White peach

If anyone has seen any signs of spring, I'd love it if you passed them onto me. Taking blog photos yesterday was absolutely depressing. Those trees in the background are totally bare. Not a bud. Not a green. Nothing. The thing about having a blog is that I'm able to look back on what the weather was like a year ago. Consequently, I kept screaming, "A year ago, it was hot, I was in shorts, and I was eating gelato!" Needless to say, I'm running rather impatient with this never-ending relationship with my heavy jackets.

So I got this pretty flower dress from Amiclubwear, hoping that I'd soon be prancing around in the sunshine. And that'd be peachy, but the temperatures are still chilly and this dress is thin, which makes me feel like I'm wearing a tablecloth. I got this pair of shoes from them too, for a bit of an unconventional reason. I just had to have these shoes because they're so distinctly ugly. So ugly, that I think they're cool. There's just something about the juxtaposition of ugly shoes and a pretty dress that works.

Flower dress c/o Amiclubwear / Cutout platform shoes c/o Amiclubwear / Mirror glasses c/o Amiclubwear / White denim jacket from Parasuco / Studded messenger bag

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Modern thrift

I've been saying for a while now that if I ever become rich, I'm gonna be more dedicated to buying only eco-fashion. Eco-friendly and organic everything has gained a lot of steam in the past few years. It's healthier, higher quality, and socially responsible. But it usually also comes with a high price tag. When companies aren't cutting corners, costs tend to add up. Though, I'll admit that thinking that this is the only way to consume eco-friendly fashion is mistaken.

Enter Hey Jude. They're a vintage shop based out of Vancouver that focuses on re-imagining thrifted pieces to work with their creative energy and seasonal fashion trends. They also aim to find and reuse quality items that support eco-conscious initiatives. I fell in love with their lookbook and how expertly their pieces are styled and photographed. Usually when I see thrifted fashion, it's a run-off-the-mill floral skirt and denim vest. You know what I'm talking about- that boring vintage styling that makes you go, "Yeah, I can tell that used to be from the 80s". But with Hey Jude's styling, I'd never be able to tell that they were thrifted finds. Everything looks brand new, modern, and edgy. See for yourself: 

Images via Hey Jude

Happy Earth Day!

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Basic essentials

After such a long winter, I've drawn my colour palette inspiration from the beach. Classic blue and khaki, which kind of makes me feel like I rolled out of a Gap ad.  I never used to be much of a fan for that kind of plain preppy style, but I'm starting to see the benefits. I think by now, we understand the concept of owning essential pieces to mix and match and wear for many years to come. But I also forgot how comfy basics are. A relaxed t-shirt is like going out around town in dressed up pajamas, and I have no objections to that.

I'm also a fan of neutral colours because it means that I can make my jewellery a little more flashy. I would've worn more stacked rings if I could, but the set that I got doesn't quite fit me. Which is a shame because I've really been into the stacked ring trend lately. I wish that you could select where your fat went. But even gaining a bit of finger fat is a hard thing to ask for.

You can vaguely see it in the background of the photos, but it's nice to see that the lake is actually blue for once. After a harsh snow that has finally melted, it's almost as if the lake has been washed, watered down with fresh precipitation, and fresh for once. In a populated city with a ton of pollution and a nuclear plant visible from the shore, the lake is usually an odd shade of dark blue-grey. For once, this looks like water that I'd actually want to swim in. Except that it's still just 10 degrees and not nearly warm enough for that.

Denim shirt from American Eagle / Striped t-shirt from Gap / Beige skirt from TJ Max / Scalloped bag from Asos / Wooden sunglasses from Woodzee / Tan ankle boots from Justfor5pounds / Chain necklace & stacked rings c/o Bornpretty Store

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Mostly minimalist

I've been having fun playing with shapes and structure in apparel lately. Typically, I'm used to defining "structure" as fitted. Boxy loose clothing were not good. But now, I've embraced baggy sweaters, not only for their comfort, but because of how effortlessly good they look with straight-cut bottoms. I'm also really loving how throwing a sweater over a knee-length skirt naturally makes it more casual and wearable for any day. Being in casual office environments where employees tended to wear flip flops in the summer, I always felt overdressed in pencil skirts. I'm glad that my work skirts don't have to collect dust anymore.

I've also found that I prefer structured bags. Unlike unstructured ones, structured bags still look good when they're empty. And especially with a bag that has more than 4 corners, the shape stands out a lot more. Against a minimalist outfit, why go for a pop of colour when you can go for a pop of shape?

Navy sweater from Forever 21 / Black pencil skirt / Cream colorblock bag from Tacicco

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How to: Mix spring trends

Florals, and sports, and colours, oh my! As an indecisive person, I can never stay set on my favourite spring trend to wear. So why decide? Why not wear them all at once instead?

One trend that has been around for a few seasons now is florals. They're pretty and typically feminine. But somewhere along the line of our re-ignited obsession with the 90s, styling florals to be more edgy came into play. Which ties in really nicely with the athletic trend. I'd also like to distinguish that the athletic trend is really "athletic-inspired". Walking around in yoga pants and a varsity team hoodie doesn't count as fashion. But when you're borrowing from those ideas with graphic print t-shirts and baseball caps. And bright colours are always in style for spring. Always. Sure, certain colours are more popular than others during different years, but you can never go wrong with a pop of colour after a dreary winter.

