Winter Fest

Featured

Posted on by
Reply

This year for Christmas, I received heated socks. And last year, I got a pair of heated mittens – I guess that my transformation into an outdoorswoman is complete.

As I have told you before, I live minutes away from a national park and it took the COVID pandemic for me to make hiking there a weekly activity. And as I started hiking more and more, I noticed that what was stopping me from truly enjoying myself was not having the proper gear. It just isn’t fun to end a hike with blisters all over your feet. It’s even less fun when you feel like you are minutes away from losing a toe due to frostbite. But let’s be honest, it’s more than the fear of hypothermia that was keeping me away from parks, ski slopes and lakes. Like many others in the black community, I had bought into the narrative that the outdoors wasn’t my thing.

Before 2020, wellness for me involved spending money on myself: getting my nails done, meeting friends up for brunch, going shopping, and grabbing drinks after a long work week. I certainly didn’t equate wellness with going for a hike on a snowy trail in the middle of February. I guess I always knew that getting outside could improve one’s health and well-being. It’s not hard to believe the many studies that have shown that it increases physical activity; lowers blood pressure; improves social interaction; decreases levels of stress and anxiety. But let it be the advertising or my own beliefs, I – like many others – had managed to convince myself that the outdoors were not for me. I didn’t see how doing something physical could bring me the inner peace I was searching for. I didn’t know that it would lead me to connect and engage with others in a way I never had. I now know.

While getting outside benefits everyone, the following public service announcement is particularly aimed at my people. With Black History Month fast approaching, how about we not only celebrate our ancestors and our heroes but also make our mental and physical health a priority by getting out there? Unsure about where to go or what to do? Check out Hike MTL’s Blk WinterFest. During the whole month of February, they will be offering black Canadians of all ages the opportunity to partake in a variety of winter activities in a fun, safe and inclusive environment.

So not afraid of heights? How about giving ice climbing – yes, ice climbing, downhill skiing or snowboarding a try? Would rather stay grounded? You might want to give snowshoeing, cross-country skiing or OAC skiing – a mix between skiing and snowshoeing a shot. Whatever you decide on, just know that all these experiences have been curated to get us moving all the while challenging some of our deep-rooted prejudices when it comes to the outdoors.

See you out there. And yes, I’ll be wearing my matching heated mitts and socks.

✌🏾 Sergelyne

Take a hike

Featured

Posted on by
Reply

Remember when I said that I had started running? Well, I stopped. Not stopped stopped – it was more of a slow stop: there were few “it’s too hot to go for a run”, many “I just got my hair done, so I don’t want to mess it up” and some “it’s wayyyyy too cold to go out today”.

One thing I did pick up – and ultimately stuck with – during the pandemic is walking. Confession: I live at the base of a mountain. And yet, before Covid, you couldn’t pay me to go on the trails. But eh, that’s what the past two years have been all about: discovering new hobbies! Baking was definitely out of the question because the goal was to get out of my house. And so, a couple of girlfriends and I started meeting up to go on walks – and the occasional proper hike.

What started as occasional thing turned into a solid commitment. So imagine my joy when I came across Hike Mtl, a diversity and inclusion outdoors club.

As a black person, you don’t see a lot of people that look like you in these spaces, or in advertising. As an outdoor enthusiast I found a need to create a safe and inclusive space. A space that inspires and encourages black, racialized and marginalized people to get outdoors. A space for everyone to take advantage of nature’s therapeutic benefits.

The club’s founder, Jamillah Jean, had me at hello. While I enjoy my solo lunchtime walk, it’s just as nice to go out there with a few kindred spirits.

Right about now, I’m probably making my way down the top of Mont-Royal. Or I’m sitting by Sir George-Étienne Cartier’s monument, planning my next outing with the other members. Either way, I’m taking care of myself – mentally and physically.

Walking, you should give it a try. It’s the new chicken soup for the soul.

✌🏾 Sergelyne

“Shop with intent,” they said.

Featured

Posted on by
Reply

Last month, I told you that I had started selling some of my clothes that no longer fit – let it be my body or my style – on Poshmark. The assignment was clear: make some extra cash. I, of course, misunderstood said assignment.

