Well hello! It’s been a little while, yet again, and I hope you’ve been keeping well. I’ve been feeling a little bit stuck in a rut lately, but the weather is ever so slowly starting to warm up a little bit, and I’m starting to get cautiously optimistic for the summertime. In an effort to help things feel a little less uncertain, I’ve been daydreaming about all the things I’d like to do once things open up again (whenever that may be for us here in Canada), and in turn, all the things I’d like to wear to said activities. I spoke about this a bit in my last post, but I’ve been thinking about my wardrobe wishlist for the season and how to make myself feel more excited about getting dressed again for an inevitable time when wearing the same worn out jeans every single day is no longer acceptable.
If there’s one thing my mom has imbued in me when it comes to my wardrobe, it’s to have versatile pieces that mix seamlessly with each other. My summer wardrobe, I’ve realized, has been lacking some of this; lots of clashing loud prints, a ton of bottoms but no tops to match, and a whole lot of crop tops that were fun in university but feel much less appropriate now.
I decided to change that, and recently invested in an absolutely gorgeous linen set for the summertime, from a brand in British Columbia called Shelter. If you’re looking to invest in some linen pieces as well, I seriously can’t recommend the brand enough. Everything they do is handmade in their studio on Vancouver Island, and I’m just so impressed by the quality of the pieces.
All of Shelter’s pieces come in a handful of core and seasonal colours, which makes it super easy to create a little matching set like I’ve done here. The pants are a classic wide-leg shape, the top a sleeveless boatneck shell, and they fit the versatility memo to a tee. Ever since the pieces came in, I’ve been dreaming up all of the different ways I can mix and match the pieces, and all the different occasions they will see me through. With this in mind, I thought I’d talk you through a few of the ways I’m styling these pieces.
First up, the full set together. The pieces are a perfect blank canvas, and together just give such a dinner-al-fresco vibe. I’ve paired them with my vintage woven bag via Bohème Goods, and my favourite gladiator sandals from Loeffler Randall, both of which I’ve had for years and years. I’m also imagining this look with an indigo-coloured denim chore jacket for evenings, or with sneakers for a more casual vibe. Again, the versatility!
Next is a look I would wear on a beach vacation: Mexico, the south of Italy, Spain, and Greece would all do, but at this point I’m not picky. The top is this buttery yellow shade that looks so good with a tan (which I am currently very far removed from). It’s from Everlane and I’ve had it for years now, I just think it looks so cool styled in a bunch of different ways. The sandals are Ancient Greek Sandals that I’m obsessed with, that I picked up last year in an SSENSE sale for a crazy deal. Again, they just look so cool with a bunch of different looks. If I were truly going to a beach, I’d maybe swap the sandals for Birkenstocks, and the bag for a tote of some sort. I think that’s part of the beauty of having a wardrobe full of good quality staples. Just switching out your accessories makes a completely different look for a whole new occasion.
Third is an outfit I would absolutely love to wear on a night out to a patio with friends. How exotic does that sound right about now, in this nth stage of lockdown we’re in here in Ontario? Anyways, I think this look just exemplifies how versatile these pieces are, to go straight from the beach to a dinner out. This is an outfit I never would have paired together prior to adding these pants to my wardrobe, and I think they just tie the whole thing together.
The leather jacket is super old from All Saints, and I love the edge it lends to the linen pants. The tank is a staple piece for me (and evidently lots of girls in Toronto) from Aritzia. I have it in a couple of colourways, in the cropped length and the regular length shown here, and they all get so much mileage. The bag is vintage Coach, and snake sandals are Intentionally Blank. Again, I just love how these simple pants can be mixed and matched in so many ways, and I think this combo with the leather is a little bit unexpected as well.
Lastly is a look I would so love to be wearing whilst roaming the streets of Paris. The shell top is such a good basic and is just so versatile (I feel like such a broken record!); I think I’ll be able to get away with it into autumn as well with a chore jacket or trench coat thrown over top. It’s got a bit of a cropped length so it’s perfect for us petites, but it’s still long enough to be tucked into high waisted jeans. These are the Levi’s Ribcage Straight Ankle, and while I love the cut, I’ve been waffling back and forth on cutting them an inch or two shorter. Is there such a thing as having too many pairs of raw hem jeans? The bag is Cult Gaia from a few years back, and lends the outfit a bit of Parisian charm. Sandals are my trusty St. Agni slides that have yet to leave the apartment, and the silk scarf is from Tory Burch. I’ve been looking into expanding my silk scarf collection as I just love the touch of playfulness they add to an outfit. Recommendations welcome!
And that’s all she wrote! As I approach my mid-twenties (!) all too quickly, versatility really has become key for me, and these linen separates do the job beautifully. They’ll be with me for years to come, and really are the perfect blank canvas.
Mejuri & Wolf Circus jewellery throughout.
