This winter really feels like it’s taken a toll on me. Trying to stay motivated and positive has often felt like a daunting task when sunshine is limited and the days look grey and dreary, and are cold as all hell (maybe hell is warm?) But I found this 1970s terrycloth romper at one of my favourite vintage stores and it immediately put a smile on my face. It reminds me of summer and Life Savers candy, and just happiness in general. So I thought to myself instead of waiting months to be able to wear it in the warmth, I’d bring the sunshine indoors by pairing it with some other bright accessories that put a smile on my face. And maybe one day I’ll move to a place that doesn’t freeze my toes as soon as I step outside.
Romper & sunglasses: Public Butter
Shoes: thrifted
Tag: Public Butter
Suit Yourself
With temperatures under -30C it would be ridiculous to even fathom the idea of heading outside to take photos, which is just as well, because I don’t think I could do this outfit justice under layers of scarves and coats. This 70s suit jacket is one of those articles of clothing I bought just because of it’s print and cut, but I did not give much thought to what would pair well with it, so up until very recently it had been collecting dust in my closet. I had very close to forgotten about it when I spied it with what felt like fresh eyes, and I instantly thought of pieces that would look perfect with it. There are not many things in my closet I have trouble styling, this jacket was one of the few that stumped me time and again. I guess when I had bought it I just didn’t own anything that looked right with it. I know a ton of bloggers suggest not buying something unless you can think of several ways to wear it, but I’m of the mind that if I feel the piece is special and unique (and fits me right), then I will buy it and find a way to make it work. I’d rather have my closet full of pieces that are dear to my heart and make me think outside the box in terms of styling instead of just playing it safe.
What about you guys? Do you have a set of rules for yourself when purchasing new pieces? Do you just pick whatever feels right and go with the flow?
Suit jacket: vintage via Public Butter
Blouse: thrifted
Skirt: vintage via Odd Finds General Store
Socks: H&M
Shoes: Seychelles
Light of My Life
Happy Valentine’s Day dear friends! Valentine’s Day is not one of my favourite holidays, but I am a blogger, and bloggers (for the most part) love to do holiday-inspired posts, however they choose to interpret them. So I felt I may as well pay homage to the holiday in my own way – no real fuss, just one of my favourite dresses that feels very appropriate for this love-filled day, what with it’s romantic length, red and frillyness.
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Love, in all it’s forms, is incredibly important to me. Love is what drives me, always. In the past, present and future I have always imagined my life full of intense love, something I now realize is one of my greatest weaknesses and strengths. This desire for love, in all aspects of my life, in it’s purest of purest form, is unattainable. When something is that important to you, it will undoubtedly let you down – the expectations are just too high. That kind of love, the one I am talking about, is fleeting. It exists momentarily in our lives, magnificent and bright, but it fades to dull, eventually. All this may sound sad, depressing even, but I don’t mean for it to be. Quite the opposite. To allow love, of any kind, to come to you is to be brave and open. To acknowledge the extent to which it can carry you, but also drop you, and to just say, “I don’t give a fuck. I’m giving it my all”, is one of my favourite qualities in a person. It means fear does not limit you. My expectations may be too high, it may be the reason for much sadness, but I’m glad that love is what drives me…good things have always come from love, not love masked as fear, but real, pure love.
All I’m really trying to say on this Hallmark holiday is to let love into your lives everyday…whether that be love for yourself (super important), your family, friends, partner, art, animals, objects, religion…whatever it may be, be in love with it every single day. You’ll quickly see how beautiful this complex world is in all it’s simplicity.
Dress: vintage via Public Butter
*want to try this hairstyle?! you can find a tutorial here.
Give me your eyes, I need sunshine
For a little while I felt like I had lost myself with taking my outfit photos, specifically when it came to taking outdoor shots. It started to become an okay let’s just get this done situation (probably because it’s been so cold), and I really started to feel like the quality of my images had suffered, and ultimately, didn’t feel like me. For one reason or another – and I think I have said this before – the actual feeling and artistry of the images I share is just as important to me as showcasing the outfit, maybe even more so. I mean, I’m not saying I’m making waves in the blogging world or even producing the best possible photographs (I’m still a newbie) or doing something that different or new, but it’s incredibly important to me to stay true to who I am. I’ll probably never be one of those bloggers that enjoys taking my outfit photos in front of a solid backdrop, which is strange, because some of my favorite bloggers do just that and I love it. I think it all comes down to my personality type, I have a hard time letting anything just be simple. Everything I do, in all aspects of my life, needs to feel important, and full of passion and creativity, and I am almost never satisfied (and clearly I am incredibly dramatic. get over yourself Alex!). I guess it goes without saying (but I will say it) that my brain (and my life, to be honest) has been in a tumultuous state of sorts lately. But taking these photographs and being able to share them with you feels incredibly therapeutic because these images feel the most like me out of any photographs I have taken in a long while. They remind me that even if my world feels like it’s falling apart, I can create something beautiful all by myself that makes me feel good, and it’s as simple as that.
Blouse: vintage via Public Butter
Skirt: vintage via Common Sort
Tights: old pair of ballet tights
Boots: Samantha Pleet x Wolverine
A Very Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays my dear friends! It’s a bit of a strange/sad Christmas for me, as this is the first Christmas in my 26 years that I am not with my family. Last night was odd because every Christmas Eve my mother and I sit down to watch A Christmas Carol together – not being able to do that made me really miss her. I’m currently in Barrie with Ryan’s family for the holidays. There is no snow here, which also sort of feels like a first – I can’t remember the last time we didn’t have snow for Christmas.
Anyways, I should be off! I desperately need coffee and should probably actually give myself a break for the next few days. I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas or Holidays or Festivus, et. al.
okay andie 