Climate, location, and your style

Our spectacular weather continues. It's truly amazing. A week or so of outfits, several illustrating the "casual long cardigan" formula, several repeats of the suit and sneakers formula, one black and white with red boots formula, and one white boots outfit. 

It's rare in the PNW to get such a long string of sunny days. I know what I'm experiencing is not typical and any observations I make about how the climate affects my style may soon be put to the test. But so far, a few things I have noticed: 

Specific items that were difficult to wear in my former home are easy winners in this climate and location. Examples:

  • The famous Rag and Bone gilet -- after languishing in my closet for several years, it has become a workhorse item. I may not have been able to wear it when it was trendy but at least it's a "true love" item with longevity so I can enjoy it now!
  • Dressier booties -- you all know my story about those! Getting wear from them all now. Phew! 
  • Any footwear that is closed toe but reveals the ankle. 

What felt "seasonally confused" in Ontario makes a lot of sense here (i.e. a scarf with bare ankles (at times); camisole under a blouse. 

You can see that certain items work overtime in my closet and that I never worry about repeats. 

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32 Comments

  • texstyle replied 5 years ago

    Oh - a fantastic Suz outfit post!!! LOVE these - can't pick a favorite, okay well I do love #1 and #3 especially. You have such a great wardrobe and have done such a good job at choosing what works for you.

  • Runcarla replied 5 years ago

    Love your colours, Suz, and the fabulous bunch of aspirational outfit combinations.

    I push bare ankles in Ontario because it is so hard to find ANY trousers with a proper PPL for my inseam. That said we seem to have jumped from hot summer to early winter, and after getting my high boots sorted (heel lowered 1/4 inch and rubber gripper on the bottom) I'm doing the equestrian look a lot! I have been happier in my pea coat and puffers to the point where I may retire the lighter jackets to the basement closet. I'm also wearing boat neck sweaters with a scarf or pashmina 'round my neck and eyeing my knit turtle necks.

  • Angie replied 5 years ago

    YAY. 

    *happy dance*

    (Don't get used to the sunny weather! It's VERY atypical). 

    I knew you'd wear the heck out of the booties and gilet! I'm THRILLED for you. WOOOHOOOO. Those severe Canadian Winters take the fun out of fashion, don't they.

    Truly, your fabulous wardrobe and KILLER style is shining like never before, sweet Suz. Your style planets have aligned. 

    I can't pick a fave. KILLER for the lot. Loving the additions or red, silver, and pattern mix.

    And doesn't our ML midi look fab with white shoes! I LOVE wearing it with my new shooties, pearls, fishnets, and these two new toppers: 

  • Sara L. replied 5 years ago

    Great set of outfits!  I wear a lot of bare ankles with closed toe shoes in the fall/spring here.  It's too hot for closed toes in the summer and too cold for bare ankles during December/January.  However, our fall and spring are long seasons with plenty of days that aren't truly cold but aren't warm either.  It's pretty much always sunny and dry too.

    I have problems with dresses and skirts in the fall/spring though.  It's too warm in the afternoon for tights but too cold in the morning for bare legs.  

  • Helena replied 5 years ago

    This is a fantastic set of outfits Suz! The weather you are describing and dressing for is THE holy grail of fashion weather, isn't it (not to mention my favorite kind)? Cool enough to add a layer for polish and interest; warm enough for great shoes and to not have to hide everything under functionally-warm layers. Of course, it's the least common over this way, as you know well!! *sigh* ... I will enjoy the mild west-coast climate vicariously through you :)

  • Style Fan replied 5 years ago

    Great outfits Suz!  Cranberry loves you.  #3 is my favourite.  Enjoy the great weather.  Anytime I have been in Vancouver (all seasons) the weather has been spectacular.  We went from summer to winter here.  Well, maybe one day of fall.

  • Jenn replied 5 years ago

    You are looking FANTASTIC, Suz. I loved dressing for PNW weather. Even when it’s rainy, the days are so consistent that I found it really easy to choose clothes each day.

    Your comment about things that seem seasonally confused working in a different climate hit home for me. That’s something that you only really discover by living in a place.

  • Mainelady replied 5 years ago

    I am so happy to learn that you are getting to wear some of your favorite pieces! I so enjoy seeing your outfits. I had to work hard, really stop and study to see if I could choose a favorite. It. Was. Not. Easy. I think #14 takes a slight lead.....love the gilet and that scarf!

  • Sal replied 5 years ago

    You look great and how wonderful to enjoy wearing these pieces.

    I think PNW is like ours- roughly - where trans seasonal clothes work about 8 months of the year.

    Love repeats!!

  • Beth Ann replied 5 years ago

    Love the beautiful adaptation your experiencing.  Your hair is looking terrific in the western air, too!

  • anne replied 5 years ago

    Glad you are enjoying yourselves and looking fab !

