It Just Takes a Little Inspiration

To get you going, doesn't it, boys and girls?

I've long been at sixes and sevens about the word "inspiration", and variants therein, that seem to be a permanent part of the blogger's lexicon.  It always struck me as something a little cheesy.  Kind of like how "awesome" should be something that inspires (there it is again) great awe.  But instead it just means cool or alright or sounds good.  (And I'm totally guilty of using it in those ways, btw.)  I feel like Michaelangelo was inspired, whereas me liking other blog lady's outfits and wanting to wear my own version of them doesn't quite cut it for the gravitas that "inspire" should engender.

I say all this, but then I see this outfit on one of my all-time favourite blogs and I leap to post something I've been putting off for a while now.  So I guess I am "inspired" by other bloggers.  And I should just get used to being a little less guarded and a little more enthusiastic about jumping into blogland and its lexicon.

All this to say, I don't normally wear t-shirts.  Or jeans.  Or high-waisted jeans for that matter.  But gosh darnit, if Emily at Ruby Slipper Journeys can wear jeans and a t-shirt in real life and blog life then I can too!

I wore this to have coffee with one of my best friends in the whole entire world before she went back to New York for her last semester.  I probably wouldn't feel comfortable wearing this out out, but for a long, languid afternoon buried deep in a neighbourhood coffeeshop with people I love and who have seen me much more dressed down, it fit the bill:

T-Shirt - Victoire
Cardigan - Primark
Belt - Forever 21
Jeans - American Apparel
Necklace - Forever 21
Shoes - Who needs shoes?!

Victoire has to be my favourite store.  Not only is every piece in their two stores expertly curated (they're the vintage of tomorrow they say of themselves, and I can't help but agree!), but I want to live in the shops as well.  They've got the perfect amalgam of retro Canadiana (including this old Ottawa crest on this t), cozy grandma's den, and rustic farmhouse going on.  Their Wellington West location is - very dangerously - right across the street from where I work so it's not that hard to head over during my break and spend what I've just earned!

This necklace has a special place in my wardrobe as well, despite being from a big conglomerate rather than a local endeavour.  At my cottage we have a whistle just like this one to call people up to the cottage whenever we're scattered around the island.  The week after I bought it I was seeing my cousin off to Wales, so I got her one as well (the cottage is shared by that entire side of the family).  Now not only is it a little memento for my favourite place on the earth, but also a BFF necklace for me and my cousin.  And a little reminder to her (I hope) that wherever we may find ourselves on this great green earth, one blast on the whistle and we'll all be together :)

Love,

Your friend Lina