Fall Fashion 2021: Military-Inspired Style

I firmly believe that I was born in the wrong decade. I was clearly meant to be a 1940s screen siren – step aside Ava Gardner, I can rock an S-wave hairstyle like you wouldn’t believe. Sadly my hair is stick straight and even the most carefully coiffed of hairdos will fall out with a whisper of a breeze.

I could have fit right in on a ’40s era movie set with this structured leopard print beret and bold lip. I picked up this lovely piece of millinery from local hat maker, The Saucy Milliner and it inspired this military-inspired look. I have been loving tonal and monochrome looks since participating in my friend Alyssa Beltempo’s Shop Your Closet Studio back in December where I had the opportunity to be one of test subjects for her holiday edition of the Studio and sported a tonal green-on-green fit perfect for holiday Zoom parties in 2020.

Alyssa is a brilliant slow fashion content creator with a huge array of resources and styling tips on her website and popular YouTube channel. She has another Shop Your Closet Studio coming up this Saturday, September 25th and I highly recommend nabbing a ticket if you’re in a fashion rut and want to approach your wardrobe with fresh eyes.

All photos in this post were captured by the brilliant John-Finnigan Lin.

Alyssa has shown me that tonal and monochrome styles are impossibly chic and often look expensive. I’m embracing a tonal black-on-black look for the foundation of this fit but playing with texture with the sheer shirt and strappy bra to add depth. The accessories, particularly the bold patterned chapeau, prevent me from looking like a stagehand.

Another of Alyssa’s teaching that I’m trying to embrace a bit more is conscious consumption. She grounds her work in a sustainable fashion approach – inviting us to take a more considered approach to our consumption by curating a slow fashion closet that employs smart styling and minimalism.

SHOP THE LOOK

While I’m still a far cry from being able to lay claim to a “minimalist” closet – I have been making more of an effort to seek out new pieces from consignment boutiques before buying new. Shopping secondhand is an easy and approachable method to participating in the circular economy and reducing the carbon footprint of our fashion choices. To that end, I was able to score this stunning Saint Laurent Lou Camera Bag from Vancouver-based consignment boutique Mine and Yours back in July – in brand new condition, at a major discount.

I’d been coveting this particular handbag for months and couldn’t believe my luck when I saw that Mine and Yours had not one, but TWO of this iconic camera bag come up for sale in the summer.

I’ve recently joined the Mine and Yours affiliate program and you can use code “Tipple10” at checkout and get 10% off your order. Mine and Yours is a great destination for designer handbags, shoes, accessories, and clothing. Keep an eye on their Instagram Stories for new arrivals as many of their pieces get snapped up in short order!

I picked up these timeless wide-leg black Theory trousers and the Akris Punto wool moto jacket on deep discount during the Holt Renfrew Boxing Day sale and have been waiting for the return to the office to put them to good use. I’ve owned these camel suede Casadei pumps since 2010 and they have really stood the test of time.

My Dior sunglasses are the most recent acquisition as my optometrist (the incredible Dr. Zagury at Merivale Vision Care) recommended I transition to prescription sunglasses and naturally I wanted something that would make me look good while seeing well (see what I did there?).

I absolutely love them but must admit that I’m terrified by the prospect of forgetting or sitting on them. Prescription sunglasses are not cheap but definitely a worthwhile investment, you know, for seeing stuff.

My rings are all from local shop JV Studios and my earrings are vintage. I’d love to know if/how you guys are finding joy and inspiration for your closet these days. I know sweatsuits were the order of the day for the better part of the last 18 months and I’ve been finding so much joy in rediscovering my “leaving the house” pieces and playing in my closet! Drop a comment below and let me know how you’re feeling about getting dressed in real clothes again and what you’re excited to wear these days.