Everyone – minimalists and maximalists alike – will tell you the same thing: shop with intent, shop with a list. So that’s what I did. I went in looking for a bargain. And while looking for good deals, I found myself going down a rabbit hole.

So here’s some of what I’ve gotten in the past few months:

1- Something woven: To know me is to know that I’m a bag lady – which is not to say that I haven’t refined my collection. The idea was to keep only one purse per style, plus any – ok fine, all of the investment pieces. Even the bags I don’t use anymore. This means that I’ve retired my Speedy, but since I see retirement the same way Jay-Z does, there’s always a chance for a comeback. All this to say that after taking inventory of the bags I had left, I realized that I didn’t have a handheld everyday bag in a decent size. You know: not too big, not too small. So I got this Club Monaco navy woven tote.

Now, I normally would have gone with a black or tan purse, but it reminded me of a Bottega intrecciato tote. Plus, it was brand new, so at $22, it was a no-brainer. FYI, the smaller version is still for sale.

2- Something leather: As you know I turned 40 this year. I had visions of wearing leather – a leather skirt or leather pants – at my birthday celebration and therefore became obsessed with finding the perfect leather item. Now, no way was I going to drop the $500 Massimo Dutti is asking for. And while I know that vegan leather is all the rage, I just can’t. I don’t like the feel of them. I don’t like the look of them. And the look of them sure doesn’t like me. What makes me say that? Aritzia and Zara do sell many models at a reasonable price. But unfortunately, finding pants at these two stores has always been quite a journey.

So I looked for something on the secondhand market. I did find a pair of Danier leather pants in excellent used condition for less than $40. But I had to resell them – at a loss – because they didn’t fit. It isn’t just Aritzia and Zara that have something against le bum. Leather pants are pants made out of leather, ie. extra tricky to pull off. I will not be making that mistake again.

I did get a Danier leather skirt instead this month. Bon, it has a high-low hem and not exactly what I wanted, but I got it for a great price ($25) and it fit me perfectly. This is funny because this time I applied a lesson learned from my ill-fitting leather pants: it’s better to overshoot and get them fixed after. The joke’s on me, I guess…

3- Something Miu Miu: Speaking of making a list, these wedges were not on my list, but I couldn’t resist. They were listed as being in EUC (excellent used condition – three letters/words that are very sought after in the resale market) and designed by Miuccia Prada. Need I say more?

I’ve been an espadrilles girl – whatever that means – for the longest time. I’ve owned this one navy same pair for years and then two years ago I finally took the plunge and invested in the quintessential pair of espadrilles, Castañer – only to wear them less than five times. To be honest, I can only remember wearing twice: once in Costa Rica before the pandemic and once this past summer. I don’t know why I got them with a wedge so high and, of all colors, in ivory…

Anyhow, here’s to hoping that I am a wedge girl and just hoping to become one.

So these three items were my best secondhand purchases. Whether they were actually on my wish list or not, they’re the ones I look forward to building an outfit around and wearing. Don’t worry, I’ll talk about the letdowns in a later post.

Oh, by the way, the only leather I wore on my birthday was some old Nine West leather pumps that survived the great purge.

Hope you all had a restful holiday.

✌🏾 Sergelyne

To Black Friday or not to Black Friday…

Featured

Posted on by
Reply

Black Friday is – well, one could say that any sale is my Achilles’ heel. Je réponds présente à chaque fois. That being said, I’m working on it.

That’s because the pandemic made it hard for me to justify buying stuff. No matter how great the dress looked on me or how much of a discount COS was offering, it just felt pointless. I’m the first one to say that I dress for myself. Yes, for myself to go somewhere.

That is not to say that I didn’t have the urge to buy. As rational as this behaviour might seem – let’s not buy things that you don’t need – the pandemic also highlighted that I’m an emotional shopper. 2020 was all about survival: that’s probably why I can’t recall buying any clothing item that wasn’t an absolute necessity from March until December. Things now are much different though: this past year has thrown me for a loop. Not being able to see my friends and family at will, working from home, being alone for most of the day, not being able to make clear mid- or long-term plans – all of it has been difficult for me. So I resumed shopping because it’s something that I can do from home while going to the mall gives me a respite from being at home 24/7. Plus, I enjoy shopping alone.

