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

Stripes, stripes and more stripes…

When it comes to stripped t-shirts/sweaters/dresses, I don’t need to be convinced anymore: I’ve totally embraced the “easy, achievable and accessible nature” of stripes…

Ballet flats - J Crew Dress - Muji Army Jacket - Gap Tote - Dean and Deluca

Ballet flats – J Crew
Dress – Muji
Army Jacket – Gap
Tote – Dean & Deluca

But if you still need convincing, check out this post from Leandra Medine: Consider the Breton Stripe.

I'm also considering that Elsa Peretti bracelet...

I’m also considering that Elsa Peretti bracelet. Perfection

05/07/15

Just in case you were wondering: yesterday, I did get dressed and I did go to work. That being said, since there was nothing exciting about my outfit, I spared you the details…

Today, to celebrate the fact that I made it through hump day, I’m wearing heels – ok fine, wedges. It might not seem like much, but ask any female teacher you know: it’s not a small feat. Contrary to popular belief, teaching is a very active job. Especially if, like me, you’re prone to forgetting your coffee, classroom keys or exam copies in the staffroom.

T-shirt - Club Monaco Skirt - Banana Republic Espadrille - ...

T-shirt – Club Monaco
Skirt – Banana Republic
Espadrilles – …

Let’s just hope that there’s no fire drill scheduled for today…

05/05/15

Today, I wore 2 of my favorite pieces:

Shirtdress - UNIQLO Sandals - Zara Shirtdress – UNIQLO
Sandals – Zara

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Buying these sandals from Zara were a no-brainer: I’ve always had a love affair with minimalist sandals. As Shiona Turini puts it: “The shade of your very own skin never goes out of style.” And that’s why for me, minimalist sandals are the quintessential nude sandals – they elongates my legs and go with everything. And I always find my shade.

image

As for the shirtdress: I had been on a never-ending quest to find the perfect one when I saw this one at UNIQLO last year in New York. In the past, the ones I had either seen or bought were always belted, too short, too feminine, too pretty, in the wrong color, made out of the wrong fabric, etc. Basically, they were all wrong. And then, this one came into my life… much to the chagrin of my dear husband: “It looks like something I could have made in my grade 9 Home Economics class.” See, the husband and I have diverging ideas on what I should wear. While I fancy myself a 5’11” Russian model, which means that I’m often drawn to boxy, shapeless forms, he sees me as I truly am – a 5’1″ Haitian woman, which means that anything Beyoncé wears, he wants me wearing! Anyhow, I won that particular battle: the shirtdress was perfect – so I bought it. And to make him forget that I’m wearing a glorified potato sack – as he puts it – sometimes, I wear it with heels. And bam! all is forgiven.

05/04/15

This week’s weather forecast made me decide to give this whole OOTD another try. Now, bare with me: I might have figured out a better location to take pictures, but I didn’t get a new smartphone and Selfish is still not out.

Regardless, here’s what I wore today:

Shirt - Banana Republic Jeans - JCrew Sandals - Birkenstock Tote - Whole Food (!!)

Shirt – Banana Republic
Jeans – JCrew
Sandals – Birkenstock
Tote – Whole Food (!!)

It was 28 degrees Celsius, so the toes were out and the white jeans were back on!! I’m aware that I sound way too excited about my outfit, BUT I work in a high school. Toes and elbows are some of the only body parts that I can show worry free. Even if it’s 28 degrees outside.

P.S. Noticed the pile of stripped sweaters on my dresser? Operation Summer Uniform is in full effect.