Look At the Clothes I Wore! - A Triumphant Return to Blogging
We’re past the point of me making excuses as to why it’s been so long since I’ve written for this site. Impostor syndrome, far too busy, blah, blah, blah. Writing about why I haven’t been writing feels boring to me right now. I want you to come here for the looks and subsequent look-related thoughts. It feels unproductive to discuss anything else. In saying that, I think it’s worth noting that the reason I have the drive to write at this very moment is because I’ve let go of my need for constant productivity (shock, horror!). It’s the spring weather, hopefully fast approaching, that has this affect on me. The moment there’s a sign I can put away my currently toppling pile of knitwear means I will be ripe with ideas without the debilitating fear of my to-do list. The list becomes a fluid friend, ever-changing and full of possibility. Most of my ideas, I’ll admit, will never come to fruition and gradually vanish from the list due to my incessant need to move on to the next project. If something’s been brewing in my mind for more than, let’s say three days, I’ve already moved my way through it without the need to execute whatever hyper specific vision it may be. The reason this happens is primarily the aforementioned impostor syndrome, but let’s put a pin in that and chalk it up to the burden of a creative mind, shall we? Outfits in general, and this sense of reclaiming my style post winter, however, is a broader vision that I’m eager to let run its coarse. Quick! Before summer hits and I’m complaining about the heat.
Today I have seven looks to dissect for you. Some I’ve worn as recently as this week, and some are from a few months back, but all stand out in my mind as moments I was able to either feel like myself or a version of myself that I’d like to bookmark and revisit. I don’t have a consistent aesthetic or a style icon I swear by. I’m happily waking up every morning and letting the clothes I surround myself with guide me into a world of their choosing. Some say don’t let your clothes wear you, but I often feel as though my clothes can communicate things much clearer than I can. Maybe they’re not wearing me, so much as they are driving this fashion vehicle as I sit happily along for the ride.
The majority of pieces you see in this post were coveted from my luxury consignment shop - Most Wanted Luxury Resale. Find us on Instagram @mostwanted_luxuryresale and shop online at mostwantedresale.com. If vintage is your jam and you’re based in the Okanagan, be sure to check out my vintage collective The Warehouse.
Adidas x Danielle Cathari tracksuit from Most Wanted, Gucci 2016 web accent leather platform sneakers from Most Wanted, Vintage Dior bra from Most Wanted, & thrifted bag from Oxfam UK.
Let’s start here because this look is still fresh in my mind. I wore this for my very first vintage party for The Warehouse, the collective of local vintage sellers I’ve team up with here in Kelowna. It also feels fresh in my mind because this look feels, one might say, “fresh”. This Adidas x Danielle Cathari tracksuit came into my shop this past week and bowled me over with it’s vivid green colour and objective coolness. I knew it would be a hit for the event considering how many vintage sellers, photographers, sneaker lovers and general who’s who of sportswear-loving cool folks we had invited. The tracksuit itself is dead comfortable and enough of a statement on it’s own that it doesn’t require over-styling. I paired it with a sheer lace vintage Christian Dior Intimates bra. Yes, it bruises my breastbone, but I truly couldn’t care less. The delicacy of the lace with the subtle Dior monogramming was exactly what I needed to feel feminine. I tossed on this thrifted red crossbody to keep my cash in for the sale, and did my best to match the red with my shade of lipstick. I would call myself an advocate for red and green all year long, which brings me to the footwear. There are indeed a pair of shoes poking out from the billowing trousers you see before you. “Tell us about the SHOES”, I’m sure you’re all screaming. Well, what would normally be the stand out piece in any look ends up playing a supporting character next to this tracksuit. These platform 2016 Alessandro Michele for Gucci leather sneakers are new in my closet and already near and dear. I may roll an ankle one day but it’s worth it for the undeniable Gucci-ness of them. I’m in love with the drama of these shoes.
All in, I think I can safely say we’ve started this outfit analysis project off strong.
Vintage 70s Ramones tee from Metropolis, Philip Lim trouser from Most Wanted, white turtle neck from Frank & Oak, Max Mara brown cashmere coat from Most Wanted, beat up Adidas Stan Smiths, Gucci monogrammed half-moon crossbody from Most Wanted, & vintage Gucci sunglasses from TheRealReal.
Off we go to brunch!