Thankfully, being stuck at home made me realize that I needed to find a more qualified therapist.

That explains why after virtually dog-earing many sweaters on aritzia.com and a few pairs of boots on theoutnet.com, I only got a black blazer and a headband. It’s all I really want – I mean, need.

Double-breasted blazer

Photos by Club Monaco
Snow Bunny headband

Photos by Aritzia

Oh by the way, should you want/need a belt, my beloved Lecce is on sale – of course, it is – at SSENSE. You’re welcome.

✌🏾Sergelyne

I bought a belt

Featured

Posted on by
2
Isabel Marant Khaki Lecce belt

Photo provided by SSENSE

I’m not a belt person. Hold on, does such a person even exist? Anyhow, I’ve owned belts before but I’ve never been excited about belts the way I get excited about shoes, bags, watches or even scarves… Plus everything I used to wear was oversized and shapeless – basically potato sacks. Go ahead, ask my husband, he’ll tell you. Need further proof? Check out this past post. Potato sacks, the reason why I never really felt the need for a nice belt before.

That being said, the past five years have tested my love of potato sacks: my body had started to change pre-baby and continued on changing post-baby. Have no fear: I’m not here to vilify my body. It is what it is: I’ve gained weight. And now I fully understand the need to – actually no, the power of a defined waist.

I guess I should have named this post “I invested in a designer belt for my birthday” because I definitely spent more on it than I should have. But since one only turns forty once… Many have the Loewe Obi belt on their wish list – the ultimate waist cincher if you ask me. However I do not have Loewe money. Plus, that belt can’t be that comfortable seating down. That’s why I went with the Isabel Marant Lecce. To no ones’ surprise, it took me forever to decide which colour to go with. I’ve had for 2 months now and I’m still not sure that I pick the right one. Entre bordeaux, khaki, marron et noir, mon coeur vacillait… I ended going with the khaki one. It’s not black, but goes with black. Perfect, right?

So here I am at 40 with an overpriced belt that I’m hoping will cinch my waist back to the early 00s. Here’s to hoping…

“Instead of a buckle, Isabel Marant’s ‘Lecce’ belt coolly fastens with a wraparound knot that makes adjusting the size so easy.” – NET-A-PORTER’s editor’s notes

I really wished that mine came with instructions because it takes me a good 10 minutes to tie and yet it looks nothing like this on me…

Photos provided by NET-A-PORTER

✌🏾 Sergelyne

Fall uniform

Featured

Posted on by
Reply

Short PSA: I posted my draft by mistake around noon. This is the real post. Thanks to those of you who’ll take the time to read me twice.

If last Wednesday’s post was all about la-la land, this one is very much grounded in reality. This is what I’ve actually bought and will be wearing this fall.

Much like a lot of people who are still working from home, the days of wearing old leggings and stained sweaters are behind me. I just couldn’t do lounge wear 24/7 anymore – it was affecting my mood. I either had to start investing in cashmere leggings (and we’re back to la-la land) or resume wearing my normal work clothes. I really needed to get dress in the morning – especially in winter. The weather is dreary enough without me looking like the grim reaper.

And then summer came. And getting dressed was no longer something I did to stay sane, but rather something I did because since we only get 3 months of warm weather in Montréal, there was NO WAY I was spending them in my holey sweats. I still had nowhere to go, but at least I looked good for my computer.

For Fall, I knew I wanted to replace my linen shirts with (surprise surprise) wool sweaters and my high-waisted shorts with jeans. With Totême being out of the question (I stopped teaching, but someone at the government still signs my pay check), I turned to some valeurs sures: Club Monaco, Banana Republic, Aritzia and Uniqlo.

So here’s some of what I wore for my computer last week and what I plan of wearing during the colder months.

Uniqlo Soufflé yarn mock neck sweater, (old) Club Monaco Alessia corduroy
Banana Republic cardigan sweater, (old) Citizens of Humanity jeans, 2017 Nike Air Max 97 Silver Bullet
On weekdays, should you bump into me on my daily walks on Mont-Bruno, this is most likely what I look like. I take athleisure to a whole new level…

(Old) Eileen Fisher Stand Collar Cocoon Coat, Echo scarf, HM shirt, Stance socks and (destroyed) Mizuno sneakers
Uniqlo soufflé yarn mock neck sweater – Have no fear, I did – nor would I ever – not get in light blue. But if blue is your thing, know that it comes in blue. And in heather grey and in tan and in cream. And of course, in black.

