make it happen

Januaries are weird, what with the whole post-holiday letdown, the pressure of New Year’s resolutions, and the cold, if you live in this part of the world. The past few weeks have been rough on a lot of people I know, including me. But:

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I’m only adopting one resolution this year:

Anthropologie make it happen pullover

I’m not much of a sweatshirt person but I thought this would be a good top for the weekend. (Also because I’ve taken to wearing things on my chest. Mostly dogs, but I have a few slogan tees now too. Maybe I just really want people to stare at my chest?) This particular slogan spoke to me for what I want for myself this year, and that if I want something, I’m going have to make it happen. (I also frequently get asked what “it” is, to which I respond cheerfully, “whatever you want ‘it’ to be!” Deep thoughts sparked by an overpriced Anthro sweatshirt.)

I say I only have one resolution, but of course the usual are percolating in my brain: eat less, eat better, cook more, tidy more, exercise more, shop less, etc etc etc. And this:

(Kit & Ace Bloor St)

Probably not.

Anthropologie on Queen St West

My tastes have been moving away from Anthro recently so I haven’t been in a store (or on the website for that matter) in ages. I’m so out of the loop I didn’t even know that a new store opened in a converted church on Queen St West (a hipster area of Toronto) in December until I stumbled upon it while looking for the Kit & Ace store. Not a bad coincidence, since I had a Christmas gift card from Will in my pocket.

I didn’t buy anything (nothing caught my eye, so the gift card will keep), but the store is gorgeous and so Anthro it hurts.

It’s perfect, right?

On the inside, exposed brick with a view of the TD Canada Trust across the street.

This did catch my eye, but a tulle skirt is completely impractical for me.

Can I live here?

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery

I hope Lisa thinks so, because she seems to be my go-to for inspiration, and I seem to be drawn to J.Crew jewellery that I see on her first. She’s going to think that I’m some crazy stalker bitch who’s going to go Single White Female (er, Single Asian Female?) on her. I swear I won’t!

Club Monaco Hayley Ls Tee in Smog // J.Crew Factory Fan Fringe necklace // Club Monaco pencil skirt (old, probably 2008) // Wolford tights // Tory Burch Reva flats

The Fan Fringe necklace is another one I would have passed by, by the time I saw it on Lisa and loved it (how could I not, with the turquoise?), it was gone from J.Crew. I know that Factory putting out less-expensive versions of their own pieces is really annoying if you’ve bought the more expensive version the first time around, but in this case it worked in my favour.

(Is this thing on? My camera remote was acting up today.)

I haven’t seen the original version of this necklace in person, but I assume the Factory one is a little lighter on quality, since it was significantly cheaper (plus I picked it up on a day when it was an extra 40% off). If it isn’t that much different, that would be really, really, really annoying.

Anyway, regarding imitation/being a copycat, isn’t that partly what style blogging is about anyway? It’s about celebrating the things you love, and inspiring others at the same time. I know that I’ve been insanely flattered the (very) few times when other bloggers have referred to my outfits as inspiration or bought pieces because I looked good in them.

But then it’s a fine line, because the danger is falling into a trap of copying exactly what other bloggers are wearing, and that usually ends badly for me because I look nothing like most bloggers and I just get disappointed when I don’t end up looking like them (yes, I know that’s dum). It’s also not very creative either, so I’m learning to become more creative and put my own spin on things. Inspiration, not imitation.

inspiration board inspiration

I pin, and then I forget that I’ve pinned and I rarely go back and look for inspiration. Kayla’s most recent style challenge made me go and look and get inspired, and I’m afraid I went a little nuts.

The first one was quite literal:

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J.Crew Vintage V-Neck T-Shirt // knockoff bubble necklace // Gap striped knit skirt // Cole Haan flats

And then after getting the literal out of my system, I could draw inspiration from non-outfit photos. I got called green on green on green by one of those street binder people looking for me to stop and talk to him, but it’s really more teal on turquoise on green, plus the teal iPhone case. It’s a little better without the cardigan (fuzzy pic though).

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Anthropologie Height of Summer Dress (Maeve) // J.Crew featherweight cotton cardigan // J.Crew knockoff bubble necklace // Puma flats

This pic makes me want to eat mint chocolate ice cream. But it was also a good opportunity to wear something very light and pastel-y, which I don’t usually do. Ever, actually. I’m always wearing darker jewel tones.

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Club Monaco T-shirt // Club Monaco mint statement necklace // Banana Republic pencil skirt // Miss Sixty heels

Elementary inspiration

I don’t think that Elementary is very good. I hate to compare it BBC’s Sherlock, but it’s inevitable and unfortunately Elementary falls short. If I can guess the “twist” before it’s revealed, then it’s not much of a twist, because I switch my brain off when I’m watching TV. It’s TV, why should I think? Anyway, I still watch Elementary, because hello, Jonny Lee Miller.

