Sunday was a day that started out pretty ordinary and ended in a cabin in Schomberg with no running water or electricity. Zach has been working on a job that “required” a rustic cabin, which initiated our impromptu stay at this quaint spot for one evening. It was pretty great, really – I don’t exactly lead a life of spontaneity and spur of the moment trips, which makes something like this feel all the more special. To be honest, I wish that was the reality of my day to day, spontaneity and travel, but it’s just not at the moment, so I’ll take what I can, obviously. I took plenty of pictures of the cabin and surrounding area (and Gus), so I’ll leave you with this for now.
Sweater: thrited | Skirt: Common Sort | Coat: thrifted H&M | Scarf: vintage | Toque & mitts: H&M | Tights: ballet tights | Boots: Samantha Pleet x Wolverine
Tag: H&M
Ways To Wear: One Scarf Worn Five Ways
It actually feels like winter now, so having a scarf wrapped around my neck is an absolute necessity. I wear my scarf many a ways, depending on the strength of wind and chill in the air, so I figured I’d show you those ways, and maybe you’ll learn something new (or you won’t) and you can let me know how you like to style your scarf. You guys seemed to really take to this scarf on instagram (which I’m sorry, was from last season) so I figured I’d use her for this post. I’m here to please.
Do The Wrap Around: A favourite. Just wrap around the neck; you can let your end pieces hang evenly, or maybe one longer than the other, like so.
Shawl We: When it’s real blustery out it’s sometimes nice to treat your scarf as a shawl/blanket (that’s if you have a massive – ie., Lenny Kravitz – scarf like this); just drape over your shoulders and pretend your bed is spending the day with you.
Great Ascot!: I don’t do this one often, but if it’s real windy, you can be sure this style will keep the scarf on your neck; just pull one end of your scarf through, just the way you would tying a shoe lace to create this ascot-y vibe.
Don Draper: Well, an obvious one I guess, but a one no less. Just wrap and drape one end over the shoulder. This look is smart, but slightly annoying on a windy day.
Bubble Bubble Cowl and Trouble: I like this one a lot; it looks good, it’s easy to do and it keeps your neck warm (not to mention it feels like a neck pillow). Just fold your scarf in half, place along the back of your neck and pull the loose ends through the loop.
Scarf: H&M (similar, similar)
Jeans: H&M (similar)
Sweater: thrifted
Outfit: A Work in Progress
It’s been very very slow going getting my apartment together. I only just put up my kitchen curtains (that you are probably familiar with if you’ve been following this blog for a long while) and this pink shelf pictured above. I still have yet to hang some other shelving units and some art, buy a couch, a coffee table, a rug, and probably a book shelf or some other type of storage unit. When I moved I wanted to rid myself of a lot of stuff that I felt a disconnect from and start fresh in a new (sort of) space. I used to be able to furnish a whole apartment by myself, but now it just sort of looks like I am perpetually moving in, lacking some of the core pieces that make a house feel like home. It is odd behavior for me, to not feel a sense of urgency when it comes to getting my apartment together and spotless. I have been reflecting a lot about it, about why, before, I felt almost crazed about getting things together, to a pretty unhealthy degree. I often wonder if my anti-anxiety/depressant medication is the cause for my relaxation and ease with things that once threw me into a frenzy of stress. It probably is. I mean, right around the time I started settling into these meds did I start to actually become a way more relaxed person. It’s nice. I like it, but I also hate it, a lot. It’s that classic thing you see in movies and read in books – artist types who don’t want to take their meds because they no longer feel inspired, they no longer feel that drive to create. That’s how I feel in a sense. On the one hand, I feel good. I feel way more balanced and “normal”…how I imagine most people to feel. But on the other hand, I don’t feel that urgency I once did, to constantly be moving, and working and caring…really caring. But, such is the way of my life I guess. I am either caring so much it makes me ill, or I am rendered so chill I could take or leave most things. But, being me and being a human feels like a constant work in progress. I am glad I can see these things in myself and work to form a happy marriage between those two sides, because neither are inherently bad, they just need to learn to work together to create that desired balance that often feels out of reach.