Photo provided by Uniqlo
The High rise Skinny Cord – I like this new version even more than mine, because they have slightly wider leg opening and they’re cropped (l had to get my tailor to shortened mine).

Photo provided by Club Monaco
The Silver Bullet is the only pair of sneakers that one – ok fine – that I need to own. Except maybe for a ball gown, they work with any outfit in any colour. I will forever regret not owning an original pair from 1997, but I was there in 2017 and I’ll be there for its 25th anniversary next year.

Photo by Matt Martin
Here’s the updated version of my coat: Eggshell recycled nylon hooded coat.
If you ask me, Eileen Fisher should be any grown woman’s go-to norm-core brand.

Photo provided by Eileen Fisher.

As you can see comfort is the word and my love of all things black has been challenged… if only slightly.

✌🏾Sergelyne

Tale of a coat

Featured

Posted on by
2

I’ve parted ways with my beloved Canada Goose parka. I loved that coat as much as one can love an inanimated object. Still, after a decade, we had to part ways.

Ok, full disclosure: it no longer fitted me. When I purchased it, I told everyone that it was the last winter coat I was ever going to buy! I figured that a $600 parka with a lifetime guarantee was bound to last me a lifetime. Clearly, I didn’t account for the weight gain… Anyhow, since those parkas retain their value, I sold it this past August. May it live on for another decade…

I really wanted to get another Canada Goose – ideally a calf-length parka. But as you know, their prices are now as steep as their coats are warm… So thank you, but next.

So my Trillium parka has been replaced by the long version of Aritzia’s Super Puff. Now, seeing how it gets rave reviews year after year, you might think that this decision was an easy one. Ce serait très mal me connaître… Back in September, after much deliberation, I had settled on it. I liked its price and I figured that getting it in black was a sure bet. But then two weeks ago, I saw the Powder Parka in dark olive and it was love at first sight. So I bought it in an extra-small and it was perfect. Perfect to wear over a t-shirt, that it. So I exchanged it for a small. The small was also perfect… for someone else. On paper, the Powder Parker has a lot going for it: it has a great temperature rating and it’s water- and wind-proof. And it comes in nicer colours than the Super Puff. But I found it quite heavy. Plus, it’s noisy: the fabric makes a weird swoosh sound when the sleeves rub against the rest of the coat. I really wanted to love it, but I ended up exchanging it as well.

So it was back to my original plan. It might not be the most exciting puffer out there – it’s actually quite basic. But strangely enough, I get the hype around it: it does what it needs to do. It’s simple and to the point – just the way I like do dress. My only regret is that it doesn’t come in dark olive.

Photo provided by aritzia.com
Photo provided by aritzia.com

Well, let me not speak too soon: temperatures here have yet to dip below 0° C. Alors à suivre.

✌🏾Sergelyne

Totême

Featured

Posted on by
1

As a native Montrealer, I live for the summer. But as an avid fashion lover, I know that Fall is where it’s at.

Photo provided by int.toteme-studio.com
Photo provided by int.toteme-studio.com
Photo provided by int.toteme-studio.com

And in terms of great timeless Fall pieces, Totême is where it’s at. With their raison d’être being the exploration of the “appeal of a modern uniform through distinct design cues, meticulous craftsmanship, and methodical repetition”, this Swedish brand was surely going to make a fan out of me.

So while many fashion girls are Olsen twins stans, I’m team Totême. Case in point: on any given week, I dedicate a few of my Instagram stories to their pieces. Let me share what I’ve added to my “cart” since September. You read right, September – this blog might be part fantasy, but Totême prices are definitely real!

Photo provided by int.toteme-studio.com
Photo provided by int.toteme-studio.com
Photo provided by int.toteme-studio.com
Photo provided by int.toteme-studio.com
Photo provided by int.toteme-studio.com
Photo provided by int.toteme-studio.com
Photo provided by int.toteme-studio.com

Oh, by the way, you might have noticed a slight switch in my colour palette. There’ll be more on that later…

✌🏾 Sergelyne

I’m ready to shape shift.

