Grab a cuppa if you have time for another reflective post! Herewith, some further reflections on my style in 2016 and goals for the year ahead.

What did I do well?

• Got a hair update that adds instant drama.
• Purchased a few key statement items (gilet, bag, watch, ring) that will have wardrobe longevity.
• Kept footwear up to date. I spend a big proportion of my budget on footwear and it’s worth it…at least in my mind. (More on that later.)
• Edited assertively and replenished where needed. A third of my wardrobe was refreshed this year. Purchased and retired/ donated/ gifted approximately 50 items.

What did I wear that made me feel great?

• Skirts and dresses in warm months.
• Cropped jeans and trousers in temperate months.
• New denim silhouette (culottes) and new dress trouser silhouette (culottes).
• Brighter and/or more saturated colour.
• Black, ink, silver, white, grey, and patterns incorporating black and white or silver and white. Slam dunk with my new hair.

5 Adjectives to describe my aspirational style:

• Modern
• Precise
• Playful
• Bright
• Bold

Goals for 2017

1. Purchase mindfully. I want to continue to have fun with fashion but want to do it in a way that does not cause suffering for others or our planet. Each of us makes our own accommodations in this regard, but I want to purchase more locally made, more ethically made fashion. Also, I'd like to reduce my purchasing while at the same time honouring my deep pleasure in embracing trends. This is not an easy balance to strike but it is one I want to work towards.
2. Add more colour (especially red). Brighter or more intense versions of my old favourites seem to be best now. Clearer colours are better than muddier. This will be an ongoing process.
3. Aim for drama. I need to think about a variety of ways to incorporate this. Cut, style, colour, scale.
4. Wear the heck out of my dresses, skirts, crops, culottes etc. in warmer weather when I can.
5. Continue to dress practically for my climate and lifestyle but to push the edge towards “dressier” where and when I can.

Goal 5 is the problematic one. I already tend to wear wool coats vs. puffers when I can, jackets vs. cardigans when I can, silk shirt vs. t-shirt, when I can (and so on) but, of necessity, I also dress from the ground up. So, practically, "getting dressier" means wearing my dressier footwear vs. my more rugged and practical footwear. Angie suggested I just do it and accept that the footwear will become worn out faster.

This is a great idea in theory, but people -- see below!! These are my sidewalks on a good day in winter! I cannot bring myself to wear a selection of my precious booties out there (see Finds). Instead, I'm wearing clumpy snow boots, or at best, weather proof darker boots or motos, which in turn means a more casual outfit overall. And I feel a whole lot less fab. Ugh. If I worked in an office, I would simply take my shoes to the office and wear my boots outdoors. But I work from home, so I wear slippers. Lately I have been wearing some of my booties occasionally indoors, just so they get worn at all. Oh, and I bought another pair of snow boots with good ice grips. Because I need them. Grrrr.....