September 2024, part four – Blue Collar Red Lipstick

Details: vintage sweater, Ralph Lauren skirt, Coach bag (all secondhand), Mia shoes (retail)

Thoughts: I have been looking to add some brown to my sweater collection — at this point, the only part of the wardrobe where that colour isn’t (yet) represented — and this vintage chenille sweater was my first find. I love the colour and texture, plus it’s soft and cozy. Paired with this 90s RL silk skirt, it makes for a fabulous transitional outfit. My platform loafers are still going strong heading into their 3rd (!) fall season.

Details: Banana Republic dress, Sonoma belt, Canadienne boots (all thrifted), Icone shirt (swap), Coach bag (Poshmark)

Thoughts: As soon as I saw this vintage chocolate brown velvet mini dress, I had flashbacks to my teenage years. Appropriate since, according to the inside tag, this dress is from 1992. My 12-year old self would have TOTALLY loved this … but might have been too self-conscious to wear it. As it happens, my 44-year old self has no such qualms. I went all in for the 90s vibes, with tall, flat-heeled boots and this chunky belt that is, apparently, also making a comeback at the moment. Don’t buy the Urban Outfitters version; check out your local thrifts and get the original.

Details: Ralph Lauren sweater, Fossil belt, Ferragamo shoes (all thrifted), Zara pants (retail), GoGo bag (retail)

Thoughts: Not one but two new retail purchases in this outfit — that must be a record for me this year. I wanted a new belt-bag style, canvas crossbody because my daughter stole my old Herschl one, and sometimes I need a lightweight, easy-zip bag option for errands and such. I found this one at Winners, and it’s cute enough to dress up and down. I dressed it up a bit here, although this outfit still falls firmly on the “casual” side of my style spectrum. The pants are also new, current season Zara. I popped into the store recently to scope out the new trends — it’s one way to stay on top of things, and know what to look for at the thrifts — and unexpectedly fell in love with them. Specifically, with the silhouette. It’s a subtle barrel shape, which I love because it’s giving me a taste of that trend without being too overtly trendy, which makes them more versatile in my book. The dark brown colour is also perfect for my wardrobe, as I am slowly replacing black as my core dark neutral.

Details: Bozzolo tee (retail), SmartSet dress, Ralph Lauren vest, Ann Marino shoes (all thrifted), Ralph Lauren bag (Poshmark)

Thoughts: Another very 90s outfit, featuring a mix of vintage and current pieces. Dark blue/navy is another neutral I am exploring this season. I love it paired with white as well as brown, both of which are core colours in my palette now. Other colour pairings I’m planning to try are navy/dark green and navy/dark red. Stay tuned.

Details: Reitmans tank, Ralph Lauren blazer, Liz Claiborne pants, Holt Renfrew belt, Ferragamo shoes (all thrifted)

Thoughts: Speaking of navy, white, and brown — here you go. I loved this outfit so much, despite the fact that my husband went around calling me captain of the Love Boat all day. He’s just jealous. Also, he mostly lives in sweatpants, so what does he know. Anyway, I continue to be obsessed with these vintage Liz Claiborne pants, and to wear them constantly. Luckily, my spill-free streak also continues. Hope I didn’t jinx myself just now …

Details: Calvin Klein tee and jeans, Donna Karan belt, Ferragamo shoes (all thrifted), St. John jacket (swap), Coach bag (swap)

Thoughts: The gamble I took with these bootcut jeans is starting to really pay off. I’m loving the silhouette and exploring its possibilities in different outfit formulas. Here, I paired it with this vintage knit jacket for a juxtaposition of ladylike and 90s minimalism which, I think, was quite successful.

Details: Ardene top (retail), Bianca vest, vintage coat, Do+Be skirt (all thrifted), Dooney bag (Poshmark), Mia shoes (retail)

Thoughts: Still playing around with leopard print and exploring its pattern mixing possibilities. I love pairing it with a lighter colour palette like this one — white/cream and browns. It appeals more to me than a pairing with black, which to me makes the leopard print look more stark and in-your-face. I enjoyed this layering moment, and specifically the addition of the suede vest as a middle layer. The textural contrast is very nice.