Featured

Posted on by
Reply
Photo provided by radswan.co.uk

Big and bouncy, with loose curls: that’s my idea of perfect hair.

The only problem is that hair like that takes time and dedication. Achieving that look was already a feat when my hair was relaxed, it’s even more of a workout now that I’m natural. Washing, blow drying, straightening and curling my thick 4C hair can sometimes feel like a part time job. One I don’t care for, nor did I ask for.

Still once in a while, I dedicated three hours to my hair, in the hopes of leaving the house with big bouncy loose curls. How many time have I achieved my desired look lately? Not once. I’ve blamed my blow-dryer, my straightener, my thick hair when the only one who’s really to blame is my talentless hairstylist, me.

A few year ago, I came across Frédérique Harrel – Freddie, pour les intimes – on Instagram. Something about her personal style – and yes, her hair – automatically drew me in. It is perfection: carefree, but also very intentional. But mostly, it is unapologetically black. It reminds me of Diana Ross’s hair – only more attainable.

Hair is where you get to be loud, where you can express your multiplicity. (Freddie Harrel)

Photo provided by Kobal/Shutterstock
Photo provided by Paul Natkin/Getty Images
Photo provided by Frédérique Harrel/RadSwan

Only it’s not her natural hair. Harrel wears hair extensions and wigs or, as she now calls them, RadShapes. When I first started following her, she had her own line of clip-in extensions that followed the 3C-4C curl pattern of black hair called Big Hair No Care. While her hair line has since changed name to become RadSwan, its mission remained the same: to offer hair that black women wouldn’t have to spend a ridiculous amount of time caring for or spend too much money on. Harrel has also mentioned several times that she no longer wanted human hair extensions as she felt grossed out by the reports she’d hear about women being abused in the sourcing process. All of her RadShapes are therefore made with high quality synthetic hair.

I’ve never been a wig girl myself, something about them always turned me off. Let it be the price or the necessary upkeep, I’d admire them from afar, convinced that they were not for me. But those RadShapes got me intrigued. Intrigued enough to want to give them a try…

Now only time will tell if I actually commit. But after having relaxed my hair, after giving weaves a try and after occasionally sporting braids, I finally feel ready to embark in the final stage of my hair evolution. Don’t worry, I’ll keep you posted. Unless I get one in the winter – we all know that I don’t blog in the winter.

My perfect hair on a perfect day, my engagement shoot. Back when my hair was relaxed and my hairstylist more adept.
Photo provided by Fusion Photography
Speaking of perfection, this particular picture was taken right before a pigeon defecated on my head…
Photo provided by Fusion Photography

✌🏾 Sergelyne

There Is Apparently No Going Back to the Way It Was

Featured

Posted on by
Reply

Last week, Sarah Rutson, a former buyer for Lane Crawford and for Net-a-Porter announced that she was getting rid of about 30 years worth of clothes.

The reasoning behind such a purge? In short, Rutson has said that knowing that there will no going back to pre-lockdown times led to the decision to clean out her closet.

All in black – just the way I like my girls.
Photo provided by Getty images
Photo provided by Getty Imagee
But if one must wear colour…
Photo provided by Philip Oh
Enough said.
Photo provided by Style du Monde
When you know, you know.
Photo provided by Larry Busacca/Getty Images

I do not get it. She is, as American Vogue Senior Fashion News Writer Emily Farra puts it, an OG street style icon. So lockdown or no lockdown, I cannot imagine parting with such superb pieces of clothing. Don’t Zoom calls have a video option? Why can’t that Givenchy jacket be worn then?

Regardless, she is parting with it and with so much more – it seems like no designer was spared. So if you are on the hunt for some Alber Elbaz-era Lanvin runway pieces (!!), for that infamous red and navy striped Dries Van Noten blazer or for the metallic pink heart-printed Gucci skirt pictured above, check out The RealReal in a few weeks.

That being said, if you are like me and cannot afford any of it, but you still want to better understand the logic behind such a massive closet cleanup, I suggest reading Farra’s interview with Rutson for American Vogue.

