Tuesday, October 30, 2012

raisin pullover




the look:

tshirt - old gap
wrap top - old lululemon
dress and pullover - random label
leggings - old old navy
cap - old
wellies - old hunter

the tale:

i find it ridiculous how sizing differs from store to store (and from label to label). for example, today, at top shop, i spotted the most awesome pleated skirt that i would have bought (probably) if the store had had it in my size. unfortunately, the smallest size available (in a US size) was at least one size too big. later in the day, i tried on some faux leather trousers at H&M, three sizes larger than that skirt at top shop. perfect fit. now, all this happened in the space of an hour, and i know that i didn't grow four sizes during that hour. probably good for me that all i care about when buying clothes is liking how they look on me and comfortable fit. the number on the label matters not to me. otherwise, i would probably have been on quite the emotional roller coaster rider today.

Monday, October 29, 2012

minnie likes smarties skirt and tunic




the look:

tshirt - old gap
wrap top - old lululemon
tunic and skirt - kaliyana
jacket - old olio organics
hat - old nine west
boots - old marsell

the tale:

although this skirt and tunic made me think of minnie mouse the other day, today, they also made me think of smarties (i am not sure that i would have thought of smarties had it not been so close to halloween). i think the skirt and tunic -- new to me as a result of some recent retail therapy -- are going to become favourite pieces of clothing.

Sunday, October 28, 2012

rain, rain, go away poncho




the look:

tshirt - old gap
wrap and leggings - old lululemon
dress - old h&m
tunic - kaliyana
poncho - old roots
cap - old
wellies - old hunter

the tale:

as i had wanted, i ended up spending a part of saturday engaging in retail therapy. notwithstanding that it rained all day. i just put on some wellies and a rain poncho and went out. the other part of saturday, i spent cleaning house. this sunday evening, i am feeling much better. amazing how much retail therapy and cleaning help me.

Friday, October 26, 2012

the sweatshirt sweater




the look:

tshirt - old old navy
wrap top and dhoti pants - old lululemon
pullover - gap
jacket - old olio organics
cap - old
boots - old ixos

the tale:

until today, i had not heard of the theory that a certain mouse (or, perhaps, certain mice) inspired the predominance of dots on clothing this fall/winter. whether truth or myth, i like the story. i don't think that, during my life to date, i have owned much dot sprinkled clothing. today, i bought the neatest dot sprinkled clothing: a tunic and a skirt. i can't wait to wear the two together. (if you are thinking that this is the second consecutive day that i am talking about buying something and not being able to wait to wear it and don't i therefore seem to be engaging in some major retail therapy, you are absolutely correct about the major retail therapy. it has been a long, hard week. and, perhaps i shouldn't, but i do. i want more retail therapy. tomorrow. because, unlike most saturdays, tomorrow, i have a free day and, if i felt like it, i could indulge in all the retail therapy that my wallet permitted.)

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

strings attached top




the look:

tshirt - old gap
wrap top - old lululemon
top - old kaliyana
skirt - kaliyana
cap - old
boots - old marsell

the tale:

i think that i am getting closer to the best way for me to wear kaliyana clothing. i am feeling quite good about this. (although i am pretty much one hundred percent sure that these feelings won't last. for example, i am already thinking that a cloche hat would have been a better choice for this outfit than the newsboy cap. sigh.)

Saturday, October 20, 2012

when all else fails dress




the look:

top - old eddie bauer
pullover - old lululemon
dress - old melow by melissa bolduc
pants - old american apparel
cap - old
boots - john fluevog

the tale:

i love black clothing. i arrived at this conclusion after quite the struggle today. it all began this morning. what happened was that it took me a long time (i am too embarrassed to say exactly how long) to get dressed. i did like the first outfit that i tried on, but it was a little too warm for today (maybe, in a couple of weeks). after that, it was one outfit after another after another. for a while there, it looked like i might never settle on an outfit and i would have to hide away at home. part of my problem was that i kept putting on very androgynous outfits and i wasn't feeling very androgynous today. another part of the problem may have been that i was trying to stay away from black clothing. finally ... finally ... i settled on this outfit. the right combination of comfort and femininity. after a day wearing this outftit, it suddenly came to me: i love black clothing.

Friday, October 19, 2012

pumpkin patch tunic





the look:

blouse - old urban renewal (uo)
tie - old uo
tunic - joe fresh
cardi - old gap
dhoti pants - old lululemon
cap - old
boots - john fluevog

the tale:

oh, look! the dhoti pants are back! i am definitely not done with them yet.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

an old-ey but a good-ey jumper dress


the look:

tshirt - old gap
cardi and pullover - old lululemon
jumper dress - old h&m
leggings - old old navy
cap - old
boots - john fluevog

the tale:

a couple of things today. first: if you are thinking, "boy, when she latches onto some new piece of clothing or a new way of wearing something, she sure does it to death," well, you would be right. remember those dhoti pants from lululemon that i kept wearing over and over a little while ago? now, the wrap/open cotton jersey cardi (also from lululemon) that i keep wearing over and over layered under tops and dresses. i just can't help myself. second: (also on the topic of layering) i was browsing some spring 2013 mens' collections today and happened across a curious combination: a leather biker vest layered over a dress/suit jacket/blazer. i think i might want to try this combination out.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

