Just two quick mirror outfits if you don’t mind. This winter is a pretty unusual winter. Yesterday marked the warmest February day ever recorded with 16 degrees Celsius. Crazy, right?! Kind of a shame because I was hoping February would be a cold one, allowing me to wear my thickest knits. Instead, I wore my &Other Stories blazer yesterday as a coat.
Speaking of, don’t you love it when you can finally wear something again? I can honestly say that I looked forward to wearing that (old) Céline trio bag and &Other Stories blazer again. Even though it’s labeled as a blazer, it’s much too thick and warm to wear inside. I see it hanging in my closet everyday and was pleasantly surprised when the sun was shining yesterday and I could wear it out.
Sometimes I ask D. what he thinks of my outfits. And he always compliments me, saying that I dress better than most. I don’t know, to be honest. I hope I do. Most of the things that I wear are nothing special but I hope they stand apart because of their fit and material which are my main concerns when buying something new. That’s why I love that blazer so much. The wool feels soft and luxurious and the sharply cut shoulders really give it that tailored, expensive fit.
The first outfit was worn out and about yesterday. I wore the blazer on top of my navy blue Uniqlo cashmere sweater and Hema organic cotton t-shirt. The wide-legged jeans are still going strong, I love how comfortable they are. I rarely wear skinny jeans anymore. These Reebok sneakers are my second pair and I like them so much more than the Stan Smiths that I used to wear. They’re a bit more narrow and lined with fabric so super warm. For accessories I reached for my trusty Céline trio bag and A.P.C. scarf. So nothing new really.
The second outfit is slightly less casual. I was on the hunt for that &Other Stories sweater for weeks. As usual, I waited too long and it sold out. I guess I kind of liked the idea of a wool sweater with a preppy polo feel to it which seems to be having a moment right now. I paired it with my black Levi’s Ribcage jeans and Zara boots.
What are you looking forward to wearing again this year?
Upon request, my purchases of 2018. Better late than never I suppose. I’ll keep the introduction short because we know how this works, right? While I’m a little embarrassed by the number of purchases, I feel that this year will be better. We’re halfway through March and I have only purchased three things so far (one of them, my dream bag). If I keep this up and go for a maximum of 1 item per month, I would be very content. I’m still not sure what triggered last year’s shopping sprees. Maybe I felt a bit bored with my wardrobe or maybe it was because I didn’t plan any purchases in advance and just went with it. Even though I keep a list throughout the year on my phone, I never took the time to reflect on it. Anyway, here goes…
Zara sandals, Vagabond Saide sandals, G.H. Bass Weejun loafers
Purchases January until June
Ah yes, shoes! If I’m not buying coats, I’m buying shoes, apparently. The year started with a pair of Aeyde Neil boots (discount). A modern take on the Chelsea boot with a square nose. These were a replacement for my Massimo Dutti boots. I absolutely love them and just brought them to the cobbler for new heels. The G.H. Bass Weejun loafers were also a replacement. One of my old loafers had an actual hole in the sole.
The other pairs were not a necessity but just something that I really liked such as the electric blue Vagabond sandals (sale). I have gotten so many compliments on those and they’re extremely comfortable. What’s next… two pairs of leather flat sandals. The first pair, pictured on the left is from Zara. They reminded me of the YSL slides for a fraction of the price. The other pair is from H&M. Very simple and clean with delicate leather straps.
Finally, I ordered a pair of Repetto ballet flats. Such a classic purchase and also, on sale. At first I was a little hesitant because of the toe cleavage but I enjoyed wearing them. Unfortunately our train station has the most awful paving tiles and it damages all the noses of your shoes so I only wore them to work twice. As of last week the bus now stops at a different location so that’s a relief.
Not pictured but a fun addition; my Whitney Houston t-shirt from Topshop. I had to have it. It’s BrWhitney bitch! The Mango linen blouse on the left is really nice although it obviously needs some serious ironing every time you wash it. The light yellow t-shirt is from H&M. I really liked the look with white trousers. Just a subtle pop of color. The blouse from Ganni was a bit risky I suppose, as I don’t wear prints very often. But combined with my flared jeans it’s a totally different look from my usual uniform.
