Alberta Rose you are an Outfit Repeater! vol.1

A new monthly series reviewing and revisiting outfits of the past

Jun 16, 2024

Hello my friends,

Welcome to Outfit Repeater, my new monthly series where I will be rounding up and reviewing outfits that I wore last year to determine if I will repeat, revisit, or retire. I truly believe that the key to developing your personal style is to actually wear your clothes, and I hope this series will inspire you to look back on outfits gone by for your Spring/Summer inspiration :)

I don’t necessarily think any of these outfits are bad, some of them just don’t align with the way I’m currently expressing my style. Experimentation and Expansion were two of my style keywords for 2023, and overall I’m very proud of how many new things I tried. This year I’ve shifted gears to focus on different goals (newsletter on that coming soon, for now here’s a Tiktok), but I believe that there is much to be learned from these past outfits.

So let’s get into it, here’s what I wore in June 2023
(I knew these collages would come in handy)

This is a pretty cohesive collection of outfits that still feel more or less in line with my personal style. There are a bunch of outfits that continue to be a part of my regular rotation (you all know I love that thrifted navy Uniqlo dress), a few ideas that I’d like to revisit, as well as a number of looks I don’t plan on wearing again. Let’s break it down!

Hat- Old Fashioned Standards (sample), everything else thrifted.

The Brooch Tote?! Some of my best work. The rest of the outfit? Not so much.
Looking back on this outfit it all just feels like too much for how I currently express my style. The bright purple is a colour I love to admire, but not to wear, and the sporty mesh mary-janes were a fun thrift find that ultimately gathered dust after a few wears. I have many other iterations of the breezy top/soft shorts combo that are more successful. Retire

Hat- Wellington Factory (gone now?) via Open House, everything else thrifted

This particular look helped me to realize that I’m actually not a big statement necklace person and I much prefer more simple jewelry. The mesh mary-janes were a great idea but not quite the right fit for me, I’ve since replaced them with a simple organic cotton pair from Small Lot that I have been reaching for constantly. The simple tank/shorts combo is a classic and I will definitely revisit with updated accessories.

Okay, hear me out. This dress set my DM’s on fire and SO many people reached out to tell me they love this colour on me (thank you, you’re all very kind). HOWEVER. I don't like this colour for me or my palette, and this dress has since been relegated to home use only (I’m actually wearing it as a type this). It’s super comfy and I love the shape, so I will absolutely revisit this look (with updated accessories) once I decide which colour to dye the dress. Red? Brown?

Another one that’s not quite there but ripe for a revisit. These damn mesh mary-janes are the common denominator in so many of the outfits that I feel lukewarm about from last year, I’m glad I found a pair that better suit my style because clearly I’m a fan of the shape. Adding beads to the straps of this thrifted tank was a stroke of genius that I fear I may never shut up about, but didn’t end up being something that I reached for very often. I’m still a fan of the idea, just need to play around with the execution a little more.

Sweats- Okay To Rest, everything else thrifted

Finally, a winner. This was my first time ever styling sweats beyond the comfort of my home, and these classic OTR cuties have become a cozy staple for me. This look is perfect for those cooler Spring days or Summer evening. I will absolutely re-wear this outfit with my updated mary-janes and maybe a brooch or two.

Clogs- Birkenstock, everything else thrifted

Easy? Breezy? Sign me up. A great example of the aforementioned breezy top/soft shorts combo, one of my go-to formulas for warm weather outfits. Switching up the accessories allows for almost infinite permutations and I love how casual this feels with the Boston clogs and baseball cap. This is one I will definitely re-wear.
*Editor’s note: I wore this outfit with different accessories earlier this week!

shoes- Small Lot, everything else thrifted

Bag- Sonya Lee (sadly discontinued), everything else thrifted

Woof. I have always struggled with dressing up and this is the perfect example of not quite hitting the mark. I’m proud that I gave this outfit a try, and I objectively love this beautiful silk skirt, but it’s clear to me that this is not my style and I haven’t reached for the skirt again since this one occasion. I notice that I often thrift special fancy(ish) pieces like this skirt only for them to languish in my closet, which is a pattern I’m looking to move away from. Over the past year I’ve focused on dressing up my outfits with accessories and I think I’ve had much more successful date night looks that feel like me. Retire.

Boots- Ilse Jacobsen (mine are secondhand but I would absolutely buy new, amazing quality), everything else thrifted

This is one of my very favourite outfits from 2023!! Gum boots and shorts are maybe not the most obvious combo, but I love the proportions and I will absolutely re-wear. Loving this outfit so much also made me realize that I would probably get a lot of wear out of a pair of leather boots in a similar shape, so I’ve been keeping my eyes peeled for the right pair (fellow wide calf people know the struggle).

Possibly my most repeated outfit ever? I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve worn this thrifted Uniqlo dress, and I’m not stopping any time soon. I’m not typically a dress person, but there is something so nice about a one-and-done look, and I love the breezy silhouette for the warmer months. I would love to find or maybe even make a couple more dresses like this since I reach for this one so often. Re-wear!

Belt- Sonya Lee, Sandals- Montbell, everything else thrifted

The perfect outfit for in-between Spring weather. I have a soft spot for silk knits and this cardigan has worked hard for me over the last couple of years, I love it dressed up as well. I really like the juxtaposition in this outfit- the jorts and baseball cap keep it casual, and the more polished bag and interesting belt make it elevated. The only thing I might change when I revisit this look is the shoes- I’d love to see it with my mary-janes instead.

Sandals- Montbell, everything else thrifted. PSA- men's swim trunks make the perfect breezy sporty shorts, just cut out the yucky mesh underwear liner

Does it irritate me that I don’t have a full body mirror pic of this outfit? Yes, to no end, but I must persevere because this is one of my favourite outfits from last June! This is a great example of trying something new that ended up expanding my comfort zone. I never would have predicted that these hot pink men’s swim trunks would be my most worn Summer shorts, but here we are. This is an outfit that I’ve come to lean on for hot weather because it’s breezy, comfy, and can easily be adapted to meet the needs of the day by swapping out the shoes/accessories. Paired with the brooch cluster? Mmhmm. I will absolutely re-wear and revisit this look.

All thrifted. This is an old version of the Keen Whisper sandal.

I don’t often reach for an all black outfit, but this is one that I will definitely revisit, with a few updates. I like the contrast with the pale blue Keens, but I think I would swap to a lighter coloured bag (like my checkered scrunchie one) and remove the chunky statement pendant in favour of something more simple. Small tweaks that would make a big difference.

A moment for the *Brooch Tote*! This is a styling trick that I’ve repeated at least once a week over the past year on bags, hats, and jackets, and I simply can’t get enough.

Overall, June 2023 is split pretty evenly between re-wear, revisit, and retire. Which feels about right to me when I look at them as a collection. I really believe that the outfits that don’t work are just as important as the ones that do, and I love that I tried colours and shapes and accessories that helped me to expand my comfort zone and better understand my personal style. I think for my next instalment of Outfit Repeater I’ll try to include images of the revisited looks so we can see how the changes will impact the outfit.

BITS, BOBS, ETC.