So I've put together this set that showcases how you can throw the floral, sporty, and bright trends together. The great thing about a plain t-shirt with some simple text is that it can be paired with any floral pattern. Layering this look with a light denim jacket really ties the look together by adding a bit of edginess to the florals while maintaining a pretty vintage quality. Then, just add a colourful bag or clutch for some spring cheerfulness and grab a pair of floral sunnies. Finally, slip on your favourite pair of plain sneakers to top off the athletic look. And there you go- a great look to go exploring around town, and with sensible shoes. Hourray for no more arch-killing heels!

New York T-shirt / Light denim jacket / Floral skirt / Green envelope clutch / Floral sunglasses

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Shift work

They say that if you want to be something, you have to look the part. As someone currently job hunting, I've been focusing on buying clothes that I could wear to work, hoping that that magically makes employers flock to me.

So today, I'm playing dress-up with proportions. I'm usually not one for shift dresses because I'm afraid that the monotone shape will make me look like I'm wearing a potato sack, but that can be easily remedied. I decide to put a ribbon around the waist to give the illusion of a more defined figure. But aside from that, I'm loving the two-toned colour of the dress that's all business in the back with plain black and a professional party in the front with a red plaid pattern and crisp collar.

Even though my blazer is a bit oversized and rather boxy for my taste, I found that it works really well with the straight cut of the shift dress. With that, the shoulder pads don't look drab and outdated either, but adds some welcomed dimension instead. Yes, this blazer has shoulder pads!

Hey employers, I'm a super versatile person. I could be a typical office drone with my overall work look, I could be a British professor with the plaid, or I could be a pseudo football player with shoulder pads. Like I said, versatile.

Plaid dress c/o Sheinside / Beige blazer from Le Chateau / Cream and black bag from Tacicco 

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Chunky rings

I'm into rings more than any other piece of jewellery. A simple piece can look great and barely get in the way, but what about adding bigger and more rings? I've found myself wearing multiple rings together lately, often pausing to wonder whether I'm starting to go overboard. Especially in the winter, a good indication of going overboard is when I can barely fit a glove over my hand because of too many rings bulking up my hand.

Personally, I try to wear like colours only. I'm not a fan of mixing gold and silver. Nor am I a fan of mixing oversized rings and different shapes. If the purpose of a statement ring is to attract the eye to one place, doesn't wearing multiple ones defeat the purpose? The look of stacked rings can be a pretty nice edgy look, but excessiveness starts to look like you're trying to turn your fingers into armoured weapons.

What are your thoughts on wearing chunky rings? 

Images via Pinterest

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The texting generation

Remember when fingerless gloves were known as "hobo gloves"? Well it's funny how much that perception has turned around. The other day, I heard them being referred to as "texting gloves". Texting gloves...gloves without fingers so your index finger can still reach your dear touch screen phone. Because it might be absolutely freezing outside, but those super important texts about how much you hate exams absolutely cannot wait.

In other news, I'm going to start pushing my sunglasses up if I feel them slipping. Otherwise, as my photos show, it kind of makes me look like I have a unibrow when shadows hit the glasses the wrong way. Which I don't.

Boyfriend blazer from H&M / Black pants from Suzy Shier / Circle scarf from Jacob / Eco-friendly sunglasses from Woodzee

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How to: Wear knee-length skirts

As a non-short (yet not quite tall) person, I can't believe how short above-the-knee skirts are getting nowadays. Which is why I'm ecstatic that knee-length or below the knee skirts are back in style. With the dominant style being about showing leg for a while now, I find myself concerned that midi skirts will cut my leg off in an awkward spot to make me look stubby. So I've put together a few tips on how to choose and style a knee-length skirt that will still accentuate your height.

1.)  Choosing a length: What you want is a skirt that falls right below the knee to a length just above your calves. Avoid skirts that cover only a part of your knee joint. This would cut off the length of your legs at an awkward place, leaving your lower leg looking stubby and your knee looking unnatural.

2.)  Straight cuts: While a tight bodycon skirt might look too much like a tight burrito wrap on your legs, a flexible pencil skirt can do wonders to look relaxed and/or sophisticated. To flatter your figure, try finding a skirt that goes inwards slightly around the hem so there's emphasis on your curves.

3.)  Feeling flowy: If you're more of a flowy chiffon or A-line skirt person, try to find a pleated skirt. Even subtle pleats will create vertical lines for the eye to follow, giving you a leaner look.

4.)  Shoe pairings: Like in any other outfit, this is pretty much personal. But keep in mind that if you're going for a chunky edgy look with ankle boots, make sure the top of the shoe falls below your calves. Then, the hem of the skirt over the knee and the top of the shoe below the calf creates a natural window for the eyes, which emphasized the length of the lower legs.

Photos via Pinterest

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Winter leather

It's almost March and it's still freezing. Surprise, surprise. I've found my new winter survival item though: leather pants. Even windbreakers don't protect against the wind as good as leather does. The thing about cold weather is that you can always bundle up in more sweaters and heavy coats, but you can only wear so many layers of bottoms. And I don't know about you, but I find that wearing leggings under jeans is terribly uncomfortable and bulky. I tend to like the ability for my knees to bend.

Crop top from Sway Chic / Beige cardigan from H&M / Bag from Asos / Half leather pants

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