zara wool jumper dress, a hand knit button scarf (gift), a vintage wool beret, vintage Lululemon leggings, vintage CK wool socks and vintage Fleuvog boots.

Wishing You ...

Friday, December 24, 2010

Cross Country Skiing


The outfit that I wore today -- the combination of the cardigan, the wool socks and the boots -- makes me feel like I should be on wooden skis, doing some cross country skiing in a time long past.  All I need is a woollen cap, with ear flaps and a pom pom on top, or maybe just a woollen toque with a pom pom on top, a woollen scarf with fringe and woollen gloves or mitts and the look would be complete.  Woosh, woosh -- picture me using my wooden ski poles to propel myself forward through the snow.


Here is a confession:  I may dream about being (safely) marooned in a ski chalet and I may imagine myself cross country skiing on wooden skis in a time long past, but I have never been on skis in my life. And, it would probably be a dangerous thing to put me on skis!  Some things are better left to the imagination.  (Although I don't see why I would have to know anything about skiing to be (safely) marooned in a ski chalet!)


I am wearing a vintage Zara dress, a vintage JCrew cardigan (altered by me), woollen leggings from H&M, old wool work socks from an off-price store and boots by Bogs.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

I Can't Resist


I can't resist a JCrew sale.  No matter how much I try.  This means that over the next few weeks, I will be debuting several new JCrew pieces on the blog.  These will mostly be sweaters.  I suppose because I only shop JCrew online (there being no JCrew store anywhere near where I live) and sweaters are the easiest item of clothing for me to purchase online (in terms of getting the "right" fit).  Although, I did order something yesterday that wasn't a sweater and I am really looking forward to receiving it.  Without giving anything away, it is an accessory that I want to "play" with in the coming year.  I inherited two similar accessories from a friend recently, so I will have plenty of them to "play" with.

I am wearing a vintage flannel shirt restyled by Urban Renewal from Urban Outfitters with a silver pin from El Mundo, a vintage Zara jumper dress, a wool shrug by Paper People Clothing, un-sweatpants by Roots, old socks by Hue and vintage Fluevog boots.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

I Think That I Really Like This Colour




I wore the dark olive green colour that I wore today before.  On Sunday.  I remember being pleased with it then.  When I put on the colour this morning, I thought, "I think that I really like this colour".


I was really hard on myself recently, when I came to the realization that I was wearing nothing but plaid shirts and sweater dresses/jumper dresses.  This morning, when I put on a plaid shirt with a jumper dress and looked at myself in the mirror, I asked myself what was so wrong with always wearing something in which I am so comfortable?  If this is who I am right now, then this is who I am right now.  After that moment, I felt so relieved.  Getting dressed shouldn't be about fighting against who you are.  It shouldn't be an unhappy struggle.  Getting dressed should be about expressing who you are.  It should be fun.


I am wearing a vintage flannel shirt restyled by Urban Renewal from Urban Outfitters with a silver pin from El Mundo, a flannel jumper dress by Paper People Clothing, an incredibly warm wool tie-front cardigan by Paper People Clothing, old tights by H&M and vintage Fluevog boots.

Monday, December 20, 2010

Some Formal Informal



Today, after trying on a variety of unsatisfactory outfits, I finally settled on a mix of formal and informal (or, as I immediately called it, "some formal informal").  I would like to say that the look happened by accident:  I had on the top half of the outfit, with a light grey short pleated skirt and brown tights, when I decided that, while I liked the top half of the outfit, the bottom half was too formal for today and, hey, why not just pair the top half of the outfit with some grey un-sweatpants.  But the truth is that I have been browsing JCrew catalogues the past few days and there are a lot of "formal informal" looks in there.  I am sure that those JCrew looks subconsciously inspired my "formal informal" look today.  But, hey, at least I didn't wear a flannel shirt and sweater dress combo!



I am wearing a vintage flannel shirt restyled by Urban Renewal from Urban Outfitters with a tie from Urban Outfitters, a vintage Eddie Bauer wool vest, a wool cardigan by JCrew, un-sweatpants by Roots, old socks by LLBean and boots by LLBean.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Unstuck






Today, I made an effort to break out of the habit of wearing sweater dresses.  I am not sure how long this is going to last.  The cold continues and the reality is that, at this point, the cold will probably continue until closer to the start of Spring.  Sweater dresses are so comfortable and warm that, with the cold continuing, I will probably return to them sooner or later.  (In fact, I just acquired a new sweater dress today!)  I can only say that I will try to not make them a uniform again.  I will intersperse outfits not involving sweater dresses between outfits consisting of sweater dresses.