  • Jaime replied 5 years ago

    These are all fantastic - the suit in all its iterations, the dress, and #6 is stunning. We are still pretty much in summer mode here, although an ever so slight cooling trend means I am wearing long jeans. No jackets yet, but they should start appearing in the coming weeks. In Israel everyone breaks out their boots as soon as the weather gets under 80F/27C. We are still waiting.

  • replied 5 years ago

    A great grouping of outfits - and what I’m really struck by are the columns of dark/black under the grey sweater . I love this look on you. Remind me what the white boots are please !? I’m torn and not necessarily likely to buy some - but never say never .... and I would want a refined kitten or block heel .....

  • Suz replied 5 years ago

    Shevia, long jeans, whoot! ;) 

    LisaP, booties are old (3rd year?) Calvin Klein. Inexpensive (plus on sale) from The Bay when I bought them but hardly worn back in Ontario. I'll wear them more here for sure. Angie had the same boot (not sure if she still does because the heel is higher than her usual). It's very comfortable. 

    Helena, you're so right -- the holy grail of fashion weather! It's about to end here tomorrow or Wednesday but wow has it been a fantastic month. We did have a few rainy and cooler days at the start of October and then this glorious golden weather. Plus, the katsura trees smell like caramelized sugar!

    Thanks for the kind words. It is so much more fun to get dressed in a city, too -- forgot to mention that part!

  • rachylou replied 5 years ago

    I’m so happy for the gilet!

  • jussie replied 5 years ago

    Suz, a beautiful bunch of outfits here. Yes- I absolutely know what you mean. My city is predominantly made up of people looking seasonally confused. Birkenstock sandals with cuffed jeans and a light to mid weight puffer jacket is an acceptable, standard outfit here- so much so that it’s almost a uniform. I find having a really large variety of toppers very helpful for this type of climate.

  • Gigi replied 5 years ago

    Wow, what a truly fashionable bunch of outfits! I think my fave is 10-11.

    I know what you mean about seasonally confused being somewhat acceptable in this type of weather. I have been wearing bare ankles and scarves at the same time too. Our weather has been fluctuating wildly; I have to make sure to check the weather forecast so I know what to wear!

  • Barbara Diane replied 5 years ago

    So glad you are enjoying your less worn items. You look great.

  • Jane replied 5 years ago

    Yay! What a great move! The gilet looks especially beautiful!

  • Sal replied 5 years ago

    I love your plaid pants here Suz.....and all your booties look fabulous.

  • replied 5 years ago

    You look fabulous.  So happy for you.  

  • Jessikams replied 5 years ago

    Good reminder for folks who travel or relocate frequently- what works in one place makes no sense in another- sometimes I save a beloved item just for travel, if it doesn’t work in my normal climate.

  • Mirjana replied 5 years ago

    Suz, terrific outfits, you look better than ever. I can't choose favorite, but really don't need as I love all. Enjoy nice weather.

  • kerry replied 5 years ago

    Glad your having fun with fashion in your new climate. You look great! Are your days similair to those in Ontario or is there more out and about in Vancouver? Nice not to be limited by weather in your sartorial choices!

  • RobinF replied 5 years ago

    Great outfits! I do love the long cardigans on you. I think I'm done with crops here until spring which is a bummer because I love crops but no thanks for cold ankles. We visited Vancouver a few years ago and loved it! It would be so fun to live there!

  • Bijou replied 5 years ago

    I always love outfit posts in Fall / Autumn and Spring - because what you are wearing now would also work beautifully where I live. These outfits are stunning on you. You really know what suits you and have such a great eye for pattern / texture / colour and proportions that your outfits are interesting, dressy and elegant all at the same time. Your BR suit is a complete winner, I can see why that is on repeat!

  • Kathie replied 5 years ago

    You look radiant in all of these. So hard to pick a favorite, because both the subtle mixed neutrals in 15 and 16 and the colors/patterns of 3 and 14 are fabulous on you. So happy for you that you can enjoy all your fashion sneakers and less practical booties in Vancouver!

  • lyn67 replied 5 years ago

    Wow, genius  pairings using  those "certain" items  which were  your "true loves"  as they certainly have their longevity and they really work here! My special love goes to the dress outfit in nr 12-13, but all are fab! I am happy for you changing climates this  lifting up even more (if possible) your outfit creativity and fabness!:-)

  • Angie replied 5 years ago

    (Don't have the cream ankle boots anymore - too high). 

    AND responded to your hair comment on the blog post. I SEE the differences now! KILLER.

  • Christina F. replied 5 years ago

    You look fantastic. I'm glad you held on to some of these items. I love 2, 5, 7, 13, 14... but all of it, really. Nice scarves, too. I always have trouble incorporating scarves aside from with outwear, so I always admire other people's scarf game.

  • Cardiff girl replied 5 years ago

    You know what suits you and you translate it into some great outfits.lm particularly pleased to see long cardis in the mix as I have a few of these.

  • bella replied 5 years ago

    You do casual elegance so well! Looking fab as usual. 

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