H&M Trend tanktop, Uniqlo U tee, Saint James Maree II R sweater
I threw a bunch of old white t-shirts out before summer. The replacements include a simple white tanktop, a white linen Isabel Marant t-shirt (sale) and two Uniqlo t-shirts (discount). I highly recommend those Uniqlo tees. They’re thick and the fit is lovely. A finally a classic Saint-James striped knitted sweater made of 100% wool.
On to the jeans/trousers department. As I mentioned in this post, I was excited to discover the wide legged jeans trend for summer. I’m over skinny jeans and currently prefer either a straight or wide pair of jeans. I especially like the pair on the left, from Topshop. The white jeans can be a bit tricky of course but I like it paired with my A.P.C. striped t-shirt from last year and loafers.
While I would rather buy jeans with a little less stretch material, I do tend to go for Topshop jeans when I’m looking for something specific like those flared jeans. I’m only 1.65m and you can’t tailor a pair of jeans like that. It changes the whole silhouette and will look out of proportion. These are a perfect fit in a length 30 though.
Are you still with me? I totally understand if this post is testing your patience LOL. But alas, it is what it is. I can’t make it any shorter. Anyway, I went to visit Vicky in Antwerp and we did some shopping. I ended up with a bikini (sale). The high waisted bottoms are a big thumbs up. A crushed velvet blazer (sale) and a pair of chinos (sale). I think that was the most shopping I did all at once since years.
And to end these 6 months, I bought not one but two dresses. The first one was a white midi button dress by Zara. I have to confess, it’s still hanging in my closet with the tags attached. When does one wear a white dress? As pretty as it seems, it’s not very functional. If I don’t wear it this summer, I’ll sell it. The other button dress by New Look was very much a succes.
All three blazers by &Other Stories
Purchases July to December
The last 6 months were somewhat better in terms of shopping. &Other Stories is my favorite store for blazers and I picked up 4 blazers with a discount. I don’t know, I find them so useful because they easily make every outfit work appropriate, they can be worn as jackets when it’s a little less cold and they’re excellent for layering. I paired these blazers with a wool black turtleneck.
Filippa K Pointelle sweater, Dr. Martens 1460, Adidas Falcon sneakers
And for my final purchases of 2018… The Filippa K Pointelle sweater (sale) I had my eye on it for a while but I didn’t want to pay full price for it. So I was happy when I found it on sale. The Dr. Martens were a nice addition when temperatures dropped and it was snowing. I talked about these for over a year and took the plunge on Black Friday. You know how everyone always tells you these are indestructible? Not if I’m wearing them. I managed to damage the nose on a piece of metal on the first wear. Shit happens, I guess.
Shopping conclusions
That makes a total of 28 purchases. I got rid of some old pieces of clothing that were worn out. Mostly tops. Those get a lot of wear year round. Regarding replacement buys, I’m very happy with every single one of them although some are slightly different from the item that I discarded. I no longer believe that there is such a thing as ‘the perfect garment’ that you will wear forever or that clothes and accessories are ‘investments’ unless you’re buying a Birkin bag. While I might think the G.H. Bass loafers are the best out there, I might think very differently years from now when I need a new pair.
As Vivienne Westwood said: “Buy less, choose well, make it last.” I fully agree but don’t expect them to last forever. Just be mindful of your purchases and buy things that will compliment your existing wardrobe and make you excited to get dressed in the morning. Love them until they no longer look presentable and replace them with something just as nice or even nicer. It’s a never ending process and you’re allowed to enjoy it.
So what’s the plan for 2019? Personally, I’m not big on shopping bans. I don’t see that working for me to be honest. That would be too much of a restriction. Like I said at the beginning of this post, I would be content if I bought a maximum of 12 items this year. So I’m back to a short list of things that I’m currently interested in. But I’ll get back to you on that some other time!
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are upon us and I am feeling the pressure to indulge. You probably know that I am a big fan of creating lists whether it be a simple grocery shopping list or a list to keep my purchases in check. In this case we’re dealing with the latter. This list should keep me focussed when every website screams: BUY ME! on Friday. If I would be able to buy all of these on sale, that would be great but I wouldn’t mind paying full price for them either in the near future. Some have been on my wish list for quite some time, others are needed to get me through this winter.
