Imperfection

Over two weeks into January and I haven’t posted any outfit photos yet.  I’ve been feeling a bit off (touch of a stomach bug combined with “oh crap I’m back at work at a job I HATE” and general winter blues), so I’ve been falling back on tried-and-true outfits I’ve already worn.

And when I did try to come up with something new, it didn’t quite turn out the way I intended.

Monday:

Banana Republic top | Club Monaco cardigan | Anthropologie Field Skirt (Edme & Esyllte) | Wolford tights | Aldo Mary Janes

Not horrible, but something’s not quite right, right? I said to a co-worker that I felt like I’d gotten dressed in the dark.  He said no, I was working it, but I wasn’t happy.  And I couldn’t even get the photo right.

Also, I know I said I’d bought and returned this skirt, but here it is again.  I decided to give it a second chance and bought it when I was in Boston over Christmas.

Today:

Anthropologie Echoing Folds Cowlneck (Bordeaux) | Mexx cardigan | necklace made by me | Anthropologie Alluring Sway Skirt (Cartonnier) | Wolford tights | Cole Haan Air Tali MJ Ballet flat

Yeah, the face says it all.  I realized from the full-length mirror in the bathroom that this was schlumpy and messy (too much going on with the excessive draping in the top and the ruching in the skirt), and the pencil skirt really does need a high heel. 

Ah well. I was going to ditch these photos because everything was so imperfect (and I am nothing if not a perfectionist), but I decided to post them because mistakes happen, sometimes I might look like an unmade bed, and all I can do is learn and move forward.

Blue surrounds me

Since I failed at the no-shop criteria of the 30 for 30 challenge, I decided I would try again to go 30 days without shopping. An entire month. It’s now January 16 by my calendar, so I’m almost halfway there! 16 days without shopping, and without wanting to shop either, which is the weird thing.

And if we want to get all technical about it, I’ve actually gone 20 days without shopping, because the last time I bought something was December 27 when I was post-Christmas shopping with my sister in Boston.  But who’s counting??

So the first half of the month has been easy, but I’m itching a little bit to buy.  When Feb 1 rolls around, I might indulge in these:

L: J. Crew cashmere crewneck cardigan in hthr tide
R: J. Crew Double-serge pencil skirt in nightfall blue

Not to wear together though, unless I want some bizarre not-quite-matching not-quite-a-suit outfit, but I do love this shade of blue. The cardigan will go with a lot of pieces in my wardrobe, and the skirt is just too cute, especially since I saw it on Kileen.  But if I were to be practicing restraint and austerity measures, I would choose the cardigan over the skirt, because I really don’t need any more skirts.

If I weren’t practicing restraint and austerity measures, I would go for these as well:

Anthropologie Irresistable Maxi Dress, Plenty by Tracy Reese (CAD$218, US$178)

I was in Anthropologie with a coworker at lunch on Friday and tried this on.  It’s pretty awesome, and I adore the colour, but I’m also not going on a resort vacation any time soon.

Anthropologie Take Action Dress, Girls From Savoy (US$168)

Haven’t tried this one yet, but it’s so cute.  Still, it’s not really a “me” dress.  If it had a deep V neck and an empire waist, I’d be all over it like a bad suit.

Fantasy shopping is fun.  Delaying gratification is out of character for me though. However, nothing will be bought until February 1. I will succeed this time!

Anthropologie catalogue: January 2007

Every week I take a look back at past Anthropologie catalogues and what I loved from then.  (Thanks to Natalie for posting all the links.) I used to think that it’s impossible to find these pieces again, but thanks to Roxy’s trade market and eBay, anything is possible.

January 2007.  Where was I then?  Ah yes, I was packing up my apartment in Ottawa and preparing to move to Toronto.  I can’t believe it’s been 4 years, it’s just flown by.  So this is what I could have been buying then.

falling droplets dress – so pretty

murmer tee, bustle back skirt – this is totally something I would wear (very similar to this).  I love the draping in the top. 

bluebelle blouse

 
watchtower dress

drip & pour overcoat – I would wear this

 
archway top, moss grotto skirt

myrtle silk dress - gorgeous

2011 – what will I do?

Photo courtesy of Cute Overload

• Stop procrastinating! (I will…eventually…)
• Shop smart.
• Buy only what I need or what I love.
• Take care of my health.
• Eat healthy.
• Eat out less.
• Cook more.
• Remember what’s important to me (family, friends, health) and focus on that.
• Put less energy into things that don’t matter.
• Remember that I can’t control what other people do, I can only control what I do.
• Breathe deeply.
• Ignore my mom when she tells me I need to lose weight.
• Ignore my mom full stop.
• Spend more time with my nephew.
• Become a grown-up.
• Pay off debt.
• Stop using my credit card.
• Buy a condo.
• Be tidier.
• Obsess about clothes less.
• Read more.
• Find a new job.

Or I’ll just live by this quote:

"Go for long walks, indulge in hot baths, question your assumptions, be kind to yourself, live for the moment, loosen up, scream, curse the world, count your blessings, just let go, just be." - Carol Shields

Anthropologie catalogue: January 2011

I’ve noticed that my Anthro catalogues have been arriving later and later.  This one didn’t arrive until this morning, but it’s not like I was dying for it since I’d already seen it online and it was very disappointing.

