To Dress or Not to Dress?

A wise friend once said to me “Three things tell the truth: wine, young children and leggings.”

My sister, the person who introduced me to Lululemon 13 years ago, declared a couple years back that she was going to make an effort to get dressed (meaning no yoga pants) every day and she politely suggested I do the same. I thought she was on to something so I, too, decided that I would put together actual outfits that don’t consist of stretchy fabric and athletic shoes.

I don’t know about you but attempting to be stylish can be exhausting some days.

Do I attempt Stitch Fix again for inspiration or go with tried and true denim? Love these jeans, btw, C of H Emerson Skinny Boyfriend.

Do I throw in my fave camo t-shirt or a cozy sweatshirt?

Something a little dressier?

I LOVE fake layering!

And then there’s which shoes to wear with what. I love flats and sneakers but feel better in even the slightest heel.

Don’t get me wrong, I completely understand that these decisions are high-grade problems and I’m thankful to have them!

Today, however, I couldn’t decide. See photo below… 😂. Sorry, sis.

linking up with: Curly Crafty Mom, Shelbee on the Edge, Jaymie Ashcraft, Fashion Should Be Fun, A Labour of Life, Sincerely Paula, Nancy’s Fashion Style, A Little Bit of Everything, Jo-Lynne Shane, Bright on a Budget, Rachel the Hat, Sheelagoh, Beauty101 by Lisa, Fine Whatever, More Pieces of Me, Not Dressed as Lamb, The Glam Adventure, Not Dead Yet Style, Style Nudge, Elegantly Dressed and Stylish, The Pleated Poppy, Get Your Pretty On, Shopping My Closet, The Mummy Chronicles, The Blended Blog, Classy Yet Trendy, Posh Classy Mom, Foxy’s Domestic Side, Beauty by Miss L, The Fashion Canvas

To have, or not to have…

Are there certain things in your closet that you cannot live without?   I know I have my go to clothes (grey, anyone?). Seriously though, I think we all have some items that are our go to, and we would be lost without them.   This week’s list from the Monday Listicles is 10 must haves in your wardrobe.   I could easily come up with 10 items on my own, but I decided to share this list with my sister.

My list:

1. Hunter Rain Boots – I live in Vancouver – need I say more ?
2. Rag & Bone jeans – so comfortable and so worth the investment
3. Lululemon running pants – if only they would help me run faster and longer
4. White t-shirts – I believe you can never have too many in your closet
5. Grey cardigan – it just goes with everything

 

My sister’s list:

1. North Face long grey raincoat – living in Seattle, need I say more?
2. Asics Gel Kayano running shoes – so at least my feet are comfortable while I run
3. Lululemon Wunder Under Crop pants – just because
4. AG skinny jeans – everyone needs skinny jeans that make you feel great
5. Assorted long tank tops in grey, white, black and natural – they go with everything

 

 

The 10 things we listed are basics to living where we live.  Can you imagine our must have wardrobe list if we lived in Hawaii, Greece or Icleand?  Hmm….

 

 

50 Shades

It wasn’t the book, 50 Shades of Grey, but it was the 50 shades of grey in our wardrobes that made us start this blog.  It was Springtime, and we were coming off of a long Winter season of wearing too much grey.  I was personally tired of that look.   Fast forward 6 months and the weather is changing again.  It is quickly becoming Fall, and I find I am falling (get it, Fall-ing) back into old habits.

I can’t help it, but I’m wearing grey.   It started with a cardigan, then a sweater, Lululemon sweatpants, a tshirt, Toms, and Converse runners.  It’s easy and I am gravitating towards it like the rain on a cloudy day in Vancouver.  On a positive note, I’m trying to mix it up with coloured denim like this:

I am remembering back to the Spring when my sister and I started our 50 day challenge.  It was a pretty easy time to ease the grey out of our wardrobe, but now that Fall is here?  Well, that’s a real challenge.

By no means am I suggesting we start a new 50 days of no grey (because I would fail miserably), but I am going to be watching how many shades of  grey I wear over the next few months.

 

linking up with: The Pleated Poppy and Get Your Pretty On

A Three Hour Tour

A Three Hour Tour? What does that phrase mean to you ? Keep reading…

Sometime during the summer, a boat cruise was planned for this past weekend. It was with 15 friends and acquaintances and was a way to hang out, and see Vancouver from a different perspective. Thankfully, the weather this past week has been unusually warm for the Lower Mainland, and we were all looking forward to relaxing in the sun. Unfortunately for us, the fog (yes, fog) rolled in early that day and decided to stay for our boat trip.