I also found some unexpected fashion inspiration in Lucy Liu as Joan Watson.

Me:

Club Monaco T-shirt // Hilary Druxman necklace // Club Monaco silk chiffon skirt (2010) // Wolford Satin Opaque tights // Michael Kors heels

Lucy Liu:

From episode 5, season 1, “Lesser Evils” (first aired November 1, 2012).

I haaate tucking shirts in (just one of my many quirks, it’s uncomfortable and emphasizes my tummy bulge), so I like how her top is left loose over her skirt. I also like how she inspired me to pluck this Club Monaco skirt out of my giveaway pile and give it another go.

Jonny Lee Miller:

I had to throw those in. I mean, he is the reason I watch.

Hope all my American friends had a great Thanksgiving, even though we all know the real (Canadian) Thanksgiving already happened in October. ;) Now, on to Black Friday!

Lunch at Anthropologie

The Yorkville Anthro is about a 10-minute walk from my office, so I’ve been known to go there on my lunch break. I haven’t been recently, but I went to pick up one of these to use as a pencil holder at my desk, and to be inspired.

Llamas and rabbits instead of bison.

I’m not ready for Christmas yet, but the rabbit with a backpack scaling the shelf made me giggle.

I love these sketches on the wall.

I love this tulle skirt and the combination with the denim skirt. I would never ever wear it myself, but I love it.

This is on my desk at work. I didn’t like the “R” mug so I took the next letter.

While I was there, I also checked out the new Free People store across the street. Cool store, but it’s not really my thing.

it’s still Birthday Week

Having a birthday on a weekday is awesome. Even if I didn’t take the day off (saving my vacation for later in the year). It meant I could slack off (only a little) at work, take a longer lunch break, and sneak off 10 minutes early, and nobody batted an eye. Also, I could celebrate the weekend before (with gluten-free cupcakes and gelato), celebrate during the week (lunch with a friend/coworker yesterday and drinks with coworkers after work) and I still have my birthday dinner with Will on Saturday.

But the days since my actual birthday have been a little bit odd. On Tuesday, my email, Facebook, BBM, and phone have never been busier. Then silence. It’s one day of excessive popularity and then 364 days of absolute quiet!

Anthro Torsade Tee (C.Keer) | Hilary Druxman necklace | Banana Republic Sateen Pencil Skirt | Tory Burch Reva flats

It’s been hot and sticky the past few days, so my hair has been huge and I’ve been feeling slightly dishevelled, but I’m not complaining. I love a white skirt when it’s really hot out. I was inspired to do a white/grey/silver outfit from this photo I pinned a few weeks ago:

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I’m working on drawing inspiration from different kinds of photos, not just from outfit photos and not copying them so literally, so I hope this is a start.

Taking inspiration

I’ve been following along with Kayla’s Open to Inspiration series, but as I think I’ve mentioned before, I’m terrible at drawing inspiration. If I like something, I want to copy it exactly.

But I really like today’s inspiration photo, so I thought I’d take a stab at it.

Anthropologie cardigan | Anthro A-Bit-Unruly Top (Deletta) | Anthro Circle the Globe Skirt | Tory Burch Reva flats

Coloured skirt, printed top, long cardigan. I don’t think it turned out too bad, and it was actually kinda fun using what I have in my closet to come up with my interpretation, instead of running of buying exactly the same pieces. I should try this again sometime.

who’s that girl?

I like Zooey Deschanel. A lot. I like her style, I looove her hair, and I think she has gorgeous eyes. Like most Anthropologie fans, I really liked her style in 500 Days of Summer. And because she’s around the same age as I am, I don’t feel like I’m emulating someone age-appropriate.

Her February Allure cover photo freaked me out, but I liked the photo shoot because she’s not looking as twee as she usually does. I’m liking the sequined bodysuit.

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Seriously, I might have to kill for her hair.

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But her singing voice grates on my nerves, her band She & Him is too folksy for my taste, and quite frankly, I don’t really like New Girl. At first it was trying too hard (“I’M SO QUIRKY! LOOK AT HOW QUIRKY I AM! I’M SO QUIRKY IT HURTS!”) and now it’s just boring. (Except for last week’s episode “The Landlord.” There were a few moments when I was laughing pretty hard. Redeeming itself a little.) I’ll still watch every episode (often on PVR when I have nothing better to do), because she’s just so damn cute.

(all screenshots via the CityTV iPad app)

As a glasses-wearing girl, I love that she wears glasses and looks so freakin’ cute in them.

Which brings me to my new glasses. I wasn’t intending it, but they may have a bit of Zooey to them. (I did buy them at a hipster optician, I should have known.)

prodesign denmark frames, via Spectacle, Matsu aventurine pendant and chain

I don’t look anything like her, but I can pretend, right?