Overdue Hello

Blazer: Thrifted / Jeans: Parasuco / Booties: Michael Kors c/o Little Burgundy / Bag: Michael Kors "Hamilton" / Glasses: Elizabeth & James / Blouse: Thrifted / Bowtie: Shopbop

Oh hi there. It's been a little while. Where have I been? Well, it's been over 2 weeks since my last post and I have absolutely no explanation other than this : blogging has been a bit of a struggle. I'm not sure what sparked the struggle.. if it was the time change and lack of daylight hours for photographing, or the shift to colder weather (which, fair be it, isn't even all that cold yet), or a general lack of inspiration, but lately something has made blogging feel impossible for me. My blogger pal, Melanie, tweeted at me recently, saying that she missed my posts, which was just the very nicest. It made me think about things a bit more & at least got me back to an inspired place, so hopefully I'll be able to kick the laziness & just.. find a way.

This is a pretty simple outfit, with the same blazer as my last post in focus. These things happen, you guys. A drizzly day in the East, I decided on comfortable denim, a neutral cream silk blouse, my camel blazer & matching camel booties, and a fuzzy black toque. I had my trench layered over everything as well, but didn't seem to get a capture of that. Something simple for a overdue Hello.

How are you all doing out there?

Burgundy Basic

Pants: c/o Gap / Shoes: Nine West / Blouse: J. Crew Blythe / Blazer: Vintage / Bag: c/o Banana Republic / Watch: Guess 

Some colours just say Fall to me, and both camel & burgundy would be at the very top of that list. Luckily for me, these burgundy slacks were sent along by Gap (thank you!), and they've become a major go-to ever since. I have worn them in this way quite a few times, work appropriate with a variation on a blouse & a blazer, but I have also wore them with a big comfy sweater for a run to the market or a coffee date.

I have always loved a burgundy & cream combination, so I knew that these pants would pair well with my most favourite & most worn blouse. I kept warm with this oversized (men's!) blazer, and added a non-pictured trench as a final layer. Also involved was this new clutch from Banana Republic. Moody dark "snakeskin"? Major love. Also to mention.. Banana Republic are kind of killing it lately, and I notived that they are having a 31% off sale today only - not a sponsored sentence, my friends, but just my 2cents. I am loving a lot of their stuff, but this is my particular favorite.

Oh, and Happy Halloween!
 

Mustard Yellow Hello

Coat: Insight New York / Jeans: c/o Gap / Top: c/o Old Navy / Shoes: ALDO / Bag: ASOS / Watch: Guess / Bracelet: Thrifted / Sunnies: Le Chateau / Headband: J. Crew 

My folks were up to visit this past weekend, and we had a very lovely time. Lots of meals with beer & wine & mojitos &... PLUS we went to a local old (ollllld) school (that is now an Arts Centre) for the annual Haunted Tour that is put on by engineer students. It was a long but worthwhile wait. So well done & so psychologically spooky. I supremely love Halloween & found that I was lacking the spirit this year - it was the perfect thing to get me in the mood last minute. 

My lovely Mum brought up this beyond darling Fall coat that she had actually bought me for my birthday a little while ago. It was still a little too warm back at the beginning of September, so I decided to wait until enough of a chill was present to bring it into rotation. I had kind of forgotten just how beautiful it was until I put it on Thursday evening, and I'm back in the love. Deep mustard & puff shouldered with rosette detailing? Just marry me.

Black & Leopard & Red All Over

Top: Thrifted / Skirt: c/o Joe Fresh / Shoes: ALDO / Tights: H&M / Bag: Unknown / Sunnies: ASOS

Sometimes I go "thrifting" - or, thrift shopping, if you don't want to verb-it. And sometimes when I go thrift shopping, it's an absolute bust. I'll find zippo. Sometimes it lands in the middle, where I'll find say, a great basic pencil skirt for work for a fraction of the price of a new one. That's always nice. 

But then there are the other times. The times that I find something just wonderful. Something on trend, but unique. Something fun & different. Something that I know I can style minimally, but feel stylish in. I love the feeling of knowing that it's mine & mine alone, and that I won't see it everywhere I look in my small town - no duplicates when vintage shopping!

This exact thing happened with this blouse. Suede & adorned with the best collar/cuff detailing of fuzzy animal print, I paired it with a current basic black skirt from Joe, and a pop of red via my purse. It's also really long (but not really long enough to be a shirt dress), so next it may be paired with tights & sequin shorts for a night out.. if I can stay up past midnight. Zzz.

