Falling Flowers
Posted: October 9, 2026 Filed under: Clothes | Tags: beige print button-up, blue, blue straight-leg jeans, brown, brown lace-up boots, green, olive corduroy waistcoat Leave a comment
This outfit really shows the importance of a “third piece”, I think. I really wanted to wear this shirt untucked because the interesting print is on the bottom of the hem, but I always feel kinda sloppy when I wear things untucked. The solution – put a waistcoat on top! It gives the shirt underneath some structure (just like tucking it in would), while still showing off the print. Plus, the added color and texture are always a fun bonus.
Also, it’s the first boot outfit of the year! To be fair, it would only stay cool for about a day, and then it’s back to 90+ degrees and 80% humidity, but I’m making the most of it when I can.
In October We Wear Black
Posted: October 7, 2026 Filed under: Clothes | Tags: black, black gingham culottes, black sleeveless pleated top, black t-straps, brooch 2 Comments
(The title is meant to read in Karen Smith’s voice when she says, “On Wednesdays, we wear pink.”)
It’s still stupidly hot over here – it’s well in the 90s most days. Come on, October, what are we doing? I refuse to let the temperatures keep me down, so here I am with an autumnal-ish outfit. OK, OK, my shirt is sleeveless and my trousers are more like culottes, but at least it’s in the spirit of things. Still, I can’t wait for it to cool down properly…
The Mysterious Garden
Posted: October 5, 2026 Filed under: Clothes, Style Imitating Art | Tags: beige clogs, blue, blue embroidered blouse, blue wide-leg trousers, brooch, brown, style imitating art 1 Comment
Here’s my outfit for this week’s SIA, inspired by Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh‘s “The Mysterious Garden”. I knew I’d want to wear something blue, something Klimt-esque, something a bit Art Nouveau-inspired, so in the end, I went with this blue top (the flower embroideries are a nod to the “garden”) and light blue trousers, and added my Art Nouveau-inspired brooch as a nod to the faces in the background. I would’ve liked to add a hint of purple to the outfit (my purple tunic would’ve looked perfect, only I’ve already worn it with these trousers before), but I couldn’t think of anything. It’s OK, I’m happy with the outfit.
Don’t forget to check out Shelbee’s blog on Wednesday to see what everybody wears!
Happy October
Posted: October 2, 2026 Filed under: Clothes | Tags: belt, blue, navy print shirt dress, pink, pink woven heels 2 Comments
I know the Autumn Equinox is last week, but for me, fall doesn’t really start until October (and temperature-wise, for us, it doesn’t start until November!) Still, that means it’s the perfect weather for this dress – it’s lightweight cotton, but the collar and 3/4-length sleeves make it more suitable for fall. I kept the styling simple because I wanted the collar to really shine, but I’m sure I can wear one of my chain brooches to highlight it even more. Next time, maybe…
Book Reviews: September 2026
Posted: September 30, 2026 Filed under: Book/Movie/TV Reviews | Tags: book 1 CommentAnother month of eclectic reading (and when is my reading not eclectic?) Here we go:
When in Doubt by Anna Harrison:
Yes, yes, I told myself I would stop picking up random romance books, but I wanted to check this out because the FMC is autistic, and I was curious as to how it is represented. Having read the book, my answer is: the FMC’s autism is just kinda… there? It is mentioned that her ex used her autism to emotionally abuse her, but this isn’t explored enough, so it doesn’t create enough of an obstacle. Throughout most of the book, the two leads just overthink and internalize everything and never talk things out with each other, and when they finally do, the issue gets resolved very easily. There’s also my usual complaint of not enough chemistry between the two leads. It’s not egregiously bad like some other romances I’ve read, it’s just boring. 2/5
Poets Square: A Memoir in Thirty Cats by Courtney Gustafson:
The blurb of this book mentions that it started when the author moved into a house in the Poets Square neighborhood in Tucson, Arizona, and realized it came with 30 stray cats, so I thought it was going to be a feel-good memoir in the vein of Under the Tuscan Sun or A Year in Provence or something like that. What I didn’t expect was a series of personal essays about the struggles the author went through to save those cats (and other strays all over the city) and what the cats taught her about love, relationships, motherhood, community, and just life in general. It’s funny and frustrating and moving at the same time. 5/5 (and you can follow the authors and her cats at Poets Square Cats on IG!)
The Dress Diary of Mrs. Anne Sykes by Kate Strasdin:
Now this is exactly my type of non-fiction: the author was given a notebook full of fabric samples found at a flea market and tracked down the owner, a middle-class woman born in 1812. Using the samples as starting-off points, the book then discusses the history of textiles and clothing and also gives us some insights into the lives of the owner and her friends and family (who also contributed to the diary). Most of the information is not exactly new, but it’s fascinating nonetheless. 4.5/5
Beyond the Aquila Rift: The Best of Alaistair Reynolds:
I’ve wanted to check out this short story collection for a long time, since the author wrote the stories that were adapted into my two favorite episodes of Love, Death, and Robots (“Beyond the Aquila Rift” and “Zima Blue”). Plus, it’s been a while since I read old-school sci-fi. Most of the collection is very enjoyable, though occasionally, I find that too much attention is put on the world-building, and it weighs down the stories a bit. I expected sci-fi/fantasy short stories to be a bit punchier. 4/5