I have a few knitted sweaters that I love and will surely wear again this winter. The only downside is, they’re all extremely warm. Much too warm for the office. I’ve been keeping track of this sustainable Dutch brand ever since they launched their first item, the classic parka. I have yet to buy something from them but this crewneck sweater ticks all the boxes and is high on my wish list, on sale or not.
While The Ordinary has been dealing with some controversy, I was very happy with my Buffet serum. I bought it in May and ran out of it no too long ago. I was waiting for their store to open in Amsterdam to check out the other products as well. Beautybay had it on sale last week but I forgot to check out and alas, everything was sold out.
Le Labo’s Santal 33, an absolute classic scent. And an extremely expensive one at that. I got a few samples earlier this year and have been using them sparingly. I dread the day I will run out of them and will have to buy an actual bottle. Of course I don’t have to but the scent is just too good.
Blazers have become my wardrobe staples for the office. Do I need another one? Probably not. Especially since corduroy is all the rage at the moment and I’m not sure it will stand the test of time. Can I still wear this next year? This blazer would look pretty amazing with a white t-shirt, dark blue jeans and black boots though. Hmm…
Okay, so remember this post from last year? A black pair of boots have been on my mind for over a year and I still didn’t bite the bullet. However, these Dr. Martens boots were on sale yesterday with a early Black Friday 20% discount so I decided to go for it. Everyone tells me these will last me many years, once broken in (not looking forward to that).
I doubt Uniqlo takes part in Black Friday but I’ll purchase two of these Heat tech long sleeves anyway, before temperatures drop below zero. I’ve also bought a few organic cotton long sleeves from Dutch brand HEMA as I needed to replace my old ones. I should have waited a week though because there’s a 20% discount at the moment for every three items. Don’t you hate it when that happens?
And last but not least, I’m hoping for a nice H&M discount so I can finally score this flannel duvet cover. Gotta stay warm this winter!
Are you looking forward to Black Friday and/or Cyber Monday or are you going to ignore it as much as you can? If you are looking forward to it, I would love to know what’s on your wish list!
I’m so excited that it’s fall and we’re quickly heading towards winter. I have been handwashing all of my delicate knits and I had my coats dry-cleaned months ago. So I am ready for fall and winter. As usual I compiled a short wish list mostly consisting of items that I could wear all throughout the year with some small adjustments such as a cardigan or tights. None of them are necessary but lately I do feel like I’m a bit stuck in a style rut wearing the same things over and over again. These would likely provide a nice twist on my usual uniform.
A lot of brands sell cashmere these days, some more affordable than others. I like to stick with Uniqlo’s cashmere as I find the quality excellent for the price. I bought a grey sweater two or three years ago but unfortunately it has become much too large for me. I’m leaning towards a v-neck in navy or camel this time.
I’m still not quite sure how I feel about skirts on myself but this one has been growing on me the past couple of months. I believe there are two variations on this particular skirt and I would definitely go for the longer option. For some reason I feel that it won’t work for me but we’ll see once I get the chance to try it on. If it does live up to my expectations I hope I’ll be able to find it second hand on Ebay or Vestiaire Collective. I’ve seen a few being sold as almost new.
My skin has been wonderful lately but I would still like some mild coverage. Just to even out my skin tone and get that dewy look. So I’m looking for a tinted moisturizer. This one from Laura Mercier seems quite nice but slightly expensive. This one from Nars is also very tempting and gets great reviews. If you guys have any experience with either, let me know what you think.
These boots are something I have been thinking about for over a year now (they sold them last year as well). It usually doesn’t snow a lot over here but when it does, weather appropriate footwear is definitely a problem. Every pair that I own is too slippery and I can’t recount the times I suddenly had to grab onto something while walking in a normal pace. Dr Martens crossed my mind as well but I don’t know, these have a more classic and elegant look to them. For these kind of boots anyway.
White t-shirts are part of my uniform. I can honestly say that I wear a white t-shirt at least four days a week. Which is fine but ultimately also a little boring. So this striped t-shirt from A.P.C. would make a nice addition to my wardrobe.
Not pictured above but also very much on my mind: this black coat. I should’ve known better than to try it on. But it happened and it looked great. I might cave if it goes on sale. The end.