Dress & sweater & tights: H&M (old)
Belt: thrifted vintage
Outfit: Keep Yourself Warm
This winter really has been the mildest one I can remember in a long time – it’s made me a real happy bb – but yesterday was definitely v freezing, and of course it was the day I planned to take these photos. The better part of my brain told me to shoot inside, but of late I really have been enjoying shooting outdoors. I used to be a huge serial indoor shooter (???), but my home still has a lot of work to be done and I’m lacking some pretty essential furniture pieces, so most of what you have seen inside my apartment thus far is pretty much it, which becomes kind of repetitive for photos after awhile (it’s also why I haven’t done an apartment tour, which I know some of you have been asking for). So outdoors I went, and braved the cold to get these shots. I’ve become a little more savvy when it comes to shooting outside in the winter by myself. It may seem like common sense, but the amount of times I forgot to bring gloves was nearing on countless. I now make sure to always bring mitts and then also gloves, so I am able to fiddle with my camera more easily while still remaining somewhat warm. No, you don’t see either of those things in these photos, and while my mitts and gloves are both for practicality and aesthetics, neither quite went with the outfit, so I popped my gloves in my pockets while posing and popped them out in between shots. Other things you often don’t see in my photos is my purse, which I use to focus on while setting up a shot and a scarf, which also gets the nix if it messes with the look. I often wonder if that’s dishonest, to not be photographing all the things I am actually wearing to get from point A to point B, but most of the time the things that don’t appear in the images are the things I would not be wearing if the weather permitted. Scarves, yes, I do actually like scarves, which is why they do often appear in my photos, but gloves, I would never wear a glove, ever, if I had a choice – unless I was trying to achieve a v 50s inspired look, then and only then, would I wear a glove, and those would be evening gloves rather than winter gloves, which serve a totally different purpose. What can I say? I hate even wearing socks, so you can imagine what a glove feels like to me.
What do you guys think? Do you prefer personal style bloggers who give you full practical styling ideas – ie., true winter outfits from head to toe. Or are you okay with filling in the blanks yourself?
Jeans: H&M (similar)
Sweater, blouse: thrifted
Belt, beret: vintage
Coat: vintage via Common Sort
Boots: Samantha Pleet x Wolverine
Outfit: Sweater Forever
While I was in the process of packing up and moving a few months ago, I did a huge purge of clothes I was one day planning on listing in my shop but never got around to. I wanted to start fresh, so that when I got back into it – whenever that will be – I’d have only the pieces I really loved and felt proud of selling. While going through the bins and bins of forgotten goodies, I happened upon this pullover. I think at one point it was actually in the shop but never sold (incredibly practical, but not at all eye-catching, thus very over looked). For whatever reason, even though I had this pullover for years, I saw it with new eyes and felt it needed to be part of my personal closet. It’s been an absolutely well-loved piece from that moment on. It gets worn at least every week, if not several times a week (which means I have repaired holes in the armpits 3 times now). Aside from being super comfy and easy to throw on at a moments notice, it’s incredibly versatile; can be worn with trousers or a skirt, over-top a dress, tucked in, tucked out, layered over a button up, on it’s own – clearly a sign that it has a well-deserved spot in my wardrobe. There are many pieces I have sold over the years that give me pangs of regret, I didn’t ever think I would feel a sigh of relief that this one didn’t sell, although, I don’t think I would have ever felt a sense of regret had it sold years ago – I wouldn’t have known what I was missing. It reminds me of a love I once had, a slow starting fire, one that didn’t spark right away, but eventually grew to be a warmth I could not do without.
Pullover: thrifted
Skort: vintage via Local 23
Coat & tights: H&M (old)
Boots: Samantha Pleet x Wolverine
Necklace c/o Happiness Boutique
okay andie 