The Trench

Trench: H&M / Blouse: Joe Fresh / Sunnies: Le Chateau / Agenda: Kate Spade / Bag: Michael Kors "Hamilton" 

One clothing item that makes its reliable round in my closet every single fall & spring like clockwork is the tried & tested trench coat.  Transitional days are still going on over here on the East coast, so pulling this over my blazer for Fall work days is the most perfect. I've had this coat for a few years now, but I'm also sweet on this one with its cool collar detailing. 

Also fun & exciting for my dorky self is the Kate Spade day planner I scored last week - I have been eye-ing it online for weeks now, but stumbled upon it in person - it's the most pretty,  super organizationally functional, and adorned with glasses like my very own - love at first sight. <3

What clothing item makes you feel all put together?

Day To Day

Just a quick pop in with an Instagram collage of shots from over the past few months since I've been pretty delinquent with outfit shots this week and last. Outlined below, it appears that things in my day to day are pretty much comprised of food, flowers, clothes, and my cat. ...If the shoe fits? Also, if you'd like to follow along with my day to day (which I update on the regular), you can find me right over here. And the above...

Kale salad with walnuts & goat cheese, a pretty pink peony, accidentally matching my magazine to my outfit, my living room on one Saturday afternoon, beautiful & misty Cape Breton (that I miss!), the sweetest mini yellow tomatoes at the market, more flowers (this time english roses in pinks), a best friend reunion in September, makeup play before a bachelorette - classic cat eyes & burgundy lips, a Joe Fresh moto jacket I'm highly considering bringing on board, garden centrepieces, downward pause for some mixed roses, garment sort (there's another double closet I have all organized as well! success!), overalls & nude silk & a heart of gold, tomato crush, Miss Pip basking in the sun in her kitty bed.

Brand New Again

Coat: c/o Joe Fresh / Dress: H&M / Boots: Joe Fresh / Bag: Thrifed / Sunnies: Le Chateau

I mentioned in an older post that this 70's inspired BRIGHT ORANGE Joe Fresh pea coat would be top tier in my closet once Autumn hit. Well, as it appears, I am clairvoyant. I have decided on this coat as my "main coat" this Fall, which is a decision that is based upon a few things:

1: It's just so super gorgeous. The hue, the fit, the structure, the warmth (even though we have been blessed with a truly warm Fall this year). 

2: Though it was sent to me last year, I only really got a few decent wears out of it before it was out of season, so it's like it is brand new again. I love when that happens.

3: I was aware I even owned it because I finally organized my closet. This may sound direly pathetic (and like the biggest 'first world problem' ever), but my closet situation was allowing me to forget about things I literally owned, which would lead me to buy new things when I didn't even need them, which added to the hoarding problem, starting the cycle all over again. This is me admitting that I have been ridiculous with attire organization. But now! Now I am 4 garbage bags of items lighter, everything has a place and a purpose, and it is really just the most amazing thing in ever. 

Any of y'all closet delinquents?

Thanksgiving (Collages / Recaps)

I took a nod from the lovely Alicia in creating these Polyvore sets, as she will often outline appropriate outfits for different occasions. I figured it was a great way to document some of my weekend, though I didn't really wear these exact replicas to all of the outlined events (I wish?). 

As you can see, my long weekend had a nice variety of activities. It started with a Saturday morning farmer's market trip - my very favorite of things. Fresh produce, wild flowers, strong lattes, all of the cheeses, and running into friends - all with a gorgeous tree lined street walk to & from - it's pretty much perfection personified. I also finished up my epic closet clean out, sort out (4 bags for women's shelter donation - FOUR!), which left me much more organized & inspired. I attended 2 dinners with both work friends & my roomate's family, went on a woods photowalk, played outside lots & lots, sat by a bonfire for 3 hours, caught up on kitty cuddle time, and made these in my pajamas with all of the coffee & all of the repeats of this album. All in all, the most perfect long weekend I could have asked for. I'm a very thankful girl.

I hope all of my fellow Canadian friends had a lovely Thanksgiving weekend here, there, and everywhere. 

All items & references can be found at my Polyvore. 

A Layered Look

Jean Jacket: Levi's (reNeu Boutique) / Trousers: Vintage (reNeu Boutique) / Shoes: Nine West / Sunnies: ASOS / Earrings: Thrifted / Blouse: J. Crew Blythe / Watch: Guess / Bracelets: H&M / Bag: Michael Kors "Hamilton"

A layered look for these transitional Fall days featuring my favourite denim jacket & newish, but most certainly most worn, silk blouse (thank god for you & all you do, J. Crew). 

The weather has been so absolutely beautiful these days, and I'm basking in it fully. 

This day is a sunny one, I have a strong coffee, and the weekend is here. Happy Friday!