considerations

I blame it on Giorgia Tordini who pulled off a t-shirt dress so perfectly that I decided right then and there it would be my summer of 2013 uniform. I plan on resisting the relentless summer holiday heat (fingerscrossed!) with nothing but the simpelest of tshirt dresses and pairing it with clubmasters and strappy sandals. There is just something about the idea of rolling out of bed and reaching for one item in your closet and basically being set for the day that makes me look forward to the summer. Some sunscreen and lipbalm and you’re ready to go. It’s a nice change of pace after months of layering and bundling up.

So, another summer, another summer uniform on the horizon. And so many things to consider.

(black dress by T by Alexander Wang, sandals by MM6, white dress by A.P.C and sandals by COS)

I decided I want my t-shirt dress to have short sleeves, since it seems more practical, even though I like the idea of the upturned long sleeves. Right now I’m trying to decide between a black version by T by Alexander Wang and the white A.P.C. dress. I really love the A.P.C. one, but I’m wondering if white will be somewhat impractical and too fragile. I also have an irrational hate towards capsleeves. The black one looks cool and the sleeves are the right length but might be too short on me which in the end defeats the purpose of easy effortlessness.

(dresses by Raquel Allegra and La Garçonne Moderne)

Then there is this beautiful jersey dress by Raquel Allegra. I love the way it looks on the La Garçonne model, but again I’m questioning the practicality of white. I guess I’m afraid it will look drab by the end of the summer? (I don’t want to keep thinking about that when I’m wearing this dress. Again, purpose defeated.) But i do love the length and the sleeves. And the idea of white. This black dress by La Garçonne Moderne is simple enough and the length is perfect, but the shape might be too straight, even on the model. I prefer it slightly more loose.

(both dresses by COS, sandals by &Other Stories)

The highstreet versions I found are both in navy and both from COS. I prefer the loose-but-not-shapeless model of the first and the crewneck of the second dress. Of course all of this doesn’t outweigh the feel and the quality of the fabric, not to mention the actual fit. For this I might just be trying on dresses for the next few weeks. I haven’t had a garment on my wishlist in what feels like ages, I almost forgot the excitement of the selection process.

Finally, there is the choice of sort of dressy sandals which I don’t look forward to since I never had much luck in this department. As much as I love the idea of few straps of leather and not much else, my feet are difficult (as in narrow with high arch) and need more support than that, especially around the ankle, but I also want simplicity and not much fuss. Also, my list of irrational hates further includes toe-straps. I cannot stand anything between my toes. Right now I’m leaning towards these nude coloured sandals from COS. The colour is perfect (especially if I decide on the white dress) but I prefer belts for closure because it just seems sturdier. Then there is this pair from &Other Stories – I love the colour and the simplicity but I don’t know what to expect when it comes to quality. Anyone have any experience with them? (They also seem to be sold out often, but keep coming back in stock). And A.P.C. of course usually has a good selection, which I’ve been meaning to look for. 

(top img via google search, other images via La Garçonne, COS, &Other Stories)

classics and crushes

There is a great new article up over at Empty Emptor right now about “Wardrobe Classics” that is worth a couple of minutes of your time. 

“I have a couple of blog posts planned that discuss possible reasons why our sense of identity seems so bound up in the way we dress, and how capitalism has hooked into that in a way that aims to draw us into being constant, voracious consumers. There’s no doubt that the way we dress is a part of our personality and allows us to communicate what we consider to be important messages about our identity or our values. Furthermore, there’s no doubt that to varying extents, the way we dress impacts other people’s perceptions of us. On top of all that, clothes can change the way we feel about ourselves – they can make us feel stronger or more empowered or more professional or more confident or whatever. They can help us restore our sense of self and reassert ourselves after we’ve had an experience that shakes us (more on that in a later post).”

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This place might slowly become a gateway to other great posts on the internet until I feel like producing original content again. The good news though is that the spring is here which means I have a few new items on my list that I’ll be sharing soon.

