Into The Depths Of Darkness Skirt

The look:

shirt - LLBean
tie - old Gap
skirt - old RW & Co
vest - old LLBean
beret - old
coat - old UO
scarf - old H&M
gloves - H&M
boots - old
bag - old Lululemon

The tale:

First of all: Apologies for the wrinkles.  I had very little time to do more than throw on the outfit and rush out the door.  Which brings me to this:  It has been some time since I found myself so uncomfortable and/or unhappy with an outfit that I had to quickly change out of it and into a new outfit.  That is what happened this morning.  Although the first outfit that I put on this morning I wasn't so much uncomfortable or unhappy with as I thought that it was a tad inappropriate for what I was supposed to do today.  All that said, I have to add that as much as it felt good to wear colour yesterday, it felt good to return to dark clothing today (both the "reject" outfit and the "go with" outfit were dark -- one brown, the other, charcoal grey).  But I haven't given up on colour for this week just yet.

Brighten Up The Day Tights

The look:

shirt - old Gap
tie - H&M
jumper dress - Gap
pullover - H&M
beret - old American Apparel
parka - old Canada Goose
scarf - old H&M
gloves - H&M
boots - Fluevog

The tale:

I am not one for wearing Spring/Summer (or even early Autumn) clothing in the dead of Winter, but some San Francisco ladies inspired me to give it a go, particularly since this Winter is turning out to be on the mild side (at least in my home city).  Of course, no matter how mild this Winter may be, it certainly is no where near as mild as a San Francisco Winter, so I had to layer up with a thick pullover sweater and my parka.  I will say, though, that after a week of dressing mostly in black (with some charcoal grey thrown in), it felt good (or, perhaps, I felt good enough) to put on some colour this morning.  However, this evening, when I was trying on some colourful clothing (red plaid, red gingham and navy blue), I was so distressed by the combination that I had to remove said colourful clothing quite quickly and try on a brown outfit to neutralize the said distress.  Had I not done so, all the colourful clothing would have made its way onto the consignment pile, which would have been a shame as all the pieces are quite nice and I am sure that I could come up with some more neutral outfits from all the individual pieces.  From a sociological (psychological? anthropological?) perspective, clothing causing distress was an interesting experience.

Inspired By A Film Pullover

The look:

pullover - LLBean
scarf - old H&M
skirt - old Gap
beret - old
texting gloves - H&M
boots - old
coat - old UO
bag - old Lululemon

The tale:

My apologies if I have already said this before.  Sometimes, I watch films purely because I like their costume design.  It was the costume design of one film that inspired today's outfit.  Oddly, it felt appropriate to be wearing this outfit when, this evening, I decided to take a stroll through the downtown streets, something the character, who wore the costume that inspired today's outfit, might have done.  It used to be very usual for me to take strolls through the downtown streets on Fridays, but it is something that I haven't done for years now.  It was pleasant to return to this activity, even if may be only for this one time.  It was also a little sad, maybe because I don't know when it might happen again and it was an activity that I always enjoyed engaging in.

Black Boucle Suit

The look:

pullover, jacket and skirt - H&M
turtleneck - old Gap
leggings - old Old Navy
texting gloves - H&M
beret - old
boots - old Bogs
coat - old UO
scarf and mitts - old H&M
bag - old Lululemon

The tale:

My attempt at trying out the modern minimalist style, with this outfit, was a failure.  Which isn't to say that I wasn't pleased with the outfit -- I was -- but it just wasn't of the modern minimalist style.  At a minimum (completely unintentional pun), I might have to lose the beret and the (as someone described them yesterday, French philosopher) glasses.  The boots would probably have to go too.  Or, maybe, it is something about me, something inherent.  Whatever.  Maybe I will try to exploit the French philosopher look of the glasses.  Hmmmmmm.

Going To The Ball Skirt

The look:

pullover - old JCrew
tie - old Gap
skirt - old H&M
cardi - American Apparel
texting gloves - H&M
beret - old
boots - old
parka - old Canada Goose
bag - old Lululemon
scarf and mitts - old H&M

The tale:

So this is what you are wearing tonight?  How many times have I heard that question asked.  Yes, this is what I wore this evening to a "dinner" (meaning an evening meal attended by many with a seating plan) where dress code was not stipulated.  I went to the "dinner" because it was held in honour of someone whom I like.  Usually, I am not one to attend "dinners".  I am a bit of a hermit in this respect.  So wouldn't it make the most sense for me, having decided to put myself in a somewhat unfamiliar environment, to dress in a way that was most comfortable for me?  I hate it when I try to explain why I chose to wear something when asked that question, "So this is what you are wearing tonight?"  Yes, this is what I wore tonight.