I am wearing a vintage flannel shirt restyled by Urban Renewal from Urban Outfitters with a silver pin from El Mundo, a vintage Preloved sweater vest, a wool cardigan by Preloved, a BDG. skirt from Urban Outfitters, un-sweatpants by H&M, a vintage Canada Goose expedition parka, a vintage H&M scarf, a vintage Roots hat and vintage H&M mitts.  My socks are old from an off-price store and my boots are by LLBean.

Saturday, December 18, 2010

I Gotta Get Unstuck



This morning, I realized that I have fallen into wearing a uniform:  A flannel shirt/blouse, a sweater dress or jumper dress, un-sweatpants or leggings and one or more sweaters layered on top.  I may vary the colour scheme of my uniform, but I still wear a uniform.  This realization didn't exactly thrill me.  How am I going to get myself out of this wardrobe rut?


I am wearing a vintage flannel shirt restyled by Urban Renewal for Urban Outfitters, a sweater dress and a wool cardigan by Susan Harris Design and unsweatpants by H&M.  My socks are old from an off-price store and my boots are vintage Fluevogs.

Friday, December 17, 2010

An Antique Feel


I had planned on wearing today's outfit today at least a week ago.  It was the last "work outfit" that I put together for this year.  It was loosely inspired by some JCrew styling.  I was quite satisfied with it.


I bought the most interesting jumper dress today.  It may now be apparent that I have a weakness for designers who work with discarded clothing to create new clothing.  The jumper dress is the product of one such designer (a recent discovery for me).  It is made of pieces of flannel shirts.  The straps are the most interesting part of the jumper dress.  They are pieces of leather belts.  My description of the jumper dress probably doesn't do it justice.  But I will debut it on the blog soon!


Speaking of buying things, that jacket/coat that I mentioned a couple of days ago I may not be adding to my wardrobe after all.  On my way home this evening, I stopped by one of the stores that carries it to see if I still "had a thing for it".  I don't.


I am wearing a flannel shirt by Salt Valley from Urban Outfitters and a tie from Urban Outfitters, a vintage H&M sweater vest, a shawl collar cardigan by JCrew, a skirt by Cartonnier from Anthropologie and wool leggings from H&M.  My socks are old from LLBean and my boots are from LLBean.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

I Went Out!


The outfit that I wore today I have worn before ... very recently in fact ... except with different footwear.  I suppose that different footwear can make a different outfit?  Yes?  No?


The "little grey dress" that I wore today is, not only a favourite, but also my single, solitary go to dress in the Winter.  I can't say enough good things about this dress.  I shudder every time that I recall that it almost, almost didn't make it into my core wardrobe.  Shudder!


Today is definitely turning out to be a lovefest for my clothes.  I love my quilted vest as much as I love my "little grey dress".  This quilted vest serves as outerwear in the Fall, and as an additional layer on cold, cold days in Winter.  To clear up any uncertainty, it was another cold Winter-y day today.


There are these two stores in my home city, one near where a live, one near where I work and play, that sell the most interesting collections of clothing.  The stores are not clothing stores.  They carry a variety of products from South America and Asia, like furniture, home decor items, fashion accessories, jewellery, toys ... and a small selection of clothing.  I don't always find clothing to my liking at these stores, but every once in a while, I come across some pieces of clothing that are so unusual that I can't resist getting them.  That happened to me today.  I bought an interesting skirt and an interesting sweater/sweater dress.  I was also tempted by a coat/jacket.  (Initially, I couldn't figure out how the coat/jacket "worked" it was so unusual!)  If the coat/jacket is still available after the holidays, I may just purchase it.  Or, maybe, I will buy it before the holidays, as my Christmas gift to myself.


Something monumental happened today!  The Fluevog boots that I had been waiting for arrived.  But ... but ... they came in the wrong size!  So, for the first time in the history of my relationship with Fluevogs, I am going to have to return a pair of Fluevogs.  Horrors!


I am wearing a vintage Zara dress, a vintage Gap sweater with a vintage silver pin, a vintage Gap quilted vest and vintage Lululemon leggings.  My socks are old by CK and my boots are vintage Fluevogs.