When my long lost study abroad sister, Steph, came to stay with me for the weekend nearly every moment was spent in our pyjamas and/or a University of Hertfordshire hoodies (long live Flat 15!). On her last day in town we both had the exact same thought - we must get out of the house, let us brunch! This look was thrown together from what I imagine was the pile of clothing on my bedroom floor waiting to be hung, but I’m not displeased with the result! To me the star of the show may come as a surprise: The 70s Ramones tee I picked up from Metropolis Vintage this past fall. It hides any possibility of my body having curves and sometimes that’s exactly what I want, but what I love most about this piece is that it represents the first time I bought a true vintage band tee, cracking on the screen-print and all! I always style these types of tees over turtle necks in the winter, and this time I paired it with these plain black tapered trousers. Though I should have been wearing something filled with down I wanted to get my Max Mara coat out of the house. She deserved it after months of being deemed - not warm enough. The layering and oversized nature of almost everything in this look reminds me a lot of what we’ve seen in recent winter, off-duty street style photography, especially when very nonchalantly topped off with the 90’s Gucci sunglasses and this monogrammed Gucci crossbody.
There’s something thrilling about wearing a monogrammed piece in a way that deliberately keeps it from being the star of the show. Yes, I just threw the bag on my shoulder as I walked out the door, what about it?
Vintage London Fog blazer, white lace bra from a little shop in Paris, Aries tights, vintage brown trouser from Most Wanted, Celine Box Bag from Most Wanted, & croissant gold hoops from Mejuri.
This look represents my years long, though somewhat half-assed attempt at being an “Aries Girl”. The brand planted its strange, graphic, and phallic streetwear roots deep in my brain back in 2019 and has continued to hold sway in what I see as objectively cool in fashion despite how far removed it sometimes feels from fashion conversations. I see a No Problemo tee or the signature Grecian column graphic pop up from time to time, and Depop is swimming in Aries pieces from UK based sellers, but I’d love to see the brand expand into the broader second-hand discourse. My wearing these tights (very sexily, I may add) may just be the push all those non-Aries converts needed to finally adopt the brand. Who knows?!
I will acknowledge the fact that I wore this outfit to a party with a very clear black & pink theme. In my rush of excitement in putting this look together all notions of said theme were gone. No one seemed to care, and it was absolutely worth it for what may be my favourite ensemble I’ve put together in the last year. I needed to take my Celine box bag for her first outing which guided the neutral colour palette. Linen blazer meets creamy lace bra meets brown straight-leg stretch trouser; It all felt so warm and yummy even with my entire decollate and half my torso out with snow still on the ground. Despite this, I thought the look still needed something with shock value. Enter - red monogramed Aries tights, pulled up as high as possible. Chef’s kiss.
The shoes were unimportant. I imagine I wore my cream Veja sneakers.
Shift dress from Oxfam UK, vintage collard shirt from Athaza Vintage, black Wilfred turtle neck gifted from a friend, upcycled earrings from Stella Lucci, denim scrunchie from Elizabeth O Vintage, & Gucci 2016 web accent leather platform sneakers from Most Wanted.
Hello, pattern on pattern, how I’ve missed you all these months full of turtle necks.
I realize now that I am most definitely wearing a turtle neck in these images. I’m perpetually cold. You can disregard it if you so choose.
I picked up this dress for roughly £5 at an Oxfam in St. Albans many moons ago and have since featured it in blog and Instagram posts a plenty. Here she is again, still not only relevant to my personal style but evolving and growing up with me as I discover new complimentary pieces to wear with her. Enter: collared blouse from Athaza Vintage. While we were setting up for our first Warehouse Party, my friend Julia, the founder of Athaza, was minding her own business steaming her wares when she pulled out this blouse and I nearly bowled her over. The alternating floral and abstract pattern in simply stunning, the fabric is a delicately pleated crepe, but it’s the lace collar that really sings. I’ve always been a fan of mixing patterns in a way that feels very nearly in bad taste. When you toe that line between matching and clashing, the most fascinating results can come of it. I especially like doing this with shapeless silhouettes because practicing the art of clashing brings out either the librarian and/or the floaty old lady in me. The Iris Apfel, if you will, perched on various embroidered chases and swinging through life in my patterned shift dresses. I just need a statement earring, a red lip, an outrageous shoe and a heady floral fragrance and I become a very specific, very dear version of myself.