Seat At The Table

Featured

Posted on by
Reply

Starting August 27th, two women whom I have been following for a while now – Martine St-Victor and Isabelle Racicot – are back with their podcast Seat at the table. This season again, they will be interviewing and talking to several big names in the world of pop culture and media.

That being said, with everything that has been going on and as this teaser will show you, their second season promises to be about more than that.

I want to talk about it. But I don’t want to talk about it 24/7. But how can I talk about something else?

So the table has been set and the meal promises to be exquisite.

Rajni Jacques talks wellness

Featured

Posted on by
Reply

And while we are on the topic of wellness, check out this interview that Prima Magazine did with the Fashion Director of Allure, Rajni Jacques. In it, she discusses her views on the concept of wellness and how she practices self-care.

To me wellbeing means having a sense of self and a sense of peace.

What is wellness?

Featured

Posted on by
Reply

Upon realizing that I had resumed blogging, a friend asked which purse I was now eyeing. Although what I wanted to reply was “There is this really nice navy croc-embossed clutch which is understated and timeless – defintely a win-win in my book. It is made by a design house I have recently discovered called Cuyana“, I know that the logical answer is “None. What use would I have for a new purse right now?” But that would have been a lie because although I have been cooped up indoors since March, I still managed to add two new purses to my collection. A tote for work – when will I actually going back to work? I do not know. And a waist pack that will be perfect for brunch or a night out – when will I get to show it off? I do not know either. One thing I do know though is that my love for the design label Want Les Essentiels is growing by the day and that is not good. Oh and whoever told you that I was a practical woman lied to you…

In any case, these two purchases gave me a sense of normality. There is not much I can do about the pandemic or about working full-time and trying to tend to a toddler at the same time. Or about having to social distance from the ones dearest to me. Basically since there is not much I can control when it comes to Covid and its impact on my life, why not just act as if summer 2020 is like any other summer. And as if getting a new work bag is a sensible decision to make – even if I might not be going back to the office until 2021.

All that to say that her question, as simple as it was, got me thinking about the lies we sometimes tell ourselves in order to go on. For me, it was holding on to the fact that with summer would come lighter days and a reason to dress up. But frankly, the past few months have been brutal and no amount of shopping can change that. So while I did get the purses, I also knew that I needed something else to calm my nerves. I have never been much into the wellness movement. To be honest, that word can sometimes feel self-indulgent. Which could explain why whenever I think of it, Gwyneth Paltrow and her company Goop comes into my mind. So it was hard for me to see how my life could be improved through the process of wellness.

Like many in the Haitian community, I was taught that there was no time for self-pity because that there is always someone worst off than me. We take pride in our resilience, even if it means never taking the time to assess its collateral damages. And I know the same can be said about a lot of black households. This is why a community organization like The Villij – which is committed to bringing awareness to the importance of well-being for womxn of colour – is so important. We can no longer afford to neglect our mental, emotional and physical well-being.

So what else did I do apart from shopping? I picked up running again. Running in the cold. Running in the heat. Running in the rain. Running through the fog.

Hair Diaries

Featured

Posted on by
1
Photo provided by Fanm Djanm

Ask anyone who knows me well and they will tell you: I am obsessed with the state of my hair. (Not so jokingly) I used say that I wished to be buried with my eyeglasses, a nice purse and my hair freshly laid. And since God has given me very thick coily hair, for the past 30 years, what I meant by freshly laid hair was freshly relaxed hair. You read right, I expected the mortician to relax my hair!

But as the years went by, as I started seeing more and more of my peers with natural hair, but mostly, as I started to acknowledge the toll that all this chemical processing had on my hair and my sense of beauty/worth, I realized that it was time to stop.

That being said, the conflicted relationship I have with my hair has not ceased because I am no longer straightening it. But one of the good things that came out of this obsession was the discovery of several black-owned brands like Fanm Djanm.

It may seem like founder Paola Mathé is selling something quite utilitarian – headwraps. But once you take a deeper look at her brand’s website and at her personal Instagram account, there’s no denying that her wish is to nurture black love, black joy and black excellence. And that she aims to empower the black community.

Paola Mathé se yon vrè fanm djanm!