Eye-catching

My friends and I were talking the other night about the transition from summer to fall. They were all being very optimistic about it - plaid skirts, kicking dry leaves in the crisp sunlight, crunchy apples - something like that. I tried to get into it, but my heart just wasn't in it. I wanted more summer, more heat, a day at the beach, bare legs for another month, and long evenings. I think I always feel like this, maybe because I'm so busy at work I never really slack off in the summer and get into that lazy vibe. And to be quite honest, the beach is a little stressful, what with all the sunscreen re-application and diligent hydration, though one day would have been satisfying. Side note: I did make it through the whole summer, so far, with out a sunburn, which I think is a first. But can summer really be over in that case? I don't know.

Then yesterday was 50% off day at Value Village, so I had to make my fall shopping list, which got me a tiny bit excited. I had a very successful day, and feeling sartorially prepared made me a tiny bit more excited. Then today it rained buckets, cold November rain, at it hit me like a ton of bricks: no kicking piles of leaves, more like slogging through puddles, fogged-up buses, rain blowing sideways and wet socks inside wet shoes. Reality.

I always start out a new season shooting in all directions, fashion-wise. I want to stick my greedy fingers into every trend flavor, and it takes me most of the season to figure out what really works best for me, but at least I don't get bored. I've always got lots of fun pieces to play with, it's the basic pants that I need to work out. I think all that's still on my list is a pair of khaki or olive narrow-ish pants. I'll try to keep it to that. Which reminds me, I need to do a major closet raid. Everything out, less back in. If we don't have a baby soon our spare room is starting to look better and better as a walk-in closet...

Possibly Mauve-y

I love this blouse! It's one of the Chemainus finds, and it has a kind of Albert Nippon vibe. The colour is so pretty, somewhere between mauve and lavender and dusty pink. And yes, as these last two post prove, I need a new nude bra. Let's just pretend, for now, that the black bra works in an edgy kinda way, OK? The weather is doing a slow transition thing right now that I don't mind. It's still sunny, but not so hot that pants are out of the question. I'll admit that it puts me in a shopping mood, but I'm trying to be good.

sweet

A highlight of our weekend trip was the wait in old Chemainus for the ferry. As well as being home the the WORLD FAMOUS MURALS, it's also home to a pretty great little thrift store with dirt cheap prices. Almost all of the clothes were under two dollars, including this silk top. I was smitten with it at first glance; so simple and nude-y beige. I got a few other things that I'll be wearing soon, undoubtedly. Karl's sister gave me the pretty rose quartz necklace.

On an unrelated note, we made the best lavender ice cream ever! It is so delicious, rivaling the dark chocolate batch we made last week, which I swore was the best ice cream I had ever eaten.

Whirlwind weekend

We went to the wedding of a friend yesterday, on Thetis Island. Despite the forecast, it was a beautiful day, and the setting couldn't have been prettier. I guess this is the age of going to weddings all summer... it's fun, but I'm going to sleep well tonight. The picture above is me proving my point that nothing photogenic happens after 10:30 PM!

Fresh Mint

Karl's mom and sister were staying with us for a week, in town from Ontario. It was great to visit with them, and those ladies can shop! It was a little bit infectious, because I really wasn't planning on buying anything, but this tank-top was on sale, and I'm powerless in the face of mint green. I was in a hurry trying it on, and didn't really notice that it's longer in the back - kind of a figure-skater silhouette.

Don't be afraid to over-accessorize.

Right? I'm prone to under-accessorizing, but these pictures remind me that if I feel I'm lacking that special something, it might be a holster!

The Cleanse, Pt.2

More pretty things that caught my eye and inspired me this summer.

The three images above are by Danil Golovkin. I love the way the plants are layered over the photos.

I have a sheer lace skirt to figure out. I don't think I'm brave enough to wear it with just big contrasting panties underneath, but this outfit made me consider a slip in the opposite color...

just around the corner...

Today was the third damp grey day in a row. After the gym I walked down Robson Street and every store I went in was doing a major fall overhaul. Of course it made me start thinking. I didn't buy anything, and I'm not in a hurry because it already looks like the summer weather will be back soon, but it doesn't hurt to have a little mental list going, and in my case the list is broken down into thriftable and probably-not-thriftable.

In the first category: yes, I have been swayed by the fact that every magazine seems to have an editorial this month featuring a retro-50's-60's look. I'll look for a full tweed skirt, just below the knee and little blouses, maybe lace. And did anyone else notice all of the socks paired with pointy pumps? Definitely worth trying out if I can do it on the cheap.

In the second category: I need pants. I'm a little smaller than I was last fall and with the exception of jeans, my pants are looking kinda sloppy. I'd love to find a narrow cut pair of pants in brown or dark green with some stretch and interesting top-stitching detail, with an ample rise. I'm pretty picky about basics like this because I know that I'll be wearing them so often. The only other item I'll be keeping my eyes open for: boots. I never buy new boots, but last winter's practical thrifted boots got so much wear that I'm coming around to the idea that boots are a good investment. However, I'll be even more picky about these because I haven't even seen any styles I like yet, and money is always an issue. Not holding my breath for boots.

So, while I'm not ready for fall, I think it's OK to start budgeting for it. Hoping for a half-price day at Value Village soon!

What's on your fall shopping list?

The Cleanse, Pt.1

I need to do a big cleanse of stuff I've got saved on my laptop in preparation for doing something tech-y that will hopeful make it faster (?). I know it's pretty lazy to just throw all these pictures up randomly, but I couldn't bear to just delete them.

I love these jeans! The whole look is so crisp yet comfortable.

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Isn't she dreamy? I might try the belted denim shirt and headscarf thing, but how do I get those lips???

Pretty pale palette.

Photos like this make my inner stylist giddy.

Hair envy!

Smitty Patrol

Although I only had a Sassy magazine subscription for a few too-short years, I'm amazed by how much of it stuck with me. They had a term (of endearment) for a person who was picky about grammar, usage, spelling, punctuation - all of those lost arts. A smitty. I'm one, and that's still the word I think of when I notice a crime against language. Sassy had a little spread featuring example taken from posters in store windows. "Fresh" fruits, etc.

Today I came across a link to Rachel Zoe's use and abuse of the word "literally". It's one of my pet peeves, and it feels like I figuratively hear someone misusing it a million times a day. "That literally blew my mind." Ouch. But check out the clip; it makes me think she has kind of a verbal tick. And a low IQ.

Elettra Wiedemann

Danger Zone

Are these shorts bad? Too trendy and unflattering? I have my concerns, but they were cheap at the thrift store, and man, are they comfortable! From here it's a slippery slope to wearing sweats to work, but I'll try to remain vigilant.

I do believe...