In an unexpected turn of events, I’ve chosen an outfit filled with cool tones just as we head into fall. I suspect that a hint of nostalgia for the summer months had something to do with the choice of ensemble, but who’s to say.
Nostalgic as I am, however, I am beyond ready for fall. I’m slightly tired of having my makeup melt off in the humidity of Montreal and I’m more than a little excited to be wearing 4 layers again. (With boots, such as these incredible snakeskin beauties that I snagged this summer at a killer price)
I guess this look is the middle ground between these two, very conflicting, tendencies.
There’s something about going to my Grandma’s house – drinking tea and admiring her garden – that make me feel a little more girly and a little more dainty than usual. So when I finally gave in to the uncontrollable urge to buy this dress, I knew there was only one place I wanted to shoot it.
Aritzia Dress, Brandy Melville Choker, BP Hat
Of course, girly-ness reaches a point of discomfort with me. So I had to rough up the look with touches of black, the beat up sneakers, and the velvet choker. Usually, I’m hesitant to toss around black accents with a summery outfit – they can come across as harsh and can ruin an outfit in a second.
But I tried adding the accents to the top and bottom while avoiding the creation of a stark divide across the dress (ie: a big black belt) and I think it worked! The black draws the eyes around the look without overpowering it.
The other accents were natural. The braid prevents overpowering the neck area (imagine my hair, the straps, and the choker – a disaster in the making) in what’s supposed to be a light look. Meanwhile, the rose-gold sunglasses are a subtle way to bring in some color and shine.
The teacup is half for fun and half for my caffeine fix.
Citizens of Humanity Jeans / Aritzia Top / Brandy Melville Chambray / Vans
These jeans spoke to me on an emotional level, and despite their seeming lack of versatility, I had to have them. But, to my pleasant surprise, I have actually been able to style them a variety of ways! This has to be one of my favorites.
As you know, I’ve been a fan of denim on denim for a while now. I even published a post on how to make it your own! I love this short sleeved chambray shirt because it gives me the ability to do my beloved Canadian tuxedo look in the heat of the summer without melting into a big puddle of blue.
I also have to admit, all the blue denim I’ve been wearing these days really goes well with the environment here in Vancouver. Everything is either blue or green here – a refreshing look from my usual greys and browns in Montreal or my golds in California!
These shoes simply didn’t get enough love on the blog when it was warm enough to wear flats. So I’m going to wear them in the fall at the cost of warm feet. With that said, it wasn’t really very cold when we shot these pictures.
Shoes, Free People
Now that you’ve seen a close up of my babies, I can now tell you that this post is not about these shoes. It’s about Canadian Tuxedos, and how I’m making a case for them.
Jeans, Topshop / Leather Jacket, AllSaints
I’ll wear a denim jacket over jeans and I’ll consistently get snide remarks and judgmental looks from “fashionable” girls on campus. Have some creativity, yeh? Personally, I don’t see the harm in wearing man’s greatest invention on the top and the bottom. I mean, sets are in, right? Why aren’t those people getting flack?!
To me, there’s just something so ~cool, americana, effortless, laid-back, name your adjective~ about an all denim look.
Scarf, Free People / Shirt, Brandy Melville
Of course, if you’re an entry level Canadian Tuxedo-wearer unlike myself, take some tips from this outfit to ease into the look:
(1) Different colored denim – you’ve heard it before, and I’ll say it again. *Warning* black denim with blue denim does not count as a Canadian tux in my books, but it does still look amazing, so you do you.
(2) Majorly accessorize. Whether it be a scarf, fussy bag, or statement shoes (I’ve got all 3 on here), it will definitely present the denim-on-denim look as a canvas on which you’ve created a piece of accessory art, taking away from the denim-on-denim-ness.
(3) If you’re not up for the denim jacket yet, try a denim shirt with a leather jacket on top! I definitely believe that a denim shirt counts towards this trend, and a leather jacket is a great way to make this statement look a little more subdued. But you’re wearing a leather jacket, so you’ll definitely still look ace.
