Effortless

By Rafa Castells, via Calivintage

By Édouard Plongeon for RIKA, via Shotgun Season

By Jeana Sohn

By Maya Villiger fro Dana Lee S/S 2011

By Coggles

By Hel Looks

By Maya Villiger

By Maya Villiger

By me.

I was about to write a whiny post on my current position towards dressing myself, and my clothing consuming habits, and the dilemma I have between the thrill of surprise in thrifting and purchasing volumes, but I stopped myself there. My interest in style and the culture surrounding clothing shouldn't be burdening me--or you by writing about it here--, and when it does, well, there are other interesting things to think about.

I'm the worst summer dresser--I don't own enough short-sleeved tops to go from one laundry session to another without digging in my long-sleeved shirt pile--and we've reached the point in the season where I feel like it's slipping through my fingers. I'm secretly longing for September (I have trouble admitting it), going as far as romanticising essay-writing and being the perfect student and thinking about, well, transitional dressing. I'm not crazy about the term, so let's just call it 'easy dressing.' 'Easy' in the way I can pick just about anything I own and not melt or freeze. 'Easy' in the way Maya Villiger's girls look: as if they barely put a thought in their outfit, but look and are more interesting--in an understated, friendly, charming manner--than anyone else in the room.

Dressing should feel just right, for a reason or none whatsoever, rather than be stressful or burdensome. I added my own version of 'easy dressing' to my long list of inspiration. I often stress about what the items I purchase reference or connote, but I'm learning not to justify my taste and purchases to myself, and assume that I can acquire many (mostly second-hand) items one month, and none the following. The above Velour skirt is, for me, an example of wearing what feels right. I have trouble buying brand new items, but after trying it on, I couldn't take it off my mind. I wouldn't have given it a second thought if I had seen it in a photo, and I wouldn't have thought I'd ever own a pink (or rather, 'faded red') denim skirt, but I've been wearing it every day since I bought it, and I just have to slip it on and go about my day.

Here's to effortless style being truly effortless.

Montreal City Guide

Here's a special announcement to let you know my Montreal city guide is up for you to read on Blooming Leopold!
A little while back, Lauren kindly asked me to be part of her travel series, and I couldn't have been happier to participate. The minute after sending it though, I started worrying about all the other spots I could have talked about. Still, I think this guide encompasses all the places I visit often, take my friends from out of town to, and that people both traveling to and living in Montreal enjoy. Have a look, and don't forget to read the other guides that will make you want to board planes and trains asap (well, that's the effect they had on me!).
Thanks again, Lauren!

Leafy Moonrise

Leafy Moonrise from uboparentheses on 8tracks.

The move has happened as planned, and my boyfriend and I are finally getting around making our new house a bit more like home. It necessited quite a bit of cleaning up, some paint, and many a small repair, but it's slowly getting there. I've been working crazy hours on top of the move, but that's also finally getting back to normal, hopefully for good.

It was my birthday back in June, and I received an unexpected present from my boyfriend, Jaime. We tracked down a second-hand IPod in mint condition (I refused to go for a new one), through which he set up to create the most expansive mixtape anyone has ever made for me. So far it has slowly been filled up with both songs I know and love, and others I didn't know but loved immediately upon first listening to them.

He's also made a few playlists, one of which I'd like to share with you. For all of you who have seen Moonrise Kingdom and loved it (I've seen it twice so far!) and its soundtrack, it opens with one of my favourite Hank Williams songs which is also in the movie, and closes with another you'll recognise. The rest is a mix of old Appalachian folk, the best Dolly Parton song ever, and some 'unripened' Velvet Underground, which for some reason, works perfectly well with the rest.
So if you're stuck in the city and are wishing like me that you could take some kind of a road trip to the fresher countryside, turn the fan on high, close your eyes, and pretend you're driving through a cool, cool forest with a sweet breeze blowing in your hair. Almost works.