A Match Made In Heaven Boots

The look:

blouse and jumper dress - old H&M
wrap cardi - old Bench
texting gloves - H&M
beret - old
boots - old Miz Mooz
coat - old UO
scarf - old H&M
bag - old Lululemon

The tale:

I haven't worn these boots in several years, but for these boots and I it was love at first sight followed by (and remaining) everlasting love.  But on two occasions, they almost got away from me.  (That makes me sound like a stalker and my love for the boots unrequited.  Never mind.)  The first occasion was when I bought the boots.  In the shop, I tried on the pair on display and when I was satisfied that they fit and had decided to purchase them, the shop clerk offered to get me a "fresh pair".  I accepted the offer and she produced a box of "fresh boots".  Neither the shop clerk nor I bothered to check that the boots inside the box were the correct size, i.e., the size indicated on the box and my correct size.  I made the purchase and went home (practically skipping all the way) with my new boots.  Turns out the boots inside the box were the wrong size, which calamity I discovered when I got home and pulled out the boots to try them on.  Fortunately, the shop was still open.  I immediately called and arranged for the ill-sized boots to be replaced by the right-sized boots.  I say fortunately because the pair that I had tried on in the shop were the last pair in my size.  Had I not called that night, chances are the boots would have gone to another home.  The second occasion (when the boots almost got away from me) was a couple of years ago when I was doing a major closet purge and almost put them in the charity shop pile.  But the everlasting love prevailed.  Yes, I wasn't wearing them at the time, but I still loved them.  I am soooo glad that I hung on to the boots.  It is fate.  The boots and I were just meant to be.

Wrap Me In Warmth Cardi

The look:

polo pullover - old Jacob
open cardi - old H&M
pants - Zara
beret - old
boots - old
bag - old Lululemon
parka - old Canada Goose

The tale:

The more that I wear black and grey clothing, the less comfortable I feel in colour, any colour, even muted colour.  I have said that there was a time in my life when I wore nothing but black clothing.  (When I wore grey clothing, I considered that a colourful day.)  Somewhere in the deep dark recesses of my mind resides the thought that I am headed back in that direction.  If this were to happen, I honestly don't know how I would feel about it.

Electric Blue Plaid Shirt

The look:

blouse - old Gap
necklace - old Banana Republic
cardi - old JCrew
texting gloves - H&M
skirt - old Anthropologie
leggings - old H&M
boots - old Lands End
beret - old American Apparel
parka - old Canada Goose
scarf and mitts - old H&M

The tale:

This is a rerun outfit.  I considered wearing some new Sorels with the rerun outfit, which would have "updated" the outfit a teeny, tiny bit, but, in the end, I decided to keep the rerun outfit intact.  But let me tell the story of the new Sorels.  As I understand it, the Caribou is the original style of Sorels.  The Caribous are still available, and I was considering buying a pair.  A couple of weeks ago, on a snowy day, as I was making my way through my home city, I spotted a pair of Sorels that looked like the Caribous but weren't.  They had the same colouring as the Caribous, but they weren't as tall as the Caribous and looked, well, more delicate than the Caribous.  Right then and there I knew that I wanted those Sorels.  Unfortunately, I saw them on someone's feet, and I knew that it might be next to impossible to find a pair in my size so far into the Winter.  After some scouting around, I found a pair online.  I ordered them on Thursday.  On Friday, they arrived (they were from an online store that is based near to where I live).  They are exactly what I expected them to be and what I wanted.  The new Sorels are part of the shopping expedition that I mentioned yesterday.  Stay tuned for more.

The Tied Tie

The look:

shirt, vest and cropped cardi - old H&M
tie - old Gap
skirt and texting gloves - H&M
boots - old
hat - Lillie & Cohoe
parka - old Canada Goose
scarf and mitts - old H&M

The tale:

So I changed things up a little (in my wardrobe) yesterday and today:  a different hat (not the usual beret) and a different way of tying a tie.  I am particularly proud of the new look for a tie.  (Although I am sure that many others before me have tied a tie this way, I have never seen anyone, either in the flesh or virtually, do this.)  Yesterday, I was so excited about the tie that I eagerly awaited a comment from my co-workers.  But, to my surprise, as the time for leaving work was fast approaching, no comments had been forthcoming.  With ten or so minutes to go, I was fortunate enough to run into a friend at work, whom I confronted.  "Please," I said.  "You have to say something about the tie."  His reply was, "You have worn a tie before."  "Yes," I said, in exasperation, "but look at how I have tied the tie."  He laughed.  I don't usually look for, and I certainly don't usually solicit, comments on my wardrobe.  But I couldn't help myself yesterday.  I work in a field dominated by men.  Wouldn't they (shouldn't they) find the tie tying a bit, well, strange and noteworthy?