lifelong learning vest


the look:

tshirt - old gap
cardi - old lululemon
dress - old zara
vest - kaliyana
leggings - old old navy
cap - old
boots - john fluevog

the tale:

i envy those who know their style and are able to express it through their outfits every single day (and i mean every single day). i don't know what my problem is. do i not know my style? (i think that i do.) or is it the case that i don't know how to put my style into practice. every time that i think i finally got it, i realize that i don't. this seems to occur particularly when i discover a new label and try to channel my style exclusively through the label or try to incorporate the label into my existing wardrobe. i suppose that i could deal with this problem by not exploring labels or refusing to let new labels into my wardrobe life. but i suspect that i would still hit bumps in the road of expressing my style through clothes. sigh. i suppose i should just accept that i won't stop learning how to express to my satisfaction my style though clothes until i stop breathing.

Sunday, October 14, 2012

what goes around comes around skort


the look:

tshirt - old gap
cardi, top and skort - old lululemon
leggings - old old navy
cap - old
boots - john fluevog

the tale:

i have reverted to dressing very casually on the weekends ... wearing leggings and cotton jersey layers ... mostly from lululemon ... the kind of clothing that i used to wear when i was doing my various yoga teacher trainings a few years ago ... and then teaching yoga occasionally. a lot of the clothing that i am wearing now is from those days. clearly, it lasted. which is good. i wouldn't say that i am nostalgic for my yoga teacher training days. i would say that the good from those days has persisted and that new good things have appeared. the outer reflects the inner.

Thursday, October 11, 2012

grey clouds overhead sweater dress




the look:

blouse - old urban renewal (uo)
sweater dress, tie and scarf - old h&m
jacket - olio organics
dhoti pants - old lululemon
coat - old kensie
cap - old
boots - old ixos

the tale:

no surprises (at least to me), i am experiencing a wardrobe crisis. i feel like i should be trying for a more elegant look. i should probably try to pin down what i mean by "elegant". it might help me to achieve a more elegant look. but, honestly, that seems like so much work. i know when i see it and i guess that i don't see it when i look in the mirror. then there is the fact that i don't think that i can pull off elegant. i think that i need more height, which, of course, i can't get (i am way beyond growing that way any more). i also think that i am too enamoured of all things geeky (with which i identify) to pull off elegant. then there is the pre-occupation with all things western. maybe more black clothing? no guarantees there (i think i am proof of that). i think that i will just wait it out. like all wardrobe crises of the past, which eventually passed with time, i am sure that this one will pass as well, given enough time ... and patience.

Monday, October 8, 2012

bear hug jacket







the look:

tshirt - old gap
dress - old h&m
cardi and top - old lululemon
jacket - lululemon
pants - old american apparel
cap - old
boots - john fluevog

the tale:

when i tried on this jacket in the store, the shop clerk asked whether wearing it didn't feel like a great big bear hug. so true! this feeling was one reason why i bought the jacket. the second reason why i bought the jacket? i liked the way it looked. i am so glad that lululemon has returned to creating interesting looking clothes. i, like many others, am a lulu addict because i like the comfort of the clothes. but i, unlike many others, am not so keen on the lulu staples for everyday wear (i can see wearing the staples in the yoga studio -- or while at the gym or on a run or on a ride -- or if you are an instructor spending your day rushing from one class/session to another -- but aside from that, i don't fancy looking like i am at all times ready to "drop down and give me ten"). lulu has so much to offer in the way of post- or pre-workout clothing, why wouldn't anyone, who loves lulu for a workout, not partake of these offerings for the rest of the time?

Thursday, October 4, 2012

last round before the last call sweater vest




the look:

tshirt - old old navy
cardi - old jacob
vest - old american apparel
dhoti pants - old lululemon
cap - old
shoes - john fluevog

the tale:

sometimes comfort trumps variety. sameness ensues. boring? maybe.

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

foghorn sweater jacket




the look:

tshirt - old old navy
cardi - old jacob
dhoti pants - old lululemon
jacket - olio organics
cap - old
boots - john fluevog

the tale:

fog rolled into the city today. i like fog. the tops of buildings disappear. it's kind of like snow, although upside down. with snow, fresh snow i should say, the bottom part of the city appears clean. with fog, the top part of the city appears clean. (my apologies for the reference to snow. i am still waiting for chilly, fall weather and still looking forward to winter.)

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

can it get cold already cardi






the look:

tshirt - old old navy
infinity cardi - old jacob
wool cardi - old preloved
dhoti pants - old lululemon
cap - old
boots - john fluevog

the tale:

i know that many are relishing the fact that summer appears to be persevering. but i want it to get cold already. it is the second day of october. i want to be able to wear this cardi (with a scarf wrapped around my neck and my hand warmers on) in the middle of the day and feel perfectly comfortable, rather than sweltering hot. and, without a doubt, for the first time in a very long time, i am looking forward to winter! enough of this twenty degrees celsius weather! let's start cooling down!