Marine Serre top from TheRealReal, Philip Lim black trouser from Most Wanted, black leather harness bra from Most Wanted, vintage gold jewelry from my Nana, & raw pearl earrings, a gift from friends in London.
The Louis Vuitton bag to my right in this photo belongs to my sister, so I can’t take credit for that. What I will take credit for is spotting what is arguably the ideal Marine Serre top in a sea of much larger and louder pieces on the racks at The Real Real in Soho. I’m still proud of this find.
This look was captured exclusively on film during a blissful night of jazz at The Village Vanguard, followed by much wandering around Greenwich Village. In order to let the moon pattern speak for me on a night when I felt particularly quiet and reflective, I paired it with plain black tapered trousers and only embellished with accessories. Maybe embellished is too soft of a word, I adorned the look (sure, let’s go with that) with one accessory in particular; A black leather harness. I love this piece because it’s a nod to my fascination with the world of kink, whether subtle or not I’ll let you decide, but also because it’s a surprisingly easy piece to style. It can be a focal point or a supporting character without ever feeling lost. In this look I find the vintage gold jewelry brings the edginess down a notch and allows the look to be subtly unexpected. I think I’ll play with this garment in a hyper feminine way the next time I wear it so I can really lean into the idea of contrasting aesthetics.
Vintage plaid vest & pleated skirt set made by my Nana, Frank & Oak turtle neck, H&M x Eytys boots from Depop, vintage necklace from my Nana, Missoma x Harris Reed drop earring, & Chic Made Conciously gold bracelet & ring.
This look is quintessential Emily. It’s a suit of sorts, one of my truest loves in life though they can be a bit of a styling cop-out (a bitter opinion from someone currently wanting to be dripping in accessories). Put it on and you’re pretty well done. You presumably look great as long as you wear it with confidence. But maybe I’m not giving myself enough styling credit in this instance because there certainly was conscious choice going on in order to round out the plaid on plaid, skirt & vest combo. Tights, a turtle neck, and the largest combat boots I can possibly lug around on my wee ankles are the grounding features of this outfit. Though these boots were the reason I took a tumble in the Calgary airport on my way to the city (sometimes, wearing your bulkiest things on the plane leads to blood and bruising), looking back now I have no regrets. They added a nonchalant - ‘I’ve walked a surprising amount of miles in these boots’ - energy to the look that I will forever associate with edgy London fashion folk. Looking back on this now and realizing what I was emulating really makes me smile.
The vest and pleated skirt were made by my Nana for my Mom in the late 70s or early 80s. I’ve never asked her how she wore them (mental note taken), I’ve been too focused on how to put my own spin on the set. Knowing my mother she likely wore something with a ruffle or pussy bow, and maybe a mary-jane or a delicate pump. The set can lean feminine or masculine all dependant on the layering. I may soon report back to share more ways I’ve styled what is seemingly my Nana’s take on prep.
Aries No Problemo tee, vintage Levi’s jeans from Most Wanted, Gucci monogrammed half-moon crossbody from Most Wanted, & Vintage Gucci sunglasses from The Real Real.
Welcome back to planet Aries. When I wear this tee I can’t help but feel like the archetype of coolness. Dramatic? Unwarranted? Absolutely. But look at my little smirk, the slicked back hair, the 90s sunnies, not to mention the literal pile of Patti Smith books tossed ever so haphazardly at my side. I am feeling oodles of coolness in this photo and I have no shame in it. It was shot on film for goodness sake.
This photo was taken outside The Metropolitan Opera. Little did I know I’d return to this spot a mere six months later dressed very differently about to see the opera, but not before spotting the grassy hill across the courtyard and remembering exactly how good I felt that day in October.
Outfits are made memorable because of the energy and memories we imbue them with. It’s only a cool look if you go about your day never once thinking about the way you look, OR if you feel so overwhelmed by your own coolness you feel compelled to lay in the grass and have your comrade take photos of you on film camera (because, of course, you have a film camera) with no preference as to whether or not the photos ever see the light of the internet. I’m convinced coolness exists in these two specific planes and no where in between. I could be wrong.
As I wrap up this triumphant return to blogging I can’t help but hear RuPaul’s voice softly singing to me “guess who’s back in the house?” Let’s talk again soon, I mean it! I have so many outfits, thoughts on vintage and second hand, and sustainable fashion adventures to share with you right here on emeroo.
Thanks for reading
Em x