Until then, I’ll leave you with this lovely image of my new girlcrush Ana Kraš.

(img via inatenuousmanner tumblr)

black on black

Even though I do not like jewelry and most ornaments,
I do like a classic metal detail in an otherwise uniform outfit.

This was taken a while back in the midst of february, when jeans and jumpers are my uniforms of choice.
(The lipcolour on the other hand is a different story altogether. More on that coming soon.)

(image: my own.)

collar

(all images are my own.)

white on navy

(all images by me and painting by Mark Rothko, via tumblr)

Stripes are featured on some of my favourite things to wear, exactly for their graphic quality and classic simplicity. For me at least, it’s the easiest way to add some visual interest to an otherwise simple wardrobe, without feeling ornamental in any way.

Lately I’ve been living in this sweater, the cosiest one I have in my closet. I have a feeling this might go on for some time, since it’s been so cold lately. The sweater is from COS and I’ve had it for a while now (little over a year, to be exact) and it’s really one of my favourite pieces, qualifying for the regular trips to dry cleaners to prevent the risk of ruining it during the wash (which I only do for very special pieces, ever since I shrunk a very favourite sweater of mine two year ago in the wash). So far it’s been working, as the quality is exactly as it was at the time of purchase. This way I hope to enjoy it for years to come.

colour

(images by me and painting by Mark Rothko via tumblr)

A wool hat and wool scarf in a colour that perfectly compliments the charcoal grey tones of my winter coat.

muted

(all images by me and paintings by Mark Rothko via tumblr)

Layers of wool in different shades of the same colour family, ranging from black to charcoal makes for an appropriately subdued mood. The clean lines compliment this colour palette perfectly. The temperatures have been mild for this time of the year, so a turtleneck can easily replace a big scarf, while still feeling warm in the midst of yet another rainy december shower (like the one happening right at this very moment).

For balancing the monochromatic effect of this look, and keep it from becoming too severe, I like to keep the face fresh and flushed with a touch of pink.

navy on navy

(all images by me)

One of the best part about the cold winter season is the cosy aspect of wrapping yourself up in layers of warm fabrics and drinking liters of tea to keep warm. I currently really like the idea of draping oversized shapes in different tones of the same colour – in this case navy wool coat, cashmere crewneck jumper and an oversized scarf I bought last month.

charcoal

I’m currently living in my grey wool coat and black leather ankle boots.
Away from home my wardrobe was limited, which was something I really enjoyed. My favourite pieces became the ones with the least amount of colour and detail, like the small, leather crossover bag that lets your hands move freely, dark grey jeans and black cashmere or wool crewneck sweater. Simple and utilitarian. I am slowly moving away from navy and into the shades of charcoal.

Quintessential

This is basically how I dressed over the past weeks. Jeans and t-shirt. I actually have that exact striped shirt and it’s one of my most worn garments during the summer months. 

Late summer brought beautiful warm weather while usually leaving the awful humidity behind. It was around this time that my schedule got really hectic and I’m just now catching up on reading my favourite blogs and new issues of The Gentlewoman and Fantastic Man which dropped in the mailbox yesterday.

Lack of free time to overthink also made me pair down my summer attires down to the bare essentials. I lived in jeans and sneakers, pairing them with my favourite blue chambray shirt or oversized t-shirts (striped or plain white), occasionally wrapping myself up in an oversized dark grey cardigan. A canvas bag and some lip balm and was good to go.

Right now, as the weather is slowly transitioning towards autumn, I’m trying to hold on to the simplicity of my summer wardrobe, by reluctantly adding only the most basic of fall garments. I realize this may seem plain and boring, and perhaps it is.  To me personally however,  it’s also a small triumph in reducing all the unnecessary visual noise tot the simplest basic shapes that nonetheless feel decidedly personal.

(images via emilyafricaa and neuewave tumblr)