July in pictures

I’m not sure what else I did in July besides work, but from these pictures, my July consisted of eating (Vietnames pho, mind-blowingly spicy Pad Kee Mao from Khao San Road, my ice cream sandwich hack featuring gluten-free chocolate chip cookies from Xococava and Häagen-Dazs Vanilla Bean Ice Cream); 24 hours of cottage time at Lake Rosseau in Muskoka; and doggie time with Maisie, the lab/collie/chow chow mix with one ear pointed up and the other flopping down, wearing a patriotic maple leaf bandana so nobody mistakes her for a bear, who loved me so much she nearly licked me to death.

Missing from July? Shopping. I didn’t buy anything. That’s not to say I didn’t spend any money, I had a very expensive haircut today, but I didn’t buy any clothes. I wasn’t intending for July to be a no-shop month, but I didn’t find anything I loved enough to buy. So there you have it.

Coming up in August: a week’s vacation in BC that I really really need (the 24 hours in Muskoka was great, but not nearly enough), and then ignoring the impending end of summer for the rest of the month. And maybe some shopping. We’ll see.

A little olive green

This is a small shoutout/homage to Sarah, who always looks fantastic in olive green.

Club Monaco silk cami (from 2005 or 2006, I can’t remember) | Anthro Anadyomene Cardigan (Rosie Neira) | Antho Liquid Acres Skirt | Miss Sixty Tracy shoes

It’s not a colour I gravitate towards (I think this is the only piece I have in olive), but I love this Club Monaco silk cami and I’ve had it for ages, so I should incorporate it into my outfits more than I do. I forgot I had it, actually. Sometimes shopping your own closet actually works!

Also, it’s that damn patchwork skirt again. Every time I think I’ve worn all possible outfit combinations with this skirt, I notice another colour in it and bam, there’s another outfit.

I heart this skirt too

Anthro Tartlet Burst Top (Deletta) | Antho Sumukhwa Skirt (Maeve) | Miss Sixty Tracy shoes

Not as much as the Liquid Acres Skirt, but I think it’ll be one of my all-time favourite Anthro pieces. I love the colours in the print, the full skirt, and the pockets. The length was problematic, but I had 4 inches hemmed off (from the petite version!) and it’s a much better length for my height. Also not the most summery, but whatever, I love it, so I wear it.

I heart this skirt

Anthro Echoing Cowlneck (Bordeaux) | Hilary Druxman necklace | Antho Liquid Acres Skirt (Tabitha) | Miss Sixty Tracy heels

When I bought the Liquid Acres Skirt in New York last August, I knew I loved it, but I didn’t realize how much I would wear it (here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here) and how versatile it is. I could probably wear it every day for two weeks, but I won't, because people would definitely notice and probably ask, why are you still wearing that skirt?

It’s a little heavy for summer, but I love it, so I wear it. It’s fine inside a heavily air-conditioned office anyway.

Hot summer days, multiple indulgences

The past few days have been an exercise in indulgence for me. I think I need to reign myself in, but I’m having too much fun. Duck confit banh mi and kalbi beef tacos from Banh Mi Boys, seasonal sour cherry sorbet and almond toffee from Soma Chocolate, and Wagyu beef burgers from Cumbrae's that we BBQed on the roof.

Thank goodness for comfy, stetchy, loose-fitting light knits in times of heat and indulgence!

Dress from Mendocino | Cole Haan sandals

Blockhead

Anthropologie Claudine Tee (RicRac) | turquoise necklace made by me | Anthro Circle the Globe Skirt (Edme & Esyllte) | Rockport wedges

I love orange and teal together, but I think this might be a little, I don’t know, bold for me. I felt a little self-conscious all day—I was easily the most colourful person within 100 feet at all times. I guess I’m uncomfortable with standing out that much. I think I need Troy McClure’s self-help video "Get Confident, Stupid!"

Anthropologie catalogue: July 2012

July 2012 – modeste bib necklace, flocked cobalt dress, hansa mary-janes

radiating drops, nanette asymmetric dress, variations beaded belt, boa heels

broadcast drops, striped spinnaker blazer, strung spots romper, cut lace d'orsay wedges

animal kingdom bouse, studded corset belt, sailing lace skirt, in the abstract clutch

metamorph danglers, native birds dress, kozo heels

kozo heels

boa heels, dusk shades booties, bolted crimson peep-toes

crossed nerodia wedges, cut lace d'orsay wedges, hansa mary-janes

stitched mansoa curtain, swing stripes curtain, wandering pleats curtain

Back to basics

And I don't mean Ina Garten-style, I'm not going to start rubbing my posh Hamptons lifestyle in people's faces, using only really good mayonnaise (it's just Hellmans, Ina, but I'll make sure to buy it from the most expensive store I can find), making giant briskets for just me and Jeffrey, renting an entire double-decker bus to ferry me around London (although that would be pretty damn awesome), and wearing flood-length pants with oversized button-down shirts. Oops, was that too snarky? Sorry. I'm sure her food is delicious, she just drives me bonkers.

Anthropologie Tartlet Burst Top (Deletta) | Jacob pencil skirt | Bos & Co t-strap heels

I think I’ve always been a simple girl at heart. I’m not one for a lot of accessories, a lot of frills (a few ruffles are fine), pattern-mixing, etc. I’ve tried in the past, and I’ve always ended up feeling ridiculous and not myself. And it takes me a lot of effort, and I hate effort. I’m pretty lazy that way.

So you can’t get much more simple/basic than this outfit: knit top, cotton summerweight pencil skirt, and heels. It works for my lifestyle and personality, and I feel comfortable and chic. I take a lot of inspiration from the outfits in this post.  I like to think of simple as chic, not boring.

At least, I hope I’m not being boring…