The photography is still beautiful, but this catalogue is under 30 pages and there are no clothes in it.

strawberry weave hobo

  
l-r: corn lane slingbacks, taupe-tied booties, reaching for light espadrilles, crowd favorite slingbacks

almond & indigo heels, subtle shades boots, slices of night booties, braided basket pumps

accordion strands necklace, on the agenda shell

Okay, there are some clothes, but it’s not like you can tell what they actually look like.

lengthy days vest, martagon sketch halter dress, crowd favorite slingbacks, slouchy stitch pullover, long & lean chemise, forest & mine bracelet, swooping asymmetry wedges

Are they purposely trying to obscure the clothes?  I want to see what they look like, because I’m not buying based on an artistically hazy image.

  
magnified corolla dress, bubbled belt, corn lane slingbacks

crest & fall pillow, garden stretch bolster

blythe chair

 
pavo quilt

Meh.  Higher hopes for February.

Missed it by that much

So far, I’ve spent the first few days of 2011 doing absolutely nothing.  And I couldn’t be happier.  I am not looking forward to going back to work tomorrow, although it might be time to leave the apartment, stop watching movies, and put on “real” clothes. 

I am going out for lunch and then some furniture shopping, so I’m going to have to get dressed. 

If I could, I would dress like Anne Hathaway in Get Smart.  (How’s that for a segue way?)

I watched this movie twice this weekend (it was on TV twice).

I love this white leather jacket.

Also love her black leather jacket.

She looked beautiful in this movie.

 

If I could keep white clean, I would wear it all the time.

So that was 2010

Snowman cupcake from Whole Foods

I’m not a huge fan of New Year’s Eve.  I feel too pressured to have a good time, and I’m not willing to spend a fortune to go out to a club.  So it’s usually a quiet night in, and often a struggle for me to just stay up to midnight!  Tonight, Will is cooking me a nice dinner, then we’re going out to see The King’s Speech, and then we’ll be downtown in Dundas Square for midnight.  Not the most exciting, but it works for us.  So while I’m waiting for dinner, I’ll take a look back and a look forward.

2010 has been both a fantastic year and a terrible year. On the terrible front: job, health issues, and ridiculous family drama. But on the fantastic side: great friends, great coworkers (makes the job bearable), great trips (Europe, Boston), and my engagement in Paris.

I've never worn anything this expensive in my life. But I love it. On the days I forget to put it on, I feel naked.

Shopping in 2010:
2010 was the year that I went hard-core Anthropologie. I embraced Anthro as my favourite store and almost all others have fallen by the wayside. It’s been a blessing and a curse; the former because I’ve found in Anthro what I’ve always been looking for in other stores (girly, feminine pieces and basics with a twist, always with details that make you stand out), the latter because my wallet has suffered. But I feel like I’ve bought a lot of pieces that are versatile and will last in my wardrobe for a long time, and not just Anthro.

Despite all the hard-core shopping I did in 2010, I think I have become a smarter, more conscious shopper. I’m learning to shop for what I need, and when it’s something I don’t need, it has to be something I really, really, really, really want. Everything has to fit my lifestyle and personality too. So while things have been far from perfect, I’m learning. Hope this continues on in 2011.

2010 personal style:
With the help of Anthropologie, I’ve come a long way in defining my personal style this year. I feel like I now know what I like, what works on my body, and what fits with my lifestyle. If I had to describe my style, I would probably say classic/feminine with a twist. I try to keep it simple, but I always want something that stands out (colour, print, texture). I’m never going to be someone who does a lot of pattern-mixing or layering or accessorizing (while I always admire the ladies who do), but that’s ok. In the past, I’ve tried to copy other people’s styles and I would always get frustrated when it didn’t work for me. Not that there isn’t any room for evolution. But why should I wear belts when I don’t like them, just because everyone else is?

2011 goals:
While fashion and shopping and style will always be very important to me, I'm hoping that I'll focus on other things in 2011. Top of my list is to take care of myself and get healthy. I also intend to become financially responsible, and shopping consciously definitely goes hand in hand with that. (First up, January will be a no-shop month, and this time, I will complete it!)

Looking forward to:
Definitely the new condo, assuming it all works out. And possibly getting married, but we haven't decided when that's going to happen yet.

I'm also looking forward to continuing blogging, reading as many blogs as possible and getting inspired by all the great outfits out there, and connecting with tons of great people in the blogosphere.

Lastly...
Thanks to everyone who has been reading my little blog.  Happy New Year!  I wish everyone all the best for 2011.

xo
Rachel

Anthropologie catalogue: December 2009

Every week I take a look back at past Anthropologie catalogues and what I loved from then.  (Thanks to Natalie for posting all the links.) I used to think that it’s impossible to find these pieces again, but thanks to Roxy’s trade market and eBay, anything is possible.

I think it’s only fitting that I’m closing out an Anthro-filled year with a look back at the Anthro catalogue that kinda started it all.

giving's gleam cuff, small packages cardi

all wrapped-up cardi, Sense & Sensibility – one of my favourite books, looking gorgeous

candied sweetbriar cardi, on-the-fold dress

from o'keefe necklace, torsade tee – this top, in grey, is one of my favourite purchases of 2010.

any-other-rose cardi, skyfall dress, opaque tights, shapes emerge oxfords – I don’t really like the styling here, but this dress is one of my all-time favourites.

night-blooming dress

  

from-the-green cardi, needlepoint corset top by anna sui, cuffed chambray trousers

  
in-the-clouds scarf, sparkling skies tee, cafe creme skirt, the-space-between wedges

feathered links necklace, granted wishes dress, shapes emerge oxfords

for flora skirt, pindot tights, carved celadon heels – this skirt got away from me…

reed shirtdress