…..this outfit. Why, you may ask? Because it looks all boho and cool and relaxed, but hidden among it are sci-fi nerdy gems. My ring says, “To Boldly Go.” And my necklace? It’s an artists interpretation of the Kara Thrace and Anders tattoo mixed with the arrow of Apollo. BSG gold!
So you see, I’m deceptively geeking out.
The sun is shining, the temperature is up and the breeze is blowing through my dress.
Walking around I finally felt that beautiful thing that is the breeze blowing through your dress, and the sun caressing the back of your neck. It was warm – well warmer – than it has been for a long time. This deliciously light, soft, and breezy dress has been in my closet for a little while. It was calling, nay screaming, out for the barometer to rise. A long and light dress with floral prints epitomizes Spring to me. There’s something about that feeling when you’re walking down the street and can feel sun, material, and a warm breeze on you at the same time. It’s a calming feeling, a soothing feeling, a moment that makes you breathe and love life
The brilliant lovely light and color of the world waking up from it’s deep Winter slumber. I can’t tell you how excited I am to see the snow melting and the animals coming out more. My own style and aesthetic has never been one for layers of sweaters and scarves. I feel best with small, light pieces of clothing on. Flowy skirts, little dresses, shorts, and kimonos. I live for Spring and Summer both emotionally and sartorially. And it’s lovely to think that I can shed those layers and feel the air on my skin again very soon.
I don’t know if it’s my rebellious nature, or just my cynical view on things, but I seriously dislike when anyone posts articles on “Must Haves.” It’s applicable across the board, but I’m mostly referring to fashion posts here. The “Must Haves in Every Closet”, “Must Haves for Spring” etc., etc. You know what I’m talking about. Us women have seen them, and continue to see them every season.
Every magazine and blogger always has these “Must Have” articles. Frankly, I think it’s ridiculous. Why ‘must’ you have it? What’s gonna happen if you don’t? You don’t need to have anything except weather appropriate clothing to keep you safe from the elements. That’s what you ‘must have’ and even then, if you don’t well, that’s at your own risk. You’re a grown up and can make those choices for yourself.
Further, these must haves are not applicable to everyone, so why must you have them? I don’t own a crisp button up white shirt. I haven’t owned one for about eight years. It’s on everyone’s ‘Must Have’ list, yet I haven’t needed it for eight years. So perhaps it’s not actually a ‘Must-Have’?
These are generic lists for generic people and they don’t reflect individuality. They should be called “suggested haves.” Because not only do they paint you inside a generic box, but they also make you feel like you are somehow without or lacking if you don’t own these things. I call bullshit on that. I don’t own a set of classic black pumps. And thought I do have a classic black blazer, I honestly have worn it for about nine years. So why must I have these things? Clearly I don’t.
What must you have in your wardrobe? Those pieces that define you and that function in your lifestyle. That’s it. That’s all you ‘must have’ and tell anyone who says differently to shove it somewhere.
Tank – Love Nail Tree // Skirt – Arnhem // Necklace & Hat – F21 // Sunnies – Lace Affair // Sandals – FreePeople
Walking around Espanola Way and the rest of South Beach in my graphic tank from Love Nail Tree was somewhat satisfying to me. This particular one is about the perversion, and decline, of the Amderican Dream; so, I found it humorous to be a Canadian walking around with this on.
But of course, no one noticed, they were too bust looking at the fabulous skirt from Arnhem. Loved thie fabulous way it just swished with me.
The Miami outfit posts are coming in now. Monday’s walk through Coconut Grove and along the waterfront was glorious. And I couldn’t resist changing into shorts at the first opportunity. These Spell shorts are fabulous. I sized up in them just a touch because I wanted the extra length in the bum. As in, I wanted my bum fully covered when I was walking.
This Arnhem maxi cardigan was definitely perfect in the day to protect from the sun, and in the evening to protect from the cooler breeze. Plus, it stole the show everywhere I went. People were constantly remarking on it.
I wore this while travelling from Toronto with Jeans. It provided enough warmth in the snowy weather, and then with a quick switch out to the shorts was perfect in the higher temperatures of Miami. When I’m travelling like this I like to think about what will easily work with both climates so that you’re comfortable and not freezing or boiling on one end.
Side note: it also makes the perfect thing to wear when your breezing through the hotel on the way to the pool and back.
I love this gorgeous maxi dress from Arnhem. It’s really a summer piece meant to be worn over a bikini rather than layered for this Winter weather. But as you all know, I don’t like labels like “Summer” and “Winter” on clothing. So I’m playing around and trying to figure out ways to wear this gorgeous piece all year round.
Thoughts? Other ideas on how to wear it? You guys always inspire me.
My distaste for putting summer clothes away at the end of summer is well documented – especially ’cause the awesome deals appear right as the weather gets colder and who wants to wait a whole year to wear the pretty things! Not me. Avenle was a store I stumbled upon on Instagram and when I went to the site, I discovered a plethora of vintage-esque and boho-chic clothing. It’s all really well priced and they have great deals for newsletter subscribers.
So when I nabbed this cute dress for an insanely ridiculous low price, I definitely didn’t wait. Enter, layering. I’ve expounded on the wonders of layering *it’s the only thing that gets me through these harsh Winters* and I will continue to do so. A tank top, thick tights, thigh high socks, knee high boots, and a sweater over the dress, and BAM! The outfit is winterized.
It’s all about the layering people.
And the BAM!
You gotta have the BAM!
….how about bringing it all together? The previous post was about maxis, and the one before that was about faux fur, somehow it feels like the perfect third part to bring maxis and faux animal into one outfit and one post, with this maxi leopard print skirt.
You would think genius like this is pre-planned, but you’d be wrong. Yup, this three parter is brought to you entirely by happenstance and the weird, idiosyncratic workings of my mind. I mean, er, yeah I totally planned this.
Aaaaaand, that’s the end of the genius.
It was very short lived.
Also, debatable if it was actually genius, but we’ll just give me that one, shall we?