So, like, is it wrong that in February, supposedly the middle of summer here in the southern hemisphere, I'm already planning my winter wardrobe? Cos I am. I think in part it's because summer this year has been truly terrible - it's never really gotten above around 25 degrees (Celsius, clearly), and I can count the number of times on both hands that I've actually been able to go out without a pair of leggings, and there've been multiple occasions where I've worn boots. Boots, in the middle of summer. Eff you, seasons.
In OTHER reasons-for-planning-winter-clothes-obsessively, it's because getting a winter wardrobe sorted means jumping on that shizz as soon as it drops instore, so the last couple of weeks have involved watching my favourite couple of stores' websites for their winter collection lookbooks with a HAWK EYE, and going so far as to ask "So, um, this leather pencil skirt, and this jacket, when will they be in please?" and maybe perhaps pencilling that date in my diary so I know when to go in and layby all of the things. Yes, it might be overkill, but come on. LEATHER PENCIL SKIRT. There is no way I'm missing out on that goodness.
So what does my winter wardrobe look like, thus far? Basically empty, but here are just a few amazing things that I'm counting my pennies and plotting for. Oh, you want a rundown of these pieces? Let's see. Everything's clickable to see larger versions, just bee tee doubleyew. So from the top, we have:
Ricochet: Leather pencil skirt (OHMYGOD YOU GUYS, LIKE, SERIOUSLY I WILL WEAR THE SHIT OUT OF THIS). Woolen merino draped dress with a low back, which I can see being excellent for work and for schlepping around (I do love Ricochet for this kind of stuff, I have to say. Nice clothes that I'm not afraid to lounge around in? That's a win in my books). [Possibly suede or shearling] black leather jacket with waterfall front - the salesgirl wasn't sure what it's made of and it's not instore yet, but assuming it's either leather or a very good imitation thereof, it seems like exactly the thing to sate my Rick Owens cravings without actually having to pony up two and a half grand for a RO piece. My lovely flatmate keeps giving me a Look for this (because Rick is sacred or somesuch and nobody should own knockoffs, I don't even know), but when a girl's going back to uni and thus onto part-time hours, what's she going to do?
Miscellaneous jewellery: Flat silver knuckleduster ring from Meadowlark, which I basically have no real hope of owning, but it's in there nevertheless because maybe I'll win Lotto or something. Black-finish crow skull pendant, via Etsy, which I do own because my best friend is amazing and gets me fantastic Christmas presents. Black quartz Stone and Honey ring, via MFP, which I swear to God I will own at some point in the next two months. I'M WATCHING YOU, RING.
Kate Sylvester: So KS's winter collection is based on the film Secretary. Um. HOT. The best things I've seen thus far are these black merino studded 3/4 sleeve sweater and long-sleeved cardigan (cardigan shown in white because the photo detail was better). I need some new knitwear, including a plain-ish and warm cardigan, and these are so perfect. Plain but with spike studs around the collar? Um, yes please. In the middle is a sheer ink chiffon dress with a black buckled collar, which I would not wear straight over my undies, but which in person has a fantastic balance between edgy and demure. Below is a sheer chiffon blouse with black detailing, which I've included more for the outfit (leather pencil skirt in KS too, clearly I'm onto a good thing here) than for the blouse itself. I have two different kinds of sheer print fabric waiting to be turned into secretary blouses. One of them is ink-blue with an orange, pink and coral-red abstract planet print. AMAZE.
Miscellaneous pieces: I just received in the mail today this M6 for Maison Margiela knotted black wool dress, which is not my usual thing but is really rather fantastic in its drape/structure. And let's be honest, no lookbook of mine would ever be complete without a Deadly Ponies bag - black nubuck Mr Bone Mailman. I don't know whether I'll ever own it, but I wistfully hope that I do.
Scarves and boots: Because no winter collection would be complete without a variety of boots and layering neck-warmy bits. From the left, we have Ann Demeulemeester black riding boots, which oh golly swoon are beautiful but also like fifteen hundred dollars, so clearly I threw them in here based more on wishing than logic or sense. But they are SO BEAUTIFUL. Next are the black platform ankle boots with wooden heel, from Ultra Shoes. SUPRRISE. Remember the Ultra Shoes coordinate competition I posted about way back when? Yeah, I won. BOOYAH. So now I own these sexy beasts, and oh boy are they fun to wear. Five inches of beautiful black leather bootie lets me stand 5'10" and stalk around my office in the best of ways. Third in the boots-I-must-have lineup are the actual boots I'm planning on acquiring this winter, the Frye Veronica engineer boot in black leather/suede. Frye don't ship to NZ, is the only bastard thing, but nevertheless, I'm sure I'll be able to wangle it somehow with the power of the internet.
Scarf-wise, I love the idea of cowls this winter (because in the wind, long scarves that unwind at the faintest gust are a bastard and a half) and both of these (from KraeO on Etsy) are fantastic. The grey knitted chain cowl looks excellent for properly cold days, while the hand-dyed cotton cowl looks like it'll become the thing I live in through autumn.
*tear* It's SO BEAUTIFUL. God I love winter. Not so much for the cold and the wet, cos honestly I can kind of leave that (I'd be perfectly satisfied with cold, and if Wellington did cold dry snowy winters I would be a lot more pleased, but we can't have everything). No, what I love about winter is its layering options. And its boots. God do I love boots. I kind of maybe love them a little too much, because I have five pairs of boots currently in my stack-o-shoes, and am eyeing up two more for this winter. Heels might be fantastic, but a girl can never have too many pairs of boots.
Black leather pencil skirt=so much love. I have a vintage one that my mother first bought in the 80s, unfortunately it occasionally gets too tight on me since she was super tiny back in the day but I try and wear it when physically possible. And I agree about boots - I just bought a gorgeous pair of purple leather ones second-hand last week and haven't stopped wearing them. I may be a little in love. And trying to explain to the boy why it was a Totally Necessary Purchase.
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