new looks in december: more lava

here is what i wore "new" in december. happy new year all!

i am wearing rundholz dip 222 and rundholz black label 222 (the coat).

archive looks in november

i will confess that when in september and october i starting reaching for archive clothing more often, i wasn't sure that it would last. i based this thinking on past experience -- while i often reached for and wore archive clothing at the beginning of a clothing season, that behaviour didn't carry through the clothing season -- i usually abandoned it a few weeks into the season. but, this time, the behaviour seems to be continuing -- two months into the fall clothing season and i am still reaching for and wearing archive clothing . and, not only is the behaviour continuing, but it is also feeling good -- so being positively reinforced. here are the archive looks that i wore in november.

i am wearing rundholz dip 220 clothing (socks excluded -- although i believe socks are technically not clothing) and rundholz dip 222 sneakers/shoes -- yes, i am very much attached to the "new" sneakers/shoes".

 

new looks in november: mixing colours and patterns

the highlights of the new looks that came into my wardrobe in november were these. first, the surprise (to me) appearance of a new colour into the 222 colour palette -- lava. i really thought it was just going to be vulcano. this happened because i bought a cardi that didn't come in vulcano -- it didn't really come in lava either but in the lava-like grey melange. something about the cardi really appealed to me and so i got it even though it meant straying from the vulcano colour palette. of course then i needed some grey pieces to go with the cardi and before too long lava came into the picture. after then, well, i fell in love with the colour and helped myself to a few more lava pieces. shades of grey are really tricky colours for me, so this foray into lava clothing was unexpected. but it was a pleasant surprise. the other highlight of the november new looks is that i did something with styling that i haven't done for a few years. i wore an outfit of more than one colour with a pattern thrown it. i used to do this regularly several years back, then i went all monochrome. i don't know what made me resurrect this past practice now. i also don't know whether this is the start of something "new" (well, more like a return to something old) or just a one-off anomalous occurrence.

i am wearing rundholz dip 222.

archive looks in october

one of the consequences (?) of finding clarity around what clothes truly reflect who i am and make me happy is an even greater appreciation of the clothes that i have collected over the years. starting at the end of september, i found myself, organically, reaching for archive clothing more often than in the recent past. here are the archive looks that i wore in october. that black dress is one of the first rundholz dip a/w pieces that i bought. i still remember almost not getting it -- something drove me back to it and i am so grateful that i followed by gut. if i were to pick "all-time favourite pieces" from the line, this dress would definitely make the cut. the red and wine pieces are also firsts in my rundholz dip journey -- the first time i bought that colour palette from rundholz dip and the beginning of a bit of an obsession with the colour palette. i guess i could say the same about the green pieces. but i can also say this about the particular rundholz dip collection to which those green pieces belong -- the 217 collection. probably the first full collection that i fell in love with. so if i were to pick "all-time favourite collections" from the line, this collection would be one of my picks.

photo no. 1: i am wearing rundholz dip 214 (dress) and rundholz dip 222 (sneakers/shoes).

photo nos. 2 and 3: i am wearing rundholz dip 215 (dress and trousers), rundholz dip 219 (cardi) and rundholz dip 222 (sneakers/shoes).

photo nos. 4 to 8: i am wearing rundholz dip 217 (top, sweat pullover, sweat dress, skirts and coat) and rundholz dip 222 (sneakers/shoes).

new looks in october: the only wine i consume?

it has been an entire season (clothing-wise -- two seasons in "real life") since i last came into this space. the messages that were waiting for me when i came back really touched me -- thank you so very much. my vanishing was organic -- it felt right to step away and it would have felt forced to stay. i followed my gut. on the other side now, i know i made the right move. having this blog has taught me a lot about dressing/styling myself to my liking. seeing my reflection in the mirror is not the same as seeing an image of myself. i have come to value images of myself as teaching tools. but dressing/styling myself has always been about a little bit more than just physical appearance. during my season away from the blog, i really tapped into that side of dressing/styling. the past three years have been about paring down in most aspects of my life. to what really makes me me. and happy. dressing/styling was the last hold out. in that space, i think i got lost at some point. forgetting what makes me me and happy. forgetting that liking something doesn't necessarily mean that i should wear it. because i like fashion so much, it is sometimes hard to distinguish between liking something and liking something for me. the past 8 months have been about relearning this distinction. the good news: i still like rundholz. although a bit more selectively. and, as i hope i will be able to show you, i have reacquainted myself with some past traits. that said, i know that it is december, but here are some of the new looks that came into my closet in october.

p.s. i am well. i had intended to return to this space a little sooner, but, unfortunately, covid finally caught up with me, despite my best efforts to evade it. i never expected the crushing fatigue that followed for several weeks after i recovered from the acute phase of having the virus, making the journey to a full recovery from the illness a prolonged experience. but, i am well. again, thank you so very, very much for the messages of support and concern. they truly meant a great deal to me.

everything i am wearing (except for the socks) is rundholz dip 222.

from the wardrobetales rundholz repository (no. 20 03 31 22)

and, some late in dip outfits from a/w 2021.

i am wearing rundholz dip a/w 2021 (roll neck jersey top, roll neck wool pullover, leather vest, trousers, dress and boots)

from the wardrobetales rundholz repository (no. 20 01 22 22)

an outfit that i might wear for a "coffee date" with a friend on a cold saturday in january. the hat would stay on throughout, not only to keep me warm, but also to hide a less than ideal hair situation. my friend would keep trying to remove it -- mischievous that one. i would point out that they were wearing one too. i would have my favourite hot beverage -- earl grey tea -- and a chocolate chip muffin. or a flaky butter croissant. depending on where the "coffee date" was. we would sit at a table for two tucked away in a corner, cradling our cups in our hands. sultry jazz music would be playing. and there would be coffee shop sounds and the sounds of the other patrons living out their moments in the shop. there would be conversation. and moments of silence. memories in the process of being created.

i am wearing rundholz black label a/w 2021 (blouse, trousers, hat, puffer coat and desert boots).

from the wardrobetales rundholz repository (no. 20 01 15 22)

add a little wool to french terry, make a deconstructed dress from it with a roll neck and you have a very warm and cosy garment perfect for a very cold winter day. this dress was another end of season sales grab.

i am wearing rundholz black label a/w 2021 (dress, leggings and boots).