This group wasn’t about to let a little fog spoil their trip, so off we headed for a three hour tour (cue the music) on a boat that did resemble the SS Minnow, just a little bit. These similarities got me to thinking about that fateful trip. Thankfully, our trip was filled with wine, food, and laughs, and no we did not end up on a deserted island.

Knowing what to wear on a boat in the fog had a few of us puzzled. I pulled together this sort of nautical look with a Lululemon striped top, white jeans, flats in a Tiffany blue colour, and a jean jacket for added warmth.

It worked. I spent 90%of the trip out on the deck and felt comfortable enough with the breeze and cool air.

The weather didn’t get that rough and the tiny ship was not tossed. The fearless crew Captain kept us out of the way of a large tanker (this really happened) and brought us safely back to dock.

Fall is definitely in the air and this was a fun way to send off summer.

Cue the music to the Gilligan’s Island theme song (if you didn’t already guess my references).

linking up with Get Your Pretty On and Suburbs Mama and The Pleated Poppy

Fashion fatigue ?

My style of last week was no style at all and I looked like I was going to work out every day (which I didn’t). Seriously though, Monday through Thursday I had such a hard time getting motivated to put any effort into getting dressed. I’m not sure why, but I guess I was feeling fashion fatigue?

I blame Lululemon.  They have been in the news a lot recently, but for years, I have had a love/hate relationship with them.  I guess last week, we were on good terms since I wore my Lululemon Studio Crop pants every day, albeit with a different t-shirt, but the look was pretty much the same.  Boring, yet comfortable.

This week, I am making an effort and I think it is paying off.

I love my new coloured pants (which I found at Marshalls) with the denim shirt (thanks, sis) and my cute floral flats.  I have also stocked up on new white t-shirts which go with everything.   I think I’ll try and save my workout clothes for my workouts!

Weekend round up

Since this project is mainly about clothes, I thought I should post some pictures from my weekend. Yes, you will see a bit of grey, but otherwise there is some colour!

This weekend, I wore my new fav Hudson jeans most of the time and switched up the tops and scarfs.

The first photo shows a blue and white striped cardigan that I found at J Crew outlet. In the second photo, I have on my fav Lululemon sweat pants and yes, they are grey and oh so comfortable! The third photo is with my Pantone inspired boyfriend shirt and Toms. Lastly, I re-worked the first outfit by changing the to a jacket but keeping the scarf which has several great shades of blue.

I even had 2 compliments on the colours I was wearing and this never happened while I wore grey. Hmmmm. Things that make you say hmmmm…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

These Shoes Were Made…for me.

If you haven’t gathered from a couple of my earlier posts, I love to wear athletic gear/loungewear/workout clothes whether or not I’m going to exercise. All week, like so many, I get dressed up and go to work. And the first thing I do when I get home is change into something comfortable. The second thing I do is wash off my makeup but that’s a different post.
I also love tennis shoes. I laugh when I write that because in Canada you call them “runners” and I used to as well. Then I moved to the U.S. and received a blank stare when I asked for a recommendation as to where to buy such shoes. The term “tennis shoes” makes me really laugh. Hardly anyone I know plays tennis. My kids call them that, having grown up here and not knowing any different. They also say pah-sta instead of pasta which drives me crazy but that’s another post as well.
Anyways, I find I have three categories of tennis shoes. I wear one brand of tennis shoes for running. I like Asics Gel Kayano for that. I wear another style for wearing with skinny jeans and leggings and I like Converse for that. The in-between shoes are for wearing with my Lulus and boot-cut jeans (which Americans like to do as well and I’m trying to fit in). Asics are too sporty and I feel unfeminine in Converse and wider legged jeans. Don’t ask. It is what it is.
So, I’ve been on a hunt for a tennis shoe to fit this requirement. I also thought it appropriate that it fit the No-Gray requirement. And today I found it! Only I had to go to three stores to find my size but when I did I was so happy I wore them out of the store…with my Lulus…and I did not play tennis.

Things I Love

Three things have gotten my Monday morning off to a great start!
First, the sun burned off the fog and it is a beautiful day. Second, my fave pink long-sleeved Lulu running shirt was fresh and clean out of the laundry. Pink. I excel at wearing colorful workout wear. Third, I’m loving my Nike Fuelband for keeping tabs on my activity throughout the day. I’m pretty sure it’s not completely accurate but it is a motivator and that helps. Kind of like putting on my fave PINK running shirt. It motivates me to get out there.

Grey, grey go away!

The clouds are gone and the sun is out!

Today I love what I’m wearing. Starting with, my new Hudson cropped jeans, striped lululemon shirt, my new scarf (which I showed in an earlier post) and the icing on the cake, my new flats in a colour I call Tiffany blue.

Happy clothes, happy mood!