34: Everything I wore this week

heatwave-core!

My AC is still broken and I haven’t been sleeping at home. However, I do have to shoot a lot within my home and thus nearly passed out several times this week from working in an oven. Bear with me as I slowly melt.

On the bright side, my makeup looks cute. This is the blush shade I’m using, and Saie is coming out with a really incredible product on July 10 that I am wearing :) Any guesses?

This has also been the most social and silly week so far this summer. I’ve gone out dancing, had martinis on a Monday, had many a happy hour. I stressed about it at first - despite not having more than two drinks each time, the prospect of alcohol consumption made me anxious. Why am I so quick to react this way? And then I remembered that I literally felt none of that anxiety in Europe this time last year. Just because I’m in Toronto doesn’t mean I can’t have a little vacation-style week?

I also got my nails done - I think my manicurist Sarah outdid herself this time. We played around with the Hermès summer collection with a splash of Bleu Electrique, a limited edition colour from last year that I believe some places still have quantities of (all linked in the photo caption below). I’m not a colourful nail girl by any means, and I prefer subtle nail art if any. So these playful, geometric polka dots felt like the perfect vibe!

Colours used: Vert Aqua, Bleu Electrique, Jaune Pollen, Blanc Orage as base

hand for scale

All that to say, it’s been a very good week for getting dressed. The trick to looking chic in the heat is a scarf or sarong - I feel like I’ve talked about this in past newsletters, singing praises about my Chan Luu sarong. But it really formulates such an easy recipe for getting dressed: scarf skirt + tank top + flip flops. Done. I’ve worked the scarf into outfits in different ways in the following roundup, but I anticipate (with excitement) their presence will increase within the next two months.

And, as per usual, here are the outfits I wore recently and my meditations on them.

1.

Activities/tasks: Brunch, and visiting the Caudalie store in Yorkville for a free scoop of On Third Thought gelato

Outfit description: Polo button down and Polo Play bag, Doen shorts (similar), Bode shoes (can we talk about these half off, very similar Thom Browne shoes?), Giunia necklace, Lié Studio bracelet

Notes: Ah, the start of the heatwave. I was biking but wanted to look cute, so I wore these extra durable Bode opera shoes (they are worth the money, these things are indestructible, unlike my *ahem* jelly shoes. And how cute is this canvas Polo Play bag? The stripes are everything! I got so many compliments on this - the silhouette is reminiscent of the Hermès Picotin but the price tag is not. The perfect little bag to pretend you’re summering in the Hamptons. I felt very sophisticated in this outfit, and the linen shirt ensured I was staying cool.

2.

Activities/tasks: Martinis and basque cake on a Monday

Outfit description: St. Agni top (old, but this is similar), Dries van Noten wrap scarf as skirt (on sale!), J.Crew straw tote, Ayllon ring, Jude fish necklace (size large), similar shoes #1 and #2.

Notes: This is perhaps my favourite outfit I’ve worn this week. I will be honest, I bought the skirt on a whim from 119 Corbo as it was on sale, but I’ve worn it at least three times. So I’ve spared you by sharing just my favourite iteration of this outfit. What ties this all together are the shoes, which are a pair of Amlul sandals I’ve owned for years that sadly aren’t available anymore, but felt so quintessentially Dries when paired with the navy and pink skirt. I love this colour combination - it feels so happy! And amidst the heat wave, this ring felt like wearing a melting ice cube (or cool water droplet).

3.

Activities/tasks: Hair appointment

Outfit description: St. Agni dress (old! This one is similar and on mega sale), J. Crew sandals, J. Crew bag, Chan Luu necklace

Notes: This straw bag has been getting so much air time, it really is the perfect summer bag. And the little fish charm makes it special. This was the height of the heatwave, when the last thing I wanted to do was wear clothes or decide on what to wear. When I’m in that kind of mood, I find myself resorting to this dress.

4.

Activities/tasks: My boyfriend’s dad’s birthday dinner

Outfit description: Zara skirt (from last year), COS tank top (similar here), Gap flip flops, J. Crew embellished straw bag.

Notes: When you meet the family you still want to feel like yourself, but there are extra considerations you take into account. Most of it has to do with coverage, but the joyful pink of this Zara skirt ensured that I still retained some personality and without falling into the trap of being “too much”. Out of all the regions of my body to expose, the high neck and back of the tank top as well as the longer skirt length restrained any showing off to my shoulders, which I deem the most modest of all the areas to show. Don’t forget the nipple covers!

5.

Activities/tasks: Morning meeting with Saie beauty

Outfit description: Enza Costa scarf tied as a halter top, white linen pants (similar here), Giunia fish necklace, J. Crew bag, Dear Frances sandals (old but these are also a huge vibe?)

Notes: First of all, Saie is launching something very exciting that I cannot wait to talk about. I’ve been wearing it whenever I go out. Secondly, this outfit made me feel like a woman! I got so many compliments, and the loosey-goosey roominess of the scarf top meant no unsightly or uncomfortable sweat stains or stickiness. The pop of Yves Klein blue provided enough toe cleavage to make the outfit look less conservative (even though the back was entirely open), making this outfit one that I would call subtle hot (a coin my mother termed).

6.

Activities/tasks: Dinner with Ruby at Martine’s

Outfit description: Line by K. top, Reformation wide leg jeans (these were the closest style I could find), Zara sandals, vintage Dior bag, COS leather jacket, Ayllon necklace.

Notes: The debut of the manicure! I wanted a look that would match the nails, hence this canary yellow top-that-looks-like-a-dress-but-isn’t. I have the matching pants for it, but something about wearing the whole set together felt a little too matching for my mood. So I paired it with jeans and this incredible sandal from Zara that is now CAD$41 and I would be surprised if there’s any sizes left. But the highlight of this outfit is the Dior bag - it’s a Galliano era Malice bag that is so chic and has gorgeous beaded hardware and feels so quintessentially 2000’s (and Galliano). Ruby (my friend who I was having dinner with) spotted this bag at VSP and knew it was special (she’s always right). There’s a treasure trove of Malice bags on Vestiaire, such as this very special pony hair number and butter yellow version (for just $231?!).

And that’s all for now! I’m going to watch the F1 movie tonight.