Monthly Archives: November 2021

To Black Friday or not to Black Friday…

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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